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Xiaomi Redmi 3 Smartphone Review

Budget price, mainstream performance. The latest affordable Redmi model from the Chinese manufacturer carries a surprisingly bright backlight and long battery runtimes with the new Snapdragon 616 SoC for just under $160 USD.

Xiaomi is one of the more well-known manufacturers from China having recently surpassed Lenovo in worldwide market share as of 2015. Like Huawei, its brand and Redmi series are starting to become household names overseas.

The latest inexpensive model for the Redmi series is the Redmi 3 with the brand new octa-core Snapdragon 616 SoC. Compared to the Redmi 2, this third generation model carries a larger display and a slightly larger footprint as a result. Is this a step forward from last year's offering?

Xiaomi Redmi 3 (Redmi Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 MSM8939v2 8 x 1.7 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel, 10-point capacitive, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 Infrared, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm earphones, Card Reader: MicroSD, Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.1, A2DP, 2G bands: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 CDMA 800 / 1900 3G Bands: HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 TD-SCDMA CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 4G bands: LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500) Speed: HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.5 x 139.3 x 69.6 ( = 0.33 x 5.48 x 2.74 in)
Battery
4100 mAh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, LED flash
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix f/2.2, 1080p@30fps
Additional features
Speakers: Monaural, Power adapter (US), Power adapter (EU), MicroUSB cable, MIUI 7.0, 12 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
144 g ( = 5.08 oz / 0.32 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
159 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

In terms of looks and feel, the Redmi 3 already surpasses its predecessor. The cheap plastic feel of the Redmi 2 is now a matte silvery surface with a printed diamond pattern and chrome lining around the front edges and corners. It's still a smooth surface from top to bottom not unlike on an iPhone, so Xiaomi has gone for a higher-end feel without necessarily jacking up prices.

Case quality is very good with only very minimal twisting and slight creaking when attempting to bend the device. Pressing down firmly on the glass display will cause ripples on the screen. Otherwise, the phone is well made with no unintended crevices in between edges. On the flip side, the back cover is no longer removable and the manufacturer offers only Silver, Gray, and Gold colors.

In terms of size, the Redmi 3 is almost a full millimeter thinner than the Redmi 2 whilst having a bigger display. It is also heavier (144 g vs. 133 g), longer, and wider, though still relatively small compared to other 5-inch smartphones like the HTC One M9 or Samsung Galaxy J5. The dimensions of the Xiaomi are very close to the OnePlus X, albeit noticeably thicker.

147 mm / 5.79 inch 72.6 mm / 2.86 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 136 g0.2998 lbs144 mm / 5.67 inch 71.5 mm / 2.81 inch 10.5 mm / 0.4134 inch 140 g0.3086 lbs144.6 mm / 5.69 inch 69.7 mm / 2.74 inch 9.61 mm / 0.3783 inch 157 g0.3461 lbs141.3 mm / 5.56 inch 72.2 mm / 2.84 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 145 g0.3197 lbs142.1 mm / 5.59 inch 71.8 mm / 2.83 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 147 g0.3241 lbs139.3 mm / 5.48 inch 69.6 mm / 2.74 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 144 g0.3175 lbs140 mm / 5.51 inch 69 mm / 2.72 inch 6.9 mm / 0.2717 inch 138 g0.3042 lbs134 mm / 5.28 inch 67.2 mm / 2.65 inch 9.4 mm / 0.3701 inch 133 g0.2932 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

Available ports are the usual 3.5 mm audio and Micro-USB 2.0 with OTG support. The SIM trays and MicroSD slot are now accessible from the edge. While NFC or MHL are not available, there is an IR blaster on the top edge of the device for remote functionality.

Top: 3.5 mm audio
Top: 3.5 mm audio
Right: Power button, Volume rocker
Right: Power button, Volume rocker
Bottom: Micro-USB 2.0
Bottom: Micro-USB 2.0
Left: Dual SIM and MicroSD tray
Left: Dual SIM and MicroSD tray

Software

The MIUI 7 UI is based on Android 5.1 Lollipop and runs swiftly without any notable issues. There is the occasional stuttering when launching applications or when scrolling through the Home screen and dropdown menu, so performance is not entirely smooth. Fortunately, these are very short-lived and do not impact the usability of the phone.

