This is the Xiaomi Redmi 3


xiaomi redmi 3 tenaa

Xiaomi might have only recently released the Redmi Note 3, but there’s still a lot to come from the company especially in the early part of 2016.

This includes the Xiaomi Mi 5 and of course, the Redmi 3 — a device at which we just got a peek.

The Redmi 3 shows an interesting twist in design language that Xiaomi seem to have adopted.

The company seems to have given up its plastic and polycarbonate rear (the Redmi Note 3 was the first all-metal phone from Xiaomi) for an all-metal, two-tone back… akin to the Redmi Note 3.

The camera placement on the Redmi 3 however is very different from the Redmi Note 3. For starters, it’s on the top left — and with a much smaller lens cover — like the other Redmis.

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As for the specifications, here’s what the TENAA listing reveals:

  • 5-inch display
  • 1280 x 720p resolution
  • 2GB RAM
  • 1.5GHz octa-core processor
  • 16GB on-board storage with microSD expansion
  • 13 mega-pixel rear camera
  • 5 mega-pixel front facing camera
  • 139.3 x 69.6 x 8.5 mm dimensions
  • 143g weight

One 1.5GHz octa-core processor that we know of is the Snapdragon 615. Those that have read our review of the Mi 4i (which is powered by the SD615) will hope that Xiaomi choose a different processor for the Redmi 3.

What do you think about the leaked specifications and Xiaomi’s new taste in design?

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46 Comments

  1. SnowyCat
    December 28, 2015

    for a really cheap price which i expect it will probably be a new hit as the redmi series has a lot of fans atleast from what i know..and i believe such an upgrade with the soc and design is the best they could’ve done this year..i hope the camera quality stays excellent with the price..the previous small redmis all had a really really decent camera..great for the price.

    • Muhammad Yasir
      December 28, 2015

      lets see what it retails for !

      • Balaji Chandrasekaran
        December 28, 2015

        $120 for sure

  2. December 28, 2015

    5inch??? why!!!!

    • December 28, 2015

      because the Redmi phones are meant to be that size… There’s Redmi Note for 5.5″.

      • December 28, 2015

        “redmi phones are meant to be that size” ????
        WTF???

        Redmi1 and 2 are 4.7… why not redmi 3 too!

        • Aa
          December 28, 2015

          LOL, Yash Garg thought that you want it to be bigger, but you just wanted it to be 4,7 inches like 1 and 2. 🙂

        • December 28, 2015

          aha, I thought you wanted a bigger phone. 😀

        • balcobomber25
          December 28, 2015

          You can really notice a tangible difference between 5 and 4.7?

  3. Muhammad Yasir
    December 28, 2015

    oh GODDAMNIT ! please dont be 615 !
    either 616 or any of the 650/652 PLEASE !

  4. kushal jain
    December 28, 2015

    How can you be sure its 615? It can easily be 617 as well which does duty in HTC One A9 and has shown no signs of overheating. I believe no firm would like themselves to be associated with 615 in 2016 not even Qualcomm!

    • December 28, 2015

      If you read again you’ll notice that we haven’t really mentioned that we’re sure about it being the 615. In fact, the opposite 😉

      • kushal jain
        December 29, 2015

        @yash3339:disqus this was meant for @disqus_rPqg6NlmUn:disqus

    • Tajwar
      December 28, 2015

      Oppo would

    • balcobomber25
      December 28, 2015

      I wouldn’t say no firm would, as I still see 615 phones released regularly.

  5. Balaji Chandrasekaran
    December 28, 2015

    its SD 616 or 617 remember those bench mark test with only 6 cores on ? guys ..

  6. Guaire
    December 28, 2015
  7. yalok
    December 28, 2015

    For the HD resolution, SD615 should be more than enough. MI4i has issues because it has to deal with FullHD screen.

  8. Informer
    December 28, 2015

    Tenna has also listed another phone with body like that of redmi note 3 but with hexa core CPU .. Where is the news about that??

  9. G-Man
    December 28, 2015

    According to gizchina.de it is the Snapdragon 617 SoC… -> http://www.gizchina.de/news/das-ist-das-xiaomi-redmi-3.html

  10. Misto
    December 28, 2015

    Wow if they put inside a great soc, this phone will be mine for sure. I was planning to get the MI4C but this one looks much better with a competitive price. A release date estimation after teena certification?

  11. MaxPower
    December 28, 2015

    SD615 didn’t perform well on a “flagship midrange” especially compared to other alternatives (MT6752 phones).

    on a low-tier the SD615 is more than enough, i wouldn’t mind getting one of i was looking for a $120 phone (I don’t think the MT6735 wipes this one away, they are pretty much comparable).

    That said, i also think it’s going to be a SD617

    • Julio
      December 28, 2015

      Hope Lei Jun read your comments regarding the SOC. I was planning to buy the MI4C Advanced version but this Redmi 3 has an amazing design and pretty decent specs for a competitive price. MI4C Advanced is still sold around $260 which is above my budget. I mean for $70 more I could wait and grab the MI5 basic version but it is not my goal. Just hope that the Redmi 3 will be released pretty soon. Please Lei Jun, make it happen as quick as possible!!!!!!!!!

      • MaxPower
        December 28, 2015

        I’m sure the Redmi3 won’t disappoint the fans of this category.
        Let’s not forget that Xiaomi has sold millions of HongMI,RedMi,RedMI 1s,RedMI2, RedMi 2A.
        they have always been the best value phones out there

    • balcobomber25
      December 28, 2015

      The 615 should be fine on this set up which really doesn’t require much power. But I would be shocked if they used a last gen chip for their newest phone, especially since the Redmi is one of their top selling devices.

      • MaxPower
        December 28, 2015

        probably a SD617, or maybe a Leadcore SoC?

        • balcobomber25
          December 28, 2015

          Unless Leadcore has had some major advancements recently I can’t see them going to that for the main Redmi phone. Maybe an “A” version like the Redmi 2 meant for the super budget market. Has to be the 617 in my mind.

  12. realjjj
    December 28, 2015

    Would have been ok if the Redmi 2 was this but now it just doesn’t do enough. 1080p and quad core would have worked better. 2016 is about the midrange and above, that’s where they got to get it right.

    • SnowyCat
      December 28, 2015

      but the redmi was never about midrange, its always like a low end budget phone costing around 100-120$ for everyone, thats the thinking behind it, if you boost obv. all specs on every corner it would get more expensive.

  13. flashmozzg
    December 28, 2015

    If it has close to 3k mAh battery, I’m sold.

  14. Saad Naeem
    December 28, 2015

    They should have stayed with the 4.7 inch display.

    • balcobomber25
      December 28, 2015

      Nah, 5 inch is the perfect sweet spot.

      • reb
        December 28, 2015

        No, it is not.
        Go to mi4c or elsewhere for other 5″…

        • balcobomber25
          December 28, 2015

          Mi4c is a different phone for a different crowd.

  15. rimakus
    December 28, 2015

    It is too big!

    • balcobomber25
      December 28, 2015

      It’s 5 inches, that is small for a phone today.

      • rimakus
        December 28, 2015

        I am carrying Galaxy Note for years now. I am sick of its size. I was hoping that I will buy 4.7 inch or less with 4g as my next phone. I really like my wife’s Mi2S. I would buy one for myself it it had 4g. And I don’t want to pay 500+ for some Sony or Samsung mini models.

        • balcobomber25
          December 28, 2015

          Galaxy Note is 5.3 inches.

          • rimakus
            December 29, 2015

            Look at its width not just screen size

  16. Trian
    December 28, 2015

    Stay on 4.7 inc plz , we need phones with good specs in this inc, maybe some more ram , rom , bigger battery , and backlight in touch buttons (i dont know if they have but in the redmi 2 don’t have it)

  17. Nishikanta
    December 28, 2015

    Killed redmi. No nee to change from 4.7 inch to 5 inch.Should have increased to fhd and higher batterry

    • Allanitomwesh
      December 31, 2015

      If the bezels are thinner being 5inch won’t make a difference in size.

  18. Balaji Chandrasekaran
    December 29, 2015

    REDMI 3 will be equal spec to spec with Moto G turbo but it will be sold at half price of turbo 😉

  19. Boyan
    December 29, 2015

    If this has 2 SIM cards, I might buy it. 5.5 in. is a little too big for me.

    • BotondKisKovacs
      December 30, 2015

      It’s 5 in not 5.5. Also I would not be surprised if there was a dual sim version. Not sure about the Redmi line but the Redmi Note line always had single and dual sim versions.

  20. dutchgio
    January 1, 2016

    Decent if they sell it for $150 as the cheaper Redmi models did. The 615 is a bad soc, and it certainky isn’t a mid-range soc. Its just not good enough, but for a cheap eegice that makes it good.