Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G review: when the price changes everything
This time the situation is a little different. Mi 10T Pro 5G arrives in Italy starting from 599 euros in the 8/128 Gigabyte version up to 649 euros for the configuration that provides 256 Gigabytes of internal memory. As successors to the successful Mi 9T series, many expected a more aggressive positioning. Mind you, these are still adequate figures for what is offered but that - in addition to putting it in direct competition with many other devices (OnePlus 8, Realme X50 Pro just to name a few) - they could also make it less attractive when compared with the older brother Mi 10. The latter is now available online at similar (sometimes even lower) figures and provides that extra something that the newcomer is missing.
Design and ergonomics: goodbye lightness
Mi 10T Pro 5G does not stand out for its originality. The shell is made of glass and is available in Cosmic Black, Lunar Silver, Aurora Blue colors. The first is the one in our possession and is certainly the least attractive of the three. The panel unfortunately holds too much fingerprints. The oleophobic treatment was therefore rejected. The rear glass also houses the photographic compartment, whose protrusion is really very evident. It certainly does not go unnoticed.The panel curves slightly on the sides before meeting the aluminum side frame, where on the right Xiaomi has placed the volume rocker and the biometric sensor for fingerprint recognition at the inside the power button. Personally I find this solution much more comfortable than the one that sees the sensor integrated under the screen, but it is precisely a personal judgment. In any case, operation is perfect, fingerprint recognition always occurs quickly. It is also possible to use face recognition to access the smartphone.
The lower edge houses the speaker, which together with the ear capsule offers stereo sound, of a quality that we can define as average. We then find the SIM trolley (there is no memory expansion, but two phone cards can be used at the same time) and the USB Type-C port for charging.
The first sensation as soon as you take hand Mi 10T Pro is of absolute solidity and good build quality. The dimensions equal to 165.1 x 76.4 x 9.3 mm and the weight of 218 grams contribute to convey this feeling, but we cannot say that it is a smartphone comfortable to carry with you, indeed it is bulky and heavy. If you are used to carrying it in a bag or using clothing with large and deep pockets, you will probably have no problem, but don't think that it will disappear easily in every pocket. In addition, the weight is not very well balanced, and it becomes difficult to hold and use it with one hand.
The screen is a 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel with Full-HD + resolution, HDR10 certified. All (or almost) all turned up their noses when we saw the absence of an AMOLED panel, present instead on MI 10. Everyone (or almost) has to change our minds. The display is of high quality and offers a satisfying visual experience, with great contrast, vibrant colors and excellent brightness, not to make you miss the AMOLED screen very much.
Automatic brightness works well and does not I've never been forced to act to adjust it manually. Outdoor visibility is discreet which - on very sunny days - could be a bit compromised also due to the reflections of the glass cover. And then there is the notification LED, which is now disappearing, but which is always a pleasure to find. It is small and discreet, in one word, perfect. On the other hand, the 3.5 mm audio jack that I personally always prefer to have available is missing.
One of the most advertised features by Xiaomi is the 144Hz refresh rate, a hardly usable value at the moment since it is not supported by tons of applications or games. In any case, the fluidity of the Mi 10T Pro display is undeniable. Furthermore, thanks to Adaptive Sync technology, the software automatically adapts the refresh rate to the content we are viewing, thus also optimizing energy consumption.
Excellent performance, autonomy that satisfies
We had no doubts about the performance of the Mi 10T Pro. Under the body we find the same hardware platform as Mi 10: Snapdragon 865, 8 Gigabytes of RAM and 128 or 256 Gigabytes of non-expandable internal memory. The Xiaomi smartphone did not disappoint at all, always showing itself to be fluid and responsive. Never any uncertainty or slowdown, even when put under stress.It is responsive and fluid in every operation, even with video games, where the high refresh rate of the screen is most visible. Heat dissipation is also very good, difficult to perceive on the back, even after a long use. In short, it has absolutely not failed to meet expectations.
