Xiaomi is undoubtedly the king of budget smartphones. Its Mi series of flagships have been a hit in the market, and its Redmi Note series has a bigger fan following. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 is one of the best sellers of the company and is still in demand. Looking at the craziness for the phablet, the smartphone maker decided to give the device a worthy update and launched the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3.
But is the Redmi Note 3 better than the Redmi Note 2? Is it worth paying those extra bucks? Let’s find out!
Looks and Design
The Redmi Note 3 wins hands down here. Its full metal body with the matt finish looks elegant and premium, and the different color choices just make it so perfect. Though that metal chassis causes the Note 3 to measure 8.65mm in thickness as compared to 8.3mm of the Note 2, it’s totally worth it.
The Redmi Note 2 on the other hand looks plasticky with the polycarbonate body, and even though it does not look bad by any means, it just cannot beat the Note 3.
Display, Processor, and Camera
Both the phones get the same 5.5-inch display, 64-bit Helio X10 octa core processor, and 13MP/5MP cameras, so there’s no scope for comparison in this area.
Memory
The Redmi Note 2 comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB/32GB storage variants. Meanwhile, the Redmi Note 3 gets a 2GB/16GB and a 3GB/32GB variant. That extra 1GB of RAM is a serious upgrade and must not be neglected.
Battery
The newer Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 gets a larger 4,000mAh juicer as compared to the small 3,060mAh battery of the Redmi Note 2. That extra power in the Note 3 isn’t insignificant in any way.
Extra Features
The Redmi Note 3 gets a fingerprint scanner, which the Redmi Note 2 misses out on. Considering the fact that all the high-end flagships are now including this feature, the Note 3 gets the upper hand here.
Price
Xiaomi gave the Redmi Note 2 a price cut, which places it at around $110, which is really cheap. On the other hand, the Redmi Note 3 costs CNY 899 (approx. $141) for the 2GB/16GB variant, while the 3GB/32GB version retails at CNY 1,099 (approx. 172).
Availability
If you want to get your hands at the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, it isn’t available outside China as of now. However, you can pre-order the phone at a slightly higher price from Everbuying, which isn’t bad especially when we don’t know when the phone is coming to other regions. The 2GB/16GB variant is available at Everbuying for $171.99 with Coupon Code – 16Note3, while the 3GB/32GB version will set you back $199.99 by using the coupon code – 32Note3.
Final Verdict
Is the Redmi Note 2 still a rocker? Yes. Is it a better option than the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 3? No. The all metal body, 3GB RAM, fingerprint scanner, and the big 4,000mAh battery all make the Redmi Note 3 a worthy upgrade, but only if you are looking to get a new phone. If you are using the Redmi Note 2, we suggest you stick to the phone and wait for the Xiaomi Mi 5 to release.