The Xiaomi Mi 10T is as fast as the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. It’s also got two things going for it that the other two models don’t: a higher-res display at 144 Hz and a massive battery of 5,000 mAh. Now it’s on sale for just $324 USD The low pricing of the Xiaomi Mi 10T is only noticeable in few of its configuration details.
The Mi 10T series is Xiaomi’s affordable alternative to the top 10 and top 10 pro phones since October. The three models measure 6.67 inches each: The Mi 10T Lite, the Mi 10T Pro, and our review candidate, the Mi 10T.
The Mi 10T is one of the best priced phones from Xiaomi, yet it still manages to perform well. It has a Snapdragon 865 chip inside, just like on the Mi 10 and 10 Pro models.
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A look at the remaining specifications shows that the Mi 10T might be the more exciting smartphone compared to the Mi 10T Pro for many buyers. Both are identical except for a few details and use the same combination of high-end and mid-range components. But when it comes to the price, both are separated by a rather large gap.
The Mi 10T Pro offers a 108 MP triple-camera setup instead of a 64 MP one and is available with up to 256 GB of internal storage instead of 128 GB, but it costs at least 599 Euros (~$726). The Mi 10T starts at 499 Euros (~$605) and is already approaching the 400-Euro mark (~$485) in online stores.
Case – Stylish unit made of glass
The Mi 10T is protected on the front and back by a layer of Gorilla Glass 5, which merges almost seamlessly into the aluminum frame. This looks fancy, feels high-quality, and results in an overall very stable unit that practically can’t be dented or twisted.
The IPS display is slightly larger than those found on the Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro and is the standard flat shape rather than curved. The choice as to which one to go for comes down to personal preference.
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The smartphone is easy to clean and can only show wear when it comes into contact with certain materials. Black or silver cases are available, depending on your personal preference. If you want something that catches the eye, you should choose the silver one we reviewed because it has a really glossy finish.
The triple camera on the back cannot be easily missed because of its large bezel and it can also be felt immediately. Even when you put the smartphone in the included protective case, it protrudes around 4 millimeters from the case. So that the phone doesn’t lie flat on a table when you put it flat down, I will have to create more bumps so that Furthermore, the Mi 10T doesn’t have an IP certification. Other models from Samsung don’t have that certification either.
Connectivity – Always with 128 GB of internal storage
Xiaomi offers the Mi 10T in two variations with 6 GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage for 499 Euros ( $605) and 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM with 128 GB of storage for 549 Euros ( $665). The internal storage can’t be expanded due to the lack of a microSD slot. For comparison purposes: The Mi 10T Pro is always available with 8 GB of RAM and either 128 GB of storage (599 Euros (~$726)) or 256 GB (649 Euros (~$786)). A microSD slot isn’t available here either.
The USB-C port on the bottom of the Mi 10T is not compatible with Out-Of-Tree Drivers and therefore works at USB 2.0 speeds as well, just like in the other Mi 10 phones. The Mi 10T lacks a 3.5mm audio jack, but Xiaomi includes a corresponding adapter so that external audio devices can still be connected.
Features like an IR blaster and a notification LED are available. With DRM Widevine L1, HD video streaming is also possible.
Software – Android 10
Xiaomi’s latest phone has a minimal version of Android and a touch-based MIUI 12 user interface. At the time of testing, the date was September 1, 2020, so security patches were still up-to-date and at an optimal level.
Some preinstalled third-party apps are removable, like those that are made by Google and Xiaomi. However, on average, the app’s storage space is around 110 GB.
Xiaomi Mi 10T Communication
The Mi 10T supports 2G and 3G connections as well as 4G (band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8) and 5G (band 1). It also has a close-range connection option, Bluetooth 5.1
In local networks, the Mi 10T communicates over Wi-Fi 6 (WLAN 802.11ax) including 2×2 MIMO. In combination with our reference router, the Netgear Nighthawk AX12, the Mi 10T achieves decent Wi-Fi transfer speeds of up to 701 Mb/s and is overall twice as fast when it comes to network. Wi-Fi 6 will probably never be quite as fast as the latest 5G Network.
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The Mi 10T supports GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou satellite navigation systems. With an accuracy of 3 meters indoors or outside, the Xiaomi smartphone calculates its position no matter where you are.
The GPS keeps its positioning calm, cool, and collected when we’re on the move. We take the latter along to make a direct comparison, but it was having a bad day, because, unlike the Xiaomi phone, it took shortcuts through buildings at various points and showed unexpected zigzags. The navigation skills of the Mi 10T are easily surpassed able by another top-of-the-line product (name).
Xiaomi Mi 10T Cameras
The Mi 10T is a phone with triple cameras. You’ll find a 64 MP main camera with autofocus and 4-in-1 pixel tuning. Plus, it has 10x digital zoom thanks to its Sony IMX682 sensor (1/1.7″). In addition, there’s a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 123° field of view (f/2.4), and finally, there’s a 5 MP macro camera (f/2.4) that operates in the range of 2 to 10 centimeters and has autofocus like the main camera. The Mi 10T can record videos at up to 8K and 30 fps. 1080p slow-motion videos are also possible at up to 960 fps.
An optical image stabilizer is only available with the Mi 10T Pro. The Pro version uses the same ultra-wide-angle and macro cameras as the Mi 10T, but it’s main camera features the 108 MP Samsung HMX sensor.
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The selfie camera is identical on both smartphones: It’s based on the Samsung S5K3T2 (1/3.4″, f/2.2). Furthermore, it has a resolution of 20 MP and can take reasonable pictures in good ambient light. However, image sharpness and exposure are sometimes a bit off track. The selfie camera can record videos at up to 1080p and 30 frames per second, and slow-motion videos are possible at up to 720p and 120 fps.
Xiaomi Mi 10T Display
The Mi 10T is about 1mm wider than the Mi 9T, but it’s much shorter at 8mm. This means more of your display is visible to you without having to carry a bulky phone. The second modification: Instead of an AMOLED panel, the Mi 10T uses an IPS display at 144 Hz. It provides 2400×1080 pixels, which corresponds almost exactly to the resolution of the smaller Mi 9T. But at a pixel density of 395 ppi, there’s nothing to complain about in terms of sharpness.
The Mi 10T has an average brightness of 592.6 cd/m² and is powerful when it comes to lighting up the screen. It doesn’t quite measure up to high-end smartphones like the OnePlus 8 Pro, but it’s still a lot brighter than other models. With evenly distributed bright and dark image areas (APL50), the maximum value is 619 cd/m², without the brightness sensor, it’s up to 508 cd/m².
Xiaomi Mi 10T Performance
The Xiaomi Mi 10T follows in its high-end relatives’ footsteps and also features the Snapdragon 865. The Kirin 970 SoC has a high-quality storage and powerful graphics unit. Other than the RAM, there are two options; 6 GB of LPDDR5 and 8 GB of RAM. The former is common with our test device, and the latter will give you better performance in some benchmarks but not make any difference for day-to-day use.