Comparing the Palm Centro and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is a study in contrasts. The Centro, a staple of early smartphone adoption, represents a time of limited processing power and nascent mobile connectivity. The Redmi Note 10 Pro, on the other hand, embodies the current landscape of affordable, feature-rich smartphones. This comparison isn't about declaring a 'winner' in the traditional sense, but rather understanding how far mobile technology has advanced and who each device best serves in 2024.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the vast majority of users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is the clear choice. Its Snapdragon 732G chipset, vibrant 725-nit display, and significantly longer battery life offer a modern smartphone experience the Palm Centro simply cannot match. The Centro's appeal is purely nostalgic or for those seeking an extremely minimal device.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41 |
| EDGE | Class 10 | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2008, February. Released 2008, March | 2021, March 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 107.2 x 53.5 x 18.6 mm (4.22 x 2.11 x 0.73 in) | 164 x 76.5 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.32 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 124 g (4.37 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 320 x 320 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~201 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.25 inches, 16.3 cm2 (~28.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colors | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 450 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| | 5-way navigation button | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 32-bit Intel XScale PXA270 312 MHz | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm SM7150 Snapdragon 732G (8 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Palm OS 5.4.9 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64MB | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro), AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 1.3 MP | - |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 1.2, A2DP | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | - | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | Proprietary | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0 / HTML (Blazer 4.5) | - |
| Sensors | - | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | Document editor (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, PDF)
MP3 player
Organizer
Voice memo | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min |
| Stand-by | Up to 300 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1150 mAh battery | Li-Po 5020 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Glacier, Midnight, Cobalt, Onyx, Electric Blue, Rose, Olive | Onyx Gray, Glacier Blue, Gradient Bronze |
| Models | - | M2101K6G, M2101K6R |
| Price | About 70 EUR | $ 107.43 / £ 163.94 / € 144.87 |
| SAR | 0.27 W/kg (head) 0.22 W/kg (body) | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 189.99 |
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 209.99 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 221.00 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 348.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 118h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.7 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 295442 (v8)
GeekBench: 1780 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Palm Centro
- Extremely compact and pocketable
- Simple and minimalist user interface
- Nostalgic appeal for early smartphone enthusiasts
- Outdated 3G connectivity
- Limited app availability
- Slow processor and limited RAM
- Poor display quality compared to modern standards
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
- Bright and vibrant display (725 nits)
- Powerful Snapdragon 732G processor
- Long battery life (118h endurance)
- Fast 33W charging
- Access to a vast ecosystem of Android apps
- Larger size and weight compared to the Centro
- May include bloatware (depending on region)
- Plastic build quality
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s 725 nits of peak brightness dwarfs the Centro’s likely (unspecified) output, offering vastly superior visibility in direct sunlight. While the Centro’s screen size is unknown, it’s almost certainly smaller, impacting content consumption. The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a modern IPS panel, while the Centro likely used an older LCD technology. The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s larger display and higher brightness are crucial for media viewing and outdoor usability, benefits unavailable on the Centro.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s camera system, while details are limited to 'Photo/Video', benefits from modern image processing and sensor technology. While the Centro likely had a basic camera for its time, it cannot compete with the Redmi Note 10 Pro’s potential for detailed photos and video recording. The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s likely larger sensor size and potentially wider aperture (details not provided) would result in better low-light performance and depth of field. The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s camera is a versatile tool for capturing memories, while the Centro’s camera is likely a novelty.
Performance
The architectural gap between the 312 MHz 32-bit Intel XScale PXA270 in the Palm Centro and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G (8nm) in the Redmi Note 10 Pro is immense. The Snapdragon 732G’s octa-core configuration (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) delivers significantly higher processing power for multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications. The 8nm process node also contributes to better thermal efficiency, preventing throttling during sustained workloads. The Centro’s processor is simply incapable of running modern Android apps or handling the complexities of today’s mobile internet.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 10 Pro boasts an impressive 118-hour endurance rating, a testament to its optimized power management and likely larger battery capacity. The Palm Centro’s battery life, while adequate for its time, would be severely limited by modern usage patterns. The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s 33W wired charging capability (59% in 30 minutes) is another significant advantage, allowing for quick top-ups when needed. The Centro’s charging method and speed are antiquated by comparison.
Buying Guide
Buy the Palm Centro if you prioritize extreme portability, a minimalist user experience, and are comfortable with the limitations of a 3G connection and older software. It's a collector's item or a secondary device for very specific needs. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro if you need a capable all-rounder with a large, bright display, a versatile camera system, all-day battery life, and access to modern apps and services. It's the practical choice for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Palm Centro still usable as a daily driver in 2024?
While technically functional, the Palm Centro is not practical as a daily driver. Its 3G connectivity is becoming increasingly obsolete, app support is extremely limited, and its processing power is insufficient for modern tasks. It's best suited as a collector's item or a very basic secondary device.
❓ Can I install modern apps like WhatsApp or Facebook on the Palm Centro?
No, the Palm Centro runs Palm OS, which is incompatible with Android or iOS apps like WhatsApp and Facebook. There are no known methods to natively run these apps on the Centro.
❓ What kind of SIM card does the Redmi Note 10 Pro use?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro uses a Nano-SIM card. It also supports dual SIM functionality, allowing you to use two SIM cards simultaneously.
❓ Does the Redmi Note 10 Pro support 5G connectivity?
No, the Redmi Note 10 Pro is a 4G LTE device. It does not support 5G connectivity, relying on older cellular network standards.