Redmi Note 10 Pro Max review: a kick-ass smartphone

The Redmi Note series is known for providing premium features in the mid-range segment. And, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max (India) / Note 10 Pro (Global) continues the tradition. It brings an AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, a 108MP primary camera, stereo speakers, a massive battery with fast charging, and more – all under INR 20,000 / USD 300! But what are the numbers if they don’t translate to real-world usage? I’m glad to report that these numbers convert to an exhilarating experience for a device that’s priced competitively. Let’s take a deep dive into its capabilities and limitations with our Redmi Note 10 Pro Max review.

Design: Gorgeous all around

Xiaomi has introduced a new EVOL design language with the Redmi Note 10 series. The switch from Aura design from the previous generation benefits the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max to keep the weight under 200 grams while maintaining a slim profile. You might mistake it for a premium smartphone, thanks to the use of glass on EVOL design. The in-hand feel and grip is one of the most comfortable for a 6.6-inch+ smartphone. 

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max review

We received the Vintage Bronze and Dark Night color variants but it is also available in Glacial Blue. Personally, I prefer the Bronze color option since it doesn’t attract a lot of smudges and fingerprints making me recommend you to use the device without cover whole-heartedly. On the other hand, the Dark Night variant has a glossy finish to it, which makes the back panel reflective. Oh, by the way, Xiaomi bundles a silicone case with this phone so you are covered.

You’d mistake it for a premium device when you hold it

Starting with the top, you’ll find a speaker, IR blaster, and a 3.5mm audio jack, which is very near to my heart since I prefer listening to music on wired headphones. The right edge houses the SIM-card tray, while you get the volume rockers and the fingerprint sensor on the right edge, which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner. I didn’t have any problems with biometric authentication. It was easy to set up, and worked almost every time. At the bottom, you get a UBS Type-C port and another speaker grille. 

design

Coming to the back panel, it houses a quad camera setup in a vertically-aligned module. Fortunately, the housing is not the same as every other smartphone in the market. The smartphone uses a metallic frame to hold together the glass on the front and the back of the device.

Display: Smooth and Vibrant

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max apps

The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max features a 6.67-inch display that offers a high refresh rate of 120Hz. However, it is not dynamic in nature like that of the Mi 10i. That said, I did not miss anything. The 120Hz is smooth and there were minimal stutters. Out of the box, the device is set at 60Hz so you’ll have to go to display settings to enable the high refresh rate. On the top lies the protection of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. 

The display is claimed to reach a peak brightness of 1200 nits (for supported HDR content). Practically, it is easily visible under direct sunlight and can go down enough so that you can read ebooks in the bed. I enjoyed watching Zack Snyder’s Justice League on this device. On the other hand, brighter content like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was fun too.

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max notch

Best in class media consumption experience

The colors are vibrant and bright. Pair that with the set of stereo speakers and you’ll enjoy consuming content on the smartphone. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max offers the best in class experience for media consumption in its price range.

Performance: Satisfactory Experience

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max lifestyle

The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G SoC, which is a 4G chipset based on an 8nm process. While some might not like the lack of 5G, in my opinion, it’s better than the company has invested in other departments rather than providing 5G since we are likely still a few years away from 5G reaching the masses. The chipset is paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. 

We received the 6GB variant. It is worth mentioning that RAM management isn’t the best out there. Even if you have four apps open in the background and you go back to the first app, it will restart. However, it is not a major issue and can be fixed easily with an update. 

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max design

The SoC is capable of providing smooth day-to-day performance as I didn’t come across any major lags in opening or closing apps or browsing through the UI or while playing games like Asphalt. It doesn’t get hot with intensive tasks and is generally a fast phone. Most users would be satisfied with the performance on offer here.

Battery: Lasts a Day Easily

The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max packs a 5,020mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging, which is the same as its predecessor. I had the display set to 120Hz, watched a few YouTube videos. streamed content online, and captured some images. Despite all of this, the phone lasted the entire day easily. Moreover, the device can be charged from 10% to 100% in under 80 minutes. Also, you get the 33W charger in the box.

Camera: 108MP for the masses!

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max camera module

The smartphone sports a 108MP primary camera that is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The primary camera is a Samsung ISOCELL HM2 1/1.52-inch sensor with 0.7µm pixels sitting behind an f/1.9 lens and shoots 12MP (9-in-1) pixel-binned photos by default. This is a versatile set of cameras, and the company is offering fun modes to make use of it.

Starting with the primary camera, it captures detailed images in well-lit environments. It is quick to set focus, and the dynamic range on offer is good too. As for the colors, they are mostly accurate but the greens could be oversaturated at times. Plus, the 108MP mode needs to handle shadows better. That said, a good amount of details offer quality images. Overall, the primary camera performance is really good for the price range.

In low-light situations, the Night Mode 2.0 does a good job. You get a slew of features with VLOG, Clone mode, Panorama, and one of my favorites, long exposure. The wide-angle lens comes with a noticeable fish-eye effect. Plus, the image quality is poor as compared to the primary lens. 

