Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 review: In shiny armor

Performance

Just like its predecessor, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 powered by the MediaTek's MT6795 chipset, also known as Helio X10. Unlike what the name suggests, the processor is actually an octa-core 2GHz Cortex-A53, accompanied by a PowerVR G6200 (Rogue) GPU and 2GB of RAM.

If you'd prefer more RAM, you can opt for the 3GB RAM model, which also doubles the internal storage up to 32GB. Our review unit however is of the 16GB variety.

GeekBench 3 gauges the multi-core performance of the processor and the Redmi Note 3, unsurprisingly, is outing the same score as its Note 2 sibling. It's a flagship-grade one, though somewhat lower than the Meizu's MX5 and m1 metal, which are also running on the same chips.

GeekBench 3

Higher is better

• Meizu MX5
  5110
• Meizu m1 metal
  4825
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  4589
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  4537
• Lenovo K3 Note
  4067
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  3554
• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  3321
• Oppo R7s
  3206
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  2435
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  2336
• OnePlus X
  2297

The compound AnTuTu 5 bench deems the Redmi Note 3 equal to the rest of the Helio X10 handsets - the MX5, m1 metal, and Redmi Note 2.

AnTuTu 5

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  50875
• Meizu m1 metal
  49508
• Meizu MX5
  48915
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  47816
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  46307
• Lenovo K3 Note
  46283
• OnePlus X
  39990
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  38786
• Oppo R7s
  37857
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  34491
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  32487

Basemark OS II 2.0 calculates CPU, GPU, memory, OS and web performance and mashes it all up into a single score. The Redmi Note 3 is on par with the Redmi Note 2 and Meizu m1 metal. It manages to beats the Xperia M5, but falls behind the MX5.

Basemark OS 2.0

Higher is better

• Meizu MX5
  1252
• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  1233
• OnePlus X
  1213
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  1063
• Meizu m1 metal
  1039
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  1018
• Lenovo K3 Note
  984
• Oppo R7s
  930
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  860
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  479
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  296

Quite expectedly, a single Cortex-A53 processor core running at 2GHz is a real beast, while eight of those are indeed a blazing fast configuration.

Basemark OS 2.0 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  5739
• OnePlus X
  5118
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  3434
• Meizu MX5
  3262
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  3008
• Lenovo K3 Note
  2990
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  2551
• Meizu m1 metal
  2439
• Oppo R7s
  2418
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  2388
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  2065

Basemark OS 2.0 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  24979
• Lenovo K3 Note
  24538
• Meizu MX5
  22976
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  21516
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  18490
• Meizu m1 metal
  17481
• OnePlus X
  16983
• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  14276
• Oppo R7s
  13882
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  13521
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  7891

PowerVR G6200 GPU is perfectly capable of handling 1080p displays. Its raw offscreen performance is better than the widespread Adreno 405 within the Snapdragon 615, so we guess the Helio X10 is the smarter choice for the 1080p upper mid-rangers. The only threat comes from the Snapdragon 808's Adreno 418 (Xiaomi Mi 4c), which seems to be the better performer. The aging Adreno 330, once a royalty, is also better. And we still can't explain the MX5's win, which has identical specs.

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  15
• Meizu MX5
  10
• OnePlus X
  9.9
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  8.5
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  8.5
• Meizu m1 metal
  8.4
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  8.4
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  6.2
• Lenovo K3 Note
  6.1
• Oppo R7s
  5.9

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  10
• Meizu MX5
  4.8
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  4.5
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  4
• Meizu m1 metal
  4
• Lenovo K3 Note
  2.9

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  15
• OnePlus X
  10
• Meizu MX5
  9.5
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  8.7
• Meizu m1 metal
  8
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  7.9
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  7.9
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  6.2
• Oppo R7s
  6.2
• Lenovo K3 Note
  6.1

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  9.7
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  4.9
• Meizu MX5
  4.7
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  3.9
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  3.9
• Meizu m1 metal
  3.9
• Lenovo K3 Note
  2.9

The GPU bench Basemark X confirms our findings.

Basemark X

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  12096
• OnePlus X
  10572
• Meizu MX5
  10403
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
  8540
• Meizu m1 metal
  8526
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  8518
• Sony Xperia M5 Dual
  7780
• Lenovo K3 Note
  5656
• Oppo R7s
  5302
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  4875
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  2974

The Helio X10 inside the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is a great performer for such an affordable device and a real powerhouse. There is nothing the Helio X10 can't handle on the Redmi Note 3's 1080p display and we are sure the Xiaomi fans will appreciate the choice of platform and all the software optimizations the company has done on the MIUI 7 launcher.