Pre-installed applications include Mi Home, Mi App Store, Security Center, Mi Video Player, and others. The official Google Play Store must be installed manually via the Mi App Store and requires Developer Options to be enabled through the Settings.

Lock screen
Lock screen
Home screen
Home screen
MIUI 7 dropdown menu
MIUI 7 dropdown menu
MIUI app store
MIUI app store

Communication & GPS

GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test outdoors

WLAN is supported up to 802.11n with Wi-Fi Direct and hotspot options. We experienced no connectivity issues during our time with the test unit with signal quality similar to other mainstream smartphones at equivalent distances. Anything further than 20 m or 25 m will cause signal strength to drop to the uncomfortable -80 dBm range.

GPS, GLONASS, and BDS are supported on the Redmi 3. Our quick GPS test shows it to be less accurate than a dedicated Garmin 500 around corners. This makes the smartphone a poorer choice for off-road tracking and satisfactory for driving purposes.

Garmin 500
Garmin 500
Redmi 3
Redmi 3
1 m from source
1 m from source
10 m from source
10 m from source
25 m from source
25 m from source

Telephone & Voice Quality

Compatible networks include 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, and 4G FDD-LTE on LTE bands 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500). The full specifications list can be found on the official Xiaomi page and buyers of any international smartphone should check that the bands are compatible with their major networks. In the U.S., we were able to make calls via the T-Mobile network and receive up to 3G data. Note that the MicroSD slot utilizes the same space as the second SIM slot on the removable tray, so users cannot use both simultaneously.

Call quality is very good from both sides with no major static or disruptions. Maximum volume is sufficiently loud through the earpiece.

Cameras & Multimedia

The rear 13 MP camera produces relatively good pictures when outdoors. We would have liked for the images to be a little brighter and the colors to be a bit cooler and more saturated, but the Redmi 3 compares quite well against even the LG G3 with no major hints of purple fringing around hairline edges or excessively muddy pixels when up close.

Video recording is supported up to 1080p30 with anti-jittering for smoother motion and panning. Quality is good overall for the price, albeit grainier and muddier than expected.

Xiaomi Redmi 3
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Xiaomi Redmi 3
LG G3
LG G3
LG G3
LG G3
LG G3
LG G3
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Canon EOS Rebel XSi
Canon EOS Rebel XSi
LG G3
LG G3

Input Devices

Touchscreen

The 10-point capacitive touchscreen is as accurate around the edges and corners as it is towards the center. Additionally, typing with the onscreen keyboard is swift and responsive enough for even fast typists. However, we found the display to be very sensitive on its default setting. For example, attempts at swiping or scrolling will sometimes register as a tap or click instead, which can be annoying on the Home screen where we simply wanted to scroll and not open an application. This occurs more often than on other Android smartphones.

Aside from the touchscreen, the Redmi 3 also uses three dedicated Android buttons on the bottom with no backlight lighting. The manufacturer is sticking to the layout on Samsung Galaxy models by having the Back key on the right side of the phone instead of the left.

10-point capacitive touchscreen
10-point capacitive touchscreen

Display

The 5-inch screen may not be 1080p, but don't let its 720p resolution fool you. Texts and images still appear crisp and very close to the surface for a better pop-up effect. The backlight in particular is very bright at almost 500 nits on average, which matches or exceeds a handful of other brand name 5-inch models. Contrast, colors, grayscale, and gamma are also measurable improvements over the Redmi 2.

There is some minor backlight bleeding nearest the left and right edges and the brightness distribution could have been better. Nonetheless, these negatives are very hard to notice during regular use and minor enough to not be of any distraction when watching videos.

