Xiaomi readme note 3 pro camera review

03.02.2016 8200

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 smartphone - review

Smartphones from the Chinese brand Xiaomi are quite popular in Russia. But it’s not surprising: high-quality hardware, very decent characteristics in almost all components, a nice appearance and at the same time a very affordable price. By the way, the brand name is correct, according to the vice president of the company, pronounced "shao-mee," is a Chinese phrase that means "a little rice." I have already reviewed the Xiaomi Mi 4 model, but until recently in Russia, according to my information, the most popular was another model - namely Xiaomi Redmi Note 2. While I was about to get it to test it, the company launched the next model on the market - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. This smartphone has already appeared for pre-order in the Gearbest store, with which I cooperate, and they kindly sent me a copy to review and write a review. Well, in this review, let's get acquainted with the new Redmi Note 3 and see what it is. So, Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is a smartphone with a metal body, a FullHD 5.5" display and a 4000 mAh battery.

operating system: Android 5.0.2, MIUI v7.0
Display: 5.5" FullHD, 1080p (1920×1080), IPS LCD, 403 PPI
CPU: Helio X10 (MT6795), 64bit, 8-core, 2.0 GHz
Graphics accelerator: PowerVR G6200
RAM: 3 GB
Flash memory: 16/32/64 GB
Memory card: No
Net: 2G 900/1800/1900 MHz, 3G 850/900/1900/2100 MHz, 4G 1800/2100/2600 MHz
Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 4.1 LE
Camera: 13 MP, f/2.2
Front camera: 5 megapixels, f/2.0
Ports: microUSB (OTG), 3.5 mm audio jack
Navigation: GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDS
SIM cards: microSIM and microSIM (dual standby)
Battery: 4000 mAh, non-removable
Dimensions: 150 × 76 × 8.7 mm
Weight: 164 g
Additionally: accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor, Quick Charge 2.0 fast charging function, fingerprint scanner
Price: on Yandex.Market 16-19 thousand for the 32 GB version, on Gearbest - $210. Case color options: silver, gold, dark gray.

Well, for a smartphone that can be bought in Russia for about 15 thousand rubles, the characteristics, in my opinion, are more than decent. What is missing here for complete happiness? Memory card support, and Redmi Note 2 had it. But its absence can be survived. Well, I would like NFC, but you can also do without it. Let's see how it all works. Scope of delivery The box here is nice - not that wretched for Xiaomi Mi4. The box shows three colors and three components of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. The package contents are expectedly extremely ascetic: USB-microUSB cable, 5V/2A power adapter with Chinese plug, instructions in Chinese and a paperclip for removing the SIM card slot. By the way, before, when delivering to Europe, the store would at least include a European adapter in the box, but here they decided not to bother. Well, we’ll worry about what to do, of course.
Appearance and features It would seem that there is nothing unusual in the design of Redmi Note 3: Xiaomi Mi4 is not much different from it in appearance, the same Cubot H1 is very similar in style, and the Elephone P8000 is almost the same.

