The Coolpad Note 3 is a surprisingly nice $140 phone


Coolpad are among the biggest names in the smartphone industry in China, but hardly do we talk about Coolpad (the way we’ll be doing so today). The Coolpad Note 3 is a phone that costs a mere 8,999 INR or $138, but packs a punch and then more.

To start off, the Coolpad Note 3 is seen as a phone that offers a seriously high value for your money. The phone is 8,999 INR or $138, and for that much, the Note 3 brings along 3GB of RAM and a fingerprint sensor.

I received the phone earlier today, and was genuinely surprised how nice it felt in the hands. Besides the fact that it is easily the best ‘feeling’ sub-$150 phone, the Coolpad Note 3 also has the fastest (and by quite a margin) fingerprint sensor on a phone I’ve come across. Ive used phones from the first-gen (of fingerprint sensors) such as the Elephone P5000, and then the likes of the P8000, OnePlus 2, Meizu MX5 and more. I repeat — the Coolpad Note 3 has a faster (and presumably, more accurate?) fingerprint sensor than any of those.

Coolpad Note 3_1

It’s only been a few hours with the phone for me, but it’s apparent how amazed I am with the device.

It doesn’t have a full HD display, but whatever there is, doesn’t leave you wanting. One gripe I have so far is that the lip around the screen seems to be made out of plastic (and not metal), which doesn’t just affect the sturdiness but also the looks; the chrome-ish plastic can look cheap.

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Coolpad Note 3 — Specifications

Model: Coolpad Note 3
SIM Card: Dual Standby
Color: White
Capacity RAM: 3GB

ROM: 16GB

Language Multi Language
Chipset CPU: MediaTek MT6753 octa-core 1.3GHz
System Android 5.1
Screen Display size: 5.5-inches

Resolution: 1280 x 720 pixels

Cameras Rear:  13 mega-pixel

Front:  5 mega-pixel

Network and Wireless Connectivity 4G: FDD 1/3/7/20 (800 1800 2100 2600)

3G: WCDMA 1/5/8 (850 900 2100)

2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz

WIFI : 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)

Battery capacity  Non-removable 3000mAh
Dimensions 151 x 77 x 9.3 mm

With the screen turned off, the Coolpad Note 3 reminds me of the pseudo bezel-less phone, the Letv Le 1, with of course, the shiny plastic around.

I’ll use the phone for a bit before posting a full in-depth review of this one (I’m pretty excited about it, if you can’t tell already), so keep an eye on this space for more!

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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40 Comments

  1. Sere83
    October 15, 2015

    lost me at 1280×720 on 5.5 inches

    • Von Box
      October 15, 2015

      me too

    • MexiDroid
      October 15, 2015

      Thw bluboo x550 display looks prettt well

  2. balcobomber25
    October 15, 2015

    Been a while since we have had a good Coolpad device. Looking forward to this review. I usually love 720p phones, but not sure about it with a 5.5 inch display. Although with a 6753 and 720p this should have epic battery life.

    • Steve B
      October 15, 2015

      The semi related Qiku devices look quite interesting, especially the lower end Youth/Luna and Terra Ultimate.

      • balcobomber25
        October 15, 2015

        Never heard of them, have to look them up later. I loved Coolpad back in the day.

        • Steve B
          October 16, 2015

          My understanding is that they are a partnership between an Chinese security software company and Coolpad. Was looking really promising until LETV also invested in Coolpad and the owner of Qiku went publically ape sh@t over it. All got a bit messy and overshadowed the lauch of Qiku, so despite some really good looking build and features (dual rear cameras on mid/high spec) they haven’t made an impact.

  3. Von Box
    October 15, 2015

    for 150 $ u could buy any other phones with octacore, 3 gbram, 1920*1080 display. ask me and i will give u some names

    • MexiDroid
      October 15, 2015

      I want to know these names please

    • Dante
      October 15, 2015

      Lol rekt by a mexican

  4. vijay sud
    October 15, 2015

    Yash..i am considering buying this phone.for my son.but my buying decision will hinge upon your review of this phone..please Post the review ASAP..especially regarding the camera perfmance.