Very slight backlight bleeding
Very slight backlight bleeding
Subpixel array
Subpixel array
505.4
cd/m²
490.2
cd/m²
466.2
cd/m²
497.9
cd/m²
488.6
cd/m²
454.1
cd/m²
509.8
cd/m²
490.9
cd/m²
452.6
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 509.8 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 484 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 89 %
Center on Battery: 488.6 cd/m²
Contrast: 887:1 (Black: 0.551 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.36
Xiaomi Redmi 3
5.00, 1280x720
Xiaomi Redmi 2
4.70, 1280x720
Google Nexus 5X
5.20, 1920x1080
Asus Zenfone 2 ZE500KL
5.00, 1280x720
HTC One M9
5.00, 1920x1080
Microsoft Lumia 640
5.00, 1280x720
OnePlus X
5.00, 1920x1080
Response Times
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
50 ?(17, 33)
Response Time Black / White *
35 ?(16, 19)
PWM Frequency
237 ?(25)
Screen
-20%
32%
33%
4%
10%
-26%
Brightness middle
488.6
421.4
-14%
503
3%
467
-4%
474
-3%
433
-11%
312
-36%
Brightness
484
429
-11%
498
3%
460
-5%
458
-5%
429
-11%
314
-35%
Brightness Distribution
89
89
0%
97
9%
95
7%
85
-4%
95
7%
91
2%
Black Level *
0.551
0.642
-17%
0.38
31%
0.3
46%
0.4
27%
0.52
6%
Contrast
887
656
-26%
1324
49%
1557
76%
1185
34%
833
-6%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.5
7.31
-12%
2.09
68%
3.28
50%
6.32
3%
3.42
47%
6.28
3%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
5
7.88
-58%
2.12
58%
1.89
62%
6.36
-27%
3.03
39%
8.24
-65%
Gamma
2.36 93%
2.51 88%
2.27 97%
2.21 100%
2.43 91%
2.16 102%
2.12 104%
CCT
7677 85%
8944 73%
6621 98%
6734 97%
8218 79%
7081 92%
8145 80%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
58.81
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-20% / -20%
32% / 32%
33% / 33%
4% / 4%
10% / 10%
-26% / -26%

* ... smaller is better

While colors and grayscale have improved and are certainly better than many lesser-known Chinese smartphones in its price range, costlier and more popular 5-inch smartphones like the Nexus 5X or HTC One M9 still provide deeper blacks and generally more accurate displays. Blue colors in particular are less accurate than other colors on the Redmi 3 in intermediate saturation levels.

Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
ColorChecker
ColorChecker

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
35 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 19 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 91 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
50 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 17 ms rise
↘ 33 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 84 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is good due to the bright backlight. Content is easy to see and read when under shade or when reflections can be reduced. On the other hand, direct sunlight still proves to be too much for the Xiaomi to handle. The wide IPS viewing angles mean comfortable use in all orientations, which is especially helpful when attempting to avoid glare.

Outdoors on bright overcast
Outdoors on bright overcast
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
IPS viewing angles
IPS viewing angles

Performance

The Redmi 3 is one of the earliest smartphones to ship with the new Snapdragon 616 SoC. This mainstream octa-core SoC can run as low as 200 MHz or as high as 1.5 GHz according to CPU-Z. This maximum is only attainable on four of the Cortex-A53 cores as the other four are limited to 1.2 GHz in comparison. LPDDR3 RAM is available up to 2 GB.

Processor

Compared to the Snapdragon 410, the Snapdragon 616 offers 30 percent to 50 percent faster performance in single-threaded and multi-threaded processors, respectively, according to LinPack. Geekbench 3 ranks our Redmi 3 below the Nexus 5 (Snapdragon 800) in single-core performance and slightly above the Nexus 5 in multi-core performance. In essence, the Snapdragon 616 is roughly equivalent in raw performance to smartphones sporting the Snapdragon 800 or 801.

More recent flagship processors like the Exynos 7420 Octa or Snapdragon 810 will still handily outclass the Snapdragon 616 according to LinPack and AnTuTu v6.

