Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Hands-On

Xiaomi is truly offering a lot when it comes to their Redmi Note series. Recently, we just got our hands on the Redmi Note 10S, which is more affordable than the Redmi Note 10 Pro but packs better hardware and camera specs over the vanilla Redmi Note 10. So keep on reading for our quick hands-on of this device.

Checking out its design, the Redmi Note 10S looks almost identical to the non-pro Redmi Note 10. The only difference they have is that silver lining on the main camera at the back. Other than that, you get the same elegant-looking glasstic design with a metal frame and sleek camera module that seems to have a touch of glass. Catered in the protruding module are 4 rear cameras and the LED flash. The unit we have is in the classic Onyx Gray color, but it’s also available in Pebble White and Ocean Blue. I think the Pebble White looks really chic.

Just like its siblings, the Note 10S is IP53 splash-proof, so some rain would be fine. It’s compact to grip, but we do suggest slapping a case on because this is such a fingerprint magnet.

On the left side, we have the triple card tray for two nano-sized SIM cards and a microSD card.

While located on the right are the volume keys and the slightly arced power/lock button that doubles as the fingerprint scanner.

Up top, there’s a loudspeaker, IR blaster, and secondary microphone.

At the bottom are the 3.5mm audio jack, main microphone, USB-C port, and another loudspeaker. The dual speaker setup is truly refreshing to see—especially in its price range.

Upfront is also the same display as the vanilla Redmi Note 10. That’s a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay with nice thin bezels and a punch hole notch on the upper middle. Above that, you can find an earpiece. We get Gorilla Glass 3 for protection but sadly it doesn’t have a pre-installed screen protector.

Specifically, its got a resolution of 2400 x 1080px and up to 1100 nits of peak brightness. This display definitely looks vibrant with very good outdoor visibility. However, unlike the Pro models, there’s no 90 or 120Hz refresh rate here so it only has the standard 60Hz.

As much as this 10S has a lot of physical similarities to the regular Note 10, its upgrade can be seen within its internals. Under the hood, it’s equipped with a MediaTek Helio G95 chipset, together with a Mali-G76 MC4 GPU, a higher 8GB of RAM, and 128GB UFS 2.2 internal storage. As for software, it’s running on Android 11 skinned with Xiaomi’s MIUI12.5.

Keeping the Note 10S running is a large 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging, which is great for an affordable daily driver.

When it comes to cameras, its quad-cam setup is composed of a 64MP main, an 8MP ultra-wide, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. Meanwhile on that punch hole notch is a 13MP front shooter. We’ll get into this a little deeper in our full review. But for now, here are a few sample photos that we got:

This Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is officially available for PHP 11,990USD 204INR 17,321EUR 195CNY 1,488 which is PHP 2,000USD 34INR 2,889EUR 32CNY 248 more compared to the vanilla Redmi Note 10 version. We’re not really sure why Xiaomi keeps releasing an in-between range like this in their Redmi Note series, but if I’d want something better than the regular Note 10 variant then I’d most likely consider the Pro version. But anyway, we’ll see in our full review coming soon. It might be an effective strategy for the brand as they still kept producing them.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S specs:
6.43-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED DotDisplay
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
MediaTek Helio G95 octa-core CPU
Mali-G76 MC4 GPU
8GB LPDDR4X RAM
128GB UFS 2.2 storage
Quad-rear cameras:
• 64MP F1.79 main
• 8MP F2.2 ultra-wide
• 2MP F2.4 macro
• 2MP F2.4 depth
13MP F2.45 front camera
Dual-SIM
4G LTE
WiFi 5
NFC (market dependent)
Bluetooth 5.1
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
USB-C
IR blaster
Fingerprint scanner (side)
Face Unlock
Dual-speakers
3.5mm audio jack
IP53 splash-proof
MIUI 12.5 (Android 11)
5,000mAh battery w/ 33W fast charging
160.46 × 74.5 × 8.29 mm
178.8 g
Ocean Blue, Onyx Gray, Pebble White