However, purely externally, Redmi Note 3 looks better than the above smartphones. The devil knows why: either the inscriptions on the touch buttons are made more accurately, or the edging around the edges is thinner than the others (all of the listed smartphones have it), or something else. It’s difficult to formulate, but purely visually the phone looks very nice. No, it’s clear that it’s not a flagship, but it’s definitely not cheap. Plus, the color for this option was chosen well: it is discreet, not tacky, and a very pretty shade. Well, there are no more than strange solutions here, such as, for example, the microphone on the Cubot H1, which blatantly sticks out from the end bevel, giving the impression of an outright faulty assembly. The supporting part of the body of this smartphone (the back cover with the side ends) is made of aluminum. There are plastic inserts on top and bottom.
Three control keys are located on the bottom panel of the front of the smartphone. They are marked and can be illuminated during operation for a specified number of seconds. The back of the smartphone looks very good. Smooth matte aluminum surface, painted in the same pleasant color as the front. At the top center there is a recessed camera eye, flash and fingerprint sensor. The ends on the side of the back cover are rounded. Below is the speaker grille. There are plastic inserts on the top and bottom, painted the same color as the lid. The bottom insert has a small lip, which is made to prevent the speaker from being muffled when the smartphone is lying on a flat surface with the screen facing up. On the left side there is a slot for two micro-SIM cards.
The bottom end has a microphone and microUSB output.
On the right side there is a volume rocker and a power button. The travel of the buttons is small, but quite distinct. They don't show any backlash.
The top end has a second microphone (for noise reduction), a headset output, and an infrared port.
Well, here is Redmi Note 3 surrounded by Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Lenovo Vibe P1.
The build of the Redmi Note 3 is very good; nothing crunches or creaks when using the phone. The smartphone looks very good (especially this golden model). I don’t know, however, when the paint on the plastic inserts will start peeling off (this is a problem), but during the testing period nothing like this happened to the phone. It fits very well in the hand (the rounded edges of the back cover contribute to this), and leaves a very pleasant impression. Display Display on an IPS matrix with FullHD resolution. The colors are natural and pleasant, but compared to AMOLED displays, they seem slightly muted. Some users like it, others prefer brighter colors. The images look good and the fonts are clear and high quality. The viewing angles are very good: even with a strong vertical/horizontal deviation, the image brightness does not decrease. The adaptive adjustment works very slowly, but it doesn’t seem to miss much (but it also adjusts within a small range). The brightness is not bad: under normal daytime lighting conditions in the room, I set it to somewhere around 60-70%. In direct sunlight the image is more or less visible. In general, the display did not cause any “wow” effect (and it was not expected), but the quality was a B, I liked it. Device operation Android 5.0.1 and the MIUI shell (V7.0), traditional for Xiaomi smartphones, are installed here. The official international version, as I understand it, has not yet been released, and this assembly, apparently, was completed in the store for the international market. By the way, the assembly turned out to be more or less decent; I have seen some pretty wild assemblies from Xiaomi in devices coming from the store. Well, and, as usual, for those who want to pick up custom firmware and upload it to their smartphone/tablet, welcome to w3bsit3-dns.com By the way, in this case, everything is not easy with flashing, but I didn’t even bother to go into this jungle, because the one that came from the store is quite tolerable. There was even a Play Market there - that's what it came to! However, the Russification here is incomplete: somewhere in the applications and in some settings the English language appears. Applications installed on the system.

The quick switches area scrolls down, but the set of switches is not customizable.

The lock screen, from where you can go to the Camera app.

Talk mode (recording available).

This is what appeared when entering the dialer. I don't know what it is. Maybe this is the humor?

Mobile Internet testing - indicators are within normal limits.

Wi-Fi testing is also almost to the maximum (for the Internet via ADSL).

Notification and status bar settings.

Change of design themes. There are five local themes, but the online themes are in Chinese, so they are unlikely to be useful.

Do Not Disturb mode.

Parental controls are a rare feature in the basic settings.

One-handed control mode, and it can even be tailored to different desired screen diagonals.

Energy saving tuning.

Sound effects for connected headphones. I tried it - well, it depends on the headphones: for some it improves, for others it does not.

Setting up additional control key presses is a very useful thing.

Well, there is also a simplified mode of operation - for older people: large icons, only the most necessary applications, large font. Fingerprints are recorded in the usual way, unlocking using a fingerprint worked fine. Camera A simple interface; you can access shooting modes by sliding the window to the right.

Functions.

Settings.

Examples of photos. (All are clickable.) House, daylight.





Street, sun.










An example of shooting text.






Well, in the dark - this is ISO 2500.

Sample 720p video. Filmed in strong winds.

What can I say about the camera in this smartphone? The camera, in my opinion, is quite good. It focuses well, rarely misses, exposure and white balance, with very rare exceptions, are set clearly. Colors and saturation are normal. And even in the dark it takes decent pictures - for a smartphone. But the camera is traditionally the weak point of inexpensive Chinese phones. Everything is fine with her here. System and performance System data according to CPU-Z.

Antutu tests.

Let's compare with other phones.

Geekbench 3 tests.

Well, the general index according to PCMark. Interestingly, Motorola Moto X Play, which is twice as expensive, has an index of 4042.

