Xiaomi Mi4c vs. Redmi Note 3 vs. Redmi Note 2: Our Latest Smartphone Comparison
Our in-depth comprehensive review of the newly released Xiaomi Mi4c has proven to be a hit with those looking for one of the best and latest smartphones available on the market. However, Xiaomi is known for producing some of the finest smartphones like the Redmi Note 2, which was an absolute blockbuster on the market when it was released in August of this year. The smartphone market moves quickly and new generations of phones are released almost overnight. The recent announcement of the Note 3 shows how quickly generations of smartphones hit the market, but how about Xiaomi Mi4c vs. Redmi Note 3 vs. Redmi Note 2?
Not everyone enjoys the upgrades available in the latest phones and previous Xiaomi models are available because demand is there. Read on though our smartphone comparison between the Mi4c, the Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 2 to help determine what great Xiaomi device is the best fit for you.
Screen Sizes, Display Type and Resolution
All three of the Xiaomi Mi4c, Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 2 use an IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. The Note 3 and 2 have a display size of 5.5 inches, while the Mi4c has a display size of 5 inches, so the pixel density on the Mi4c is 441 ppi, while the Note 3 and 2 have a ppi of 403. This difference might seem small, but a higher density of pixels per inch does make a difference when viewing HD movies or pictures. However, many users with vision issues may appreciate the slightly larger display of the Note 3 and 2.
All three phones use a multitouch display with 16 million colors available and run the latest MIUI 7.0 software. So, if you like a larger display, the Note 3 and 2 might be best for you, but if you like the best HD screen, then the Mi4c is probably the right one to buy.
Chipset
There is a generation gap between the Mi4c and the Notes 2 and 3, so there is a different chipset used by the platforms. The Xiaomi Mi4c has the fast Snapdragon 808 by Qualcomm, while the Notes 2 and 3 has the Mediatek Helio X10.
While the Snapdragon 808 is the premier chipset of the latest generation of phones and delivers the most performance in a physically smaller chip, the performance of the Helio X10 cannot be understated. The X10 was the greatest chip of the previous generation of smartphones and still delivers superb performance.
So which is better for you? If you like the absolute cutting edge of chip performance, opt for the Mi4c. If you want reliable performance, the Xiaomi Note 2 and 3 are excellent choices.
RAM
RAM is critical for smooth smartphone operation and the Mi4c and Note 3 are available with 2 and 3 GB RAM. Purchasing a 3 GB RAM model comes with 32 GB of internal storage space. External RAM is not possible on the Mi4c and Note 3 as neither feature a card slot.
The Note 2 comes with only 2 GB of RAM, regardless of the choice of internal storage space. However, the Note 2 features an external card slot for microSD chips up to 32GB, but only for the Chinese market.
Additional RAM is critical for a smartphone because it allows for you to keep multiple applications open at once and to use applications such as game over a network, which often require a lot of RAM. If you use a lot of applications and keep them open all the time or if you play networked games, you should opt for the Mi4c and Note 3 with 3 GB of RAM. If you are looking for a good price point and expandable internal storage, the Note 2 might be best.
Internal Storage
The need for internal storage is ever increasing with apps being used for more and more tasks, yet Xiaomi has created controversy with their flagship smartphones for several generations because of the lack of external storage slots on the phones. And the controversy continues because the current high-end Xiaomi Mi4c does not feature a card slot, nor does the previous flagship Note 3. However, the Note 2, which was a mid-range model, features a microSD card slot, meaning you can have a total of 64 GB storage on your Note 2.
Clearly, the Note 2 wins if you are looking for pure storage space, yet this storage space does require you to purchase a microSD card. Others may opt for the 32 GB of storage available on the Mi4c and Note 3 because they upload pictures, videos, music and other data to a cloud or laptop with regularity.