Autonomy is also more than satisfactory. During our test, the 5,000 mAh battery (with a classic use mixed with work and entertainment) allowed us to use it for two days against almost 6 hours of screen on. In any case, even using it more intensely, you will arrive in the evening with a good percentage of residual charge. Then there is the 33W fast charging support, with charger included in the package where we also find a practical protective case.
The credit for these results also goes to the software optimization carried out by Xiaomi. Mi 10T Pro 5G arrives with customized Android 10 on board with the MUI 12 graphic interface that continues to improve day by day. In fact, the new interface is much cleaner than the previous ones without putting aside the many available functions as well as the customization possibilities.
Complete connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi ax dual-band, GPS A -GLONASS BDS Galileo, NFC, infrared port, obviously 5G. Too bad for the absence of the 3.5 mm audio jack already underlined above.
Camera: satisfactory but improved results
Mi 10T Pro 5G integrates three cameras on the back. Xiaomi once again chooses to follow the line introduced with Mi Note 10 and adopt the main 108 Megapixel sensor, produced by Samsung with optics with an f / 1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization. Accompanying it are a 13 Megapixel wide-angle (f / 2.4, 123 °) and a latest 5 Megapixel (f / 2.4) sensor for macros. In short, a configuration similar to that of the brother Mi 10.As you may have understood, a telephoto lens is missing, even if I must admit that the 2X zoom managed by the main sensor behaves very well managing to pull out satisfying shots. In general, the photos taken during the day are of a high standard both with the main sensor and with the wide angle that manages to minimize the classic distortion effect.
The colors are lively, very natural. The photos retain a good amount of detail. The shot and the processing of the image taken at the maximum resolution (108 MP) are really fast. Too bad that the result drops at night, where there is a significant loss of detail and digital noise takes over which tends to make the photo less realistic.
There is the night mode that manages to improve a little the scene, but we cannot use it with the wide-angle sensor whose performance - in the absence of sufficient light - drops drastically. On the other hand, macro shots are average. In short, the step forward that Xiaomi is making in the photographic field is undeniable but it still remains far from the results obtained by the top of the range Samsung or Huawei. In any case, net of the aspects that can be improved, we would like to promote the photographic sector.
Note on the software solutions developed by the Chinese manufacturer. The camera options are so many and meet the needs of those users who are looking for a way to create different content directly from their smartphone. The Clone function - for example - allows you to take several photos of the same subject in different positions and then create a single image. Or, the Double-Sided option allows you to record a video simultaneously with both the front and rear cameras.
Selfies taken with the 20 Megapixel front camera are also good, which can also create a satisfying portrait mode . You can also take advantage of the night mode with the front sensor. Videos can be recorded up to 8K resolution at 30 fps. The stabilization contributes to obtaining excellent results even if the advice is to shoot in 4K at 60 fps for more stable videos. Also, if you record at full resolution you can't switch between sensors to enlarge or narrow the scene.
Conclusion: who should buy it?
This time it's hard to find the ideal buyer for this smartphone. Mi 10T Pro is a smartphone that does not show any particular critical issues. Good screen, excellent autonomy and excellent performance. The list price of 599 euros is adequate for what is offered, but which - as mentioned at the beginning - may not do it honor especially when compared with the top of the range of rivals, already subject to depreciation. Same phenomenon that is touching the brother Mi 10 that you can buy at similar figures but which offers a more refined design and an AMOLED display.In short, it is a valid smartphone, but the quality / price ratio is time does not cry out to the miracle. Personally I was expecting that little bit more, which didn't exist. However, it could still be successful if - as often happens - in the coming months it will suffer the natural price drop. Despite this, it will certainly not have the road smoothed. The big challenge will be played right at home. Mi 10T Pro will not only have to contend with Mi 10 (which will continue to be more and more convenient) but also with Poco F2 Pro, which on the same official website is offered for 469 euros in the 8/256 GB version. The latter, however, is part of a brand still little known in our country.
Without forgetting the younger brother Mi 10T who - with 2 GB of RAM less and a 64 Mp camera instead of the 108 MP - has a list price of 499.90 euros. Paradoxically, this might be the most sensible choice for a potential buyer.
In short, Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro is a good product, but maybe it wasn't that necessary. Or at least, not at this list price.