Linpack Android / IOS
Multi Thread (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
289.8 MFLOPS
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
839 MFLOPS +190%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
267.7 MFLOPS -8%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
262 MFLOPS -10%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
242.5 MFLOPS -16%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
207.7 MFLOPS -28%
Single Thread (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
221.2 MFLOPS
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
626 MFLOPS +183%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
226 MFLOPS +2%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
87.1 MFLOPS -61%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
80.2 MFLOPS -64%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
117.1 MFLOPS -47%
PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3570 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
5050 Points +41%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3909 Points +9%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4716 Points +32%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4324 Points +21%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3701 Points +4%
AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
34451 Points
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
79502 Points +131%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
4843 Points
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1563 Points
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
1329 Points
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
528 Points
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2792 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
5619 Points +101%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2721 Points -3%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4587 Points +64%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3530 Points +26%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1561 Points -44%
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
613 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
1503 Points +145%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
693 Points +13%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1335 Points +118%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1246 Points +103%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
526 Points -14%
Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3642 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
9334 Points +156%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3438 Points -6%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
8622 Points +137%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
7553 Points +107%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3125 Points -14%
Browsermark - 2.1 (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1444 points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
2731 points +89%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1203 points -17%
Sunspider
1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1258 ms *
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
347.1 ms * +72%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1688 ms * -34%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
530 ms * +58%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
657 ms * +48%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1573 ms * -25%
0.9.1 Total Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1218 ms *
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
22.88 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
49.19 Points +115%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
22.89 Points 0%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
47.4 Points +107%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
45 Points +97%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
20.83 Points -9%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
12194 ms *
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
4037 ms * +67%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
20190 ms * -66%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4193 ms * +66%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4734 ms * +61%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
11843 ms * +3%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3647 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
8650 Points +137%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3253 Points -11%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
8804 Points +141%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
8202 Points +125%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3296 Points -10%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
65 Points
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
57 Points -12%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
116 Points +78%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
107 Points +65%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
52 Points -20%
Vellamo 3.x
Metal (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1130 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
2583 Points +129%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1219 Points +8%
Multicore Beta (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1816 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
3425 Points +89%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
966 Points -47%
Browser (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2620 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
5463 Points +109%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2043 (1641min) Points -22%
Quadrant Standard Edition 2.0 - --- (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
22393 points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
36419 points +63%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
15455 points -31%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
15455 points -31%
Smartbench 2012
Gaming Index (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4107 points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
4498 points +10%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2614 points -36%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4332 points +5%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4369 points +6%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3234 points -21%
Productivity Index (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4823 points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
13558 points +181%
Medion Life X5020
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4518 points -6%
Google Nexus 6P
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
10823 points +124%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
8443 points +75%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
4962 points +3%
PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1
3D Graphics Tests (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
884 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
2345 Points +165%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
811 Points -8%
2D Graphics Tests (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3597 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
5274 Points +47%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2745 Points -24%
Memory Tests (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4948 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
6924 Points +40%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3154 Points -36%
Disk Tests (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
15395 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
68872 Points +347%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
7518 Points -51%
CPU Tests (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
96167 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
176225 Points +83%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
13288 Points -86%
System (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3911 Points
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
8438 Points +116%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2966 Points -24%

* ... smaller is better

Storage Devices

The internal 16 GB eMMC offers about 11 GB of free space for the end-user. Transfer rates are almost identical to that of the Redmi 2, so Xiaomi likely decided that any major improvements in this area were not needed. The Nexus 5X and flagship Galaxy S6 Edge Plus both offer consistently faster transfer rates than our Redmi 3 test unit. MicroSD cards are supported up to 128 GB.

AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
9.19 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
20.95 MB/s +128%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
12.21 MB/s +33%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
10.93 MB/s +19%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
5.11 MB/s -44%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
17.48 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
89.9 MB/s +414%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
24.8 MB/s +42%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
18.34 MB/s +5%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
22.79 MB/s +30%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
26.6 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
151.1 MB/s +468%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
98.6 MB/s +271%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
37.81 MB/s +42%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
22.33 MB/s -16%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
139.5 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
383 MB/s +175%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
245.2 MB/s +76%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
137.3 MB/s -2%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
131.4 MB/s -6%

GPU Performance

The integrated Adreno 405 pumps out double the performance of the Redmi 2 when running the Epic Citadel benchmark on Ultra High quality (30.3 FPS vs. 59.0 FPS). Lightmark, which is notorious for its very demanding benchmark scene, averages over three times the frame rates of the Adreno 306 in the Snapdragon 410 SoC. The latest titles off of the Android Market run very smoothly and without notable hitches on the native 720p resolution of the Redmi 3.

