Category: Xiaomi

News about Xiaomi Smartphones

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Lenovo Vibe K5 Note Which one is better
Lenovo Vibe K5 Note and Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 are the two Android smartphones which offers great value for the users. Both are good phones. But when it comes to which one to choose between these two, the minute differences are to be considered. So here is the comparison between Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Lenovo Vibe K5 Note.

Recommended Reading

Lenovo Vibe K5 Note Disadvantages

Redmi Note 3 Review

Comparison of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Lenovo Vibe K5 Note

Design and Build Quality
- Redmi Note 3: It measures 76x150x8.65 mm and weighs 164 g
- Vibe K5 Note: It measures 75.7x152x8.49 mm and weighs 165 grams
In Terms of design and build quality, both devices feature good build quality. The dimensions and weight also almost identical. However, if we observe closely, though K5 Note has metal back, the sides (Space between back and display screen) are made up of plastic. Even the buttons are plastic. Whereas Redmi Note 3 is all metal.

Winner: Redmi Note 3.

Display
- Redmi Note 3: 5.5 inch full HD display screen.
- Vibe K5 Note: 5.5 inch full HD display screen.
Display panel quality Wise, both device are good. The differences are negligible. Both device does not comes with Corning Gorilla Glass protection.

Winner: Draw

SoC, RAM and OS

Both devices are available in two variants.
- Redmi Note 3: 1.4GHz hexa core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 with 2GB/3GB of RAM, Android 5.1 Lollipop.
- Vibe K5 Note: 1.8GHz Octa Core 64 Bit Helio P10 SoC with 3GB/4GB of RAM, Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
In this comparison, we are comparing 3GB RAM variants of both the devices. The day to day performance is decent on Vibe K5 Note as well as Redmi Note 3. However, when it comes to gaming, Vibe K5 Note struggles a bit when we play high end games in higher settings. Also with extended gaming, it tends to heat up on the screen area.

Vibe K5 Note comes with Android Marshmallow out of the box whereas Redmi Note 3 comes with Android Lollipop. Here K5 Note has advantages, However in general, Xiaomi is faster in providing security patch updates compared to Lenovo.

Winner: Redmi Note 3.

Storage
- Redmi Note 3: 32GB
- Vibe K5 Note: 32 GB
Both these Android smartphone has Hybrid sim card slot and has 32GB of internal storage.

Winner: Draw

Camera
- Redmi Note 3: 16MP primary camera and 5MP front facing camera.
- Vibe K5 Note: 13MP primary camera and 8MP front facing camera.
In good lighting conditions, Redmi Note 3 takes slightly better images. In artificial lighting and low light conditions, Lenovo Vibe K5 Note camera takes better images. Also front facing camera of Vibe K5 Note is better.

Winner: Lenovo Vibe K5 Note

Battery
- Redmi Note 3: 4050 mAh battery.
- Vibe K5 Note: Li-Ion Polymer, 3500mAh battery.
Both smartphones easily lasts for more than a day. However, Redmi Note 3 provides slightly longer battery duration than the Lenovo Vibe K5 Note.

Winner: Redmi Note 3.

Price

Redmi Note 3: Rs.9,999 for the 2GB RAM with 16GB of internal storage variant and Rs.11,999 for the 3GB RAM with 32GB variant.

Lenovo Vibe K5 Note: Rs.11,999 for the 3GB RAM variant and Rs.13,499 for the 4GB RAM variant. Both variants has 32GB internal storage.

Though price for 3GB RAM variant is similar, availability of Redmi Note 3 is difficult.

Winner: Lenovo Vibe K5 Note

Miscellaneous

Here are some of the features which one device has and the other doesn’t.

Redmi Note 3: IR Blaster, VoLTE out of the box support.

Lenovo Vibe K5 Note: Thetermax, Dolby Dolby Atmos. VoLTE is not supported out of the box. This features according to company will be added via OTA update.

Verdict on Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Lenovo Vibe K5 Note: As per our observation, this is what we felt. If you use your smartphone for more as Media consuming device, then Lenovo Vibe K5 Note is better. Otherwise, Redmi Note 3 is a better choice. Hope this lenovo vibe k5 note vs mi note 3 comparison is useful to decide the right one.
August 14, 2016
Xiaomi Redmi 3s FAQ Cons Tips and Tricks
Xiaomi has launched the Redmi 3s smartphone in India. The biggest USP of this smartphone is all metal design, 4000 mAh battery and fingerprint scanner. Here are the Xiaomi Redmi 3s FAQ, Cons with Tips and Tricks.