In practical terms, the smartphone is quite fast; I had no complaints about its performance. Battery life The battery here is quite capacious, 4000 mAh, but practice shows that inexpensive Chinese smartphones with capacious batteries usually do not set records. This is what I got from the tests. (A balanced diet was set.) Internet. All wireless communications are turned on, the brightness is set to a comfortable 70% without auto-adjustment. The browser reloads the page every 30 seconds. 9 hours 30 minutes. In general, I expected it to be 12 hours. Just in case, I double-checked - yes, almost exactly the same 9:30. Video. All wireless communications are turned off, the brightness in the player is set to level 10 (15 in total), and the TV series is playing in a loop in the player. Almost exactly 12 hours. Well, that's better. Almost the same indicators are found in the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, which has a 3000 mAh battery and a 5.7" display with QHD resolution. On the other hand, it was approximately as expected (cool flagships are much better at balancing power consumption), and the indicators are normal. For example, the same Elephone P8000 with very similar display, chipset and battery characteristics has almost the same numbers. From the native adapter, the smartphone consumed 1.72-1.73 A at 5V, so it charged quite quickly. I measured the capacity consumed when fully discharged with a tester - yes, it corresponds to the declared one (it turned out to be a little more than 4000 mAh). The smartphone lived normally for a couple of days with almost normal loading (by the evening of the second day it was almost on its last legs. If you save energy, turn on all sorts of things). optimization, disabling synchronization and disabling unnecessary wireless communications - I survived until the evening of the third day, but with great difficulty. Observations during operation and conclusions During the entire testing period, the smartphone behaved completely normally, I did not notice any glitches. On w3bsit3-dns.com there were complaints about the sound quality during telephone conversations and the fact that Wi-Fi did not reconnect, but this did not appear for me. During “heavy” 3D games, heating appeared on the back cover in the area of ​​the fingerprint scanner, but it was there. let's say, within the upper norm: it was felt, but it was possible to play. What are the conclusions? In my opinion, the smartphone turned out to be quite decent. It is a little more expensive than competitors with similar filling, but in some ways it beats them. For example, the same Elephone P8000 costs $30-40 cheaper, but is noticeably heavier (209 g versus 164 g), a little thicker, looks worse, sounds worse, and has a noticeably worse camera. Cubot H1 is $50 cheaper, but noticeably worse display resolution (1280x720), less RAM and internal memory, no fingerprint scanner, worse sound quality, noticeably worse camera quality. All other things being equal, what will you choose for yourself? I would, of course, choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. Not only did it not disappoint, but I actually liked it.P. S. From the Gearbest store for readers of my site: a $10 discount coupon for the gray version - 32GBNOTE3-01, a $10 discount coupon for the gold version (as in the review) - 32GBNOTE3-02, and a $10 discount coupon for the silver version - 32GBNOTE3-03.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro smartphone is one of the hottest offers from the Chinese company today. It is sold at an affordable price, looks good, and at the same time offers good quality filling. It is not surprising that it became a real bestseller not only in China, but also in Russia. The Redmi Note 3 Pro smartphone is sold simultaneously with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which has a number of significant differences. In this article we will talk about the strengths and weaknesses of Redmi Note 3 Pro, tell you what the main difference with Redmi Note 3 is, and also determine the best model.

For smartphones we would like to thank the online store GearBest.com. At the time of writing, Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro are sold there at comparable prices: 16 GB modifications cost about 10 thousand rubles, and for 32 GB versions they ask for 11-12 thousand rubles (with cashback even lower). We are testing versions with 3/32 GB of memory. In Russia, Svyaznoy sells Redmi Note 3 Pro (powered by Snapdragon) with 16 and 32 GB of memory for 18 and 20 thousand rubles.

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro:

• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA/HSPA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), TD-SCDMA (1900/2000 MHz), FDD-LTE (1, 3, 5, 7, 8), TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41), CDMA 2000 (BC0)
• Camera: 16 MP, f/2.0, phase focus, dual multi-tone LED flash, Full HD video recording
• Processor: 6 cores, 1.8 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 650
• Graphics chip: Adreno 510
• RAM: 2/3 GB LPDDR3
• Memory card: microSD
• FM radio
• GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou
• Bluetooth 4.1
• Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac)
• IR port
• microUSB 2.0
• Dual SIM cards
• 3.5mm jack
• Dimensions: 150 x 76 x 8.65 mm
• Weight: 164 g

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3:

• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1900 MHz), WCDMA/HSPA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), TD-SCDMA (1900/2000 MHz), (FDD-LTE (1, 3, 7 ), TDD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41)
• Platform (at time of announcement): Android Lollipop with MIUI v7
• Display: 5.5", 1920 x 1080 pixels, 401 ppi, IPS
• Camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, phase focus, dual multi-tone LED flash, Full HD video recording
• Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, 1080p video recording
• Processor: 8 cores, MediaTek Helio X10
• Graphics chip: PowerVR G6200 550/700 MHz
• RAM: 2/3 GB LPDDR3
• Internal memory: 16/32 GB eMMC 5.0
• Memory card: no
• FM radio
• GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou
• Bluetooth 4.1
• Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac)
• IR port
• microUSB 2.0
• two SIM cards
• 3.5mm jack
• Battery: non-removable, 4000 mAh
• Dimensions: 150 x 76 x 8.65 mm
• Weight: 164 g

Video review

Design and screen

The phones are sold in three color options: black (black front and dark gray back), silver (white front and light gray back) and gold (golden front and back). The equipment for smartphones is identical: charging, documentation, cable. I would like to see some kind of cover in the box, but Xiaomi prefers to make money on them by selling them separately. The choice is large.

