I am on the lookout for a Redmi Note 3 and came across this on Gearbest.
Note that this is the international version (they call it Overseas Edition) however it has 2GB RAM.
Top comments
finnmaccool to gillhoose1888
2 Nov 168#3
It can make phone calls and stuff.
barmrest
3 Nov 164#9
I've been using the 32GB/3GB version for a few weeks now and I can't recommend it highly enough. I immediately stuck CM13 on it and it's been flawless, does everything I want it to, completely lag-free experience. These cheap Chinese phones are a game changer, anyone who is still spending over £200 on a smart phone is playing a mug's game.
All comments (58)
litwoojczyznomoj
2 Nov 16#1
Note that overseas edition is slightly bigger than the rest of Redmi note 3 phones and finding a cover is not the easiest task, from what I have read.
wpj to litwoojczyznomoj
3 Nov 16#22
Will agree with that; chopped the standard case a little and then put double sided tape in there to anchor the phone. Not elegant, but works (already had the case).
gillhoose1888
2 Nov 16#2
What's so good about it
finnmaccool to gillhoose1888
2 Nov 168#3
It can make phone calls and stuff.
malky39 to gillhoose1888
2 Nov 16#7
The difference between this and the standard version is this supports all UK 4g bands
soulman123
2 Nov 161#4
plus a gig less in ram
the1C3MAN
2 Nov 161#5
Check out the vernee apollo lite :wink: a bit more £ but alot more everything.
fearghal324
2 Nov 16#6
I've bought this phone, having serious problems with the microphone, I've searched the Internet and it suggest the microphone is switching from primary to secondary mic. There isn't a solution to date I can find to fix this. Nightmare. Otherwise it is a great piece of kit.
Picard123 to fearghal324
15 Nov 16#57
Easy to fix. It's a bug. Just record some video in portrait.
MonkeysUncle
2 Nov 161#8
Reading reviews the reliability and updating it looks a bit squiffy.
Really interested in getting a import mobile when I feel the need for a new mobile too.
barmrest
3 Nov 164#9
I've been using the 32GB/3GB version for a few weeks now and I can't recommend it highly enough. I immediately stuck CM13 on it and it's been flawless, does everything I want it to, completely lag-free experience. These cheap Chinese phones are a game changer, anyone who is still spending over £200 on a smart phone is playing a mug's game.
leekickass to barmrest
3 Nov 16#12
what,s cm13 ? excuse my stupidity
JAMAL to barmrest
3 Nov 16#14
Or want a decent camera....
lidds to barmrest
3 Nov 16#18
Cant agree more! everyone in the office laughed when my 'Cheap chinese phone' turned up (Xiaomi mi5) but they are now very impressed, take much better pictures than my widfes iphone 6 and is as fast as you like.
I took put CM13 on the other week now its official however have gone back to miui.for two reasons.1. I muhc prefer the notification panel. 2(the main reason) native one handed mode. Found it hard to cope without it. Its such a handy and well though out feature.
superivanho to barmrest
3 Nov 16#39
How easy is it to root the phone and put custom rom? I've got a redmi 3 pro (not note 3) and I heard from a few forums you need a approval code from xiaomi before you can install custom rom. I've got the approval code few months back but I'm not tempted to root the phone just yet.
sunil237
3 Nov 162#10
I don't like gearbest. last time I ordered they took my money, and said it was in stock, but a month later and no despatch. got a refund, no issue, and ordered with banggood sent out next day.
I guess if they have stock you'll have no issue
TexasMackem
3 Nov 161#11
Showing here for £109, but not the overseas version. Anyone know the difference?
Doesn't support all the UK frequencies so may won't get 4g on certain networks.
rambobambo
3 Nov 161#13
cyanogenmod. its a custom rom
colemanuk
3 Nov 161#15
I can't fault this phone for the money! Excellent support in xda. I'm on android 7.1 already custom rom. Battery lasts me 2 days with 10hrs screen on time.
JustinBedford
3 Nov 16#16
been using the Redmi note 3 pro since release and lately cm13 since it was officially released for the phone and it's a great phone for the money. great battery life would have liked a proper dual SIM + micro SD card slot but that's my only complaint about the phone
den169 to JustinBedford
3 Nov 161#28
Theres is a way to keep dual sim and use an sd card aswell if you search on youtube.
JesterP64
3 Nov 16#17
I have the 3gb 32gb version of this. Best phone I have owned. 4g works on o2. Camera is good, not better than apple or Samsung. Miui 8 is great. Two day battery. A silicone case fits just as do screen protectors with a small gap. My second Chinese phone and miles better than the better spec Umi super.
MaximusRo to JesterP64
9 Nov 16#56
Camera is pants, imposible to compare with the camera from Samsung or Apple.
Be serious
barmrest
3 Nov 161#20
This is nonsense. It takes decent pics, I can barely tell the difference between pictures I take on this and those taken on iPhones, Samsungs, etc.
Spark
3 Nov 16#21
Great price but be warned that GearBest are notoriously slow at despatching phones, especially when you choose the free delivery option.
If you want it this side of Christmas then I'd advise shopping elsewhere.