Recommended Reading:

Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime Review-Pros and Cons

Xiaomi Redmi 3s FAQ Cons Tips and Tricks

What are the different variant of Redmi 3s available in India?

Xiaomi has launched two variants of Redmi 3s India. One is Redmi 3s and another one is Redmi 3s Prime.

What are the key difference between Redmi 3s and Redmi 3s prime?

Design Wise both smartphones are identical except the fingerprint scanner present in the backside of Redmi 3s prime. Other difference is RAM and storage option. Redmi 3s has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Whereas Redmi 3s prime features 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Rest of the specifications are same.

What is the price of these smartphones in India? Where can I buy one?

The prices of these smartphones are given below.
- Xiaomi Redmi 3s price in India is Rs.6,999.
- Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime price in India is Rs. 8,999.
Both devices will be available exclusively on Flipkart and Mi.com.

What size sim cards these two smartphones accepts? Does it has dedicated microSD card slot?

Xiaomi Redmi 3s and Redmi 3s prime comes with hybrid sim card slot. That means, you can insert two sim cards or one sim card and one microSD card. It accepts 1 micro sim card and 1 nano sim card. There is no dedicated microSD card slot.

Does Redmi 3s has Corning gorilla glass protection for display screen?

Company has not mentioned about what type of screen protection they have adopted in this smartphone. As they have not mentioned any thing, we assume, it does not feature Corning Gorilla glass protection. If you are planning to buy one, then it is highly recommended to use tempered glass.

Is these smartphones support fast charging? Is the bundled charger supports fast charging?

Xiaomi Redmi 3s supports qualcomm quick charge. But the bundled charger is not the fast charger.

What is the processor used in these smartphones?

Both smartphones are powered by all-new octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor with four cores clocked at 1.1GHz, and four other cores at 1.4GHz alongside the Adreno 505 GPU.

What is the camera specification of Redmi 3s?

The Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime sports 13-megapixel rear camera with PDAF (phase detection autofocus), f/2.0 aperture, HDR mode, 1080p video recording, and LED flash. It also has 5-megapixel front camera with 1080p video recording capability.

What are the connectivity options? Is VoLTE is supported?

The connectivity options of the device includes 4G, Wi-Fi, GPRS/ EDGE, Bluetooth, GPS/ A-GPS, Bluetooth, Glonass, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and Micro-USB.

What are the cons of Redmi 3s?

Cons or demerits of Redmi 3s can be known only after using the device extensively for more than a week. However, looking at the specification and initial impression, here are the few Redmi 3s cons. I will update this once I complete the review.
- Hybrid sim card slot- No dedicated microSD card slot.
- Display does not have Corning Gorilla glass protection.
- Availability- Xiaomi devices are known for non availability. Most of the time their devices are out of stock.
- Limited service centers in India.
August 4, 2016
Xiaomi Mi Max Tips And Tricks with FAQ
Xiaomi Mi Max is a hulked up version of Redmi Note 3. It is purely aimed at people who uses smartphone for mainly content consumption. In this post we will have some of the Xiaomi Mi Max Tips And Tricks with FAQ.

Xiaomi Mi Max Tips And Tricks with FAQ

What are the different variants of Mi Max available in India?

Xiaomi has launched 2 variants of Mi Max in India. Details of them are given below.
1. Mi Max with Snapdragon 650 chipset (2x Cortex-A72 at 1.8GHz and 4x A53 at 1.4GHz cores); Adreno 510 GPU; 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Price of this variant Mi Max is Rs.14,999.
2. Mi Max with Snapdragon 652 chipset (4x Cortex-A72 at 1.8GHz and 4x A53 at 1.4GHz cores); Adreno 510 GPU; 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Price of this variant Mi Max is Rs.19,999.
What are the different colour variants available?

Mi Max will be available in Silver, Gold and Dark Grey color options.

What is the size of sim cards Mi Max supports?

Mi Max comes with dual hybrid sim slot. It accepts 1 microSIM card and 1 nano sim card.

Does it has dedicated microSD card slot? What is maximum size of the microSD card can be used in Mi Max?

No. You can add upto 128GB of microSD card if you can compromise on the second sim card.

How to take screenshot on Mi Max?