The appearance of Redmi Note 3 Pro is completely identical to Redmi Note 3, which was released earlier. Of the differences, it is worth highlighting only the different assembly features. For example, the Pro version has minimal gaps between the glass and the sides, the keys are clearer, and the camera glass and flash are recessed into the body (they are not flush, like the regular Redmi Note 3, that is, they are more difficult to scratch). At the same time, the plastic inserts on the back of the Redmi Note 3 Pro are less neat, and the metal cover is slightly dented. Obviously, the technical process has been improved, but the budget nature of the device still makes itself felt. By the way, there is no official Pro version. Both devices are called Redm Note 3, but for the sake of distinction, the later model released on Snapdragon (with the help of online stores) acquired such a postscript.

Among the design features of the Redmi Note 3 family, mention should be made of an infrared port on the top end, a scanner on the back and a SIM tray on the left. You can control home appliances using the IR transmitter - not the most useful feature, but many users are glad that Xiaomi implements it (because it sells home appliances). Although the scanner is located on the back, it is easy to interact with thanks to the recess. By the way, the manufacturer claims the same finger unlock speed (0.3 sec), but in fact Redmi Note 3 Pro wakes up from standby mode faster, and Redmi Note 3 responds faster to the finger when the lock screen is already active. Finally, the SIM tray. The Redmi Note 3 can only hold two SIM cards, while the Redmi Note 3 Pro can use a microSD memory card instead of a second SIM card.

The multimedia speaker is located at the rear, but does not overlap much on the surface. The speaker is cleaner on the Redmi Note 3 Pro, but louder on the Redmi Note 3. The characteristics of the smartphone screens are no different: 5.5” diagonal, Full HD resolution, pixel density 401 ppi. Since IPS matrices are used (maybe even from different suppliers), there is a slight spread in temperature: the Redmi Note 3 has a green screen, while the Redmi Note 3 Pro has a pink screen. In the settings there is a white balance adjustment slider, but there are only three positions and it is impossible to set the same WB. The brightness is sufficient outdoors, and in the dark the backlight can be set to a minimum that is comfortable for the eyes. The Redmi Note 3 has more brightness reserves. Both devices have pleasant color rendering, high viewing angles, and an oleophobic coating.

Software

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro (codename Kenzo) is officially sold outside of China, so there is official global firmware for it with Russian language and Google services. Redmi Note 3 (codenamed Henessy) has not received such attention, but it also does not lack firmware. The review was done on Redmi Note 3 with official English-Chinese stable firmware and manually installed Google services (by the way, they do not crash after OTA updates), and on Redmi Note 3 Pro with global stable firmware. The interface, services and applications (minus the purely Chinese services of the Redmi Note 3) are identical. However, if you do not enjoy the process of installing any software, then your clear choice is Redmi Note 3 Pro. Less headaches with it.

preinstalled software Redmi Note 3

preinstalled software Redmi Note 3 Pro

Sound in headphones

The difference in sound is due to the chipsets: MediaTek Helio X10 in the case of Redmi Note 3 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 in the case of Redmi Note 3 Pro. There are no dedicated DACs or amplifiers, so the sound is processed by integrated codecs. Out of the box, the Redmi Note 3 Pro on the Snapdragon processor plays louder, but raising the volume on the Redmi Note 3 is very easy through the engineering menu (*#*#3646633#*#* in the dialer, then Hardware Testing-Audio-Headset Mode). As for the sound quality, the Pro version played better with the Denon D600 headphones. It's cleaner and has a wider stage. Although neither one nor the other can be recommended to audiophiles: lower frequencies are played out sluggishly, details tend to mix into mush.

Camera

Oh, this is a very interesting point. Redmi Note 3 uses a 13-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture, phase focus, and dual multi-colored flash. Redmi Note 3 Pro uses a fresh 16-megapixel sensor, the aperture is f/2.0, phase focus, and the flash is also dual-tone. The cameras focus at the same speed, not instantly, but fast enough not to annoy you. The shots are also taken, plus or minus, the same way. However, the results are strikingly different. Take a look:

Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro:

I’m more than sure that you expected the total superiority of Redmi Note 3 Pro, based on the fact that it has a fresh sensor, higher resolution and wider aperture. In fact, it does something unimaginable with green objects and regularly sets incorrect white balance. The algorithms of Redmi Note 3 are also far from ideal, and the first thing that caught my eye when I looked through the footage was that one half of the frames was pale, the other was too contrasty. So there is parity in the quality of the main cameras, since both are prone to errors in color rendition, and there is equally a lot of noise in poor conditions. However, I note that all photos were taken with the contrast, saturation and clarity settings at the average level (by default), although these parameters can be adjusted to achieve the optimal result (it is curious that the MediaTek version has only three options for each parameter, while the Snapdragon has seven each).

Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro

Front cameras with a resolution of 5 megapixels and f/2.0 aperture. Both give blurry selfies even on the street in good light. This is not the level of its closest strong competitors, since the same ZUK Z1 and Meizu M3 Note take better photographs (with both cameras).

Video recording on both smartphones is not worthy of praise. But if you choose between videos from Redmi Note 3 on MediaTek and Redmi Note 3 Pro on Snapdragon, then I prefer the video from the Pro model. It has nicer colors and better sound quality.

Performance

The regular Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is based on the MediaTek Helio X10 chipset with 8 Cortex-A53 cores and a PowerVR G6200 graphics accelerator. The model with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage has lower frequencies than the so-called Prime version of Note 3 with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM. The heart of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro is a 6-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 chip with Adreno 510 graphics. This smartphone can also be had with 2/16 GB of memory and 3/32 GB of memory. We are testing versions with 3/32 GB of memory.

Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro

Benchmark indicators are right in front of your eyes. In 3D tests, Redmi Note 3 Pro with Snapdragon 650 scores better, but the superiority in real games over Redmi Note 3 with Helio X10 is not so obvious. Judging by the games we tested, the advantage is 50/50. This, I think, is due to the greater optimization of toys for PowerVR, which is used in the iPhone. Just don’t forget to turn on the performance mode of Redmi Note 3 before playing, otherwise there will be lags with balanced mode (fps is almost 2 times lower). The disadvantage of the productivity mode is the high heat generation; holding the phone with it is extremely uncomfortable. Redmi Note 3 Pro also heats up (Redmi Note 3 heats up about the same in balanced mode), but without any unpleasant sensations.

As for the smoothness of the interface, Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro with different official firmware and different hardware equally regularly lag in the interface and applications, and can crash from the same games. If I can praise Xiaomi Mi5 for optimizing MIUI, then I can’t praise it here.

Autonomy

rank in game (Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro)

video discharge (Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro)

The batteries are the same – 4000 mAh. If we consider that the screens are identical (5.5”, Full HD, IPS), then the entire difference in energy consumption can be safely attributed to the processors: MediaTek and Qualcomm. In the test for continuous video playback with maximum screen brightness, the Helio X10 version lasted 7 hours 8 minutes, and the Snapdragon 650 model lasted 9 hours 34 minutes (25% longer). In Asphalt 8, in an hour with the brightness at a comfortable value, both phones dropped by 15% (Redmi Note 3 was in balanced mode). I studied smartphones at the same time, using them in the same tasks, and according to my observations, the MediaTek version always lost charge faster (in balanced mode). However, even its results are quite good for such a battery. That is, it cannot be said that Redmi Note 3 sits down quickly. It lasts for a long time, but Redmi Note 3 Pro lasts longer. When playing games in performance mode, Redmi Note 3 will unpleasantly surprise you with heating and discharge.

Conclusions

I don’t understand why Xiaomi releases so many modifications of the Redmi series smartphones, turning production into a natural conveyor belt. On the other hand, the models are frequently updated and receive important improvements. For example, the compact Redmi 3 Pro (as well as Redmi 3S) received a finger scanner, and the Redmi Note 3 Pro phablet was transferred to a more current platform.

If we compare Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro head-to-head, I can’t think of a single good reason why you should buy the MediaTek version. The Snapdragon version provides a comparable level of performance, but lasts longer, has slightly better video recording and better sound quality in headphones, it is easy to install international firmware with Russian language and Google services, and it also boasts support for memory cards. There is parity with cameras - one takes better pictures, then the other (but both are at an average level). Changing Redmi Note 3 to Redmi Note 3 Pro makes no sense.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro itself is an interesting product, but not an ideal choice. My biggest gripe with this is the camera's instability, but if you're generally happy with the images shown, you won't be disappointed with the purchase. At the current price, this is a really good choice, although there are at least two decent alternatives - Meizu M3 Note and ZUK Z1.

We would like to express our gratitude to the online store GearBest.com for the devices provided for testing. You can save on purchases through the Letyshops service by returning your money.

