5 reasons why the Redmi 3 is a compelling smartphone under RM600

Xiaomi has built a reputation of making super affordable phones with top notch specs. In an effort to dispel its “cheap” image, the Chinese smartphone maker is adding a touch of luxury by switching from plastic to metal in their latest models. The bigger Redmi Note 3 came as a surprise, launching just months after it unveiled the Redmi Note 2.

With more competition jumping into the affordable segment, Xiaomi aims to defend its spot with its latest Redmi 3 (not to be confused with the Redmi Note 3). Looking at the spec sheet alone, you’ll be amazed that this will be their cheapest phone for 2016. The hardware is a class above and the build of the phone is something you wouldn’t expect at bargain basement price.

Here are 5 reasons why this is the best smartphone to get for less than RM600.

1. Biggest battery in its class

The Redmi 3 packs a massive 4,100mAh capacity battery and that’s unheard of for an entry-level device. In fact, it is the biggest they have ever fitted on a Xiaomi smartphone. As comparison, its larger brother, the Redmi Note 2 has a 3,060mAh capacity while the latest Redmi Note 3 packs a 4,000mAh unit. On paper, this should give you an all day battery life and you won’t need to lug a power bank around for most users.

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2. Full unibody metal design

Usually, you can tell if a phone is cheap from its plasticky back cover. Cheap phones are getting better these days and the Redmi 3 has graduated to a full metal design which looks more like an expensive phone. We reckon it could even put some expensive flagships to shame.

Despite having a huge battery, the Redmi 3 is remarkably slim at 8.5mm and it weighs 144 grams. For better aesthetics, the back even has a lattice design to resemble an arrangement of diamonds.

3. Most powerful processor in an entry-level smartphone

Cheap phones are usually adequate enough to handle your basic calls, social media and web surfing. If you’ve surveyed around, you would usually find an entry-level Quad-Core Snapdragon 400/200 processors underneath.

The Redmi 3 raises the bar with Qualcomm’s newer Octa-Core Snapdragon 616 processor and it comes accompanied with 2GB of RAM. This not only kills the rest of the competition but it even beats its own “flagship” Mi 4i that uses an older Snapdragon 615 processor with 2GB of RAM. That’s not all, it gets 16GB of on-board storage and you can expand this further with a microSD card up to 128GB.

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4. Infrared Blaster

Infrared isn’t new but it is quite useful on a smartphone. The Redmi 3 comes with an Infrared blaster that turns your smartphone into a universal remote. You can use it to control your TV, Aircon, set top boxes and various home appliances via the Mi Remote app. Guess what? Even newer flagships like the Galaxy Note5 and S6 edge+ doesn’t come with an infrared blaster.

5. 13MP PDAF Camera

Photography is one of the main uses of a smartphone and Xiaomi has up the ante with a newer 13MP main camera. It gets a faster f/2.0 lens that lets more light in and it is assisted with Phase Detection AF that focuses onto your subject instantly. For selfies, the front camera is bumped up to a 5MP f/2.2 shooter with a variety of smart beautification features. You can check out a couple of camera samples below:

Redmi 3 Sample Photos

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Conclusion

The Redmi 3 is priced at RMB699 in China, which is around RM470 if converted directly. Due to our currency fluctuation, it may be priced higher if it gets here, but it should be well below the current Redmi Note 2 that’s priced at RM649. The processor, exterior design and that large battery are enough reasons to secure itself on your shopping list.

The only question remains, when is it coming officially to Malaysia? For those who can’t wait, some retailers should be offering imported sets in the weeks to come. Just remember, this is the Redmi 3, not the Redmi Note 3.

If you’re looking to buy a smartphone under RM600, you can check out the comparison from TheSkop.

Redmi 3 Specs

5″ HD 720p (1280×720) display
Octa-Core Snapdragon 616 Processor
Adreno 405 GPU
2GB LP-DDR3 RAM
16GB eMMC 4.5 storage
Expandable microSD slot up to 128GB
13MP f/2.0 main camera with PDAF
5MP f/2.2 front camera
4100mAh battery
Hybrid Dual-SIM slot (Micro+Nano-SIM)
4G TDD/FDD-LTE Support
Bluetooth 4.1, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Infrared Blaster, microUSB
MIUI 7 with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

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