To Take screenshot on Xiaomi Mi Max, there are two methods are available.
1. Screenshot button method of taking screenshot on Mi Max
  - Go to the screen on which you want to capture screenshot.
  - Now, access quick setting menu.
  - Tap on to the Screenshot button.
  - Screenshot will be taken.
2. Volume down and power button method of taking screenshot on Mi Max:
  - Go to the screen on which you want to do print screen.
  - Press and hold volume down and power keys at the same time.
  - The screenshot will be taken.
  - Taken screenshot can be accessed from Gallery folder.
How to download PC suite for Xiaomi Mi Max?

Xiaomi provides free PC suite for its devices. You can download it from the official support page. I have written a detailed post on how to download Xiaomi Mi PC suite and features. You can go through that post.

How to share Mi Max mobile data with PC/Laptop?

There three methods through which you can share mobile data with PC or laptop.
- Portable Wifi hotspot.
- USB tethering.
- Bluetooth Tethering.
Is it possible to share internet from PC to Mi Max?

Yes. You can share the internet from PC to Mi Max using the Xioami PC suite. Connect the phone to PC via USB cable. Run the PC suite. It will start sharing the mobile data.

These are the some of the useful Xiaomi Mi Max Tips And Tricks. If you know, any other tips and tricks, please share it in the comment section below.
July 2, 2016
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Moto G4 Plus Which is better
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and Moto G4 Plus are two mid range Android smartphones with 5.5 inch display screen. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. There is no perfect smartphone. But according to our requirement and budget, we need to decide on which phone to buy. So here is the comparison of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Moto G4 Plus.

Recommended Reading:

LeEco Le 2 Vs Redmi Note 3

Redmi Note 3 Review

Moto G4 Plus Review

Comparison of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Moto G4 Plus

Design and build quality:
- Redmi Note 3: Dimensions: 150 x 76 x 8.7 mm and weighs 164 grams.
- Moto G4 Plus: Dimensions: 153 x 76.6 x 9.8 mm and weighs 155 grams.
Redmi Note 3 has all metal design which looks good. It is also slightly slimmer and compact. However, it weighs marginally more than the Moto G4 Plus. When it comes durability, Moto G4 Plus is better. Redmi Note 3 does not have Corning Gorilla Glass protection.

Winner: Draw

Display:
- Redmi Note 3: 5.5 inch full HD IPS display screen with around 72.4% screen to body ratio and 408 ppi pixel density.
- Moto G4 Plus: 5.5 inch Full HD IPS display screen with around 71.2% screen to body ratio and 408 ppi pixel density.
Display panel on the both the device are good. But when we compare the display quality of Moto G4 Plus Vs Redmi Note 3, Moto G4 Plus looks better.

Winner: Moto G4 Plus.

SoC, RAM, OS and Performance:
- Redmi Note 3: 1.8GHz Hexa Core Qualcomm MSM8956 Snapdragon 650 Soc With 3GB RAM with Adreno 510 GPU. It runs on MIUI 7 which is based on Android 5.1.1.
- Moto G4 Plus: 1.5 GHz octa-core processor MSM8952 Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 with 3GB RAM and Adreno 405 GPU. It runs on latest almost stock Android 6.0.1.
Moto G4 Plus overall performance and gaming performance both are excellent and better than the Redmi Note 3. However, it is let down by heating issue. If you are running graphic intensive games like Asphalt 8, Nova 3 etc for extended period of time, it tends to heat up(The temperature touches upto 48 degree). Redmi Note 3 is a decent performer. But, there is visible lag while playing games like Nova 3.

Winner: Moto G4 Plus(Except heating issue).

Storage:
- Redmi Note 3: 32GB of internal storage and microSD card support.
- Moto G4 Plus: 32GB of internal storage with microSD card support.
Redmi Note 3 comes with hybrid sim slot. So you cannot use second sim card and microSD card simultaneously. Whereas Moto G4 Plus comes with dedicated microSD card slot.

Winner: Moto G4 Plus.

Camera:
- Redmi Note 3: 16MP primary camera with F/2.0 and dual LED flash. 5 MP front facing camera with F/2.0.
- Moto G4 Plus:16MP primary camera with F/2.0 and Dual LED flash. It also has laser auto focus. 5MP front facing camera with F/2.2.
When we compare Redmi Note 3 Vs Moto G4 Plus camera samples side by side, both are very close in good lighting condition. However, in low light condition and artificial lighting conditions, Moto G4 Plus performs better. Also in video recording section, Moto G4 Plus fares better.

Winner: Moto G4 Plus.

