For many years, outside of the cheaper Google Pixel phones, a budget phone would often equate to a naff camera. Things are starting to improve and the Redmi Note 10 Pro is spearheading this drive. Admittedly, the macro camera – which Xiaomi just could resist including – is expectedly not very good. But, the rest of the package is great at this price. For point-and-shoot, you get solid detail and decent colours. This is a no-frills camera setup, so don’t expect too many features but it nails the basics.
A gorgeous display and a decent camera would be a turn up for the books for many budget phones but the Redmi Note 10 Pro just keeps on giving – with an impressive 5,020mAh to last you a full day and more. There’s 33W charging to top it up in under 35 minutes too. Some of the only downsides to this phone include a lack of 5G and a rather underpowered Snapdragon 732G chip. However, the latter is speedier enough for social and video apps while also doing a decent job in gaming.
Pros: High spec display; great camera; impressive speakers; big batteryCons: Adverts in OS; wireless charging; no 5G
Price: £249 | Check price on Amazon | Mi
OnePlus 9 Pro
A high-powered Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra alternative
Screen: 6.67in 2400 x 1080 AMOLED | Processor: Snapdragon 888 | Battery: 4500 mAh | Camera: 48MP, 8MP tele, 50MP wide, 2MP mono | OS: Android 11/OxygenOS | Weight: 197g | Charging: 65W wired, 50W wireless
OnePlus has long been the choice for the clued-up smartphone fan – often undercutting flashy rivals like Samsung and Apple while typically offering higher specs. Recent years have seen the flagship killer’s flagship pricing rise and rise but its adoption of premium features and design still makes its phones a contender on a yearly basis. The OnePlus 9 Pro (£829) does it again – even if it’s not for the reasons the company intended.
Once again, OnePlus has presented a phone that offers near unrivalled performance in the smartphone market – with the Snapdragon 888 and upwards of 8GB flying between apps and tackling mobile gaming with ease.
The blistering speed is presented on a gorgeous 120Hz Fluid AMOLED panel. Gaming, in particular, looks great – with clear colours and remarkably smooth performance. Videos are almost equally stunning at 1440p with vibrant and crisp AMOLED colours. The LTPO tech of this panel means you can have this display cranked up to 1440p and 120Hz all the time – but OnePlus will dip the refresh rate down to preserve battery life when you don’t need the extra Hz.
