Xiaomi Redmi 3S review: Game of Iterations

Game of Iterations

GSMArena team, 10 October 2016.

Telephony

The dialer and the phonebook share a single app although there are two shortcuts, bringing you straight to the tab you need. The app has pleasant flat looks, though somewhat refreshed. It uses a tabbed interface - recent with dialer on the first and the contact list on the second.

Call recording is available - the files can be saved either on your device or on your MiCloud.

The Phonebook - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review The Phonebook - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review The Phonebook - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review The Phonebook - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
The Phonebook

The dialer may look rather familiar, but it's quite capable. Unfortunately, most of the new smart features are only available in a few markets such as China and India.

It can recognize automatically business numbers, as well as scam contacts thanks to the Xiaomi's Caller ID database. You can also search in both Hindi and English from the T9 numpad, which is helpful.

The Dialer - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review The Dialer - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review The Dialer - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
The Dialer

The Xiaomi Redmi 3S speaker scored an Average mark on our loudness test. Its sound quality was above average with deep and crisp sound.

Speakerphone testVoice, dB Pink noise/ Music, dB Ringing phone, dB Overall score
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) 64.1 65.3 68.5 Below Average
Xiaomi Redmi 3 66.1 65.5 70.6 Average
Xiaomi Redmi 3S 66.4 70.9 70.2 Average
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro 67.2 70.7 74.5 Good
Huawei P9 lite 66.0 71.5 83.2 Very Good
Huawei nova 69.2 71.9 80.6 Very Good
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 72.8 71.3 81.9 Very Good
OnePlus 2 75.7 73.5 80.7 Excellent

Other apps

The Xiaomi Redmi 3S offers an excellent file managing app called Explorer, which lets you browse the files in its internal storage and groups them by type.

Explorer - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Explorer - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Explorer - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
Explorer

The MIUI v8 also offers a Security app. It can scan your phone for malware, manage your blacklist, manage or restrict your data usage, configure battery behavior, clean some RAM; it can also manage the permissions of your installed apps.

The Security app has a new feature now - it allows you to define the battery behavior of selected apps and apply restrictions only to the apps you choose.

Security app - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Data management - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Battery management - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Managing a single app - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Battery Saver - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
Security app • Data management • Battery management • Managing a single app • Battery Saver

The Mi Remote uses the IR blaster to control anything from TVs (including the Mi TV, of course) to digital cameras. The setup process is relatively straightforward, and a handy option shares the remotes you've set up with others on the same Wi-Fi network. You'd have to go through the setup only once per home assuming everybody else uses a Xiaomi phone as well.

The Mi Remote app can share configured remotes with your family - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review The Mi Remote app can share configured remotes with your family - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review The Mi Remote app can share configured remotes with your family - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review The Mi Remote app can share configured remotes with your family - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
The Mi Remote app can share configured remotes with your family

The custom and now flat Calendar looks good, syncs with your accounts including Google, and offers Day and Month views.

Calendar - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Calendar - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
Calendar

There is also the standard sound recorder, flashlight, clock, and weather apps, among others, that are a given in any self-respecting Android package nowadays.

Voice recorder - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Alarms - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Clock - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Weather - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
Voice recorder • Alarms • Clock • Weather

We liked the Compass app. It has very nice and clean interface, shows the magnetic directions and doubles as a level meter. If you lift the phone up, then you'll get a nice augmented reality view with real-time East/West/North/South overlay.

Compass - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review level - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review VR directions - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
Compass • level • VR directions

Finally, there is a brand-new Notes app. It has been given new templates, new look, support for checklists, among other things.

The Calculator app has been updated - it now supports advanced calculations and conversions.

Notes - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Notes - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Calculator - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Conversions Menu - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review Conversions - Xiaomi Redmi 3S review
Notes • Notes • Calculator • Conversions Menu • Conversions

Reader comments

  • Lindo
  • 27 Apr 2020
  • NH8

I had bought my Redmile 3 almost 3 years ago. I love, it's camera and other features are perfect for me. It's been a while since I've been using it as a result it's battery stopped charging. I've looking for a replacement all over Cape Town with no ...

  • Anita sam
  • 10 Apr 2020
  • 7kp

My phone got locked it is not opening the diagram only one line coming and finger also not opening because of lockdown I can't go out and show to the service center

  • Fuck
  • 10 Feb 2020
  • NnG

I got it