Redmi Note 3 promises to be as fast as smartphones double its price. We get our hands on one to see if it can validate these claims…
Ever since its arrival in the Indian market, Xiaomi hasn’t put a foot wrong. By offering impressive products at compelling prices, the Chinese firm has definitely made a name for itself all over the world. Although the Chinese firm now has a wide range of products in its portfolio, its Redmi series of budget phones is undoubtedly the most popular among smartphone buyers in the country. Now, with the launch of the Redmi Note 3 earlier this year, Xiaomi is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Redmi Note 3 is available in two specs – 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory and 3GB RAM/32GB. Hardware remains common for both the phones since both get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor while the OS is Android 5.1 Lollipop with MIUI 7. The 2GB/16GB version – also the one that we have got our hands on – retails for Rs 9,999 while the 3GB/32GB will set you back by Rs 11,999. With the kind of features and hardware it packs, the Redmi Note 3 comes across as great value for money product. But just how good is it? Let’s try and figure that out…
Xiaomi offers the Redmi Note 3 in three different shades – silver, dark grey and gold. Our test phone was finished in gold, and it looks quite striking, you’ve to say. The Redmi Note 3 also happens to be the first Note that comes with all-metal body. Its sleek bodyshell not only makes it look remarkable but adds a touch of premium feel. The 5.5-inch HD display offers crisp and vibrant colours while the home keys are backlit. The 5MP front camera sits neatly above the screen and can produce decent images. At the back is a finely machined metal cover that houses the main 16MP camera and a finger-print sensor – that works remarkably well. The massive 4050mAh battery is non-removable and can easily last more than a day. Overall, the phone looks quite classy, sleek and elegant. But you’ve got to be careful while holding it since it can easily slip out of your palm.
The only complaint that I have about the Redmi Note 3 is its camera quality – both front and the main unit. Picture quality in low light suffers quite badly and the images produced are grainy and distorted in appearance. Pictures taken in well-lit locations aren’t the best quality in the segment either.
Barring its camera, there’s hardly anything that is wrong with the Redmi 3. At this price point, the Redmi Note 3 is a steal considering its features, specs and built quality.
Oh, there’s one more major issue with it – the Redmi Note 3 is sold only through flash sales as of now. So good luck getting hands on one!
