Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime are two affordable smartphones, both of them sport solid specs and a classic Xiaomi design. One is for users wanting a large smartphone (or better to say phablet) that could replace a tablet, and the other is for users wanting an affordable smartphone with a 5-inch screen and solid specs. Let us compare the two and see what are their main advantages and disadvantages.
Dimensions, Design
Design-wise, both models look pretty much the same, except for the difference in screen size (5.5-inch display found on the Redmi Note 3 vs. 5-inch screen featured on the Redmi 3s Prime). Both models look attractive, with thin bezels and a thin profile.
The Redmi Note 3 is, expectedly, noticeably larger (150 x 76 x 8.7 mm) than the Redmi 3s Prime (139.3 x 69.6 x 8.5 mm) so if you look for a smartphone that can be used with one hand, go for the Redmi 3s Prime.
Hardware, Display
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is powered by a powerful Snapdragon 650 (4×1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2×1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 along with Adreno 510 GPU) chipset providing the same amount of power as some flagship SoCs from the past few years (like the Snapdragon 801). The phone comes with a choice between 2GB/3GB of RAM and 16GB/32 GB of expandable internal storage (SD card goes into SIM 2 slot). The chipset will provide more than enough power for all potential scenarios, and all recent games will work flawlessly on it.
Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime is equipped with Snapdragon 430 SoC (Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 with Adreno 505 GPU), not nearly as powerful as Snapdragon 650, but enough for a snappy performance since the phone sports 720p display. The phone comes with 3 gigs of RAM and 32 GB of expandable (SIM 2 slot) internal storage.
The Redmi Note 3 has 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display, perfect for watching movies, playing games or even reading books. You can expect natural colors and high viewing angles.
The Redmi 3s Prime features smaller, 5-inch IPS LCD 720p display. The screen has a solid sharpness (294 ppi pixel density) offering natural looking colors and high viewing angles. Not the highest density display, but more than enough for an average user.
Camera
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 comes with a 16 MP (f/2.0 main camera sensor) with dual-LED flash capable of recording 1080p@30fps videos. The selfie one counts 5 MP (f/2.0) and is capable of recording 1080p videos.
The Redmi 3s Prime has a solid 13 MP (f/2.0) main snapper that can record 1080p@fps video. Front facing camera offers 5 MP (f/2.2), good enough for daily selfies; the selfie camera is capable of recording 1080p video.
Battery
When we talk about battery capacity Xiaomi never disappoints. Both phones have large batteries capable of giving you a couple of days of charger independence. The Redmi Note 3 packs 4050 mAh battery, while the Redmi 3s Prime comes with 4100 mAh battery.
The Redmi Note 3 comes with Android v5.1.1 while the Redmi 3s Prime ships with Android 6.0.1. Both models come with a fingerprint sensor and support for fast battery charging.
Conclusion
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (32 GB) can be found for Rs 11,999 (around $180) while the Redmi 3s (32 GB) Prime can be yours for the same price. If two models had the same specs, the choice will be down to display size. But, since the Redmi Note 3 offers much more powerful chipset and a better display resolution, we advise you to pick it up over the Redmi 3s Prime, no matter which screen size you prefer.