No major throttling occurs after running the GFXBench battery test on a loop for half an hour. Frame times and performance remain steady throughout the entire run. Note that core temperatures can reach up to 55 - 60 C when under such intensive conditions according to CPU-Z.

Lightmark
Lightmark
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
Consistent frame times and performance
Consistent frame times and performance
Lightmark - 1920x1080 1080p (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2.7 fps
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
14.52 fps +438%
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
6.6 fps +144%
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5.8 fps +115%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
0.74 fps -73%
Epic Citadel
Ultra High Quality (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
59 fps
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
60.1 fps +2%
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
48.2 fps -18%
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
31.9 fps -46%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
30.3 fps -49%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
31.9 fps -46%
High Quality (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
59.4 fps
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
56.9 fps -4%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
55 fps -7%
High Performance (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
59.9 fps
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
57.4 fps -4%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
57.1 fps -5%
3DMark
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1402 Points
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
1606 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1074 Points
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
1155 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1132 Points
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
1232 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
990 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1348 Points +36%
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
1552 Points +57%
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
974 Points -2%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
758 Points -23%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
410 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2336 Points +470%
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
1471 Points +259%
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
178 Points -57%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
39 Points -90%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
471 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2009 Points +327%
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
1488 Points +216%
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
218 Points -54%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
49 Points -90%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
8764 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
12852 Points +47%
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
17380 Points +98%
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
6839 Points -22%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
9455 Points +8%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
10148 Points +16%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
9272 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
37725 Points +307%
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
26964 Points +191%
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7796 Points -16%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
3830 Points -59%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3789 Points -59%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
9154 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
26380 Points +188%
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920A
Mali-T760 MP8, Exynos 7420, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
24020 Points +162%
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7561 Points -17%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
4413 Points -52%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
4402 Points -52%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
8537 Points
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
6841 Points -20%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
9185 Points +8%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
9544 Points +12%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5379 Points
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5082 Points -6%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
2199 Points -59%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2135 Points -60%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5861 Points
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5390 Points -8%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
2646 Points -55%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2580 Points -56%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
8520 Points
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
6799 Points -20%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
9190 Points +8%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
9385 Points +10%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
10918 Points
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
10194 Points -7%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
4749 Points -57%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
4712 Points -57%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
10275 Points
Motorola Moto X Play
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
9176 Points -11%
Xiaomi Redmi 2
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB SSD
5320 Points -48%
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
5298 Points -48%

Emissions

Temperature

Qualcomm was probably unhappy about the press overplaying the overheating and throttling issues facing certain flagship Snapdragon SoCs. When under unrealistic maximum loads for over an hour, we were able to record a surface temperature of just under 44 C nearest the top corner where the mainboard is likely located. This area also happens to be very close to the earpiece, so attempting to make calls right after browsing or playing games will make for a very warm ear.

Compared to the Nexus 5X and HTC One M9, the Redmi 3 does indeed have a higher maximum surface temperature even with the newer generation Snapdragon 616 SoC. When compared to the Redmi 2, however, average temperatures are still lower despite being much more powerful. The OnePlus X and its Snapdragon 801 is even warmer still surface temperatures averaging 40 C when under maximum load.

