Review: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, the new king of the Chinese mid-range

The truth is that Chinese smartphones are becoming more and more popular, thanks to advanced features combined with an affordable price. Our review of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 will allow us to discover the star model of the most prestigious brand in the Chinese mobile sector. Of course, it is an excellent terminal.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is not officially sold in Spain, but it can be purchased online We already know that orders for the abroad sometimes stop at customs, but it is not usual. Of course, we have to check with the seller the type of guarantee that he is going to offer us.

But, if we leave these details aside, our analysis of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 will show that it is an amazing phone, which offers features typical of a high-end at a mid-range price As of today, no western brand can compete in value for money with Xiaomi.

And Xiaomi is a manufacturer well known in your country, which offers excellent hardware, good software and even careful design. It's certainly worth digging into your new top-of-the-line device.

Review: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, the new king of the Chinese mid-range

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Specifications

Let's take a look at the technical sheet of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which places it as a high-end smartphone… but at a really affordable price. Here you have all its detailed specifications:

Screen: 5.5-inch IPS with 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution.
Processor: Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 64-bit (2 GHz A53 8 cores).
RAM memory: 2 GB or 3 GB.
GPU: PowerVR G6200
Internal Storage: 16 GB or 32 GB, no microSD slot.
Rear camera: 13-megapixel f/2.2 with dual-tone LED flash.
Front camera: 5 megapixel f/2.0.
Connectivity: 4G/LTE (dual SIM), dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.1 and GPS.
Ports and sensors: Fingerprint sensor and microUSB OTG.
Battery: 4,000 mAh with fast charge.
Operating system: Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with MIUI 7 customization by Xiaomi.
Price: around 200 euros.

A high-end design

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 may not compete in finishes with the latest Galaxy or Xperia, but we have really seen it very carefully for its price. The front part is made of glass, and the rear part is made of aluminium, so in the hand it conveys a very good sensation A true premium equipment at a low cost price.

The screen of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 reaches 5.5 inches, so it is difficult to use with one hand. In any case, this size is highly requested by consumers today, and Xiaomi includes a function that reduces the size of the displayed image, so that we can reach to all interface elements with one hand.

The buttons on the system are physical, capacitive type, so they do not take up space on the screen. Despite this, the frames of the terminal are not too wide. Physical buttons seem like a good alternative to me at a time when many brands are abandoning them.

On the back we have a fingerprint reader, which is activated with the index finger, and which is really comfortable once we we get used to his position. Although we have a tray for SIM cards, it is not possible to expand the memory using microSD cards, which is quite annoying.

In general, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 shows care and well designed. Also, at 8.65 millimeters thick, it's fairly thin and light, if a bit slippery to the touch. It is not one of those mobiles that attract attention, but nobody would bet that it costs only 200 euros at first glance.

Screen more than correct

Obviously, the screen of a smartphone is an important aspect, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has stood out in our review. The 1080p resolution it boasts is more than adequate, and offers us considerable sharpness Really, it wouldn't make much sense to go up to higher resolutions.

Color reproduction is good, viewing angles excellent and blacks quite deep. This is not an AMOLED panel, we are not talking about leading technology, but we get very high quality considering the price we pay.

Chinese brands are obsessed with big screens, and 5.5-inch has already become the norm in China. But Xiaomi also releases excellent 5-inch models. If you want a large size, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is for you, if you prefer a smaller diagonal you should opt for the Xiaomi Mi 4i, which we have also reviewed.

In general, we liked the screen of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. In a model of its price, 720p resolution would have been normal, but the Chinese brand opts for 1080p, which greatly improves the image on a large panel like this.

Outstanding performance and autonomy

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has performed very well in our performance analysis. It carries a MediaTek Helio X10 processor, a current model that has already become known for its good performance. We cannot expect power like that of high-end models from the manufacturer Qualcomm, but that should not worry us.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is able to address any task efficiently The interface is very fluid and, if it occasionally gives some “jerk”, it will be due to the software. Not only simple apps run fast, even demanding 3D games or map apps move smoothly.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is sold in a configuration of 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, and another of3 GB and 32 GB The truth is that the first option is sufficient for the average user. But, considering that the top model costs little more, I recommend everyone to go for it.

If you are a performance enthusiast, we leave you the score that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 obtains in the AnTuTu benchmark, a popular test Performance Chart for Android:

We must clarify that the system software detects that we are passing a test, and asks us if we want to use a high performance mode or balanced. We have used the balanced mode. If you want to dig a little deeper, here is the detailed result of AnTuTu on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3:

Autonomy is an aspect that has left us very satisfied in our review. Although the terminal is not particularly thick, inside it houses a huge 4,000 mAh battery.

