Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review

An introduction

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra - This is the best phone you can't buy right now.  Celebrating Xiaomi's 10th anniversary, the Ultra Mi 10 pushes the boundaries of the series and concludes the lineup with the ultimate screen, fastest charging and the best cameras.

The MI10 Ultra has already been upgraded to the awesome MI10 Pro with a lot of display improvements - the screen now supports 10-bit true color and can therefore show up to a billion colors.  It also shines at 800 nits, but the most important upgrade is probably the 120Hz refresh rate.

The rear camera is really great - it has everything you can think of, in today's world of technology, ie.  The main camera is based on the new 48-megapixel OmniVision sensor with OIS lens, and then behind the 5x zoom lens comes another 48-megapixel lens from Sony.  There is also a 20MP camera with 12MP portrait tool for 2x magnified photos and a 12mm ultra wide lens, which is also suitable for ultra high resolution shots.  One of the first is the option to capture 8K clips with a 5x photographer.  What about that ?!

The second is the first 120W fast wired charging.  The 120W unit in the retail box will refill 40% of the battery in just 5 minutes.  Let it sink inside!  Ultra 50W also supports faster wireless charging provided you buy a 55W wireless charger from Xiaomi, which is sold separately.

This special edition can't be the same without some kind of unique packaging, and Xiaomi offers one - in addition to the Obsidian Black and Mercury Silver editions, you can also choose a limited transparent edition.

Unfortunately, the Ultra is currently limited to sales in China only, and Xiaomi seems to be sticking to its decision despite various requests through forums and online petitions.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra specs:

• Body: 162.4x75.1x9.5mm, 222g; curved Gorilla Glass front and back, aluminum frame; Obsidian Black, Mercury Silver, Transparent color schemes.
• Screen: 6.67" Super AMOLED, 1080x2340px resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 386ppi; 120Hz refresh rate; HDR10+ support, 800nits brightness, 1B colors.
• Chipset: Snapdragon 865 (7nm+): Octa-core CPU (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 585); Adreno 650 GPU.
• Memory: 8/12/16GB RAM, 128/256/512GB built-in UFS 3.1 storage.
• OS/Software: Android 10, MIUI 12.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 48MP, 1/1.32" sensor, 1.2µmm pixel size, 25mm equiv. focal length, f/1.9 aperture, Laser AF, OIS. Telephoto: 12MP, 1/2.55", 1.4µmm, 50mm lens, f/2.0, Dual Pixel PDAF. Long-range telephoto: 48MP, 1/2.0", 0.8µmm, 120mm lens, f/4.1, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS. Ultrawide angle: 20MP, 1/2.8", 1.0µmm, 12mm, f/2.2, PDAF, ultra-macro.
• Front camera: 20 MP, f/2.3, 0.8µmm, 1080p video.
• Video recording: Rear camera: 8K 4320p@24fps, 4K 2160p@30/60fps, FullHD 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; Front camera: FullHD 1080p@30fps.
• Battery: 4,500mAh, 120W fast charging support, USB-PD support, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging.
• Connectivity: 5G, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac/ax, dual GPS, USB-C
• Misc: Stereo speakers; Optical under-display fingerprint reader; IR port.

Internal protection is something you won't find with the Mi 10 Ultra and it seems like 10 years wasn't enough for the factory to invest in such a thing.  Once again, Xiaomi has invested in a variety of startups and devices that we can't imagine the world without Mi Band, Mi Vacuums, Mi Air Purifier, Mi Routers, Mi Bulb and Mi Whatnot.  So yes, we can live without an IP68 rating but that's cool - if anyone from Xiaomi is reading it.

While we may not see the MI10 Ultra officially outside of China, we're sure a lot of people will find this Chinese model somehow.  Now we'll find out if it's worth the hassle of getting gray imports.  So, now is the time to send us the unforgettable transparent Mi 10 Ultra edition!

Send MI10 Ultra to inbox

The Mi10 Ultra is packaged in a long paper box and you think you will find much more content than the Mi10 Pro package.  Well, this is true and false.

The box contains a charger, a USB-C cable, a 3.5mm adapter, and a transparent silicone case.  You do not receive any additional supplies.

Then again, this heavy-duty charger is the ultimate 120W charger - currently the fastest in the world.  And a 6A rated USB cable - something you don't see every day for sure - a cable that's not a standard issue.

If you want to enhance your experience with the Ultra, you can also choose the 55W wireless charger that Xiaomi sells separately.

There's also a special carbon fiber-style plastic case (again, sold separately), but it would really be a shame to cover the back of the transparent version with the case.