Xiaomi Redmi 3S: Release date, specifications and why it became a legend

Xiaomi Redmi 3S — One of the most iconic smartphones in the history of the budget segment, this model not only cemented Xiaomi's position in the global market, but also became the benchmark for the ratio of price to quality for many years. 3S, What competitors it had and whether it’s worth buying it today – this article is for you.

Released in the midst of the 2016 budget revolution, Redmi 3S He offered users what seemed impossible before: a metal case, a fingerprint, a capacious battery and a productive platform for ridiculous money by the standards of the time. But let’s get into more detail – from the exact release date to the nuances that make this model unique even after years.

Official release date of Xiaomi Redmi 3S: chronology

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 3S The launch date was announced on May 31, 2016, at a special event in China, but the date of the start of sales varied by region:

• 🇨🇳 China: First sales started on June 6, 2016 - a week after the announcement.The model instantly became a hit, breaking pre-order records.
• 🇮🇳 India: Released on August 3, 2016 under the name Redmi 3S Prime (with 3GB of RAM and fingerprint scanner).
• 🌍 Global Market: Official sales outside Asia began in September-October 2016, but many bought the device through gray importers in the summer.

Interestingly, Redmi 3S It was the first Xiaomi smartphone to be promoted outside of China as a “flagship killer.” LTE-This was a rare feature of budget models of the time.

It is important to note that Redmi 3S It came in two versions: Redmi. 3S (2 GB of RAM + 16 GB of memory and Redmi 3S Prime (3GB of RAM) + 32GB of storage.The latest version also got a fingerprint scanner that was missing from the base model, which became a marketing ploy, with users choosing between price and extra features.

Technical Specifications: Why Redmi 3S revolutionary

In 2016, Redmi 3S It offered features that were previously only available in mid-range and premium devices, and here are the key parameters that made the model legendary:

Especially stood out battery 4100 mAh — at that time, even flagships rarely exceeded the mark of 3500 mAh. MIUI The 7 (based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow) smartphone easily sustained 2 days of active use without recharging.This was a key advantage for markets with unstable electricity access (for example, India or Africa).

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If you are still using Redmi 3S, Try to roll back the firmware to MIUI 8 – Many users note that newer versions are slower due to a lack of RAM.

Another innovation is a metal case with a matte texture. In 2016, budget smartphones typically had plastic backs, and Redmi did. 3S He offered a premium design for $Of course, the metal was not as good as flagships (like the iPhone). 6s), But for its price, it was a breakthrough.

Comparison with 2016 competitors: who was better?

In the year of release of Redmi 3S He was competing with a few popular public sector players:

• 📱 Meizu M3 Note: It had a more powerful processor (Helio) P10), But worse than optimized software (Flyme) OS) And a smaller battery (3,100 mAh) was comparable.
• 📱 Lenovo K5 Note: Offered Full HD-screen and stereo speakers, but lost in autonomy and build quality.
• 📱 Samsung Galaxy J2 (2016): It was in all respects except the brand — 5" resolution-screen 540×960, 1.5 GB RAM and plastic case.
• 📱 Huawei Honor 5C: More powerful chipset (Kirin 650), but smaller battery (3000 mAh) and higher price.

The main advantage of Redmi 3S — It wasn't the best one way, but it offered the best combination of all the keys:

- In terms of performance inferior to Honor 5C, But he won in autonomy.

- The design was better than Samsung. J2, cheaper than Meizu M3 Note.

- I didn't get to Lenovo on camera. P1, but had a more compact body.

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Redmi 3S It wasn’t the best in individual terms, but it offered the perfect value for money, performance and autonomy – which is what made it a bestseller.

Interesting fact: in India, Redmi 3S Prime sold at a price ~$130, which was 20 to 30 percent cheaper than competitors with similar specs, which led Xiaomi to take 2nd place in sales in India as early as 2017, overtaking Samsung and Lenovo.

Relevance in 2026: whether to buy Redmi 3S today?

8 years after the release of Redmi 3S It's morally and technically obsolete, but it's still used by many users:

• ✅ Secondary market: available for 3000-5000 rubles (2026) Suitable for the elderly, children or as a spare phone.
• ✅ Repairability: parts are cheap, and the design makes it easy to replace the screen, battery or speaker.
• ✅ Community firmware: There are custom firmware (such as LineageOS) that extend the life of the device.

