Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review - Big numbers, big value - Android

Design: Familiar territory

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is a big smartphone in every dimension. In fact, it’s not far off from Samsung’s recently released Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which itself is a behemoth. The Mi 10 Ultra is heavy and can be cumbersome if you don’t have big hands and deep pockets.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra buyer’s guide

Xiaomi went with a glass sandwich design with aluminum rails and curved glass on both sides. On the front, there’s a full-size display with a punch hole in the top left and a speaker grille above the glass. The left side is blank while the right side has the volume rocker and power button. Up top is an IR-blaster and two microphones. On the bottom you’ll find the USB-C port, a microphone, the main speaker, and a dual-SIM tray. A large camera bump resides in the top left corner of the rear panel.

The device feels smooth in the hand thanks to the rounded rear glass and side rails. The buttons are clicky, if a tiny bit loose, and the haptics are tight and crisp. The in-display fingerprint scanner is reasonably quick and accurate. This “Transparent Edition” model shows off the device’s internals through the rear glass. The Xiaomi Mi 9 came in this style, too. As a whole, the phone looks and feels as premium as it should.

Related: iPhone 11 Pro Max review

One of the device’s most prominent features is the quad-camera array. The module is so large that when you’re holding the phone it can catch on your fingers. I found that unless you’re using a case, holding the phone for long stretches can be uncomfortable due to that camera bump. This is because the camera bump is rather tall and so the bottom ridge of it rubs on your fingers. I have small to medium-sized hands, so it could be more uncomfortable for those with bigger hands. Your experience may vary.

The Mi 10 Ultra is not IP-certified, which is unfortunate. Other phones at this price point, particularly those from Apple and Samsung, offer protection from water and dirt.