Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Redmi Note 4

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Redmi Note 4

Xiaomi is out with the fourth-generation of the Redmi Note in India. The Redmi Note 4, in typical Xiaomi fashion, is all about top-tier specs at mainstream prices. But, you can't help but notice, it isn't much of an upgrade over last year's Redmi Note 3. It's literally the same phone with very minor changes. In fact, one look at its spec-sheet, and there would be many who'd say that the Redmi Note 4 is (even) a little underpowered (the Qualcomm-based version that Xiaomi is selling in India, that is) than the phone that it is going to replace in the days to come.

Let's just get one thing straight before we go any further. The Redmi Note 4 is a fantastic phone. If you're looking to buy one, well, buy one and you won't be disappointed (much). The phone (still) starts at Rs 9,999 for the base 2GB RAM and 32GB memory version and goes all the way to Rs 12,999 for the top-end 4GB RAM and 64GB memory version. There is also a third option available this time round, the one that gives you 3GB RAM and 32GB memory, for Rs 10,999. All the versions support expandable storage via a hybrid microSD card slot so storage isn't going to be much of an issue on either phones.

But, what if you already own a Redmi Note 3? I suggest you hold on it for some more. It is after all a brilliant smartphone in its own right. (No wonder) Xiaomi has sold over 3.6 million units of the Redmi Note 3 in 2016, according to the company.

1. The Redmi Note 4, when you look at it for the first time, doesn't look all that different from the Redmi Note 3. Because, it isn't. At the same time, additions like a curved 2.5D glass on the front and bottom-firing mono speaker ensure the Redmi Note 4 doesn't end up looking like a recycled Redmi Note 3. The Redmi Note 4, unlike its predecessor phone, also comes with polished antenna lines. Xiaomi has stuck with the good old 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' formula here. Which is nice because there wasn't much to complain about the Redmi Note 3's design anyways. It has, however, worked towards refining that design, so the Redmi Note 4 looks all the more premium in comparison. But, you'll have to be as observant as Sherlock to make out the (subtle) differences on first look.

2. The Redmi Note 4, like the Redmi Note 3, is also a full-metal smartphone. It also has an always-on fingerprint scanner on the back (which works well most of the time unless you have greasy or sweaty fingers) and physical capacitive keys on the front which are backlit. The power button and the volume rocker are on the right, while the dualSIM hybrid card slot lies on the left.

3. The Redmi Note 4, like the Redmi Note 3, also comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p screen and metes out very similar results in actual usage. It does well most of the time unless you're out and about in direct sunlight. Its (above) average brightness levels (still) feel lacking when you're out and about. But it (still) handles -- and reproduces -- colours so well you don't mind that it's not as bright as the company's more expensive phones. There's also an option to manually correct contrast and an in-built reading mode that turns colours to the warmer end of the spectrum when enabled.

4. The Redmi Note 4 is powered by a 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor clubbed with Adreno 506 GPU. Now, the Snapdragon 625 has some plus points and it has some minus points. In comparison to the Redmi Note 3's Snapdragon 650, that is. The Snapdragon 625 is notably the first 600-series chipset to be built on the power-efficient 14nm finfet process. The technology essentially allows a processor -- the Snapdragon 625 in this case -- with multiple cores to hit higher clock speeds without overheating and draining the battery quickly. The emphasis, therefore, lies on thermal efficiency and power saving. The Redmi Note 4 does well on both the quarters. It doesn't heat up (like the Redmi Note 3) and also it has better battery life (than the Redmi Note 3).

5. But, the Snapdragon 625 isn't as powerful as the Snapdragon 650, which means for someone who's looking for raw power out of their smartphone would be most likely disappointed (somewhat) with the Redmi Note 3. Especially, while GPU-intensive gaming. Although the Redmi Note 4 handles basic games well, GPU-intensive games leave a lot be desired. As opposed to a phone like the Redmi Note 3 which was gunning for raw power courtesy the Snapdragon 650, the Redmi Note 4 is all about power saving and thermal efficiency courtesy the Snapdragon 625. The Adreno 506 GPU (inside the Redmi Note 4) is good, just not better than the Adreno 510 inside the Redmi Note 3. The Redmi Note 4 is, as a result, prone to some occasional lags while playing graphical games at maxed out settings for longer periods.6. The Redmi Note 4 sports a 13-megapixel camera on the rear with f/2.0 aperture, Phase-Detection Autofocus along with a dual-LED (dual-tone) flash. On the front, you get a 5-megapixel snapper. On paper, it would seem like a downgrade because the Redmi Note 3 came with a 16-megapixel camera on the rear. Only, it isn't so in actual usage. Honestly, none of the new-age Xiaomi phones -- Mi 5, Redmi Note 3 -- have really impressed as far as camera performance is concerned. The Redmi Note 4 is more or less on similar lines, only overall, I feel it does a better job as compared to the Redmi Note 3. Especially, in ideal conditions. The phone captures some good-looking photos -- with occasional softness -- in good light with good amount of detail and mostly spot-on (if a little oversaturated) colours. Also, the Redmi Note 4, surprisingly, does well in macro photography scenarios which means close-up shots come out well (enough) when the light is adequate. Xiaomi's new phone is also able to capture well to-do photos -- with occasional softness -- in tricky light situations with good detail. Low light photos are prone to noise.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

7. The Redmi Note 4, like the Redmi Note 3, is also a dualSIM smartphone that supports 4G LTE (VoLTE-ready) and USB OTG. The phone runs Android Marshmallow-based MIUI 8. As expected, you get a user interface with lots of fancy colour schemes and animations, and no app drawer.

8. The Redmi Note 4 packs a slightly bigger 4,100mAh battery inside, which is non-removable. Now the Redmi Note 3 has already set new standards in battery life in its price bracket. The Redmi Note 4 follows suit. In fact, it's even better. Moderate to extreme usage saw us cross the one whole day barrier with ease, while toning down further should get most users one and a half to two days out of the phone. Extreme usage scenarios got us close to 15 hours on the Redmi Note 4, which is phenomenal. Sadly, the Redmi Note 4, supports only 5V/2A charging and not Qualcomm's Quick Charge.

9. The bottom-firing mono speaker on-board the Redmi Note 4 gets very loud, but there is some distortion at peak volume. The Redmi Note 3, in comparison, came with a rear-mounted speaker vent.