That means that a normal user can get two days of autonomy With this capacity, it is almost impossible for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 to turn off mid-day, unless it is used continuously. In addition, thanks to its fast charging system, the terminal will spend little time connected to the plug.

We wanted to run a battery test to offer you more objective data. Here you have the result of AnTuTu in autonomy, which confirms our good impressions:

Discreet camera, good sound

Although we liked the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 in our analysis, we must admit that the camera does not maintain the high level of the other components. It is an average camera, which plays a correct role, but does not stand out.

In any case, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3's camera takes acceptable photos when the lighting conditions are adequate They are relatively sharp, with vivid colors and adequate overall quality. Of course, it will serve for 99% of the photographs that we want to take on a day-to-day basis.

Now, in low light environments we cannot expect amazing results. Even 700 euro models suffer a lot in bad lighting, so it's no surprise that Xiaomi Redmi Note 3's night shots are discreet Unfortunately we can't recommend it for that use.

In any case, we will review some example photos that we have taken with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, using the default camera, without manual adjustments or touch-ups and in broad daylight, although in a cloudy moment. Here's the first take:

Let's see now a close-up which, to be honest, has turned out surprisingly well for what we could expect:

Here's another shot in broad daylight that gives an okay result, but by no means surprising:

This mosaic will not allow us to get an idea of the level of detail of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 camera. Here is another example photograph:

We end up with an image of a monument, always with the default camera app, without manual adjustments or subsequent retouching:

Regarding the front camera, it is simply correct. For occasional video calls it's more than enough, but for selfies I find it a better alternative to turn the terminal around and use the main sensor, which is much better.

As far as the sound is concerned, the truth is that I find it careful. It sounds loud and clear, with some pretty deep bass for a mobile device The only negative point I see is that the speaker has been placed on the back, and it we will cover easily. However, the case has a small relief that prevents sound from being lost when the terminal is placed on a table.

Fully customized Android

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is based on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, but it doesn't really look like it at all. The MIUI customization layer included by the manufacturer is very invasive, and completely modifies the user experience.

I still think that pure Android is the best alternative, but we can't deny that MIUI has become an excellent layer, which performs profound changes, but it also brings very important improvements.

On a functional level it is well cared for, but on an aesthetic level I see a problem: MIUI is very pretty but, when we are going to use apps based on Android's Material Design, thedifference between the two visual languages clashes a bit.

The best thing is that we take a look at the design of MIUI 7 to get an idea of how worked it is:

The truth is that MIUI is a generally fluid layer that, despite its profound visual changes, rarely slows down. In addition, Xiaomi has been making an effort lately with software updates, something rare in Chinese brands, but which this manufacturer is improving more and more.

MIUI on Android supposes very numerous changes We can mention details such as that there is no application drawer, that you can apply visual themes or choose the interface size. We also have options such as a children's mode to limit terminal functions, and a simple mode designed for people new to technology.

On the other hand, Xiaomi has included many own apps in the system In fact, the only one from Google that it includes is Google Play, the android store. We have a calculator, calendar, file manager, photo viewer, compass, a voice recorder, Xiaomi's own store…everything we may need.

The truth is that the apps are taken care of, but the most likely thing is that we end up downloading Google's own. Unfortunately, if we go deeper into the menus, we find items in Chinese It's a very specific thing, but it's not pleasant. Take a look at some system apps to see how much care has been put into them:

Very interesting extras

Without a doubt, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has stood out in our analysis for its extras. The most striking is the fingerprint reader, which represents a real luxury for a device of this price. The reader is comfortable and really provides a lot of extra security.

The best thing is that it recognizes your fingerprint instantly, and even allows you to access the device directly with the screen off. Certainly a very interesting addition.

On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has two SIM card slots, something comfortable to carry a personal number and another professional with us. It also has support for USB OTG, which allows us to connect devices such as a flash drive, through the corresponding microUSB adapter.

In addition, it offers a Notification LED, very useful, and which many manufacturers no longer include. It also comes with FM radio, although it is somewhat hidden in an application in Chinese.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has convinced us

We must admit that our review of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has left a very good taste in our mouths. This is an excellent smartphone, which exceeds our expectations considering the price at which it is sold. If you are interested in the device, buying the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 on Igogo is one of the most reliable ways to get it.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 includes a large screen, offers good performance, its software is very careful, it has really attractive metal finishes and luxuries such as a fingerprint reader. Without a doubt, a device we can recommend If you want a Chinese smartphone, look no further, this is the one for you.

The strong points of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 are the following: