Xiaomi Mi3 or JiaYu S1? Which is the better buy?

AndiOctober 4, 2013

Later this month Chinese phone fans will be able to chose between either the all new JiaYu S1 or Xiaomi Mi3 for roughly the same price. Which one of these new phones is the better buy? Which would you choose?

JiaYu S1

The JiaYu S1 represents a huge move for JiaYu and one which could propel them in the international market. Rather than using Mediatek processors in their new flagship phone, JiaYu have decided to go for the big guns are ship the S1 with a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor and 2GB RAM bringing a whole new level of performance to JiaYu phones.

It’s not just the processor though, the S1 also boasts a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 display (the first JiaYu to do so), NFC, wireless charging, MHL, OTG, and a carefully crafted body.

JiaYu S1 pricing

As far as we can see JiaYu will only be offering one version of the S1, the 2GB RAM 32GB memory version. Initially the cost of the phone will be 1899 Yuan ($310), this will change but we have no idea if the price it going to rise of lower.

Comparing the S1 to the current Xiaomi Mi2S, the S1 actually looks like quite a bargain. It has a larger, higher resolution display, NFC, wireless charging and the same processor, amount of RAM and rear camera. So how does it compare against the Mi3?

Xiaomi Mi3

The Xiaomi Mi3 will launch on 15th October initially as a China Mobile (Nvidia Tegra 4) phone and later with a Snapdragon 800 chip compatible with more 3G networks. Like the S1 the Mi3 has a 5-inch FHD 1080 display, 2GB RAM, NFC, and 13 mega-pixel rear camera.

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If we take the S800 version as the comparison model we can see that the Mi3 has a faster more powerful CPU with the latest Adreno 330 GPU, we also know that Xiaomi are using faster memory than JiaYu.

As far as we know the Mi3 won’t come with a wireless charging dock, but it will have a larger 3050mAh battery, it also has a more mature UI in MIUI V5 which in turn has some great features including cloud based storage, find my phone function and access to an online Xiaomi cloud system where you can manage your contacts, galleries etc.

Xiaomi Mi3 pricing

The Mi3 will come in storage options the 16GB version costing 1999 Yuan ($326) and a 64GB model for 2499 Yuan ($408).

Xiaomi Mi3 Vs. JiaYu S1

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Conclusion

JiaYu have done an impressive job with the S1, and if they had launched it earlier in the year would have sold thousands of handsets, as it is though the Mi3 offers so much more for only a few $s extra.

Not only is the performance of the Mi3 going to be better than the S1 you also get a larger battery, the option for more storage (neither has an SD card), weekly OTA updates. MIUI also enjoys a larger international following, and Xiaomi phones usually get some great, well priced accessories.

Which would you buy

Although both phones will launch later this month most of us will be lucky to get our hands on either so early, high demand for both models is going to see many of us wait until later in the year (possibly longer if there are supply problems) so we have plenty of time to decide which phone to buy.

But if you did have the chance to buy one of these phones now which would it be? The Xiaomi Mi3, underdog JiaYu S1 or a phone from another manufacturer?

[poll id=”8″]

JiaYu S1 and Xiaomi Mi3 specs source.

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About the author
Andi

ΧιΑοmi! Can’t be better!

Luca Buiarelli
October 5, 2013
I think i’m going to buy the tetra version of the mi3, because I don’t want to wait and also because in Italy we have 3g only in the major cities.
Job_CF
October 5, 2013
Non-replaceable battery, Single SIM and no SD card facility.
For these reasons both phones failed to make it to my short list.
- anony
  October 5, 2013
  - Abattoir
    October 21, 2013
    Why are you getting angry (and swearing) – this is a pretty good phone and I think your processor isn’t fast enough to catch up with it.

Antonis
October 5, 2013
Xiaomi Mi3. The best smartphone in the market!!! When do we expect it to launch in Europe ? Come on Bara…
- anony
  October 5, 2013
  Best? If you don’t factor price (which will be inflated anyway). Not by a long stretch.
Waris
October 5, 2013
Xiaomi mi3 in reality is about 3888 hkd.
Xiaomi’s artificial scarcity scheme drives up pricing and drives me away as a customer.
- anony
  October 5, 2013
- Lisa
  October 25, 2013
  Of course XIAOMI MI3, News said that xiaomi will beat the apple and samsung in the future, i personally wish it should come ture!

Marius
October 5, 2013
The only thing I see Jiayu having in its favor is the width which is 69 compared to the Mi-3 being 73 mm wide. Xiaomi made the Mi-3 quite wide by modern standards.
Other than that though Xiaomi beats the hell of out of the Jiayu and if I were to spend that much money I’d buy a Xiaomi. For less than $200 yes, I might get a Jiayu.
Also Xiaomi promised to release kernel source which is more than Jiayu is doing as they seem to have no intent of doing that.
I don’t feel like spending over $300 on a Chinese phone if I don’t live in China. No having kernel source also mean that if the manufacturer decides the don’t care about it anymore it’s the end of your Android upgrades or firmware fixes.

Yi-Long
October 5, 2013
How do both of these compare to the recent Meizu MX3, which is scoring very high on Antutu!? And aren’t there any contenders around the same score/price mark!?
When will you have a Meizu MX3 review!? Interested about battery-life, display (Gorilla?), connections, and of course the camera(s).
Giannis N.
October 5, 2013
For me its all about price. Both phones will be great but its up to the price, cause although China people are so lucky buying these phones at so low price, we in Europe have to pay much more money to get these phones. If i have to spend 350-400 euros to get Xiaomi ot Jiayu then none of them will be my choice. If the pricing are about 250-300 euros for Jiayu or Xiaomi then I ll buy one of them for sure.. I hope Jiayu will be much cheaper than Xiaomi and then I ll prefer it. If not then I ll buy a Xiaomi!! Its simple..

Girondinho
October 5, 2013
I never see that ciao Xiaomi mi3 has wireless charging…
Are you sure it has this feature ?
Mitch
October 5, 2013
Mi3 all the way, would still be worth it if it was €500. No more need for some “XDA reconized developer” to create some halfbaked rom to get the best out of my phone.
- Giannis N.
  October 6, 2013
  No it will not be worth if it is 500 euros.. If I have to give 500 euros for a top phone, I ll not buy a Xiaomi although the benchmarks, cause in Europe for those money u ll prefer something with warranty. 500 euros are much for a Chinese brand..
  - Mitch
    October 7, 2013
    Because its worth more than €500 for me I’m wrong? Benchmarks aren’t the reason I want this phone. The software is complete and beautiful, also frequent updates with new features and bugfixes. The company started with making MIUI and now makes phones that match with the software. Instead of modifying the software to work with the phone like most companies do in my opinion.
    How is your warranty experience with these “European” phones? My experience is having to send your phone away for 3 weeks and recieving a phone that belonged to someone else. Resetting a phone was to much of an effort I guess.
    I won’t burn my fingers again on a “high-end” HTC or Samsung. Haven’t tried Sony but I doubt it’s any better. I bought my Mi2 to have a good phone, not to pay less.
    - Giannis N.
      October 7, 2013
      Then you are a guy with no problem to buy anything at any price. I am interested in something that is good and cheap and that I think, are searching the most of us who search the Chinese market. You are a special customer who is willing to spend 500 euros to Xiaomi, cause the most of people who have the money will spend 800 euros for an Iphone or Galaxy S-X. And u are totally wrong about warranties, although the services are terrible bad, still is something especially when the price factor raising..

cabo
October 5, 2013
Here in Brazil, I vote for Mi3.
Amper
October 6, 2013
the Mi3 is very similar to the LG g2.
Bernhold
October 6, 2013
- anony
  October 6, 2013
  - October 23, 2013
    exacly. If i can point any feature that jiayu s1 wins it is the dimensions and the design. But i’m expecting some
chris
October 6, 2013
dun buy jiayu, their G4 have touch screen problem (need to press many time on the screen) and their forum moderator are deleting post tat says about the touch screen related issue

Rob
October 6, 2013
Other: Both do not have Dual Sim/Dual Standbye. A must have feature for me.

amir
October 6, 2013
Lets not forget that Mi3 will be higher price than the told price(of company) as we international buyers should wait for wholesalers to buy it and sell it, so if going to compare these two, the price should be around :
1-Mi3 (16GB) : ~400USD
2-mi3(64GB) : ~480-520USD
3-S1(32GB) : ~310-340USD
so there could be a (18-20)% of mi3 price difference between these two models from Jiayu & Xiaomi Co.
- but it don’t happen with jiayu too??
  if jiayu really release this price for internacional buyers i’ll be going with it!
Ashu
October 6, 2013
Andi when will the Qualcomm Snapdrogen version of MI3 will be available??? And which model will be compatible on Indian Network?? And how can I buy it??? Bcz on Xiamoi’ s site the phones sells out in a Minute.Please reply
October 25, 2013
in jiayu-store the S1 is priced $319 for international buyers. If it was this price, it is a mi2s competitor ($369), not mi3, cause international price for mi3 is around $430 or $500, depending if it have 16gb or 64gb.
Then, what would be better buy? mi2s or mi3?