    • King
      October 15, 2015

      Your son is one lucky young man! 🙂
      Might want to wait until 1+ X is launched. Maybe he did be happier. Kids these days are brand conscious. 🙂

      • Tajwar
        October 15, 2015

        Yup either Zamsung or fApple and all the rest is shit, at least in my country.

        • Shashank
          October 16, 2015

          Please Pay Respect to Top Industry company and by god say please call it Hangsung

      • vijay sud
        October 15, 2015

        My son Himanshu has his 25th birthday coming up..not a kid. Will appreciate value inbuilt into this one.

  5. Giovanni
    October 15, 2015

    Where I Can buy for this money?

    • King
      October 15, 2015

      Amazon.in in India. But they don’t ship it out side India. 🙁

      • Giovanni
        October 15, 2015

        Ok, thank You.

  6. yalok
    October 15, 2015

    Have you noticed the bezels? I just can’t ignore them.

    • Riccardo Benzoni
      October 15, 2015

      buy it in black

  7. mf1gt3r
    October 15, 2015

    Looks like a nice device. Am guessing it also has a good camera like the note 2. Let’s see how it performs.

  8. Tajwar
    October 15, 2015

    Better then CrapDragon 615 in the Coolpad Dazen F2 which ruined a great phone which is a battery hog and hand warmer.

  9. Kubis
    October 15, 2015

    I would say this is device produced on joint venture with Qihoo so its not just Coolpad as we know before. Qihoo brand and are very different weight on SW side.

    • fido futte
      October 16, 2015

      The Note 3 model is not listed on Coolpad homepage- do you know what homepage Qihoo have ? so i can see full spec of Note 3 ?

      • johndebur
        October 16, 2015
        • fido futte
          October 16, 2015

          Thanks for answer- Qiku is completely new company from Januar 2015, but already have several highend 1-class phone- very impresive! maybee it is time for Andi to test their product!

          • Kubis
            October 16, 2015

            Interesting that the phone full name is Coolpad Dazen Note 3 and it’s released on Qiku product web page. So I guess it’s Qiku..

            • fido futte
              October 16, 2015

              I think it is because Qiku makes the added 360 OS which gives customers added software feature like better securit,power management ect- so i only think it is the same as the Coolpad Note 3 on the hardware level- not on the OS

    • Steve B
      October 16, 2015

      Could well be, but I thought it was just the Qiku branded phones — that have also unfortunately pretty much slipped of the radar and sales are weak, probably exactly what LeTV wanted. Qihoo now have control, but Coolpad still do production. I’m quite tempted in Ultimate model at liaow.com.

      • Kubis
        October 16, 2015

        This phone full name is Coolpad Dazen Note 3. It’s released on Qiku product web page so I guess this it the case for this phone.

  10. Liviu Firica
    October 18, 2015

    Proud owner of Coolpad 8297W for one year.Great phone and developers’ support is fantastic.but no Lollipop for us.Strange as it seems.bug free roms are CoolUI and EmUI.

  11. musbau
    October 18, 2015

    2GB ram is all I have been seeing around, and more expensive from resellers.
    Anybody knows where to get it at a cheaper price internationally?

  12. Begbie
    October 18, 2015

    Any news about a black version? And when will it be available outside of India?

  13. Mesterio
    October 19, 2015

    I need help, I have the Jiayu S3 and I am thinking of getting the same for a friend but I am torn between so many now. So I am thinking either S3 or Redmi Note 2 or can i do better? I want something with the Jiayu S3 price range but better. All hands on deck please 🙂 .

    • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
      October 21, 2015

      RN2 or K3 Note.

      • Mesterio
        October 21, 2015

        Thanks! so you think they are better than Xiaomi Redmi 2?

        • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
          October 21, 2015

          Redmi 2 is a 5″ phone while RN2 is 5.5″. Both K3N and RN2 are more powerful devices selling at great price.

          • Mesterio
            October 22, 2015

            Sorry didn’t mean Redmi 2 meant RN2. My only issue is the poor battery life of the RN2.

          • AbdulB1
            October 25, 2015

            red mi 2 is 4.7 inch only.

            • Mr.Flying Zoom3rz
              October 28, 2015

              You’re right. My mistake. This is probably because I’m not really interested in phones below 5.5″ 🙂