Xiaomi Mi3 Review: Can Last Year's Flagship Match Up Against The Best Android Smartphones In The Market?

Xiaomi Mi3 review: Not everyone knows that one of the most-sold smartphones this year has been announced last year.

The Xiaomi Mi3 is the Chinese manufacturer's previous flagship and was announced in December, the time of the year when people have already decided what to buy for the holiday shopping season. 

However, its specs and features cannot be simply overlooked, and by the time the first and second quarters have passed this year, the smartphone has managed to sell millions of devices, and it was then available only to China and a few select markets. 

The Chinese manufacturer is expanding its scope in other markets in Asia, and in fact Xiaomi already has a huge following in most mobile-crazed countries. 

But after the IFA event and all of the other smartphone launch shows this time of the year, can we say that the Xiaomi Mi3 is still relevant?

Boasting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset, the Mi3 has the same SoC that runs on the Galaxy Note 3 by Samsung, LG G2 and the Nexus 5. It also packs 2GB of RAM for superior multi-tasking capabilities. 

At the back of the device is a capable 13MP shooter while there is a 2MP front cam. Xiaomi recently made a refreshed version of the Mi3 and it now comes with Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat out of the box. 

As far as specs are concerned, the Xiaomi Mi3 should be able to hold its ground against the Snapdragon 801s in the market such as the Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, LG G3, the newly announced Motorola Moto X (2014) and even the Oppo Find 7. The minor difference in frequency should not be a concern for most casual users. However, the Find 7 and G3's 3GB RAM and QHD display should spell the difference. 

But are consumers willing to pay almost $600 for those devices?

With a .3 difference in frequency, 1GB difference in RAM, and the absence of a microSD card slot, the Xiaomi Mi3 only costs less than $250 in most markets where it is available. And because there are more people who cannot afford high-end smartphones at high-end prices, the Mi3's price tag is just right for their budget.