Xiaomi has launched its selfie-focused Redmi Y series smartphone in India this year, the Redmi Y3 is the successor to the last year’s Redmi Y2. Being a selfie-centric smartphone, the key highlight of the Redmi Y3 is its 32 MP Super Selfie Camera with support for AI Beautify 4.0 and AI Portrait mode. Other features include a glass finish design, a notched display, and a large 4,000 mAh battery. Here’s our review of the Xiaomi Redmi Y3.
What’s In The Box
- Xiaomi Redmi Y3 with built-in battery
- Micro USB cable
- Charger (5V, 2A)
- Transparent TPU case
- User manuals & warranty card
- SIM tray ejector pin
Xiaomi Redmi Y3 Specifications
- Display: 6.26-inch IPS Dot Notch display, HD+ resolution (1520 x 720 pixels, 269 PPI), 1,500:1 contrast ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- Software: MIUI 10 based on Android 9 Pie
- Fingerprint Scanner | Face Unlock: Yes, on the back | Yes
- CPU: Up to 1.8 GHz octa-core processor, Kryo 250 cores, Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 SoC, 14nm, 64-bit
- GPU: Adreno 506
- Memory: 3 GB OR 4 GB RAM, LPDDR4X
- Storage: 32GB OR 64 GB internal, expands via microSD card (dedicated)
- Main Camera: Dual cameras 12 MP + 2 MP, AI Portrait, LED flash
- Selfie Camera: 13 MP, AI Portrait, AI Beautify
- Connectivity: Micro USB port, 3.5mm audio port, IR Blaster, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- Cellular: 4G LTE, 2x SIM (GSM), dual VoLTE support
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Price: Rs 9999 (3 GB RAM & 32 GB Storage), Rs 11,999 (4 GB RAM & 64 GB Storage)
Design, Build, & Ergonomics
The Redmi Y3 boasts a glass finish design, unlike the predecessor which had a metallic back. The back offers a gradient color with a reflective design which looks amazing as compared to the Redmi Y2. Also on the back is a fingerprint scanner alongside AI-enabled dual cameras assisted by an LED flash.
The front side has a full-screen display with a Dot notch that carries the 32 MP selfie camera. The screen is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and 2.5D curved glass design. As far as the design is concerned, the Redmi Y3 has the latest design trends to offer.
Moving to the sides, the right side offers power and volume keys whereas the left side has SIM tray with a microSD slot dedicated. The SIM tray supports dual 4G SIM cards and dual VoLTE support.
On top, you will find an IR Blaster, a 3.5 mm jack, and a microphone while the bottom comes with a micro USB port, loudspeakers, and another microphone. A USB Type-C port would definitely give an edge in this segment.
Display
The Redmi Y3 sports a 6.26-inch display with a Dot Notch on top which carries the 32 MP Super Selfie Camera. The screen uses an IPS panel having a resolution of HD+ (1520 x 720 pixels). It seems the HD+ display is for the battery saving traits, lower resolution displays tend to consume less battery. The viewing angles are good and the colors are well balanced.
Software & User Interface
The Redmi Y3 does come along with Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box with MIUI 10 on top. Speaking of the software, the MIUI interface has loads of features built-in that you can make use of. We didn’t notice any major lags on the device, the interface is clean and smooth.
When we talk about the pre-installed apps, the Redmi Y3 is bloated with apps and you may see ads running on them when in use. You may either ignore it or remove them from the device if unwanted.
To know more about the MIUI 10, head to our previous Xiaomi devices reviews with MIUI 10 in it.
Hardware, Performance, & Gaming
Under the hood, the Redmi Y3 packs a 14nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 SoC with octa cores Kryo 250 clocked up to 1.8 GHz. The chip is paired with up to 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage which is further expandable via a microSD card on a separate slot.
Moving to the benchmarks, the Redmi Y3 scores 103,118 points in AnTuTu, 1229 points (single CPU), 3,988 points (multi-CPU), and 3,874 points in GPU benchmark. The scores are very decent given the price and should not be a problem for the average user.
Playing games such as PUBG Mobile won’t be an issue, the GPU can handle games on low to medium settings. If you are a gamer who wants better graphics, go with a phone with a faster processor and graphics processor. The Redmi Note 7 is far better in terms of performance and gaming unless you are a selfie lower, you should stick to the Redmi Note 7 if choosing among the two.
Cameras
Speaking of the cameras, the Redmi Y3 packs a 32 MP selfie camera on the front side while being offering dual cameras on the back. The cameras on the phone include AI dual camera setup on the back with AI-based features, 12 MP + 2 MP cameras.
Compared to the predecessor which has a 16 MP selfie camera, the Redmi Y3 doubles the pixel count and it is notably a huge jump in the camera department. The front camera also comes with an 80-degree field of view for taking group selfies and a feature named ‘Shake-free Selfie’.
To see how good the Redmi Y3 take selfies from its 32 MP Super Selfie Camera, we got some samples to share with you alongside the samples taken from the rear camera as well.
There’s no doubt the camera is amazing, the selfies turn out to be very good selfies, the photos clicked using the 32 MP camera are crisp and full of details. To capture selfies in 32 MP, you need to select 32 MP option from the camera menu on the top.
The rear camera is decent for its price, if you want better rear cameras, the Redmi series offers the Redmi Note 7S as well as the Redmi Note 7 Pro in the similar price range.
In terms of selfie cameras, the Redmi Y3 competes with the Vivo V15 Pro, the OPPO F11 Pro, and the Samsung Galaxy A70. All of them holds a price more than Rs 20,000 whereas the Redmi Y3 starts at Rs 9,999.
Xiaomi Redmi Y3 Camera Samples
Battery Life
The Redmi Y3 is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery and it has 33% more capacity compared to its predecessor Redmi Y2. According to the Xiaomi, the Redmi Y3 can offer up to 18 days of standby time. Our tests are based on daily driver usage, the Redmi Y3 can offer a 2-day battery life,
You can easily get more than a day battery life on above moderate usage, the Redmi Y3 has a decent battery backup. This is due to the HD+ display and the power-efficient Snapdragon 632 CPU which puts less burden on the battery.
Take a look at the battery test table below which shows how much the apps consume the battery in a certain period of time.
Xiaomi Redmi Y3 Battery Test Results
[table id=213 responsive=flip /]
Verdict
The Redmi Y3 is the first smartphone to sport a 32 MP snapper on the front side as far as this segment is concerned and of course, it’s value for money. The Redmi Y3 has a decent package to offer especially if you are a selfie lover on a budget, for those looking for a phone with a great selfie camera at a lower price tag, the Redmi Y3 is recommended.
Rivals
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 (32 GB) – Rs 9,999
Strength
- Glass Finish Design, Notch Display, Gorilla Glass 5
- Great Selfies, 32 MP Selfie Camera
- Decent Battery Life
- Dedicated microSD Card Slot
- Value For Money
Weakness
- None