At the beginning of 2016, we tested the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 smartphone, which became a hit among phablets in the price segment up to 15,000 - 16,000 rubles. It’s symbolic, but we’re opening 2017 with a test of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, not a new product, but still quite a relevant model, which it will remain until the middle of this year. Moreover, even taking into account the fact that Redmi Note 4 and special versions of Note 3 have already been released, this phablet still offers a good level of performance, an optimal set of functionality and is capable of surpassing many models in this price segment on the Russian market.

In the PRO version, users now have access to the ability to expand memory using an external drive, which in itself is a rare option for Xiaomi. The camera module was also updated and Qualcomm was installed instead of MediaTek. The smartphone can be bought in Chinese online stores and our local retail stores. The range of prices in Russian stores is presented in the table compiled according to Yandex.Market data.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro review

Equipment

The package includes a tray clip, power adapter, micro USB cable, instructions and warranty card.

Appearance

Perhaps it was this approach, with attention to the quality of materials and assembly, and design in general, that made the smartphones of this manufacturer so popular. They were able to find an approach to both sophisticated users and audiences of different ages and genders.

The base of the case is a metal plate with two plastic inserts on top and bottom. It creates the feeling of a solid body. The assembly is at the flagship level, all parts fit perfectly together.

The body is not removable. The shape of the retractable tray has changed. Instead of one of the SIMs, there is now a universal slot. You can choose between a second SIM or additional memory.

The fingerprint scanner is located on the lid, the location was chosen taking into account unlocking with the index finger. The location is determined intuitively using a blind method.

The scanner works flawlessly in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro. Unlocking is quick and you can store multiple fingerprints in memory.

Above it is the main camera lens, which does not protrude above the surface of the body, as well as an LED flash.

The front side is covered with protective glass with an oleophobic coating. The finger glides freely over the surface; marks accumulate over time, but are easily erased. A matte film was applied from the factory.

On the bottom frame there are three touch buttons with white backlight, on the top there is an earpiece grille, proximity and light sensors, and a front camera lens. The frames are painted in the color of the body.

Taking into account the fact that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro contains a battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh, it was possible to obtain a fairly compact case (76.0x150.0x8.65 mm, 164 grams). It lies freely in the hand, the main elements are within easy reach. Additionally, the interface provides for a reduction in screen area.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, like its younger brother, is available in three colors: silver, dark gray and gold.

On the right side is the power button and volume rocker. At the top end there is an infrared port (universal remote control) and an audio jack for headphones. Bottom micro USB. Two microphones are output, the second is used for noise reduction.

Screen

Filling

Connection

Battery

Camera

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro received a new module; instead of 13 megapixels, it boasts a 16 megapixel Samsung camera with aperture 2.0 (versus 2.2 for Xiaomi Redmi Note 3). Front camera with OV6570 matrix. Its native application from the shell supports shooting modes, effects, and improving the appearance of selfies. Autofocus is fast.

Software

Results on Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro

– Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro at the end of 2016 took first positions in almost all ratings of inexpensive smartphones. The enormous popularity of this gadget became possible primarily due to the ideal price/performance ratio, for which the RN3P does not have many analogues even a year after its release.

We bring to your attention a review of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, in which we will evaluate the device’s ability to compete with more modern phones, and also consider the relevance of purchasing it in 2017.

Price and main characteristics

Redmi Note 3 Pro is distributed in two variants. The cost of the older version with 32/3 GB of memory is approximately $165, the younger version with 16/2 GB can be purchased for $145.

Specifications:

• display: 5.5”, LCD IPS FullHD 1920*1080 px;
• processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 MSM8956 (1.8 GHz) + Adreno 510 video accelerator;
• RAM: 2/3 GB;
• internal memory: 16/32 GB + microSD flash cards up to 128 GB;
• camera: main – 16 MP, front – 5 MP;
• communications: GSM (2G), 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/ A-GPS, GLONASS;
• battery: 4,050 mAh.
• Dimensions of the device – 76.0 x 150.0 x 8.65 mm.

The OS version is Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but rumors recently appeared about an official update to 7.1.1 Nougat. The proprietary MIUI shell is installed on top of the original Android.

Equipment and appearance

The Note 3 Pro box is made of thick white cardboard. It is noteworthy that there is practically no indication of the Pro version inside. Only on the back side among the hieroglyphs is the number 650, which indicates the version of the Snapdragon processor. Inside the box there is a smartphone, a charging unit, a microUSB cable, documentation and a clip for the SIM card tray.

