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Xiaomi Mi Note 10 vs. Mi Note 10 Lite: An In-Depth Comparison

Tip: focus on those cameras!

The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is the latest addition to the Mi Note 10 lineup. With a cheaper price, yet being largely similar in terms of UI and performance, we wanted to put the Mi Note 10 Lite against the Mi Note 10 to see how they faired when compared to one another. 

In general, most of the features of the Lite version seems to carry on from the Mi Note 10. However, there are noticeable differences in terms of the Camera and the RAM upgrade:

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite Xiaomi Mi Note 10 
Camera 
  • 64MP Main
  • 8MP UWA
  • 5MP Depth
  • 2MP Macro
  • 16MP Selfie Camera.
  • 108MP Main
  • 12MP Portrait
  • 20MP UWA
  • 5MP Telephoto
  • 2MP Macro
  • 32MP Selfie Camera
RAM Upgrade
  • 6GB+64GB
  • 8GB+128GB
  • 6GB+128GB
  • 8GB+128GB

As the cameras are the largest difference between both phone models, we were especially interested in doing a comparison to see how the phones processed images and videos. Read on to find out more! 

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite vs. Mi Note 10 Specifications

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite Xiaomi Mi Note 10 
Processor
  • CPU architecture: Qualcomm® Kryo™ 470, 8nm process
  • CPU frequency: Octa-core processor, up to 2.2 GHz
  • GPU: Adreno™ 618 graphics processor up to 700 MHz
  • Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 730G processor
  • CPU architecture: Qualcomm® Kryo™ 470
  • CPU frequency: Octa-core processor, up to 2.2 GHz
  • GPU: Adreno™ 618 graphics processor up to 700 MHz
Display
  • 6.47″ 3D curved AMOLED display
  • Supports HDR 10 display
  • 6.47″ 3D curved AMOLED display
  • Supports HDR display
Memory (RAM)
  • 6GB
  • 8GB
  • 6GB
Storage
  • 6GB+64GB
  • 8GB+128GB
  • 6GB+128GB
Main Camera (Rear)
  • AI Quad Camera 64MP Main Camera Sony IMX686, 64MP, 0.8μm with 4-in-1 Super pixel, 1/1.73″, f/1.89 aperture
  • 8MP Ultra-wide Camera 1.12μm, 1/1.4″, f/2.2 aperture
  • 5MP Depth Sensor 1.12μm, 1/1.5″, f/2.4 aperture
  • 2MP Macro Camera 1.75μm, 1/1.5″, f/2.4 aperture
  • Video recording up to 4K 30fps
  • AI Rear penta camera 108MP, AI Rear Penta Camera Samsung HMX, 108MP, 0.8μm, 1/1.33″, f/1.69 aperture, FOV 82°, 1.4μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel, OIS
  • 12MP portrait camera, 1.4 μm, ƒ/2.0, 2x optical zoom 1.4 μm, ƒ/2.0, 2x optical zoom
  • 20MP, 117° ultra wide-angle camera 1.12μm, 1/3″ sensor, f/2.2 aperture, AF, 5 piece lens
  • 5MP ultra telephoto camera, f/2.0, OIS 10x hybrid zoom, 50x digital zoom, ƒ/2.0, OIS
  • 2MP macro camera 1.75 μm pixel size, AF
  • Video recording up to 4K 30fps
Front Camera
  • 16MP Selfie Camera 1.0μm, 1/3.06″, f/2.48 aperture
  • Video recording up to 1080P 30fps
  • 32MP Selfie Camera 1.6 μm, 4-in-1 super pixel, f/2.0 aperture
  • Video recording up to 1080P 30fps
Battery
  • 5260 mAh (typ)*/ 5170mAh (min)
  • 5260 mAh (typ)*/ 5170mAh (min)
Connectivity
  • 4G+/4G/3G/2G
  • USB-C connector
  • 4G+/4G/3G/2G
  • USB-C connector
3.5mm Jack
  • 3.5mm headphone jack input
  • 3.5mm headphone jack input
Operating System
  • MIUI 11
  • MIUI 11
Other Features
  • In-screen Fingerprint
  • Multifunctional NFC for Google Pay
  • Supports 30 W charging
  • In-screen Fingerprint
  • Multifunctional NFC for Google Pay
  • Supports 30 W charging

Camera

The Mi Note 10 Lite sports 4 cameras on its rear. Starting at the top is an 8MP UWA, and moving downwards is a 5MP Depth, 64MP Main and a 2MP Macro. On the front is a 16MP Selfie Camera. 

On the other hand, the Mi Note 10 has 5 cameras on its rear: 108MP Main, 12MP Portrait, 20MP UWA, 5MP Telephoto and a 2MP Macro. The front camera has a 32MP lens. 

In terms of megapixels, the largest differences are that the Lite version has a 64MP Main while the non-Lite has a 108MP Main. Additionally, both phones feature a 16MP and a 32MP front camera respectively. 