The macro camera is the real champ here

Coming to the 5MP macro camera, it is a champ. It captures detailed images, with vibrant colors. However, you need to make sure that there’s plenty of light. In the dim light, you’ll not get as many details in the images. Plus, your subject needs to be stationary. That said, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max’s macro camera is the best in the segment. 

As for the 2MP depth sensor, it is present to provide better quality portrait shots, and it does the job. The edge separation is good, while the blur effect doesn’t seem artificial. On the front lies a 16MP selfie shooter, which does a pretty good job for the most part. 

The smartphone is capable of shooting 1080p@30fps with EIS for stability. It maxes out at 4K@30fps for the primary camera. 

Software: A slew of features and lesser ads

The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max runs Android 11 with MIUI 12 on top. The usual set of MIUI goodness is here. You also get an Always On Display (AOD) but it lasts under 10 seconds so it is not really “always-on.” Plus, I’m glad to report that the phone didn’t push pesky ads. The ad situation is under control here with the Themes app and GetApps pushing out ads, which can be turned off.

I noticed another bug related to the Instagram app. When switching between apps and coming back to Instagram, it inverts the colors of some UI elements as you can see in the screenshots above. It can be fixed with an update.

That said, the overall UI experience was smooth and enjoyable.

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max review: Specs

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
Display 120Hz SuperAMOLED
6.67-inch FHD+
1200nits peak brightness
Rear Cameras 108MP primary
8MP wide
5MP macro
2MP depth
Front Camera 16MP
Dimensions 164mm x 76.5mm x 8.1mm
Weight 192g
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G
RAM + Storage 6GB+64GB
6GB+128GB
8GB+128GB
Battery 5,020mAh
33W charging
Other features Dual SIM
IR blaster
4G LTE
Colors Onyx Gray
Glacier Blue
Gradient Bronze

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max review: Verdict

recommended award

With a SuperAMOLED display at 120Hz, premium build quality, 108MP camera, one of the best macro sensors in the segment, and excellent battery life, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is our recommendation for best bang for the buck in the mid-range segment.Redmi logo

The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max rewrites the rules of what a mid-range smartphone is capable of doing. With its AMOLED display, 108MP camera, stereo cameras, big battery, and superior build quality, the smartphone is an easy recommendation for INR 18,999 / USD 279 starting price. 

Pros Cons
+ Gorgeous design – Wide-Angle camera could be improved
+ Vibrant AMOLED display with smooth 120Hz
+ Genuinely good 108MP camera
+ Lasts an entire day easily

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Redmi Note 10 Pro Max hands-on preview: An ambitious mid-ranger

With the Redmi Note 10 Pro (global, Note 10 Pro Max in India) Xiaomi is picking features from its flagships and offering them in the mid-range segment. The latest Redmi device features a 108MP camera, a Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a design that could put some flagships to shame. “They must be charging a fortune for that,” you’d say, but it’s not the case. Surprisingly, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max starts at INR 19,000 / $279 (global). I’ve been using it for the past three days, and here’s my Redmi Note 10 Pro Max hands-on preview.

Redmi Note 10 Pro MAx back colors

The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max features a glass back with curved sides. Xiaomi is calling it the “Evol” design. It comes in three color options of Dark Night, Vintage Bronze and Glacial Blue. We received the first two colors. The Black is glossy and attracts fingerprints, which can be wiped away with ease. On the other hand, the Vintage Bronze color is unique and looks gorgeous.

The in-hand feel is flagship-grade

It is comfortable to hold and operate with one hand despite the screen being north of 6.5-inches. It’s a big phone but doesn’t feel like a solid brick in the hand. Xiaomi managed to shave-off some weight from the predecessor, and the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max weighs 192 grams. It is comparably lighter than some phones of the same size.

Redmi Note 10 Pro MAx camera module

There is a rectangular camera module on the back, which houses four cameras. It sports a two-stepped design. The primary 108MP sensor gets a large silver border while the rest of the cameras are stacked within the black island. On the right edge, you’ll find the usual volume rockers and the power button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner. It is quick, and I’ve had no issues thus far. You also get a double-tap gesture on the power button that you can program to trigger the Google Assistant, pull down the notifications shade, turn on the torch, among other things.

Yay! A headphone jack

At the top lies the 3.5mm audio jack, second speaker grille, and an IR blaster. I’m very glad that they included the headphone jack as I listen to music on my AKG K371 that offers a significant sound boost in wired form. The device offers IP53 rating for water and dust resistance. 

Xiaomi is going all-out with the display

Turning over the phone, you are greeted by a 6.67-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display that offers a 120HZ refresh rate. Notably, it is not dynamic like the Mi 10i, but I’m very happy with the consistent performance (more on that in the full review). Xiaomi has gone all-out with the display as it offers 1200nits peak brightness, 100 percent DCI-P3 wide color gamut support, and TÜV Rheinland certification for low blue light emission.

