Comparing Xiaomi’s Budget Smartphones: Mi 3, Redmi Note and Redmi 1S
Xiaomi, one of the leading mobile company from China has launched its operations in India with the launch of its flagship smartphone “Mi 3”, at an incredibly affordable pricing of Rs. 13,999. Besides Mi 3, Xiaomi announced the launch of their highly affordable smartphones, the Redmi 1S and Redmi Note, priced at Rs. 6,999 and Rs. 9,999 respectively. Both these devices would go on sale over the next few weeks. Xiaomi has exclusively partnered with Flipkart for the sale and distribution of Mi phones across India. Initially, 36 service centres across top 20 cities, including 2 exclusive Mi service centers in Delhi and Bangalore have been setup to provide after sales service. A dedicated Mi hotline (1800-103-6286) that operates 7 days a week (9:00-18:00) is setup, to offer a hassle-free customer support.
We got to spend some time with all of these 3 devices at the Xiaomi launch event in India. The Mi 3 packs top-notch hardware and its aluminum-magnesium alloy frame housing feels premium in hand. Mi 3 is undoubtedly the best budget smartphone right now! In comparison to Mi 3, Redmi 1S is a entry-level phone while Redmi Note being a mid-range one; offering users best value for their money at a very fair pricing. Unlike Mi 3, both the Redmi phones comes with a glossy plastic removable back cover, Dual-SIM card capability, and support for expandable storage via microSD card. What’s common in all phones is, they offer USB OTG support natively, have a reinforced USB port and runs on MIUI – Xiaomi’s super intuitive and user friendly Android-based OS, offering extensive customization options for power users.
Specifications Comparison between Xiaomi Mi 3, Redmi Note and Redmi 1S –
| Mi 3 | Redmi Note | Redmi 1S | |
| CPU | 2.3 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 800 | 1.7 GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6592 | 1.6 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 400 |
| OS | Android 4.4.2 | Android 4.2.2 | Android 4.3 |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | ARM Mali-450 | Adreno 305 |
| Display | 5 inch Full HD (1920x 1080) IPS LCD at 441ppi | 5.5 inch IPS HD with 1280×720 resolution | 4.7 inch IPS HD with 1280×720 resolution |
| Main Camera | 13 MP Autofocus with dual-LED flash | 13 MP Autofocus camera with LED flash | 8 MP Autofocus camera with LED flash |
| Video | 1080p recording @ 30fps (Both cameras) | 1080p (1920×1080) Full HD video recording | 1080p video recording |
| Front Camera | 2MP | 5MP | 1.6MP |
| Memory | 2GB RAM | 2GB | 1GB |
| Storage | 16GB Internal | 8GB Internal | 8GB Internal |
| MicroSD slot | NO | Expandable upto 32GB | Expandable upto 64GB |
| Connectivity | Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, USB OTG, NFC | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS+AGPS, USB OTG | 3G/2G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS+AGPS, USB OTG |
| Dual-SIM | NO | YES | YES |
| Battery | 3050 mAh Non-removable | 3100mAh | 2000mAh removable |
| Dimension | 144 x 73.6 x 8.1 mm | 154 x 78.7 x 9.45 mm | 137 x 69 x 9.9 mm |
| Weight | 145g | 199g | 158g |
| Colors | Metallic Gray | White | Grey, White |
| Price in India | Rs. 13,999 | Rs. 9,999 | Rs. 6,999 |
Mi 3 will go on sale in India starting 12pm, July 22nd. Interested users can register using their Flipkart account before July 22, thereby being able to purchase the Mi3 on the sale day.
Register now to buy a Mi 3 on sale day!