Maximum load (Front)
Maximum load (Front)
Maximum load (Back)
Maximum load (Back)
Max. Load
 43.6 °C
110 F
37.6 °C
100 F
35 °C
95 F
 
 38.6 °C
101 F
36.2 °C
97 F
35 °C
95 F
 
 37.2 °C
99 F
35.4 °C
96 F
34.6 °C
94 F
 
Maximum: 43.6 °C = 110 F
Average: 37 °C = 99 F
34.8 °C
95 F
35.6 °C
96 F
37.6 °C
100 F
34.4 °C
94 F
35.6 °C
96 F
37 °C
99 F
34.6 °C
94 F
35.8 °C
96 F
37 °C
99 F
Maximum: 37.6 °C = 100 F
Average: 35.8 °C = 96 F
Room Temperature 19 °C = 66 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.6 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 37.6 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 21.9 °C / 71 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

The rear speakerphone produces clear sounds with limited bass and range. Maximum volume is sufficiently loud, though distortions become more obvious at such high volume settings. The positioning of the speaker makes the grilles too easy to cover up whilst holding onto the phone in either orientation, so music and voices are almost always slightly muffled.

Battery Life

As a trade off for the now non-removable back cover, Xiaomi has equipped the Redmi 3 with a dense 4100 mAh battery. This is an unusually high capacity especially for a budget smartphone where the low-to-mid 2000 mAh range is much more common.

The combination of a new power-efficient Snapdragon SoC, dense battery, and "standard" resolution 720p screen has created extraordinarily long runtimes. Users can expect 13 hours of constant WLAN use and at least five hours of very heavy use at maximum brightness. Competing smartphones will last for hours less in comparison.

Xiaomi Redmi 3
4100 mAh
Xiaomi Redmi 2
2200 mAh
Google Nexus 5X
2700 mAh
Asus Zenfone 2 ZE500KL
2070 mAh
HTC One M9
2840 mAh
Microsoft Lumia 640
2500 mAh
OnePlus X
2525 mAh
Battery Runtime
-46%
-31%
-66%
-48%
-46%
-26%
Reader / Idle
2483
1062
-57%
1775
-29%
805
-68%
1078
-57%
968
-61%
WiFi v1.3
781
354
-55%
412
-47%
267
-66%
348
-55%
502
-36%
549
-30%
Load
298
218
-27%
245
-18%
236
-21%
166
-44%
339
14%
WiFi
573
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
41h 23min
WiFi Websurfing
13h 01min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 58min

Pros

+ thinner and sleeker design
+ larger display than Redmi 2 with more accurate colors and grayscale
+ bright backlight
+ long runtimes
+ IR blaster
+ decent camera for the price
+ inexpensive
+ no throttling

Cons

- non-removable battery
- MicroSD and secondary SIM cards use the same slot
- no USB Type-C, MHL, or NFC
- no 1080p option
- brightness distribution could be better
- blue colors are less accurate

Verdict

In review: Xiaomi Redmi 3. Test model provided by Buygou.
In review: Xiaomi Redmi 3. Test model provided by Buygou.

Inexpensive Chinese smartphones have been more difficult to recommend in the past, but major manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi are proving quite quickly that users don't need to spend anything more than $200 or $300 USD for a brand new and perfectly reliable smartphone. The Redmi 3 feels less like a toy and more of a professional mainstream offering without skimping on any key areas like display quality, build quality, or battery life. In fact, the Xiaomi actually excels in a few categories including its exceptionally bright backlight and long runtimes.

As for the hardware inside, you'd be hard pressed to find a smartphone this early in the year with both 2 GB RAM and a Snapdragon 616 SoC for less than $160. We're a bit disappointed by the lack of a 1080p, NFC, USB Type-C, and a removable back cover, but it is otherwise a worthwhile successor to the Redmi 2 in every way.

Xiaomi is kicking off the new year with one of its best mainstream offerings to date with the Redmi 3. Its backlight and battery life are exceptional even when compared to smartphones beyond its budget price range.

Xiaomi Redmi 3 - 01/23/2016 v4.1(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
78%
Keyboard
80 / 75 → 100%
Pointing Device
80%
Connectivity
44 / 60 → 73%
Weight
93%
Battery
95%
Display
82%
Games Performance
58 / 63 → 92%
Application Performance
45 / 70 → 64%
Temperature
86%
Noise
100%
Audio
70 / 91 → 77%
Camera
70%
Average
76%
82%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Allen Ngo, 2016-01-24 (Update: 2017-05-23)