Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Hands-on Overview and First Impressions

The much anticipated Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 arrived in India today. Hugo Barra, VP at Xiaomi, unveiled the smartphone in a packed stadium in New Delhi with journalists and fans alike. This was one of the biggest launches by the company in India after a long time.

The Redmi Note 3 (Pro) or Snapdragon 650 variant is first launching in India. The MediaTek variant is already available for sale in China. The new Redmi Note 3 comes with the exact same metal build with fingerprint sensor, 4050 mAh battery but gets an improved 16MP camera and faster Snapdragon 650 processor. Other than that, most of the components remain the same including the MIUI 7 skin on top of Android 5.1 Lollipop.

We were at the event live and did get to play with the Redmi Note 3 for a bit. Here are our first impressions about Xiaomi's answer to the Honor 5X, Lenovo K4 Note and the LeEco Le 1s.

Video: Redmi Note 3 India (Snapdragon 650) Hands-on (All Colors)

Redmi Note 3 Key Specifications

Before we delve into how it looks and performs, let's get the specs out of the way:

• 5.5-inch 1080p IPS Display with scratch-resistant glass
• 1.8GHz Hexa-core (2x Cortex A72, 4x Cortex A53), Snapdragon 650 processor
• Adreno 510 GPU
• 2GB/3GB RAM, 16GB/32GB Storage, Expandable with Hybrid SIM Slot
• Android 5.1.1 Lollipop based MIUI 7
• 16MP Rear Camera, f/2.0 aperture, phase-detection autofocus, dual-tone LED Flash
• 5MP front-camera
• Fingerprint Sensor, Metal Build
• 4G LTE Dual-SIM, WiFi ac, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, FM Radio, USB OTG
• 4000 mAh Battery

Build and Design

Now that we are done with the specs, lets talk about the Redmi Note 3 in a bit more detail. You have a sandblasted metal exterior here which looks beautiful and feels great to hold. The sides are rounded which make it fit better in your palms and given the thinner bezels, this device can be held in one hand, if not used in one.

Weighing in at about 164 grams, it may seem a bit heavy but the weight distribution is pretty uniform and given that you have a 4000 mAh battery inside, you would be happy with the slight increase in weight. Actually its just 4 grams heavier than the plastic Redmi Note 2 which came with a 3000 mAh battery.

Xiaomi has also added an Infra-red blaster on the Redmi Note 3, which can be found at the top with the audio jack.

Moving to the left you have the hybrid SIM card slot where you can use either two SIM cards or one SIM card and a MicroSD card slot to expand storage.

On the right you have a familiar sight with the volume rocker and power button. Both are made of metal, are sturdy and offer good feedback as well. They didn't wobble and were easily reachable when using the phone in one hand. Moreover, the rounded frame makes the buttons more reachable as well.

If we come to the bottom of the device you will find the Micro-USB data-syncing/charging port and before I forget, the Redmi Note 3 does support fast charging with a fast charger bundled within the box. Something you would appreciate when you need some juice for that massive 4000 mAh battery.

Which brings me to the back which is covered in an all-metal unibody shell. Yes, the back is non-removable as is the battery. You will also find the 16MP camera with dual-tone LED flash at the back alongwith the fingerprint sensor, which in the limited time that I spent with the device, seemed to work quite well.

You have a 5.5-inch display up-front with very narrow bezels, which do make the display look more immersive. However, there is a small black border that runs around it to keep those display drivers. Its more apparent on the white variant but doesn't distract. Just below the display you have capacitive buttons for multitasking, home and back, which are backlit, thankfully.

Above the display you will find the usual assortment of sensors, namely, the proximity and light sensor alongwith a notification LED and the 5MP front-facing camera along with the main earpiece.

Overall the Redmi Note 3 looks and feels like a premium device which definitely can't be told by looking at its price tag. It feels good to hold in hand, isn't hefty nor slippery. Xiaomi has done a good job of managing the weight and dimensions of the device to make the device easier to use.

Display

The 5.5-inch 1080p display on the Redmi Note 3 is crisp and shows punchy colors. At this size, 1080p resolution with a pixel density of 401 PPI seems more than accurate with no pixelation seen no matter how close you bring the phone to your face. 

We have always been happy with colors on a Xiaomi display and the Redmi Note 3 doesn't disappoint. It looks sharp and vivid. There is a scratch-resistant layer on top as well, but you can also get a tempered glass screen protector for added safety.

Camera

You are getting a 16MP rear camera on the Redmi Note 3 which is an upgrade over the 13MP one on the MediaTek variant. The camera is still capable of shooting in 1080p only but will add more detail to your shots.

There is phase-detection auto-focus available as well which the company says can focus in less than 0.3 seconds, a claim which does seem to be true. I am not sure about the exact time it took to focus, but it was pretty fast. Moreover, the camera is able to focus for macro shots quickly as well and exposure control seemed to be good.

In the time that I used the camera on the Redmi Note 3, the UI is still pretty much the same. You have some manual control available, but the auto mode still gives out satisfactory results. Color reproduction and details looked good, and noise was kept to a minimum. This was just a brief look at the camera, we will be bringing an in-depth look when we get the device for review.

Storage

Redmi Note 3 has a hybrid SIM card slot which allows you to expand storage. With the 32GB variant you will get about 25GB out of the box. Now, this is quite enough for everyday use and with the help of USB OTG, you can also transfer music, videos, games easily between devices.

There is 3GB RAM on offer as well, which seemed plenty for multitasking. I opened several apps together and tried to switch between them quickly and the Redmi Note 3 never seemed out of breath.

Software

We have MIUI 7 running on top of Android 5.1 Lollipop here. Its smooth, feature-rich and highly customizable. All your favorite apps including the brilliant security app, the music and video players, can be found here.

Even though MIUI is a lot different than stock Android, its still pretty easy to get used to. Moreover, there are some additional features like permission control, user management and integrated fingerprint security which definitely makes it worth checking out, if you feel that stock Android is a bit restrictive.

For the most part, MIUI 7 worked flawlessly on the Redmi Note 3. I didn't notice any stutter in animations while opening or switching apps or even browsing through the interface. Its all quite familiar including the fact that there is no word on a marshmallow update as yet.

Colors

Here is a quick comparison of the three colors, the Redmi Note 3 will be available in. We have silver with white front, grey with a black front and gold variant. Personally I liked the silver with white variant most, but that's more of a personal choice and the next best option for me was the grey with black front.

Wrap-up

The key to the success of the Redmi Note 3 in India was always going to be price, and Xiaomi has really nailed it with the Rs. 9999 starting point for the 2GB RAM/16GB storage variant, making it far more accessible to the customers looking for a great budget smartphone. Even the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant is brilliantly priced at Rs. 11,999 to make sure that the Honor 5x, LeEco Le 1s and K4 Note, have something to worry about.

With a good display and possibly a good camera, which is lacking in most devices in this price bracket, the Redmi Note 3 has a chance to rule the segment. But limited availability has always been Xiaomi's problem in India. The Redmi Note 3 goes on its first flash sale starting March 9th, and after that it will be available every week for registered users through flash sales.

The Redmi Note 3 seems to have excellent build and has the potential to take the market by storm but how do all these components come together to create an experience, is something we can only tell after our full review. Stay tuned.