Xiaomi Redmi Y1 vs Nokia 3: Selfies meet stock Android
Xiaomi has just launched two new smartphones in India. Xiaomi claims that the Redmi Y1 and Redmi Y1 Lite mark the start of an entirely new smartphone series for Xiaomi - one targeted towards the youth looking for a big screen and the best selfie experience.
But the claim of an entirely new smartphone series is somewhat sketchy as the Y1 and Y1 Lite are essentially re-branded versions of the Redmi Note 5A Prime and Redmi Note 5A that were recently launched in China with a selfie twist added to satiate Oppo and Vivo fans in India.
At Rs 8,999, the Redmi Y1 squares off directly against the Nokia 3 which is currently selling for around Rs 8,800 online (Rs 9,499 at offline retail stores). Both smartphones are as different as chalk and cheese - the Xiaomi 'wunderkid' is all about the front camera and noteworthy hardware (for the price).
Design and build quality: Simply no contest
What it sacrifices for the same is build quality - the phone is made entirely out of plastic. While the phone looks premium enough, it simply does not feel as solid as the competition. To put it bluntly, the Redmi Y1 just does not feel like it could take a beating. There are creaks to be found, the power and volume buttons feel mushy and the phone just does not feel reassuring in the hand.
Nokia 3
The Nokia 3 on the other hand is built exceptionally well with a design that evokes memories of Lumia smartphones of old - modern yet pleasantly nostalgic. While the Nokia 3 also has plastic on the back (polycarbonate as HMD Global likes to call it), it is mated to an Aluminium frame that not only adds much needed rigidity but also adds to the premium factor.
Unlike many smartphone with tacky finishes, the Nokia 3 looks sleek and exudes classiness. The ergonomics are top notch - the buttons are made of metal and are tactile and have a good amount of travel. What really elevates the Nokia 3 from the competition is the build quality - which is simply stellar.
However, there is one area where the Redmi Y1 trumps the Nokia 3 and that is the presence of a fingerprint scanner. Oddly enough the Nokia 3 lacks a fingerprint sensor which has become ubiquitous in today's smartphone world - HMD Global missed a beat here.
Software: MIUI 9 vs stock Android
"It may be designed MIUI-like, but feature wise it's on par with stock Android". This is what Xiaomi has to say about MIUI 9 - their latest update to their much maligned or much loved custom Android skin, depending on where you stand.
MIUI has made great strides and MIUI 9 is its best iteration yet but stock Android is still the one to beat. A lot of stock Android features have finally made their way onto Xiaomi's custom skin - split screen multitasking and Google Assistant to name a few. However, compared to stock Android, MIUI still feels a bit heavy.
There are a few features on offer that stock Android simply does not - dual apps, secure folder, scrollable screenshots and so on - which will endear MIUI to many people. But on a personal level, the software experience on board the Nokia 3 - pure Android without any unneeded bloat, gimmicks or overlays - is a little more fluid.
Stock Android on board the Nokia 3 is beautifully optimised and UI elements run as smooth as butter. Not to say the software on Y1 is not fast, it is just a step behind stock Android.
Performance: Redmi Y1 takes the win
However, the fast and fluid software stack is compromised by the Nokia's average internals. The Nokia 3 is not a powerhouse by any means - the combination of the MediaTek MT6737 processor and 2GB of RAM keeps up with day to day tasks but struggles with demanding workloads. Casual games like Subway surfers run very smoothly but intensive games suffer from frame rate drops at high settings.
After disappointing with the design and build quality, the Y1 pulls back a win when it comes to performance. The Y1 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There is also a higher end model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage but that is beyond the purview of this comparison.
Redmi Y1
The Y1 delivers great, consistent performance across the board - be it day to day tasks, intensive workloads to casual games like Subway Surfers. The only area where it falters is whilst playing GPU intensive games which exhibit some lags when played at maxed out settings for longer periods.
When it comes to battery life, both smartphones disappoint slightly. The Nokia 3 is powered by a relatively tiny 2,650mAh battery that punches above its weight and delivers a day of battery life without breaking a sweat.
The Nokia 3 and Xiaomi Redmi Y1 are extremely different smartphones
The Redmi Y1, with its 3,080mAh battery, also delivers similar battery life. Most users will be able to get their smartphone to last a whole day without hunting for a charger. The problem is that one day battery life is simple average in today's day and age when smartphones like the Redmi Note 4 deliver a day and a half of endurance easily.
Seflies for the win?
As mentioned above, the biggest talking point about the Redmi Y1 is its 16MP front camera that comes with its own LED flash. With this, Xiaomi is aiming squarely at the selfie loving Indian audience who have been lapping up Oppo and Vivo phones in the past. If you are a selfie junkie, there is no contest, buy the Y1 over the Nokia 3.
Here is what we had to say in our full review :
The Redmi Y1, it's safe to say, doesn't disappoint as far as taking selfies is concerned especially in good (outdoor) lighting. It is capable of taking some really crisp and detailed selfies in ideal lighting conditions. Indoor shots are however kind of hit and miss. Overall, the Redmi Y1 gets the selfie game right.
However, the same is not true about the Redmi Y1's 13MP rear camera which is extremely mediocre (at best). It produces dull and lifeless images with a lot of noise and inadequate detail. The Nokia 3's 8MP rear camera is not the best in class but it is surely better than the one found on the Y1.
Here is what we had to say about the Nokia 3's rear camera in our official review :
It performs well when it comes to Macro shots -- locking focus onto subjects quickly and accurately, with adequate amount of detail and sharpness. Outdoors and in situations with a decent amount of light (Indoors), the camera also produces somewhat above average images with natural colours but the level of detail is slightly lacking.
Verdict: What would you like to compromise?
The Nokia 3 and Xiaomi Redmi Y1 are extremely different smartphones. Xiaomi's offering brings to the table a fairly competent selfie shooter, good, consistent performance and buckets of software features via MIUI 9. However, the build quality is extremely disappointing, the rear camera is mediocre and the display is lacklustre. Some might also find MIUI a tad heavy.
The Nokia 3 on the other hand comes with average internals that compromise performance and a selfie camera that is not in the same league as the Redmi Y1. But it strikes back with excellent build quality, an exquisite design that looks sleek and classy, fluid software, a vivid display and a rear camera that while average is still better than the one found on the Y1.
Overall the Nokia 3 seems to offer the better bang for your buck. However at the end of the day it all depends on what you want from your smartphone. If you want a well rounded smartphone you can also look at the Redmi Note 4.
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