Redmi Y3 Review: A Robust Budget Phone for Selfie Lovers!

So, Redmi Y3 launched just a few weeks after the launch of Redmi 7. In Nepal, it starts at Rs. 18,499 for the 32GB variant and the 64GB variant for 21,499. While the Redmi 7 is priced at Rs. 14,999 (2GB/16GB) and Rs. 16,999 (3GB/32GB), all you’re getting is an improved 32MP front camera. So, should you get the Y3 or just go for the Redmi 7? Find out in this review.

Build

Redmi Y3 feels like what it should feel like, an affordable version of the Redmi Note 7 and just like the Redmi 7. Redmi Y3 is no different from the Redmi 7, both of them take design cues from Redmi Note 7. If you go through previous phones from Xiaomi, then you will feel that they have had almost similar designs on their budget and midrange smartphones. It tries to give you that premium feeling with the glass-like back but it’s actually plastic. The one we have is a black one, and that is one of the reasons that it does not look interesting. Also, it will catch smudges and fingerprints pretty easily.

If you talk about its build, it feels solid but the side frame feels like plastic and does reveal the fact that it’s an affordable phone. Well given its price I wouldn’t complain too much about its build quality. It’s decent.

On the front, we get that dew drop notch and comparatively thinner chin than what we get with other phones at this range. On the back, there’s a fingerprint sensor and dual camera setup. We’ve seen that some of the phones in this price bracket remove the fingerprint sensor, phones like Huawei Y7 Pro 2019, Oppo A3s, Vivo y91i. So, thumbs up for Xiaomi to sticking to it.

As I’ve already mentioned the side frame of this phone particularly feels slightly cheap but the buttons are good. It’s clicky and they have been positioned well. Just where the thumb rests naturally.

On top, we get an IR blaster, a headphone jack and a microphone. On the bottom, we have a single speaker and a micro USB charging port.

At last, there’s a sim slot on the left that can house two sims and there’s a dedicated slot for micro sd as well.

Display

The Redmi Y3 has a 6.26 inches IPS LCD display with a screen resolution of 720*1520 just like the Redmi 7.

Its an HD display but you won’t be able to tell the difference if you look at the Y3’s HD display and Redmi note 7’s Full HD display side by side. It’s bright enough and the colors are also neutral. It’s not too contrasty and poppy. It’s a decent IPS panel. It’s quite alright, the viewing angle is good and on overall Watching youtube and playing games on this panel is quite enjoyable.

You won’t have problems using this phone outdoors, I was able to use it quite well. But it could get slightly hectic when the suns right above you. But it’s not that big of a deal.

Hardware and Performance

The Redmi Y3 comes in two variant. One with 3GB RAM and 32GB Storage, and other with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. It runs on Snapdragon 632 SOC, which has an octa-core CPU clocked at 1.8GHZ and Adreno 506 GPU. FYI, the Redmi 7 also runs on the same SOC but comes with either 16GB storage or 32GB storage.

This spec sheet is astounding for a budget phone and this translates into smooth real life experience too. I have used a fair share of phones at this price tag and this is the smoothest one so far. The Apps open quick, switching between apps is smooth as well and I’ve had no problems with any social media apps so far, Be it Instagram, Facebook or messenger. The app experience has been smooth.

Not just apps but it can handle games as well. Straight up I installed PUBG mobile and Asphalt 9. Played PUBG on a medium setting and it ran good, but it was not that smooth. But still it was playable but then I switched to low graphics which happens to be default settings for this mobile phone and the game was smoother and much more enjoyable.

Now, if this thing can run PUBG then there’s no doubt this phone will sail easily while running Asphalt 9 on default settings. I’ve been very happy with its overall performance. It feels a little weird that you’re getting this level of performance for such a little price. Cheap phones are definitely getting better.

Camera

Now on to the optics, Redmi Y3 comes with dual camera setup on the back, a 12 MP F2.2 main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor just like the Redmi 7. Then on the front, it has a single 32MP camera.

Normally, we wouldn’t expect too much out of budget phones like these. I’ve used plenty of them and budget phones mostly suck at cameras. That’s where manufacturers can cut the cost, to keep the phone under budget. But I’m pretty satisfied with the Y3.

Dynamic range is average the colors are poppy but do not look over contrasty. I guess the photos are quite good for social media use. But pictures do have a hint of overexposure under harsh lighting and you do lose details especially on the darker part of the picture and you will notice grains as well.

Now as you would guess, the night photos are bad. Bad in a sense, when you compare it to expensive phones. You won’t want to use its camera at night time but I guess it’s alright for a phone that costs 18,499.

Now, the question is, is the 32MP front camera worth the extra 1500?

The selfies do turn out nice under adequate lighting. If the light’s too harsh, obviously the highlights will be blown out. Well, it does have an HDR feature for the front camera, which does help a little but is not as effective. But the details on the face is very nice with the selfies. Compared to the Redmi 7, Y3 has brighter and sharper images. Selfies have more details and you can especially see the difference at night. Selfie from Redmi 7 come off slightly blur and lack details whereas the Redmi Y3 packs in more detail and is sharper as well. But, the HDR is the same as the Redmi 7, there’s no improvement on that front.

Now, onto video you can capture up to 1080p 30 fps videos and as we’d expect it’s kind of not good but kinda not bad. The videos are shaky and there aren’t many details. But the focus is really good. This phone will do just fine if you’re looking to upload some tiktok videos or insta story.

Software

MIUI has definitely come a long way. It has improved with each increment and I’m pretty satisfied with the experience. It runs on the latest version of Android, the Android 9 Pie and runs a custom skin MIUI on top.

MIUI certainly is much cleaner than before and personally, I really love the revamped notification toggle on the MIUI. It’s super clean and super convenient.

It does give you the option of face unlock which is of course not secured. But its lighting quick under good lighting and pretty good under low light as well.

If you prefer the fingerprint sensor, there’s that too which is super fast as you would expect from a Xiaomi Phone.

One or two things that I particularly don’t like are, that icons have this square-shaped border to it. Just stock icons would have made this so much better. Other than that I haven’t had any problems with the overall experience.

Battery

The Redmi Y3 has a 4000 mAh battery and it’s a two-day battery for me. I don’t use my smartphone too much. So on average, I was getting 1 and a half day of battery life from the Redmi Y3.

Now talking about the charge time, the included 10w stock charger takes around 2 hours to charge it from 0 to 100.

Overall

So, the Redmi Y3 is a very good phone for the price. It costs 18,499 and it performs really good, the UI is smooth, you can even game on this well obviously at low settings and the camera will not disappoint you either. But, it’s not a significant upgrade over the Redmi 7. For an additional 1500, you’re getting a slightly better camera. So, if you think you need that extra quality with the front camera then go for it. But, if you are willing to pay 18,499 then you could go for the Samsung Galaxy M20 as well. It’s one of the best in this category.