Today we have a clash of three budget models coming from Xiaomi. Although the models are affordable they all offer excellent specs for the price. Let’s see how they compare and what are the biggest differences between them.
Dimensions, Design
The Redmi Note 3 and the Redmi Note 3 Pro are pretty much the same devices with the only difference being chipsets used (Redmi Note 3 offers Helio X 10 while the Pro version comes with a powerful Snapdragon 650) and the main camera sensors. They measure 150 x 76 x 8.7 mm (more compact than the new Pixel XL that sports display of the same size), being pretty compact devices regarding their 5.5-inch display. The design is similar to many other Xiaomi models, with three soft keys placed underneath the display, a back side featuring speaker grill at the lower part, and the camera and a fingerprint sensor at the upper middle placed one on top another.
Redmi 3s Prime measures 139.3 x 69.6 x 8.5 mm, one very compact 5-inch device. The phone sports a classic Xiaomi design, with the same details as the Redmi Note 3/Note 3 Pro (the position of soft keys, speaker grill, and fingerprint sensor with only the camera being placed on the upper left side of the device).
Hardware, Display
The Redmi Note 3 and the Redmi Note 3 Pro differ in one detail; the Redmi Note 3 comes with MediaTek Helio X10 (Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 along with PowerVR G6200 GPU) while the Redmi Note 3 Pro features Snapdragon 650 (4×1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2×1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 coupled with Adreno 510 GPU). The Snapdragon 650 is much more powerful than Helio X10, especially in the graphics area, with the 650 being more powerful even than last year flagship SoCs (Snapdragon 808, 810). Both models come in a couple of flavors. You can pick between 2GB/16GB and 3GB/32GB versions; in both cases (or in all four cases, since the both models come in two flavors), internal storage is expandable (uses SIM 2 slot).
The Redmi 3s Prime is powered by Snapdragon 430 (Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 along with Adreno 505 GPU), a solid choice for a 720p resolution screen the Redmi 3s Prime comes equipped with. The phone comes with 3 gigs of RAM and 32 gigabytes of expandable (SIM 2 slot) internal storage.
Redmi Note 3/Note 3 Pro feature a large 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD screen, offering natural looking colors and wide viewing angles. Combine that with a large size and you have an excellent device for movies, surfing or gaming.
The Redmi 3s Prime comes with a 5-inch, 720p IPS LCD screen. The sharpness could be better (294 ppi pixel density) but for the price, the display is a solid one.
Camera
The Redmi Note 3 comes equipped with a 13 MP (f/2.0) main camera offering phase detection autofocus, HDR, and a dual-LED flash. It is capable of recording 1080p at 30fps videos, with the Redmi Note 3 Pro camera being capable of the same. The Redmi Note 3 Pro features a higher resolution main camera sensor. It counts 16 MP (f/2.0) and supports phase detection autofocus, HDR, and a dual-LED flash. Both models can snap solid quality photos, with not so good low light performance. The selfie camera is the same on both models; it measures 5 MP (f/2.0) and can record 1080p videos.
The Redmi 3s Prime is equipped with a 13 MP (f/2.0) main camera, supporting phase detection autofocus, HDR, and a LED flash. The camera is capable of recording 1080p at 30fps videos. Front-facing camera has 5 MP (f/2.2) and can record 1080p videos.
Battery, Software
The Redmi Note 3/Note 3 Pro come with almost the same battery capacity (Note 3 is equipped with a 4000 mAh battery, while the Pro version comes with 4050 mAh battery); in both cases, the battery should last at least two days. They both run under Android Lollipop and come coated with Xiaomi’s MIUI.
The Redmi 3s Prime has a huge, 4100 mAh battery, and since the phone comes with a 5-inch 720p screen you should expect the battery to last at least two days. THe phone runs under Android Marshmallow coated with MIUI.
Conclusion
The Redmi Note 3 Pro (3GB/32GB) can be found for around Rs 12,000 ($180) and for the price you have an excellent processor, lots of RAM and a big and bright display. The Redmi Note 3 can be picked up for $165; since the Pro version costs just $15 more, you should definitely pick that one. It’s simple; Snapdragon 650 is miles in front of the Helio X10.
The Redmi 3s Prime costs Rs 8,500 (around $130) being a great choice for the price. If you search for an extremely affordable phone, for only $130 you can get a Snapdragon chipset, 32 gigs of storage, 3 gigs of RAM and a 5-inch display. A great choice for all looking for a budget powerhouse.