The phone is available in silver and gold colors. The case is made of metal, the back panel is not removable. Its relatively large thickness (8.7 mm) is due to the device’s capacious battery.

The placement of functional elements is not much different from previous Xiaomi models. The front panel has a 5.5-inch display with an oleophobic coating. Below it are three touch buttons: “Menu”, “Home” and “Back”. Their outlines are easy to distinguish even in the dark thanks to the backlight.

Above the screen there is a built-in speaker, lighting and proximity sensors, as well as an event indicator. The functions of the latter can be changed in the phone settings.

At the top end of the Redmi Note 3 Pro there is a headphone jack, an infrared port and a microphone for noise reduction.

The bottom edge is equipped with a microUSB connector and a main microphone.

On the right are metal buttons for volume control and display activation.

On the left side is a tray for two SIM cards. One of them can be replaced with microSD up to 128 GB.

The back cover of the Note 3 Pro is slightly rounded on all four edges. It also houses a 16-megapixel camera, a dual-tone flash, a fingerprint scanner, a corporate logo and a main speaker. There is a small protrusion under the speaker perforation that slightly raises the phone when it is lying on the table, so the sound is not muffled.

The fingerprint scanner recognizes your finger almost instantly. The response delay is extremely insignificant, stability – 9 successful unlocks out of 10.

Xiaomi did a good job on the ergonomics of the RN3P. It is convenient to use, there is a “one-handed” mode, which will be useful for those with small palms. As practice shows, the build quality is high - the case does not begin to creak even after prolonged use.

Screen

The 5.5-inch IPS matrix has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The pixel density is 401 PPI. This is a fairly high figure in the budget price category. Individual dots on the screen can only be distinguished with the help of a magnifying glass.

Oleophobic glass coating does not collect fingerprints. Small stains can be quickly removed with a regular cloth. At the same time, the screen does not have protruding edges along the edges of the body like the Redmi 3S, so the phone should not be placed face down on a hard surface.

The Redmi Note 3 Pro sensor works without errors and supports up to ten simultaneous touches.

The contrast of the image on the display changes slightly with a strong deviation in the viewing angle. Color stability and backlight uniformity are normal.

The screen brightness reserve is enough for almost any lighting. There is no glare on the display in sunlight. Automatic brightness level adjustment occurs correctly and smoothly. The color temperature test showed good factory calibration for a budget phone.

Overall, the Redmi Note 3 Pro's screen will definitely please most users. More modern Xiaomi models have slightly improved displays, but the difference with the older version can hardly be discerned.

Performance

The hardware component of the smartphone stands out compared to other budget competitors in 2016. It is equipped with a six-core Snapdragon 650 processor with a maximum clock speed of 1.8 GHz. The GPU is an Adreno 510 chip. The amount of RAM is 2 or 3 GB in different versions.

Internal storage of 16 or 32 GB can be expanded with a microSD card. In the Antutu test, the phone showed high results - 78059 points. This is approximately 23,000 higher than the version without the “Pro” prefix.

No slowdowns were noticed when using the proprietary MIUI shell. All transitions between applications are smoothly animated.

Given its excellent technical characteristics, Redmi Note 3 Pro can be fully used as a gaming device. It will easily deliver high frame rates in almost any game. However, too much load on the processor leads to noticeable heating of the device. This may cause unnecessary discomfort.

In general, the power reserve of the smartphone is quite enough to compete with any models from the mid-price segment of 2017.

Camera

The smartphone has a 16-megapixel main module S5K3P3 from Samsung and a 5-megapixel front OmniVision OV6570.

Photos taken with the RN3P during the day have good white balance and correct exposure. The detailing is not stellar, but considering the capabilities of competitors, it does not cause any particular complaints. Focusing works quickly and correctly.

But at dusk and at night, serious problems with detail begin - the picture becomes soapy, noise appears. Overall, low-light shooting is definitely not the RN3P's strong suit.

The standard application allows you to shoot videos in Full HD at 30 frames per second. There is a Slow Motion mode in which the camera records at 120 fps.

Compared to its competitors, the Note 3 Pro's camera is solidly average. The quality of photos and videos will be quite enough for the average user.

Speaker, sound quality

The volume reserve of the main speaker is enough for comfortable listening to music and good audibility of notifications in any conditions. However, at maximum volume, slight sound distortion may occur. But the RN3P sounds quite good and, in general, its multimedia speaker can be considered good among its competitors.

Battery

Redmi Note 3 Pro is equipped with a 4050 mAh battery. Using the charger, the battery is charged to maximum in approximately 3 hours. It will take about 5 hours to charge the laptop.

