Test Reviews
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite test / review
Published on: 07-07-2020 / Modified: 24-03-2021
Xiaomi phones are classified into several ranges. There is the entry level with the Redmi brand, there is the high end with the Mi brand followed by a number, there is Poco for the mid-range high performance and there is since the end of 2019 the range Mi Note which comes to be between the Redmi range and Mi. Xiaomi had struck a big blow at the end of 2019 by launching the Mi Note 10 with its camera of 108 million pixels. 6 months later, Xiaomi takes the basics of the Mi Note 10 to launch a Mi Note 10 Lite which is almost exactly identical to the Mi Note 10, the main difference is at the photo module level. I did not intend to test this phone but when ordering a Mi 10 Lite, I received a Mi Note 10 Lite, so I took the opportunity to test it before sending it back.
Structure of my tests
I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.Price Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
The list below shows the prices for the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.The above links are affiliate links from companies such as Amazon, Gearbest, Aliexpress,... If you appreciate my work, I would be grateful if you could purchase these products through these links. It costs you absolutely nothing but I get a small commission that allows me to buy the material I test. Thank you very much!
Timeline
06/24/2020 I ordered the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite on Edwaybuy 06/27/2020 I receive the Mi Note 10 Lite instead of the Mi 10 Lite but before sending it back, I start the testWhy this phone?
As I said above, I did not intend to test the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite but as I received it by accident, it would have been a shame not to take advantage of it. I had not bought the Mi Note 10 launched in 2019 because even if it was interesting, it was too expensive compared to the budget that I set myself to buy phones. The Mi Note 10 Lite is an almost perfect copy of the Mi Note 10 with the exception of the photo sensor and a few other details. The Lite version therefore keeps the premium finish as well as the performance of the previous model and is positioned as a fairly powerful mid-range phone. The photo module has been replaced by a Sony IMX 686 which can also be found in the Poco F2 Pro or the Huawei P30 Pro, so this sensor has already proven itself elsewhere.Unpacking
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test avis review prueba opinion recensione photo 1](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
First configuration
The procedure for starting the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is identical to what can be found on other phones of the brand marketed with MIUI 11. I found that Xiaomi was irritating to want to offer its cloud and impose its applications but today Everyone does that and Xiaomi is far from the worst, I also find that Samsung offers a first experience that is much more restrictive.Finish
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test avis review prueba opinion recensione photo 4](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test avis review prueba opinion recensione photo 16](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test avis review prueba opinion recensione photo 21](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test avis review prueba opinion recensione photo 19](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test avis review prueba opinion recensione photo 14](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
The screen occupies 87% of the space with fairly fine borders. The front camera resumes the fashion of 2019 with a placement in the middle with a notch. Xiaomi thus offers a beautiful screen surface with a minimum of interruption, other brands do better but in this price range, you will not find many screens with a higher occupancy rate.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite takes over the body of the Mi Note 10 which cost more than € 500 at its launch while the Mi Note 10 Lite was between 250 and 300 at the time of its launch. In this price range, this level of finish is quite rare.
Specifications
The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone.I bought the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite in its 6Gb / 64Gb version, there is also a 6Gb / 128 Gb version and another 8 Gb / 128 Gb. n
CPU / GPU Performance
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite uses the same configuration as Mi Note 10 which costs double the price. We can either say that the Mi Note 10 was not powerful enough for its price or that the Mi Note 10 Lite offers the right level of power for its price. I would say it is neither. The Mi Note 10 Lite uses a Snapdragon 730G and an Adreno 618 for the graphics part, this places it somewhere between the Redmi Note 9s and the Redmi Note 8 Pro, these are both phones that cost around fifty euros less. The Mi Note 10 Lite offers good performance but if I take into account the price, it would have needed a little more power.
Benchmark Antutu/3DMark
I got a score of 270559 points with Antutu, this ranks the Mi Note 10 Lite close to Realme 6, Redmi Note 9s, Redmi Note 8 Pro in terms of performance. With this kind of performance you will be able to play for most people, sometimes having to choose a medium level of graphics. With 3D Mark I got a score of 2418 points, this places this phone in the same category as the test with Antutu.Gaming
To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is not a benchmark in terms of performance but it is powerful enough to run most games. You may sometimes have to make a concession in terms of graphics. With PUBG Mobile, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite works without problems.
