Comparing the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro has long been one of the hottest topics in the Chinese tech community. These two smartphones have become the bestsellers of their time, setting a high bar for performance in the budget segment. Many users still face a choice: leave the time-tested Redmi Note 3 Pro or still switch to the fresher Redmi Note 4.
Both are built on Qualcomm chipsets and offer a metal body, which was already rare in the mid-range. However, there are significant differences between them in the approach to energy efficiency, screen quality and optimization of the MIUI software shell. Understanding these nuances will help you make an informed decision about buying or upgrading.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the specifications, the speed of the interface, the quality of the photo and, of course, the battery life. You will learn where exactly the Redmi Note 4 surpassed its predecessor, and in which scenarios the good old Note 3 Pro can still give the head start to a newer model.
Performance: Snapdragon 650 vs Snapdragon 625
The heart of the Redmi Note 3 Pro was the Snapdragon 650 processor, which was considered a real performance monster at the time of release. The chip architecture included two powerful Cortex-A72 cores and four energy-efficient Cortex-A53. This provided excellent speed in heavy gaming and when launching applications, but had its drawbacks in the form of high heat generation.
In turn, the Redmi Note 4 received a more modern Snapdragon 625 chip, made on the 14-nm process technology. Although its peak performance in benchmarks could be inferior to its predecessor, the real system was felt smoother due to the lack of trottling (reset frequencies due to heating).
⚠️ Attention: With a long gaming load, the Redmi Note 3 Pro can significantly heat up at the top of the body, which leads to a decrease in the brightness of the screen and a drop in the screen. FPS. Redmi Note 4 is much more stable in this regard.
The difference in how we process tasks is clear: If the Snapdragon 650 relied on brute force, the Snapdragon 625 relied on balance and efficiency. For everyday tasks like social media, navigation and instant messengers, the latter is preferred because of the lack of micro-freeze when overheated.
Screen and multimedia capabilities
Both smartphones are equipped IPS-diagonal 5.5 inch and resolution 1920×1080 But they have different calibration quality and brightness margins. 4 It has wider viewing angles and better color rendering "out of the box", which is especially noticeable when watching video in bright sunlight.
The sound subsystem has also undergone changes. In the Redmi Note 3 Pro, the speaker is located on the back, which often led to it being blocked by the hand or table surface. Xiaomi engineers took this into account, and in the Redmi Note 4, the multimedia speaker moved to the bottom end, becoming louder and cleaner.
- 📱 Redmi Note 3 Pro: Classic color reproduction, average brightness reserve, rear speaker.
- 📱 Redmi Note 4: Improved contrast, high brightness margin, lower stereo-like speaker.
- 📱 Protection: Both screens are covered with glass, but the oleophobic coating on the Note 4 is better and longer maintains smoothness.
For those who read and watch content at night, the presence of a “Vision Protection” mode is important. In newer versions of MIUI firmware based on the Redmi Note 4, this feature works better, effectively reducing eye strain, whereas on the Note 3 Pro it can cause a noticeable yellow hue.
Autonomy: Where the main trump card lies
This is perhaps the most important section of the comparison. - Redmi Note 3 Pro was equipped with a battery capacity 4000 mAh, which was a great metric, but the voracious processor and the less-optimized modem often negated those benefits, providing a little bit of a mileage. 5-6 screen-clock.
Redmi Note 4 I got a battery on 4100 mAh combined with a highly energy-efficient chipset, and the result was phenomenal for its time, with many users easily reaching the end of the spectrum. 8-9 watch (SOT). This made the model one of the leaders in autonomy in the entire model range of the company.
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The Snapdragon 625+4100mAh bundle in the Redmi Note 4 has delivered up to 40% more autonomy than its predecessor, despite the minimal difference in battery capacity.
Both smartphones support fast charging technology, but the implementation of the power controller in the Redmi Note 4 allows you to more efficiently manage currents on the last 20% of charge, extending the total battery life.
⚠️ Note: Do not use damaged kaels USB Redmi Note 3 Pro is known for problems with the micro-USB connector, which over time shatters, and poor-quality wire can lead to unstable contact and slow charging.
Cameras: The evolution of optics and software
The main camera Redmi Note 3 Pro at 16 MP (Samsung sensor) in the day shot very decently, but in the evening quality dropped due to noise and lack of optical stabilization. photo processing algorithms then did not know how to “pull” details out of the shadows as modern.
The camera module in the Redmi Note 4 also received 13 MP (Sony sensor), but with more aperture optics (f/2.0 vs f/2.2 in its predecessor).This allowed for improved shooting in under-light. In addition, the software processing of the MIUI Camera in the Note 4 worked faster, reducing the time between the press of a button and the shot.
The front camera in both cases remained at 5 MP. However, in Redmi Note 4 there are improved algorithms for beauty, which, although it is possible to turn off, by default make the skin smoother. Video both smartphones write in Full HD, but stabilization in Redmi Note 4 software implemented better.
Secrets of camera modes
Comparative Characteristics Table
For ease of perception, we will bring the basic technical parameters into a single table, which will help you quickly assess the difference in hardware and understand what exactly you get when you move to a new model.
| Characteristics | Redmi Note 3 Pro | Redmi Note 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 650 (1.8 GHz) | Snapdragon 625 (2.0 GHz) |
| Graphics | Adreno 510 | Adreno 506 |
| RAM | 2/3GB of LPDDR3 | 3/4GB LPDDR3 |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 4100mAh |
| Operating system | Android 5.1 / 6.0 | Android 6.0 / 7.0 |
As you can see from the table, the Redmi Note 4 offers more modern memory standards and the ability to install Android versions higher, which is critical for compatibility with newer versions of apps that are gradually ending support for older operating systems.
Software and updates
Software support is the Achilles heel of many budget smartphones, but in this case Xiaomi has performed well. Redmi Note 3 Pro officially stopped on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with the shell of MIUI 9, although enthusiasts ported and newer versions.
The Redmi Note 4 has been officially upgraded to Android 7.0 (Nougat) and MIUI 10/11, giving access to features like split screen, improved notification management and finer app permissions. For the modern user, having Android 7.0+ is the minimally comfortable entry threshold.
☑️ What to look for when buying a B/C
And the number of ad integrations is worth mentioning: the newer firmware for the Redmi Note 4 made advertising in standard apps more intrusive, but the tools to disable it more. On the Note 3 Pro, older versions of MIUI had cleaner interfaces, but poorer functionality.
Final verdict: should we change?
The answer to the question of which is better depends on your priorities: If you want a phone for heavy games in 2016-2017 and you are ready to put up with the heat, the Redmi Note 3 Pro can still surprise you with the speed of the GPU. However, for 95% of users, the Redmi Note 4 is the leader due to its autonomy and stability.
Switching to the Redmi Note 4 will give you a full day of uncharging, a cooler body, and up-to-date versions of apps, a device that has become a benchmark for reliability, and even years later, it can perform basic functions better than many modern budget-conscious people.
⚠️ Note: When buying a used device, be sure to check IMEI-code on the case and in the menu (*#06#) The popular models are often changed cases, and the data may not match, indicating possible repair or build from multiple devices.
On the back: The Redmi Note 4 is an evolutionary step that has corrected the main flaws of its predecessor, which is not revolutionary, but much more convenient in everyday use, and which is why it has earned legend status in the Redmi lineup.
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If you buy a Redmi Note 4 b/d, replace the heat pad on the processor. The old one often dries out, which leads to excessive heating, even though the chip itself is already cold.