Battery:
- Redmi Note 3: 4050 mAh battery with fast charging capability.
- Moto G4 Plus: Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery.
In this section, Redmi Note 3 is way ahead of Moto G4 Plus. It provides one of the best battery performance in this price segment.

Winner: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3.

Price:
- Redmi Note 3: Rs.11,999 for 2GB RAM with 16GB storage variant and Rs.11,999 for the 3GB RAM variant.
- Moto G4 Plus: Rs. 13,499 for the 2GB RAM and 16GB storage variant and Rs.14,999 for the 3GB RAM with 32GB internal storage variant.
Winner: Redmi Note 3.

Summary of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Vs Moto G4 Plus comparison:

Redmi Note 3 and Moto G4 Plus are very good mid range smartphones. Based on the requirements, one can choose between them. If you want a smartphone which has good ergonomics, good camera, good display screen, latest Android version with stock experience, Dedicated microSD card slot, then Moto G4 Plus is the better option. If you want a phone which has excellent battery life, Decent display and camera, affordable pricing, metallic build, then Redmi Note 3 is better.
June 23, 2016
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Tips and Tricks

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is one of the popular mid range Android smartphone in India. It is available in two variant. One is 2GB with 16GB internal storage which is priced at Rs.9,999 and another one is with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage which is priced at Rs.11,999. Both the variants runs on MIUI 7 on top of Android 5.1 Lollipop. Here are some of the useful Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Tips and Tricks.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Tips and Tricks

Below are the Redmi Note 3 Tips and Tricks which are in the form of frequently asked questions.

How to move contacts, messages, photos, music, video, documents etc from old device to Redmi Note 3?

When one buys a smartphone, the first thing to do after inserting sim card is transferring data from old device to new device. For this Redmi Note 3 offers a simple method. You just need to install a app called “Mi Mover” from Play Store which is available for free. Then pair the devices using a QR code and start transferring instantly. This app will transfer all data from your old device which includes contacts, messages, photos, music, video, documents etc to Redmi Note 3.

How to take screenshot on Redmi Note 3?

Capturing screenshot on Redmi Note 3 is easy and simple. There are 2 ways. First one is using power button and volume down button. You need to press both at the same time and hold for a while. The screenshot will be taken. The other method is, access the quick setting menu. Tap on to the “screenshot” icon. The screenshot will be captured.

Is there any way to filter service messages & Promotional messages in Redmi Note 3?

In MIUI 7, there is a option called Smart SMS filter. This helps you to filter all sms and group all these messages under one single folder. By default it is disabled. You can enable it by going to Settings > System Apps > Messaging > enable Notification Group.

How to show data speed indicator on notification bar?

You can enable data speed indicator on notification bar in Redmi Note 3 by going to Settings > Notifications > turn on Show Connection Speed. This will start showing the data speed in notification bar.

How to change text size in Redmi Note 3?

In MIUI 7, you have total 6 different text size to choose from. You can change the text size by navigating to Settings->Text Size. The text size varies from XS(extra small) to XXL.

How to use Redmi Note 3 as Modem?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 supports WiFi hotspot, USB tethering and Bluetooth tethering. Using any one of this method you can share your mobile data with PC/Laptop and other wifi enabled device. For enabling USB tethering, you need to connect your device to PC via USB cable. Similarly, for enabling Bluetooth tethering, you need to pair your device with the device which you want to share the mobile data.

Couldn’t open WiFi hotspot and USB Tethering on Redmi Note 3?

If you have enabled restricted app data usage, then you might face this issue. You need to allow Mobile data access to “Android System”. You can do that, by going to “Security” app. Then tap on to data usage->Restrict App data usage. Now give mobile data access to “Android System”.

How to share PC internet to Redmi Note 3?

Reverse tethering of Redmi Note 3 is very easy. First you need to download and install Mi PC suite. Now connect your phone to PC. It will automatically switches to your PC internet connection. You can toggle between reverse tethering on/off by accessing the notification page.

Is there any way to customise Notification LED to different colours?

Yes. You can customise the colours of LED notification for calls, messages and notification. For this go to Settings> Additional settings> Notification light. Now you can select your preferred colours from the available option to different notifications.

These are the some of the basic yet useful Redmi Note 3 Tips and tricks. There are multiple customisation are available in MIUI 7 such as locking apps using the fingerprint scanner, limiting data usage to certain apps etc. If you are looking for certain feature, please feel free to ask in the comment section below. If you know any other Redmi Note 3 Tips and tricks, please share it in the comment section below.

June 21, 2016