![youtube preview](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2HrHgEyiXXs/maxresdefault.jpg)
Network performance
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite covers the vast majority of 3G / 4G frequencies in Europe. It is notably compatible with the B28 frequency which is used by Bouygues and Free in France.Signal 4G (before december 2020)
The ability to pick up the network correctly is an essential element for a phone but it is only very rarely measured. To measure a phone's ability to pick up the network, I perform a large number of measurements on the same cells to be able to compare phones under similar conditions. The signal is measured in dBm, a value of -90dBm indicates a worse signal than -70dBm. These measurements are therefore taken under real conditions and not in a laboratory, they are not scientific but give a good indication of performance.
I obtained an average signal of just over -99 dBm over more than 1000 measurements with the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite, this score is in the middle with fluctuations between -97 dBm and -103 dBm. It is not the best phone in its class but it will not cause you any problems unless you live in an area where the network coverage is very low.
Signal 4G (from December 2020)
I decided to change the methodology for measuring the network because I noticed that the configuration of the mobile network changes over time. This makes it more difficult to compare phones because the conditions are no longer exactly the same.
To overcome this problem, I set up a device that captures 24 hours a day about ten parameters from the mobile network (ex: cell id, rssi, rsrq, snr, frequency,...). I then place the phone next to the device for 24 to 48 hours taking the same measurements so that I can compare them.
Overview of the phones tested with this methodology
Download/Upload speed
To test the download speed, I have identified some 4G cells offering good performance where I test all my devices several times to see what download and upload speed they can achieve.
I got a download speed of 153 Mbps for download and a speed of 68 Mbps for upload. This is an excellent performance which suggests that this phone is able to combine frequencies because it is so close to the theoretical limit imposed by the network. It is one of the best scores I got in 4G.
Wifi performance
To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.Wifi signal
Near the router, I got an average signal of -19 dBm, it's a very good score which indicates a good sensitivity to wifi. From a distance, I measured -68 dBm, it's also a very good score.
Download/Upload speed
To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.A good sensitivity to wifi often indicates a good performance in download but I got an unexpected score with the Mi Note 10 Lite. I tested it on my main router which is usually the fastest and I couldn't get more than 78 Mbps for download. By testing the phone with my second router (which is connected behind my main router) I got almost 200 Mbps. This would seem to show that performance could be quite different depending on the router. This is the first time I have encountered this problem.
GPS performance
To test the quality of the GPS signal I use the Offline Maps application and I make the same train trip in pedestrian mode. Why? In pedestrian mode, the GPS does not artificially correct the signal to stick to the road, it has no markings, so you can see the actual position. I then use an application to measure the accuracy of the signal.
![youtube preview](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LOMLDY_4wgo/maxresdefault.jpg)
Battery range
[battery product="xiaomi-mi-note-10-lite" capa="5260" lg="en"] The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite has a huge 5260 mAh battery which will give you a very comfortable autonomy. I usually find that batteries with as much capacity are used to mask a lack of energy efficiency of the phone but this is not the case here. Even if the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite does not manage to exceed the Motorola G8 Power in efficiency, it is not very far in the ranking.Photo camera test
To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.Hardware
The main difference between the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and its Lite version is the photo module. The Mi Note 10 uses a 108 million pixel Samsung sensor which is a reference in terms of photo quality while the Mi Note 10 Lite is equipped with a Sony IMX 686 sensor which is also a reference in terms of photo quality. This sensor is also present in the Poco F2 Pro or the Huawei P30 Pro.Default app
![youtube preview](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E3p6mh6_daE/maxresdefault.jpg)
Photo quality
Photo test / studio
First example: ƒ / 1.89 1/151 5.43 mm 100 ISO
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo studio 1](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo studio 2](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo studio 3](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
Photo test / sunny
First example: ƒ / 2.2 1/991 1.94 mm 100 ISO
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo sun 98](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo sun 97 1](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo sun 96](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo sun 70](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
Photo test / cloudy
First example: ƒ / 1.89 1/1836 5.43 mm 100 ISO
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo sun 31](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo sun 32](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
Test photo / night
First example: ƒ / 1.89 1/14 5.43 mm 3375 ISO
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo night 13](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo night 4](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo night 6](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite test review avis recensione prueba opinion beoordeling photo night 2](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
Video quality
Stabilisation
![youtube preview](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b4eONSnpx00/maxresdefault.jpg)
Video normale conditions
![youtube preview](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/45H7IhNrkFM/maxresdefault.jpg)
Video low light
![youtube preview](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vlJ1OAQeqbs/maxresdefault.jpg)
Audio quality
To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.Xiaomi used to produce either phones with a very powerful sound but a high level of distortion or phones less powerful but with a more controlled sound. I note that on most of the phones I have tested this year, Xiaomi has chosen a lower sound power but a more controlled distortion. The external speaker produces correct sound with treble which lacks precision when the volume is high but if you use headphones, the sound quality goes up a notch.