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max punch-hole cutout

On the top lies a 16MP selfie shooter in one of the tiniest punch-hole cutouts in the segment. It comes with a pre-applied plastic screen protector, which I managed to scratch within my short duration with the phone. The display lies under the protection of Gorilla Glass 5.

On the performance front, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G chipset. I’m yet to put it through thorough use, and haven’t played any games yet. However, it should be enough for the device. That said, we’ll test the performance in our full review. The Snapdragon 732G SoC means you get no 5G support. And, for a country like India, it shouldn’t be a deal breaker. Xiaomi is offering LPDDR4X RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, and a 5,020mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. 

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max back

The 108MP camera is a first in this segment

Coming to the optics, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max sports a quad rear camera setup. It is led by a whopping 108MP sensor, which is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 5MP macro shooter, which is touted to offer “super macro” capabilities. Xiaomi says it has used a macro lens with 2X zoom. Theoretically, it should allow you to capture macro shots even from a distance. Oh, and, the cameras are plenty versatile! Here are some camera samples:

The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max runs MIUI 12 based on Android 11. It will be upgraded to MIUI 12.5 in the coming months. It would allow you to remove all the bloatware that you don’t use. So far, I haven’t received any ads apart from the GetApps app.

After our Redmi Note 10 Pro Max hands-on preview, I can safely says that it is shaping up to be a promising device. I’ll go in-depth in my upcoming review later this week. Stay tuned! Also, comment down below if you have any questions.

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At least one Redmi Note 10 will pack a 120Hz Super AMOLED display

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Xiaomi is all set to launch the Redmi Note 10 series in India on March 4. Ahead of the official unveiling, the company revealed one very important aspect of the device earlier today. It announced that the Redmi Note 10 series will feature a Super AMOLED display instead of LCD panels found on the Redmi Note series up until now. Now, we have more confirmed details on the upcoming devices.

The latest development comes from Xiaomi’s Twitter account, which posted a teaser of the upcoming launch. It also confirmed that at least one smartphone in the Redmi Note 10 series will feature a 120Hz refresh rate on the Super AMOLED display.

This seems to be a game-changing move from the company. Up until now, Redmi Note devices have always had an LCD display. Even Xiaomi’s own Mi 10i – which lies in the same price segment as the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is expected to launch – features a 120Hz refresh rate with an LCD display. We expect the highest-end variant, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max to feature the high refresh rate on its AMOLED display.

As per previous leaks, the Redmi Note 10 Pro will be a 4G device. It might sport a  quad-camera setup on the back with a 64MP primary camera, a wide-angle camera, a macro camera, and a depth sensor. The device is tipped to be powered by the Snapdragon 732G SoC and pack a 5,050mAh battery. 

On the other hand, the Redmi Note 10 is tipped to feature a 6.53-inch FHD+ display. It could pack a massive 5,000mAh battery, and an unspecified octa-core processor clocked at 2GHz, paired with up to 8GB of RAM. The smartphone could come with up to 128GB of storage. It is said to include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a triple rear camera setup.

The post At least one Redmi Note 10 will pack a 120Hz Super AMOLED display appeared first on Pocketnow.

It's only fair to share...Share on RedditShare on FacebookShare on Google+Tweet about this on TwitterPin on PinterestShare on Tumblr

At least one Redmi Note 10 will pack a 120Hz Super AMOLED display

Xiaomi is all set to launch the Redmi Note 10 series in India on March 4. Ahead of the official unveiling, the company revealed one very important aspect of the device earlier today. It announced that the Redmi Note 10 series will feature a Super AMOLED display instead of LCD panels found on the Redmi Note series up until now. Now, we have more confirmed details on the upcoming devices.

The latest development comes from Xiaomi’s Twitter account, which posted a teaser of the upcoming launch. It also confirmed that at least one smartphone in the Redmi Note 10 series will feature a 120Hz refresh rate on the Super AMOLED display.

For reference, up until now, Redmi Note devices have always had an LCD display. Even Xiaomi’s own Mi 10i – which lies in the same price segment as the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is expected to launch – features a 120Hz refresh rate with an LCD display. the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, the highest-end variant could feature the high refresh rate on its AMOLED display.

As per previous leaks, the Redmi Note 10 Pro might sport a  quad-camera setup on the back with a 64MP primary camera, a wide-angle camera, a macro camera, and a depth sensor. The latter two are likely to be 2MP sensors. It is tipped to be powered by the Snapdragon 732G SoC and pack a 5,050mAh battery. 

In contrast, the Redmi Note 10 is tipped to come equipped with a 6.53-inch FHD+ display. It could pack a massive 5,000mAh battery, and an unspecified octa-core processor clocked at 2GHz. It could be paired with up to 8GB of RAM. The smartphone might come with up to 128GB of storage. It is said to include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a triple rear camera setup.

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