But there are also serious disadvantages:

- ❌ Security: The last official security update came out in 2019.Using outdated Android is fraught with vulnerabilities.

- ❌ Performance: 2 GB of RAM is not enough even for lightweight apps like WhatsApp or YouTube.

- ❌ Compatibility: Many modern applications (e.g. banking) require Android 8.0+, Redmi. 3S Only Android officially supports Android 6.0/7.0.

⚠️ Note: If you are planning to use Redmi 3S payment (NFC, Banking apps, note that most services block devices on older versions of Android. For example, SberBank Online requires Android 8.1+.

Alternatives for those looking for a budget smartphone in 2026:

- Redmi A2+ (~7000 rubles.) - a modern analogue with Android 13 and NFC.

- POCO C50 (~8000 rubles.) - Better camera and performance.

- B/b Redmi Note 8 (~6000 rubles.) - more powerful and relevant.

Frequent problems and repairs of Redmi 3S: point out

Like any smartphone in 2016, Redmi 3S It has typical age-related diseases, and these are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

One of the most frustrating problems is the wear and tear of the microUSB connector, and over time, the contacts become looser, and the phone stops charging.

- The soldering of the new connector (~1,000 rubles.).

- Switch to wireless charging (a special adapter for microUSB is required).

Battery service (capacity not lower than 3000 mAh)|The ability of the fingerprint scanner (for Prime)|Absence of yellow pixels on the screen|Condition of the microUSB connector|The presence of original charging-->

If you want to repair Redmi 3S on your own, consider:

- The case is mounted on latches and glue - for disassembly you need a plastic mediator and a hair dryer.

The battery is glued - you need to tear it off carefully so as not to damage the plumes.

The screen plume is fragile - when replacing the display, it is easy to damage the touchscreen.

⚠️ Note: when replacing the battery with Redmi 3S Do not use cheap analogues with AliExpress - they often have a real capacity of 2500-3000 mAh instead of the declared 4100 mAh).

Firmware and updates: how to extend the life of Redmi 3S

Official support for Redmi 3S It ended in 2019, but the developer community continues to make custom firmware:

• 🔄 MIUI 8/9: The latest official versions, stable but outdated.
• 🐦 LineageOS 14.1 (Android 7.1): Better balance between performance and functionality.
• 🤖 Pixel Experience (Android 10): Experimental firmware, slow but gives access to new features.
• 🔧 Havoc-OS: custom firmware with many settings, but requires experience in installation.

To install custom firmware will require:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (you need a Xiaomi account).

2. Install TWRP Recovery (version) 3.0.2-0 most stable).

3. ZIP-Firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.0.2-0-land.img


fastboot boot twrp-3.0.2-0-land.img

Important: Before the firmware make a backup through TWRP, Because the process can lead to a device blinking, also note that Redmi is a machine. 3S Project Treble is not working, so the firmware based on Android 8.0+ buggy.

Where to buy spare parts and accessories for Redmi 3S 2026

Despite the age of the model, spare parts for the Redmi 3S They're still available. That's where they're looking:

• 🛒 AliExpress: the widest range, but a long wait (2-4 weeks). Battery prices - from 500 rubles, screens - from 1500 rubles.
• 🏬 Local service centers: often there are used parts from other repairs. For example, a battery can be found for 800-1000 rubles.
• 🔧 Avito/Yula: sold whole donor phones for 2000-3000 rubles, from which you can take parts.
• 🌍 Specialty stores (e.g. GSMMaster, Mobile-Shop): original parts, but more expensive.

When buying spare parts, pay attention to:

- Compatibility: for example, the screen from Redmi 3 (without the letter S) is not suitable for Redmi 3S.

Quality: Cheap Chinese counterparts often have defective (e.g. touchscreens with dead zones).

- Set: when buying a screen, check whether there is glue and a screwdriver for disassembly in the kit.

Tip: If you need an original back cover (metal), look for it by code MBP00001 — It's a factory designation for Redmi. 3S. Counterfeiting usually has a different shade or worse quality of anodizing.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Xiaomi Redmi 3S