Frequency Response
This test is intended to test the device's ability to correctly reproduce all frequencies. The white line in the middle of the graph is the ideal situation and the other colors come from tests on different phones. A deviation from the reference line indicates a deviation from the ideal situation. To see good sound at all frequencies, it is therefore necessary to get as close as possible to the reference line.
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite frequency response](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
Dynamic Range
This test is designed to test a phone's ability to play sounds at different volume levels. Here too, the phones must be as close as possible to the reference.
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite dynamic range](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
Noise Level
This test aims to identify if the device under test is able to reproduce sounds without too much noise. A high score indicates a low parasite rate, a lower score indicates a higher presence of parasites.
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite noise level](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
Screen quality
To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.Colorimetry
![xiaomi mi note 10 lite screen calibration](https://images.laurentwillen.be/pixel.gif)
Brightness / Contrast
I measured a maximum brightness of 425 cd / m² with the screen at 100% brightness, this is a good score which should make the screen readable in most situations but in full sun, it would have taken a little more light to be perfectly readable. The small light deficit combined with the reflectivity rate of the screen will undoubtedly force you to have to rotate the screen to make it perfectly readable.
The Mi Note 10 Lite uses an Amoled screen with almost infinite contrast, this means that the blacks are really black and the images will have a depth that you will not be able to obtain with an LCD type screen. In this price range, we mainly find LCD screens, the Mi Note 10 Lite therefore offers here a high-end screen at an affordable price.
Biometry
The Mi Note 10 Lite uses a fingerprint sensor on the screen, it is fashionable in 2020 but it is clearly not the most effective unlocking. You have to find the right thumb position and this kind of sensor is always slower than the fingerprint sensor that can be found on the back of some phones. You can also use facial recognition, I haven't noticed a difference from what I usually see on other phones.Operating system
![youtube preview](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5ZGqFtgdq2A/maxresdefault.jpg)
Encoutered bugs
n / AAccessories Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
Compare Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite with the others
Test / Review conclusion
As I wrote at the beginning of this article, the Mi Note 10 Lite is a light version of the Mi Note 10. The main difference is at the photo module level, this difference translates into a huge difference in price which me is not justified. The Mi Note 10 Lite was marketed around 300 € and I find that it was already too expensive compared to other phones in this price range. The Mi Note 10 Lite has a very good level of finish, a very good photo sensor, a very good battery and a very good screen. This phone therefore has undeniable qualities but it should ideally be sold around 250 € because at 300 € other phones could represent a credible alternative. The Mi Note 10 Lite is quite heavy and massive, this does not pose a problem to me but I imagine that this kind of criterion can be important for certain buyers. It offers sufficient performance for just about any use, but in this price range, there are other devices that offer much higher performance. This is probably its biggest weakness at this price level. I did not discover any other weak points, the Mi Note 10 Lite ranks in the average for a whole series of other criteria like the quality of signal 4G, the GPS or even the wifi. The Mi Note 10 Lite is one of the cheapest Sony IMX 686 equipped phones, this sensor is not new on the market but it is still one of the best. This is undoubtedly what explains the price positioning of the Mi Note 10 Lite compared to its most direct competitors.Strengths
Premium finish Day and night photo quality Video quality Battery life
Weaknesses
Average CPU / GPU performance Average GPS
Alternatives to this product
In this price range, the most direct alternative is the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite which I am testing in parallel, the Mi 10 Lite is more efficient and offers 5G but does not use the same photo sensor and does not offer not as good autonomy. The Realme X2 Pro could also represent a credible alternative, this phone is much more efficient but will undoubtedly make a worse photo and offer less battery life.
![Laurent Willen](https://images.laurentwillen.be/sites/21/2024/05/laurent-willen.jpg)
Head of myself on this blog
I share my passions on my blog in my free time since 2006, I prefer that to watching nonsense on TV or on social networks. I work alone, I am undoubtedly one of the last survivors of the world of blogs and personal sites.
My speciality? Digital in all its forms. I have spent the last 25 years working for multinationals where I managed digital teams and generated revenues of over €500 million per year. I have expertise in telecoms, media, aviation, travel and tourism.
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