First look at Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite - a remake smartphone disguised as a new model

Xiaomi brought Mi Note 10 Lite to Russia. This simplified version of Mi Note 10 is sold for 33 thousand rubles. But is it worth giving that kind of money for a smartphone that is a downgrade of last year's model? We share our first impressions of the device.

Design

Mi Note 10 Lite is a typical member of the smartphone family with an edge-to-edge screen, aluminum frame and glass back. The company tried to beat the sore design with new colors: in addition to black and white, a purple version is available. We are testing the most mundane black version.

However, the appearance of the smartphone cannot be called bad. The assembly and materials are of high quality, the model looks expensive and laconic. Even a massive block of cameras is neatly inscribed into the back of the device and - lo and behold! - does not stick out at all.

Almost the entire front panel is occupied by a curved screen at the edges. The front camera is inscribed in a waterdrop notch and is responsible not only for taking selfies, but also for recognizing faces. There are no auxiliary sensors, so the face unlock function does not work in the dark - you have to use the fingerprint scanner built into the screen.

On the right are the power and volume buttons, as well as the Dual SIM slot. The bottom end is reserved for a microphone, a multimedia speaker, USB Type-C and 3.5 mm connectors. Above there is a second microphone and an infrared port for controlling equipment.

The smartphone is rather big and very slippery, so it is better to immediately put on the silicone case, which was prudently included in the kit. In addition, the case protects against false presses along the curved edges of the display.

Screen

Mi Note 10 Lite is equipped with a 6.47 ‑ inch Full HD + display, which provides a pixel density of 398 ppi. The matrix is ​​made using Super AMOLED technology and uses the Diamond pixel organization - the latter reduces the clarity of the picture in comparison with LCD-screens of the same resolution. However, grain is not as noticeable as the flagship model Mi 10.

The contrast level is maximum: in AMOLED-screens, black pixels are not highlighted and thus still save power. The brightness range and viewing angles are excellent too. HDR10 content is also supported. In the settings, you can calibrate the image to your liking, and at the same time enable the elimination of PWM flicker.

The only problem with the screen is color distortion at the edges, caused by the bending of the matrix. This is another reason to ditch curved screens in smartphones. Hopefully, one day manufacturers will begin to use common sense in this matter.

Sound and vibration

Unlike the Mi 10, the smartphone does not boast powerful stereo speakers. When playing music, the spoken speaker is not used in any way, and the speaker at the bottom end sounds loud, but practically without bass.

But the presence of a 3.5 mm audio jack will delight those who have not yet acquired wireless headphones. The built-in Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec is responsible for the sound, the quality and volume are sufficient for undemanding users.

Mi Note 10 Lite is equipped with a motor typical for Android ‑ smartphones. The vibration is quite clear and strong so as not to miss a call while the smartphone is in your pocket.

Cameras

The original Mi Note 10 was the first smartphone with a 108MP camera. The "lightweight" version cannot boast of such characteristics: the standard module takes pictures with a resolution of 64 megapixels. And taking into account the combination of four pixels into one final frame, it turns out to be 16 megapixels.

In addition to the standard module, the smartphone is equipped with an 8-megapixel "width", a 5-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel camera for macro shots. Front camera resolution is 16 megapixels.

Other features

The novelty is running Android 10 with the MIUI 11 shell. Compared to the pure "green robot", there is more flexible interface customization, reworked icons and notification curtain, as well as regularly pop-up recommendations from branded applications Xiaomi. Fortunately, the latter can be disabled in the settings menu.

Hardware platform - Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It is strange that Xiaomi decided to leave last year's processor: this somewhat beats the relevance of the device. Moreover, the company has a similarly priced model based on Snapdragon 765G - Mi 10 Youth Edition.

Out of the box, the new product runs quickly and smoothly, although it's worth seeing if the performance changes over time. Previously, this was a problem for Xiaomi devices: after a month they started to slow down.

What you definitely can't find fault with is autonomy. The battery capacity is 5 260 mAh - just enough for a day of active use. If you do not load your smartphone with games and shooting, you can stretch the operating time for two days. Comes with a 30W adapter that can refill the battery in an hour.

Subtotals

First of all, Mi Note 10 Lite impresses with its battery. You can expect that with longer use, the new product will show the same brilliant results in terms of autonomy, as the Mi Note 10. Also worth noting is the high-quality screen and laconic design.

However, the rest of the new product does not stand out from the competitors. Last year's hardware does not add any bonuses to the device either. In general, "top for their money" did not work out, and the Xiaomi lineup became even more cumbersome.

Buy

The author thanks Xiaomi for the device provided. The company had no way to influence the test result.