[Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Real Life Review] jit-010101:
By the way - the Android 9 to 10 update improved quality quite a bit by providing better / accurate pictures in terms of focus.

Maybe the focus wasn't working correctly before? It would explain the mixed results - when some people are still on Android 9.

I had two Mi Note 10 here, one came with Android 10 out of the box and one with Android 9 - and the quality did significantly improve for me after the update (to be in line with second unit), to the point of me using the Stockcam way more often now. The processing is there - but with correct focus the details of the subjects aren't lost as much as before.

And I'm usually really picky when it comes to overprocessed pictures - and also know first-hand how bad the old Xiaomi Camera Apps were in terms of overprocessing. They've improved so much in the last year that I can only commend them (owning a Pixel 3a as well) - but maybe that's also due to the gigantic sensor-size in the Mi Note 10.

[MENTION=337757]MacGuy2006[/MENTION]:

Apple is only good with it because their Screens are also properly calibrated and they have a fixed supply of parts for a single vendor with not variation. Not only do they spent a fortune on it in regards of the supply chain but also a ton of resources in term of QA and calibration. That's also why their devices cost more then twice as much.

The only way around is trough software algorithms - Marc Levoy has shown us just how much is possible with GCam (the man behind HDR+).

And it's likely also why he has left Google now, after being unhappy with the Pixel 4 and how the company evolves.

Xiaomi and everyone else uses different sensors, screens, suppliers - whatever they are able to get (to offer the prices they can). Xiaomi has improved a lot in handling all different vendors properly, for example way better screen calibration out of the box for the Mi Note 10 then previous generations, including the ability to finetune the calibration yourself (more then many others e.g. Samsung, at least in the past).

Not only that, but also AMOLED itself is quite hard to calibrate / show natural colors out of the box as well due to its nature. Guess why there are little to none professional monitors delivering it yet? Not only because they're expensive to produce but also because they're still hard to handle. Short summary long - getting color balance right will still take quite a few iterations if you ask me - phones not just software. If we're lucky we'll get those later as well trough QoL-Improvements but really I wouldn't bet on it. Especially since its something not a lot of people look after (with their ****ty screens).

If you're bothered by it use a GCam port that you'll adjust to your liking and get over with it.

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All that said - if there's one thing not calibrated in your chain all that resources and time spend was completely wasted anyway. Colors are not to be undestimated, and in the end are always ever subjective, there's no thing as an truly objective color.

You can't just expect them to bend reality to your will. It's a lot easier to invest that time to do something productive, instead of being angry about things you can't change. :)

Also in terms of GCam - I find Pitbulls GCam more consistent and reliable out of the box for handing different situations with both HDR and HDR Enhanced so far from my short testing.

However I've also shared a profile for burial v7 which is closer to Stock in the GCam thread in terms of exposure and brightness, with a little bit more detail, especially in the situations Stock cam falls flat, e.g. low light fast pictures (sadly also the popping colors, I'd like to tune that down - Non AI-Mode).

Have a look (but don't blame it when you don't like it - I didn't work on it that much yet - besides with my eyes compared to what I see both in reality and on my Pixel 3a).