Redmi Note 10T 5G Review – 5G Normalized

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    Redmi Note 10T 5G

    It’s a new day, and there’s a new Xiaomi phone to play with. Xiaomi’s crack at the budget 5G market comes as an anticipated move, given the players from Realme and OPPO already enjoy space in the segment.

    But the Redmi Note 10T 5G aims to take a slice of the pie while undercutting its stablemate, Redmi Note 10. The only thing to write home about is nothing but 5G.

    We took out the Redmi Note 10T 5G for a spin before it went on sale to know precisely if it’s worth your hard-earned money.

    Design – Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder

    Straight up, the Redmi Note 10T 5G carries the family face, with slight alterations here and there to make it look a bit more interesting. Even for the budget, it’s surprising how Xiaomi manages to make its devices feel so good in the hand. The textured back on our Mint Green review unit felt like it belonged to a more expensive device.

    Looks apart, all the design features lie precisely where you would want them to be. The flat and broad power button is slightly recessed into the frame and houses the fingerprint sensor. The volume rockers just above feel solid to click. The entire layout fits right into the smooth matte finished frame. In true Xiaomi fashion, the Redmi Note 10T 5G keeps the IR Blaster and the 3.5mm headphone jack.

    Thankfully, however, brandings have been kept to a minimum. You won’t find loud and tacky graphics nesting on the back.

    Also Read: Mi 11X Vs iQOO 7- The Battle of Budget Flagships

    Display – You couldn’t ask for more

    For the consumer base that the Note 10T 5G is targeting, the display is a key factor as a lot of media will be consumed on it. Fortunately, there is no cost-cutting done here. The smartphone comes with a 6.5-inch FHD+ display. The IPS LCD panel refreshes at 90Hz and features Xiaomi’s AdaptiveSync technology. This helps in actively varying the panel’s refresh rate depending upon the type of content its displaying.

    While the panel gets ample bright and the high pixel density means pin-sharp details, I am not too impressed with the colour accuracy. The colours, by default, are on the cooler side, and they look a tad bit washed out compared to other devices. If nit-picking isn’t your forte, it would be tough to find a false note with the panel, especially at the price point.

    Also Read: Mi 11 Lite Review: A Breeze of Fresh Air

    Performance – We don’t do that here

    I don’t know how to get around this, but I am just going to put it out there – it’s just okay. On paper, the 7nm chipset is not too old, neither is the octa-core structure. But somehow, the Dimensity 700 from MediaTek doesn’t seem to make the cut.


    For starters, the phone takes a while to boot up. In the meantime, if you rush through to open apps, it just won’t allow you to. And by apps, I mean the native apps that should be ready when you boot up. Once you’re up and about, it gets a grip of itself.

    Running through the heavy MIUI, the animations jitter and stutter every once in a while. Coming from Xiaomi’s very own Mi 11X, I felt the difference.

    But I am a reviewer, so I took my chances and decided to game on this device. Honestly, if you are okay with running low to medium graphics on CODM, you are ready to ignore frame drops, and willing to take some heat from the device, you’re good to go. Lighter games like Among Us works just fine.

    If you are choosing this device, however, it’s primarily because it offers 5G. The Dimensity 700 was created not to win gaming championships or be a powerhouse of demanding tasks. It was created to offer 5G capabilities at the lowest possible prices. All other devices from competing brands offer the same chipset.

    The Redmi Note 10T 5G trumps them all when it comes to the number of 5G bands it offers. A total of 7 bands on the 5G wavelength itself means better support for the new-gen telecommunication service whenever it arrives. Most of its rivals and phones from a higher price segment offer just one!

    Camera – Gets the job done

    The cameras on the Note 10T 5G are a mixed bag. The primary 48MP sensor does a decent job outdoors. Even with drab rainy weather outside, it managed to click some decent pics.

    But it’s still a camera on a budget smartphone. The images are grainy and noisy. The colours are washed out, and the images lack detail. Comparing the Redmi Note 10 with the same 48MP sensor, the differences are significant.

    It’s a decent enough device for videos; however, in my testing scenarios, the videos came out to be stable, and auto-focus particularly worked well. The camera manages to understand well-lit, underlit, and backlit objects and adapts quickly enough. The microphone quality is also good in indoor conditions.

    Also, I would’ve liked a wide-angle camera instead of a depth and macro sensor.

    Also Read: Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro Review – A Much Needed Flagship Killer

    Battery & Speakers – Enough grunt

    The battery at 5000mAh is big. It’s enough to run the device on moderate usage for the entire day and still have some juice left. The in-box charger is rated at 22.5W, but the device maxes out at 18W. Why didn’t Xiaomi just throw in an 18W charger?

    Charging the 5000mAh device at 18W is a tedious task, and if you try plonking in a bigger charger, you’ll just end up heating the device. The only upside is the reasonably good battery life.

    The speakers on the Note 10T 5G get plenty loud, and that’s about it. The sound is directional and not as complete as one would like. Guess that’s again a handicap installed by the price point.

    Redmi Note 10T 5G – Verdict – Democratizing 5G

    The Redmi Note 10T 5G doesn’t excel in any particular field but gets the job done well enough. The build quality is great, and so is the display. The battery backup is good as well. While the camera isn’t the best, it’s hard to find faults at such a tight price point. The device ends up being a good recommendation if you’re in the market for a 5G ready phone.

    However, if 5G isn’t a must-have for you, then the Redmi Note 10 should be a great choice owing to its Value-For-Money factor. Otherwise, you can also look for the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Pro Max if you want a good all-rounder under Rs. 20,000.

    REVIEW OVERVIEW
    Design and Build
    Display
    Performance
    Software
    Battery Life
    Camera
    Value For Money
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    redmi-note-10t-5g-review-5g-normalizedThe Redmi Note 10T 5G doesn’t excel in any particular field but gets the job done well enough. The build quality is great, and so is the display. The battery backup is good as well. While the camera isn’t the best, it’s hard to find faults at such a tight price point. The device ends up being a good recommendation if you're in the market for a 5G ready phone.

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