In maximum load mode (games, high brightness levels, watching videos), the phone gave almost 6 hours of continuous screen operation. If the gadget is used moderately, then its charge is enough for 2-3 days.

Communication and Internet

Wireless interfaces include: Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n/ac Dual Band, Bluetooth 4.1 LE, IR port and radio. The new LTE Cat.7 is also present. There are no problems connecting and exchanging data via Wi-Fi.

Redmi Note 3 has one radio module built in. If you talk to a subscriber using one SIM card, the second one will be inactive. Communication with satellites is established using GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou. The device behaves correctly in navigation.

Video review of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro

Competitors, conclusion

What can you get by purchasing Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro? First of all, a powerful processor, long operating time and a cool screen. The smartphone camera can boast of good shots, but only during the day; in poor lighting, it will frankly disappoint you.

And today the Xiaomi bestseller remains perhaps the best choice in terms of hardware/price ratio. In addition, a huge number of custom firmwares are available on RN3P, and if you don’t like the stock MIUI, you’ll have room to roam.

The main competitor is Meizu M3/M5 Note. The smartphone has a more pleasant design, approximately the same camera, battery life and screen quality, but cannot boast of the same powerful hardware. In Antutu, it loses to its Xiaomi analogue by about 20,000 points.

But with LeEco Cool1, RN3P has approximate parity in almost all respects, and the camera of LeEco’s brainchild is better. But Cool1 has a worse situation with developer support and its design is extremely amateurish.

In general, the version of Redmi Note 3 Pro with 3 GB of RAM can give odds to most mid-segment smartphones that appeared on the Russian market at the beginning of 2017. So it’s too early to write off a smartphone; it will be relevant for at least a few more years. And in the future, the price for RN3P will only decrease, adding another plus to its piggy bank. We recommend for purchase.

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Xiaomi unexpectedly releases the successor to the Redmi Note 3 series after just three months of the release of its flagship Redmi Note 2. But the new smartphone can hardly be called a continuation of the series in the full sense of the word; by and large, it is an updated version in an improved metal case, but without major changes in the filling.

In fact, very little has changed in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 - a metal body, a larger battery, a new dual flash diode and a fingerprint scanner.

But all these updates are justified by a completely practical application, so the new case improves the aesthetic appearance and sits more pleasantly in the hand, the fingerprint scanner helps to unlock the phone faster while maintaining a sufficient level of security, the double diode improves the white balance in pictures, and the increased battery capacity allows Work Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 longer.

Appearance

At first glance, the appearance of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is almost exactly the same as the Note 2, with the exception of the body materials. But additional hardware capabilities make themselves felt: the flash eye has become bifurcated, and a biometric sensor has been added underneath it.

As usual, the front of Redmi Note 3 is covered with black glass, but the usual Xiaomi red outlines of the touch keys have changed to white, and they become visible only when the screen is active, while when you are not using the phone, they are almost invisible .

As we already mentioned, a biometric scanner has been added to the back of the device, located under the LED flash; reaching it with your index finger is not difficult. To improve the quality of the GSM signal, plastic plugs are installed on the top and bottom, painted in the same color as the metal of the main body of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3.

On the left side there is a receiver for 2x microSIM. The on/off button and volume control are in their usual place on the right side of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3.

An additional microphone, a 3.5 mm headphone input and, attention, an infrared port have found their place on the top edge; they have not been seen in modern smartphones for a long time. At the bottom of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is the main microphone and a microUSB port shifted to the left side.

Specifications

• 5.5 inch IPS display with 1080p resolution
• Chipset Mediatel Helio X10 MT6795;
• 8 core processor 2.0GHz Cortex-A53;
• Graphics accelerator PowerVR G6200 GPU;
• 2GB (16GB model) and 3GB (16GB32GB model) RAM
• Main camera 13MP
• 5MP front camera
• MIUI 7 launcher based on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
• IR port
• Two microphones with noise reduction function
• 4 mAh battery
• Dimensions 150 x 75 x 8.7 mm
• Weight 164 g

Like all smartphones from Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 there is no memory card slot.

Price and conclusions

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 turned out not to be a full-fledged successor to the series, but a kind of plus version of Note 2. The trio has the same processor, screen, camera and software, the main changes concerned improvements in appearance, and the most noticeable bonus is the fingerprint scanner.

Such a hasty announcement of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is most likely due to the reluctance to lose potential buyers who may purchase the recently released flagship of competitors Meizu m1.

If we talk about the price/quality ratio, then today Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is one of the best offers in the mid-price segment.