  • Image Comparison
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite Xiaomi Mi Note 10 
HDR Test
  • Lighting seemed slightly faker
  • Blacks are more crushed
  • Blur from the aperture is better
Ultra-Wide Angle Test
  • Blacks are more crushed
  • Colours are more balanced
Macro Test
  • Camera performance is similar and the image produced is nearly identical
  • Camera performance is similar and the image produced is nearly identical
Zoom Test With UWA Lens
  • Lighting seemed fake
  • Fairs well at 1x zoom but blacks are more crushed
  • Struggles at 5x zoom 
  • Has to be cropped in beginning at 10x zoom
  • Colours are more balanced
  • Does well at 1x zoom, 10x zoom and even at 50x zoom
Selfie Camera Test
  • Colours are more balanced and true-to-life
  • Struggles with HDR
  • One part of our face was completely blown out in the test shot
Night Time Shot
  • Blacks are more crushed even in Night Mode
  • Image produced with the UWA lens wasn't great
  • Larger aperture helps it to perform better
  • Image produced with the UWA lens wasn't great, but still better than the Lite
  • Video Comparison
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite Xiaomi Mi Note 10 
Recording at 4K 1080p
  • Colours are poorer
  • Can focus on the subject
  • Colours are more balanced
  • Struggled to focus on the subject
Recording at 4K 30fps
  • Stable and smooth
  • No issues focusing on the subject
  • Stable and smooth
  • Struggled to focus on the subject
Recording with the front camera (1080p 30fps)
  • Footage was quite shaky
  • Frame seemed cropped in
  • HDR was good – our face was properly exposed
  • Footage was quite shaky
  • Captures a wider frame
  • Image was oversharpened
  • Design Flaw
We noticed that the Mi Note 10 Lite fixed a design flaw present on the non-Lite variant, wherein the ultra-wide angle lens is now moved to the top of the camera arrangement on the phone. On the Mi Note 10, as the UWA lens is placed right at the bottom, it often picks up the hand placement from holding the phone, covering 1/4 of the frame even if our hands aren't actually placed on the lens. So, this is great!

Screen and Battery

Both phones sport a 6.47” AMOLED Screen. The colours are vibrant colors they feature a 3D curved display. Holding both phones felt largely similar to one another, and they felt great to interact with and use. Color reproduction is also very true to life, and the Always On Display function looks great. 

The phones also come with a massive 5260 mAh battery that needs to be charged once every 2 days even with medium usage.

Design and Build Quality 

Both phones have a very premium look and feel to them, with a built that seems strong and sturdy. They share the same inputs and outputs, with everything being located at similar positions. The key difference in terms of design is that the Mi Note 10 has a camera bump, while the Lite does not. 

Software & UI

Both phones use the MIUI11 based off Android 10. The UI is also largely identical. 

Performance: Gaming Test

Performance on both phones are essentially the same as they both utilise the Snapdragon 730G as their processors. Users can also expect zero lag or delay when playing games like PUBG, Call of Duty or Fortnite. 

Verdict: Which One Should You Get?

As both phones are largely identical, it seems that the biggest factor to take into consideration when choosing which model to buy is the camera ability of each phone. If you're looking for a better camera to work with, the Mi Note 10 would be a better pick with its 108MP Main Shooter. 

However, if cameras have never been high on your priority list, then the Mi Note 10 Lite would be a better option as it is similar in terms of performance – but at a more affordable price. The phone's body also looks a lot sleeker without the camera bump. 

If you're a complete camera geek and would like to find out more, don't forget to also check out the blind camera tests that we did between the Xiaomi Mi Note 10's camera and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (if you're a Team Android), or the one with the iPhone 11 Pro Max (if you're a Team Apple)!

The pricing shown is just a good indication of how much these products are worth. The prices could change based on the e-commerce promotions that are going on. If some of the products are not available, do email us at [email protected]. Thank you! 

Our Score
9.0

From
RM1,719.00
Check Xiaomi Mi Note 10 price below:
add_circle Amazing camera quality
add_circle 50x digital zoom and optical stabilization
add_circle Largest phone battery (5260mAh) with amazing battery life
add_circle AMOLED screen quality is superb
remove_circle Processor could be more powerful
remove_circle Speaker isn't great
remove_circle No SD card slot
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is a smartphone with impressive cameras and performance. It has the largest phone battery known to the world, and an AMOLED screen offering impressive graphics and colors. With five cameras and a 108MP main shooter, this phone truly elevates phone photography and videography to a higher level.
Our Score
8.0

From
RM1,399.00
Check Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite price below:
add_circle Premium look & finish (no bump)
add_circle Brilliant AMOLED Display
add_circle Massive 5,260 mAh Battery
add_circle Processor performance for gaming and usage
add_circle Expandable up to 8GB in RAM (not capped at 6GB)
add_circle Affordable Price
remove_circle Main Camera is only 64MP
remove_circle Camera lacks zoom capabilities
remove_circle Crushes blacks in images (weaker image performance)
remove_circle Uses depth sensor rather than portrait lens
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is a great option when it comes to smartphones. Many of its features are similar to its more expensive counterpart, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10. Although its camera doesn't perform as well at certain times, occasionally it does produce better colors and is more efficient at focusing on the subject. All in all, it's a reliable, sturdy phone with powerful performance!
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