If one thing has remained the same with the smartphone market, it is that consumers are still obsessed with high-quality images, along with audio and video capabilities, all packed into a pocket-sized device. This is typified by the various multi-lens camera systems that are present on most, if not all smartphones that have come out in the last 3 years.
The latest to join this rising trend is the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 duo. Specifications-wise, the Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro are virtually identical, except that the former comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the latter comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Oh, and never mind the fact that both the Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro very, very closely resemble the Huawei P30 Pro.
But its most striking feature is the 108MP camera set-up (yes, you heard us right, One hundred and eight megapixels) that sits in the middle of its penta camera setup, made up of these other four lenses:
- 12MP telephoto
- 5MP telephoto
- 20MP ultra wide-angle
- 2MP macro
And on the front, it comes with a 32MP AI selfie camera.
The 108MP camera has been jointly developed with Samsung, and Xiaomi claims that is able to take a single photo resolution of up to 12,032 x 9,024, which is almost 12 times as high as 4K high-definition resolution. This is supported by a super large 1/1.33-inch image sensor dedicated for this lens.
In fact, each of the other lenses have their own dedicated image sensors, making this one of the rare hardware that builds on its camera hardware ecosystem.
Display-wise, it contains a 6.47-inch 3D curved AMOLED display — another increasing trend in the market these days. The display packs a 600-nit brightness with a colour contrast ratio of 400,000:1, so the blacks are constantly deep, and the colour vibrance is constant throughout your usage.
Unlike the flagship phones from competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, Huawei Mate 30 Pro and OnePlus 7 Pro, the Mi Note 10 series comes with a headphone jack — a feature that is, sadly, considered a game-changer these days, what with all major flagship phones ditching the need for one (which is still a head-scratcher for many of us).
Another significant aspect of the Mi Note 10 series is its incredibly large 5,260mAh battery. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G 8nm processor, this baby can last for about two days, or even more, depending on your use-scenario. What’s even more interesting is that Xiaomi has included a 30W fast charger, so you’re effectively charging only three our four times in a single week. Now that is impressive.
We managed to test out the camera during the launch event, and first impressions are quite astonishing. The effect of the 108MP camera can’t be felt instantly, since it takes 27MP photos by default, but once the settings are tweaked, and when you zoom in to see those fine details on a computer, you’ll be amazed. For what is effectively a mid-tier smartphone, its image fidelity is pretty crisp, which makes this quite good for photography. Colours are pretty punchy and vibrant, and none too shabby, either.
Truth be told though, beauty is important but from our initial use, the 108MP camera is a bit of an overkill, but if you’re all about high-fidelity images that can be cropped to no end, then this is the smartphone for you. And as a plus, it’s quite affordable compared to the competitor flagships devices. Let’s put it this way – there is a high chance that Samsung will probably use this 108MP camera lens on its 2020 Galaxy S11 flagship, but it won’t be at this price point.
In any case, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 will be launching in Singapore on December 7, 2019, and will retail for S$699. The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro will launch a week later, on December 14, and will retail for S$799. Both phones will come in three colours – Midnight Black, Glacier White, Aurora Green – and will be available through all Mi Stores in Singapore, as well as on the official Xiaomi Lazada flagship store.
Specifications
| Model | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro |
| Cameras | Rear108MP ultra high-resolution camera, 1/1.33” super sensor, 1.6μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel (f/1.69AF)12MP telephoto camera, f/2.020MP ultra wide-angle camera, f/2.22MP macro camera, 1.75μm pixel sizeNight mode 2.0, ShootSteady video, Vlog mode, 960fps macro slow motion Front32MP AI selfie camera, 1.6μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel, f/2.0 | |
| Display | 6.47” curved AMOLED displayCorning Gorilla Glass 5 (front and back)d600nit (HBM) / 430nit (typ) maximum brightnessColour contrast ratio: 400000:1 (min), NTSC: DCI-P3Always-on display supported | |
| CPU + GPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G8nm processorKryo 470 CPU, Octa-core CPU, up to 2.2GHzAdreno 618 GPU | |
| RAM + Storage | 6GB + 128GB | 8GB + 256GB |
| Battery | 5,260mAh (30W fast charger included) | |
| Connectivity | Dual 4G standbySupports multi-functional NFCUSB Type-C3.5mm headphone jack | |
| Security | In-screen fingerprint sensorFace unlock | |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 74.2 x 9.67mm | |
| Weight | 208g | |
| Colours | Midnight Black, Glacier White, Aurora Green | |
| Price | S$699 | S$799 |
| Availability | 7 December 2019 | 14 December 2019 |
Marion has a serious RPG addiction. Sometimes it bleeds into real life; he forgets to sleep because he thinks he has a Witcher’s body clock. Forgive him in advance if he suddenly blurts out terms such as “Mind Flayer” and “Magic Missile”, because never once does he stop thinking about his next Dungeons & Dragons game.
Edwin Teo
Trinity Sun