Processing Performance
Processing performance is one benchmark for any smartphone comparison. During our review of the Xiaomi Mi4c, the 3 GB RAM model scored an impressive 50252 points on AnTuTu. The score is undoubtedly bolstered by the Quad-Core 1.82 GHz central processing unit and the Adreno 418 graphics processing unit. A subsequent test showed the Mi4c with an AnTuTu score of 46,758:
We tested the Note 3 with 3GB of RAM and it posted a very impressive AnTuTu score of 51,800:
Even more impressive is the Note 2 with 3GB of RAM with a blazing fast AnTuTu score of 54,024:
So, there is quite a difference between the AnTuTu scores of the three devices and it seems that the newer Mi4c is slower than the older Note 2, but is it really? The GPU and CPU of the Mi4c can process more information per second, while the older Note 2 and 3 have to use faster processing speeds to process less information than the Mi4c. AnTuTu scores can demonstrate how a device processes information between each other, but it is important to look beyond the score and at the hardware before making a decision.
With this in mind, what decision should be made? The Mi4c has incredibly fast processing speeds and can process more information than previous generation smartphones. The Note 2 and 3 were some of the fastest smartphones of their generation and they are still incredible performers. Clearly, this is where a user’s subjective preference should be the basis for choosing a device.
Camera Sensors
All three Xiaomi devices use a primary camera sensor with a maximum resolution of 13 megapixels. This is no surprise as Xiaomi created the benchmark camera by which all other smartphone cameras are measured to. This is not the only similarity between the Mi4c, the Note 3 and 3:
- – A secondary camera sensor with a maximum resolution of 5 megapixels.
- – 4128 x 3096 pixels, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED/dual-tone flash
- – Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, and HDR
- – 1080p@30fps video capture
Since all three devices compared here have the same exact camera capabilities, it is difficult to look at this criteria alone to make a purchase decision. The Mi4c has faster processing capabilities, so there is less chance of lag while capturing video. This is desirable if you spend a lot of time using your phone to take videos or make a lot of video-based phone calls or use Skype. The Note 3 and 2 will capture great quality video, but it is not the best choice for Skype.
Battery Capacity
The capacities for each of the three devices is below:
- – Xiaomi Mi4c: 3080mAh battery
- – Xiaomi Note 3: 4000mAh battery
- -Xiaomi Note 2: 3020mAh battery
The difference between the Mi4c and Note 2 smartphones is negligible and will be very hard to detect, particularly after a few battery cycles. However, the Note 3 has a 25% larger mAh capacity, which is a huge feature. The standby time of the Note 3 is 264 hours compared to 144 hours of the Mi4c and Note 2. This is going to be a tremendously desirable feature of the Note 3 for many users.
Charging Ports
The Mi4c uses the latest USB-C 1.0 and the Mi4c has fast-charging thanks to QuickCharge 2.0, allowing for 40% battery charge in only an hour:
The Redmi Note 2 and Redmi Note 3 feature the microUSB 2.0 with On-The-Go quick charging, but this is slower than the new QuickCharge 2.0:
Wireless and Comms Connectivity
Each device has several different wireless connectivity chips:
Xiaomi Mi4c
- – WiFi 802.11ac
- – Bluetooth 4.1
- – LTE, Cat 4
- – Infrared Port
- – FM Radio
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
- – WiFi 802.11ac
- – Bluetooth 4.1
- – LTE
- – Infrared Port
- – FM Radio
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
- – WiFi 802.11ac
- – Bluetooth 4.0
- – LTE
- – Infrared Port
- – FM Radio
All Hardware Differences Between the Xiaomi Mi4C, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2:
Which Should I Purchase? The Xiaomi Mi4C, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, or the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2?
There is no clear choice between these three amazing smartphones. Hopefully, our smartphone comparison of the Xiaomi Mi4c, Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 2 have assisted you in making a great selection. Our recommendations for each phone are as follows:
Choose the Xiaomi Mi4c if you want:
- The latest and greatest in smartphone technology
- Fast CPU and GPU with advanced video capture
- Quick charging and data transfer
- The best HD on-screen resolution display
Choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 if you want:
- Huge battery life compared to any other smartphone
- Fingerprint sensor
- Powerful chipset and a great GPU
- Priced lower than the Mi4C, with many of the same features
Choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 if you want:
- Huge storage capacity thanks to microSD slot
- A wide variety of case color choices
- A large HD display with 400ppi
- Most competitively priced smartphone on the market
