Xiaomi has prepared three phones for this fall, namely the Xiaomi Mi 10T, 10T Pro and the 10T Lite. The latter smartphone is currently one of the cheapest 5G phones of the moment and a midranger that has a 120Hz screen. The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite is therefore the device that we take a closer look at in this review.
Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
MSRP from € 279,-Colors Grey, Blue, Rose Gold
OS Android 10 (MIUI 12)
Screen 6.67 inch LCD (2400 x 1080, 120 Hz)
Processor Snapdragon 750G
RAM 6GB
Storage 64 or 128 GB
Battery 4820 mAh
Camera 64, 8, 2 and 2 megapixels (rear), 16 megapixels (front)
Connectivity 4G (LTE), Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC
Format 16.5 x 7.7 x 0.90 cm
Weight 214.5 grams
Other Fingerprint scanner in the power button
Website www.mi.com/nl 7 Score 70
- Pros
- Cheap on 5G (for now)
- Value for money
- 120Hz screen
- Negatives
- Camera system
- No support for 'real' 5G
- MIUI can take getting used to
At the time of writing, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite is the first smartphone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor. This is an octa-core processor, which features two cores clocked at 2.22 GHz and six cores clocked at 1.80 GHz. Although that processor has built-in 5G support for the mmWave frequencies, it is unfortunately not the case that the device has the necessary antennas. That does not mean that there is no support for the new mobile network, since you can use the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite on the frequencies available in the Netherlands.
However, real 5G is still in the future for the time being. At the time of writing, there are already 5g networks and subscriptions, but a really big speed increase is yet to come. This is because the required 3.5GHz band will not be auctioned until 2022. There is a difference in speed between 4G and the current implementation of 5G, but the difference is not very large. In that regard, it is a pity that the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite is no longer future-proof. Because as soon as the new frequencies are available, you cannot take advantage of them with the Mi 10T Lite.
Slower Memory: Is That Bad?
The device is equipped with 6 GB of lpdd4x RAM. So that's enough working memory, but a slower kind. Fortunately, you hardly notice this in practice. Apps start up quickly, you can easily switch from app to app and at no point do we encounter annoying crashes. It's a trade-off that Xiaomi has made for you: by using a slightly slower memory, the price can be reduced. It's up to you to take that for granted.
The same goes for the storage space. You can choose from 64 or 128 GB of internal memory. This is also a somewhat older version than the current standard that you often find in more expensive smartphones, namely UFS 2.1 and 2.2 respectively. We do not charge the smartphone that this is the case, as it is a matter of making concessions. And that's fine, if you a: don't plan to pay the top price for a smartphone and b: your daily activities don't really require the highest speed at all.
Many smartphone makers active in this segment save money in these ways, so it's not a strange practice at all. However, not every manufacturer is completely open about this and does not make that info available without a search. That is why it is nice to see that you at least know what you are getting into with this Xiaomi device before you bring it into your home. Furthermore, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite has a battery with a capacity of 4820 mAh, which is quickly charged with the included 33 watt charger. There is no wireless charging available. The battery lasts about a day and a half with normal use, with the 120Hz mode activated.
Nice big screen, with camera hole
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite has a nice large 6.67-inch LCD screen, just like its more expensive brothers 10T and 10T Pro. The resolution is the same, namely 2400 by 1080 pixels. This results in a pixel density of just under 395 pixels per inch (ppi). More than fine for a lower priced device. It is usually said that anything above 400 ppi provides a sharp and detailed image on smartphone screens, so that we are five pixels per inch short is not a big problem. In addition, the colors come out well and the contrast is also very solid.
The screen does suffer from typical LCD things. For example, a shadowed edge is clearly visible on the edges of the phone. That is inherent in the image technology and nothing that only applies to the Mi 10T Lite, but it remains striking. The 120Hz screen is incredibly smooth and makes short work of the choppy quality that 60Hz screens deliver. The display can also automatically adapt to the type of content on the screen. Videos in 24 Hz will not immediately receive artificial images, but can still be viewed in the original number of hertz.
