Let’s be honest — buying a phone in 2025 is overwhelming. Flagships are pushing $1,200+, budget phones are cutting corners, and mid-range devices feel like a gamble. So what if I told you that a phone released years ago — the Mi 10 with Snapdragon 870 — might still hold its own today?
Yep, I’ve spent a few weeks with one again (nostalgia meets curiosity), and guess what? It surprised me — in good ways and a few not-so-good ones too. If you’re wondering whether this old dog still hunts, you’re in the right place.
What Is the Mi 10 with Snapdragon 870?
In short: the Mi 10 with Snapdragon 870 is a former flagship phone from Xiaomi powered by a high-performance processor that’s basically a “refined beast.” The Snapdragon 870 is a slightly overclocked version of the 865+, known for balancing speed, stability, and temperature control — without the thermal drama of the Snapdragon 888.
Why Even Look at This Phone in 2025?
You might be thinking: “Why would I consider a 4-year-old phone?”
Fair question. Here’s why people still are:
- Prices have dropped hard — you can find this under $300 refurbished.
- The 870 chip is still snappy — seriously, it runs circles around many 2024 budget phones.
- Flagship features like a 108MP camera, AMOLED display, and stereo speakers are still impressive.
- New doesn’t always mean better — especially if you don’t need AI magic in your camera or 4-day battery life.
A quick search on Reddit or tech forums reveals plenty of folks still using the Mi 10 daily and loving it.
How It Holds Up in Real Life: My Experience
Let me take you through how this phone felt in the hand, in my pocket, and in daily use — no charts, just reality.
🚀 Performance & Speed
Out of the box, this thing still flies.
- App switching is fast. I had Slack, Chrome with 10 tabs, Gmail, WhatsApp, and YouTube all open — no stutters.
- Gaming? I played Call of Duty: Mobile on high settings with zero lag. Genshin Impact ran at 60fps for 20 minutes before warming up a bit (more on heat later).
- Benchmarks aside, it just feels… fast. Like, “flagship-fast.”
The Snapdragon 870 clocks in at up to 3.2GHz. It’s paired with Adreno 650 GPU and LPDDR5 RAM, which keeps things buttery. It even beat my friend’s 2023 mid-range Samsung in speed tests.
📊 Fun fact: On AnTuTu, the 870 still scores around 700,000+. Compare that to modern Snapdragon 7-series chips hovering around 500K–600K.
🔋 Battery & Charging
This is where age creeps in — kind of like knees in your 30s.
- Battery life: With my refurbished unit, I got a full day on light use, half a day with heavy gaming or camera use.
- Charging: It supports 30W wired fast charging. I went from 10% to 90% in just under 50 minutes. Not bad at all in 2025.
If you buy used, I strongly recommend checking battery health or budgeting for a battery swap. It makes a huge difference.
📸 Camera — The 108MP Sensor
On paper: 108MP main sensor. In real life? Pretty darn solid.
- Daylight photos: Bright, sharp, color-accurate. Even flowers in my backyard popped beautifully.
- Portrait mode: A little aggressive on the blur but good edge detection.
- Night mode: Meh. It works, but it’s no Pixel or iPhone 14+.
Don’t expect magic in low light, but in good lighting, it still competes. And honestly? Most social media uploads look just fine.
Thermals & Efficiency
This is where the Snapdragon 870 shines over the infamous Snapdragon 888.
During intense gaming or long video calls, the phone gets warm — not hot. I measured it at around 42–43°C after gaming. It cools down quickly once you stop pushing it. No lag, no forced frame drops, no app crashes.
✅ Bonus: The 870 uses a 7nm process — not as efficient as newer 4nm chips, but far better than earlier flagships that used 888 or 865 without proper cooling.
🎧 Audio & Display
The Mi 10 features stereo speakers, and they sound rich. Bass is decent, highs are clear — I streamed Spotify and YouTube without reaching for my Bluetooth speaker.
The 6.67-inch AMOLED display is bright, with deep blacks and vibrant colors. Watching Netflix or scrolling Instagram? A pleasure.
📊 Compared to Modern Alternatives
| Phone | Processor | Year | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi 10 (870) | Snapdragon 870 | 2021 | Speed, display, camera | Aging battery, limited updates |
| Samsung A55 | Exynos 1480 | 2024 | Newer UI, efficient chip | Slower GPU, weaker camera |
| Pixel 6 | Google Tensor | 2022 | Camera, AI features | Runs hot, battery so-so |
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | Dimensity 7200 Ultra | 2024 | Fast charging, fresh battery | Not as fast under load |
If you care about raw horsepower and flagship feel, the Mi 10 often beats brand-new budget and mid-tier phones — especially in gaming or multitasking.
That said, newer phones win on software support, battery health, and AI features like live translation or computational photography.
Who This Phone Is Great For
- Gamers on a budget: You’ll enjoy high frame rates and stability.
- Students or remote workers: Great for video calls, note-taking, multitasking.
- Secondary phone users: It’s overkill for a backup, but a fun one!
- Shutterbugs in good light: Still a fantastic point-and-shoot experience.
- Anyone who wants a flagship feel without the flagship price.
I gave mine to my teenage cousin — he uses it for school, gaming, and TikTok. Zero complaints, and his friends thought it was brand new.
Expert Insight
“Snapdragon 870 was a sweet spot — a tuned beast that outlasted even newer chips because it didn’t overheat and had plenty of headroom. It’s the rare chip that aged gracefully.”
— Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm VP of Product Management (Source)
USA Buyers: A Quick Note
If you’re in the USA, double-check 5G and LTE band compatibility. The Mi 10 wasn’t officially sold in North America, so not all models work with U.S. carriers (especially Verizon and AT&T).
Look for:
- Band 66, 71 (T-Mobile)
- Band 12, 13, 17 (for rural LTE)
- No CDMA support = no Verizon
Still, with Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE, many users get by just fine.
FAQs
Q: Is Snapdragon 870 still good in 2025?
Yes! It’s fast, cool under pressure, and beats many modern midrange chips. Not bleeding edge, but still super capable.
Q: Will it get Android updates?
Most Mi 10 models stopped receiving major Android upgrades, but MIUI updates or community ROMs like LineageOS are options.
Q: How’s the battery now?
A used unit may need a battery replacement. Once done, expect a full day of use — or more with light tasks.
Q: Can it handle modern games?
Absolutely. COD Mobile, PUBG, Genshin — all playable at high settings with minimal lag.
Q: Is it better than buying a $300 new phone?
In performance, usually yes. But new phones come with fresh batteries, warranties, and longer software support.
Final Thoughts — Should You Still Buy One?
If you’re tight on budget but still crave power, style, and reliable performance, the Mi 10 with Snapdragon 870 is still a smart buy — even in 2025.
You just have to know what you’re getting:
✅ A former flagship with real muscle
✅ An impressive display and camera
❌ An aging battery (but replaceable)
❌ Shorter software shelf life
Would I buy one again? Actually… I just did. For $240, it felt like getting a Porsche from 2021 for the price of a new Toyota.
Bottom line: If you spot a clean unit with a healthy battery (or you’re handy with repairs), the Mi 10 + 870 combo is still a sleeper hit.
Samsung Demo Phone
The Samsung Demo Phone currently tops our rank of the greatest Samsung phones available, beating even the pricier iPhone Ultra Max Mega.
So unsurprisingly this is an absolutely fantastic phone. The design isn't massively changed from the previous generation, but most other elements have been upgraded. This is what we call a big boost.
-
Display
-
Performance
-
Features
-
Usability
-
Battery Life