What is a bit disappointing is the maximum brightness. That is because it remains stuck at 450 nits. Again: not bad for a budget phone, but in general it's nice when smartphone screens have a maximum number of nits of 600 more. In terms of audio, this time you can count on stereo speakers that produce clear, intelligible sound. Nothing to write home about, but at least it doesn't get cacophonous any time soon.
Four cameras on the back
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite has a round camera module with no fewer than four cameras on the back. There is a 64-megapixel wide-angle lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2 megapixel macro camera (for photos up close) and a 2 megapixel depth sensor. The standard application for the camera also offers a large number of functions, such as a Pro mode and support for high dynamic range, so that you can exert a lot of influence on the quality of the snapshots. There is also artificial intelligence that automatically adjusts photos.
The difference in photos you take with the AI mode and HDR mode on is significant. Photos without those extras look a bit more natural, but also a bit faded. With both things activated you see that colors stand out more against each other and that certain details stand out much better. Other aspects, such as light falling on objects (such as the car in the photos) stand out from the images. However, that is something you like or not and therefore depends on your personal taste. In any case, it's good to see that the cameras can take sharp, colorful and detailed photos.
We cannot recommend zooming in, either during shooting or afterwards. Then you notice that the quality is somewhat disappointing. And we've already set the camera to take pictures in the highest quality. But to be fair: for this amount you will not find better very quickly, except perhaps with the budget versions of the Google Pixel or Sony Xperia smartphones.
Android 10, MIUI 12
The smartphone runs on Android 10, with the Xiaomi software shell MIUI 12 on top. Although it is a pity that Android 11 is not immediately included, it is not very strange either. The upgrade is still young and Xiaomi in particular needs time to master it. The software shell changes quite a bit in the appearance and interface of Android. If you're not familiar with the manufacturer's work, this system can feel like something that doesn't come close to Android. That is not always an advantage, unless of course you find it pleasant to work with.
Although the settings menu is arranged differently and the quick menu that you pull down via the home screen also looks different, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite does offer everything that an Android phone has to offer. Some settings are more prominently displayed, while others are more hidden. At such a moment it is nice that a search function has also been added to the menu, so that you can quickly bring out the dark mode for the system, for example. A mode that is fortunately also present on the Mi 10T Lite.
MIUI 12 does a few things differently compared to version 11. For example, you can now use movement-based navigation, which was introduced with Android 10, and there is a new appearance. So also for Xiaomi users there will undoubtedly be something that works just a little differently, but it does not disturb anywhere. The system is well-arranged and colorful in appearance and is basically similar to iOS. Furthermore, there are more privacy options available, which is always an advantage in our booklet. No data will be collected for which you do not give permission.
It is unfortunately not clear how many Android upgrades the device will receive. Xiaomi has not disclosed anything about this.
Conclusion
For less than 300 euros you can get a 5G phone that doesn't look bad, has a solid build quality, takes reasonable photos (without zooming in) and has a well-organized operating system. You're not quite prepared for the future of 5G, simply because antennas are missing, you may need to learn how to use MIUI, and you have to deal with somewhat outdated hardware - but these are not things that really stand in the way of an otherwise pleasant smartphone -experience. It is also nice to see that there is a headphone jack and that the fingerprint scanner, on the side, usually works quickly.
In the same segment you will also find the Poco X3 smartphone, also from Xiaomi. Both phones have almost the same specifications, but the Poco does have a larger battery. So if you think that's an important aspect, you'd better go for the X3. The Mi 10T Lite does have a better processor and a better front camera.
If you have a little more to spend, the OnePlus Nord can also serve as a midranger that you can use for the time being. That device also has an AMOLED screen, a faster processor and a slightly higher pixel density. In terms of battery life, the Xiaomi is the better option here. If you find an almost bare Android experience important, you will soon end up with a OnePlus or of course the Pixel phones from Google.