AndyEssex
3 Nov 16#23
I'm waiting for one in the post for my sister and she's on Virgin Mobile therefore EE 3g 2100 band. No problem. If Virgin carry out their threat and give all their non-business customers 4g then considering they piggyback the EE network it will work on the 2600 LTE 4G band. I am on Vodafone and it will work again on the 2600 band but I don't understand why O2 don't add another bandwidth to their 800 LTE because not many imported phones support it. Always seems to be 850/950.
malky39
3 Nov 161#24
Would a tpu style case not be able to stretch over the extra size
sam_of_london
3 Nov 16#25
These phones are a gamble and come with no warranty. IPhone gets regular updates. Many of the banking apps do not work on these phones. Yes cheap, but no warranty no updates some come with viruses inside firmware.
I have purchased Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro. There are some problems with the SIMs I thought is due to the SIMs. But even when I have changed them the problems still persist - no recognition of the SIM, bad line, when somebody calls me, he/she doesn't hear me sometimes.
I ordered it from the UK Gearbest store.
And now they offer me to send the phone in CHINA?!?! for the warranty ..... So in fact no warranty.... 1 month for the delivery to China, 1 month back, and 2-4 weeks for repair.... So about 3 months without phone. The returning shipping costs are on my own and if there are any problem at the customs and they want to pay a VAT too.
Think before order from Gearbest - in fact you have no warranty :disappointed:
babylon
3 Nov 162#29
And renders every previous generation slow to the point of a useless brick, Oh, And it cost 5 x as much.
wpj
3 Nov 16#30
Yes, you can get a clear rear covering one for it; comes as a "package" with some suppliers.
wpj
3 Nov 16#31
The 3Gb/32Gb version is on special at the moment from Geekbuying for $149.99 (£124 by their calculations- they take payment in £ as well).
den169
3 Nov 16#32
Anyone bought from geekbuying spain and is it quicker,Also from Spain will there be any taxes on at customs.
lianne21 to den169
3 Nov 161#38
Hi, You don't pay tax on anything bought in Europe so you are fine buying from Spain. Hope that helps.
mistermoneysaver
3 Nov 16#33
I too have the pro. The camera does struggle in low light, but I installed camera zoom and increased exposure. Works a great now. Best phone I have ever owned by a long way.
Ziu
3 Nov 16#34
I'd prefer sth smaller. Which from this 3 would be best? What is the best way to get it?
3 Pro is probably the best of them if you'd not bothered about full 4g coverage.
I prefer the 5" factor aswell hopefully the redmi 4 will come in a international version
lukec36 to Ziu
4 Nov 16#49
Redmi 3S Prime, the new SoC gives even better battery life and price difference is barely worth worrying about.
I'd say just bite the bullet and go via Gearbest. I think they may only have the gold colour at the mo though. Make sure you get the International version too.
brooky_agn
3 Nov 16#36
Nice. Probably be hard to get hold of for a while though. The new Xiaomi Note sold out in 50 seconds.
I couldn't tell you for your phone, but for this phone it's very easy to find guides online.
a2tmfk
3 Nov 161#42
Cold - Gearbest. Worst buying experience of my 40 years!
sam_of_london to a2tmfk
3 Nov 16#43
Well said. They install viruses, pups and trozan horses in the phones they sell so Chinese hackers can hack into phones. No warranty and no customer service, just lots paid jokers posting here for money. I got message as well from them to post their items for money
lianne21
3 Nov 16#44
They offered to pay you if you post their phones on here?
swfarrington
4 Nov 16#46
[quote=barmrest]
Is the camera that much better than the one on the Redmi Note 2?
I got that and the camera really was a dire as people suggested.
I love the phone but because I use the camera so much I've switched to my fruit device. A shame as the RN2 is otherwise a class act.
lukec36
4 Nov 16#47
http://www.review-hub.co.uk is a good place to start when researching which import phone might be best for you
lukec36
4 Nov 16#48
Umi Super is a great phone and runs stock Android so doesn't feel as much of an import phone. Also Umi have committed to update it to Android 7 this year. It is a little on the bulky side and the camera is no more than acceptable but everything else is amazing value
lukec36
4 Nov 16#50
*citation needed :smile:
AndyEssex
4 Nov 16#51
Can active help me out and give me a link that is literally idiot proof from start to finish on how to install the CM13 or CM14? Most of the installations don't start from the very beginning. I'll do it no problem if it's idiot proof and step by step (I find Kodi on Amazon very easy - that's my level of pickup, so I'm not an expert but not dumb either). I have mine here from Gearbest and have become a little worried about banking etc. Thanks to anyone who can help me.
badboyofrock to AndyEssex
5 Nov 16#53
I use stock miui, and have no problems with banking apps. Why do you want to change?
badboyofrock
5 Nov 16#52
OK, I accept that iPhones receive regular updates, but based on the ownership if several Xiaomi devices, including the one I type this on, the rest is crap, written by someone with little to no experience of the brand. Any user with reasonable experience of imported phones will tell you the same. Citation is not needed, as I speak from actual experience.
AndyEssex
5 Nov 16#54
Yes, I went onto my bank yesterday using the Note 3 Pro. No problems as I thought. You know what it's like on here. Too many experts but sometimes someone genuinely helpful makes a comment or gives a link so I just wanted to check that my sister will be able to access her bank and card company as she does not have or use a laptop.
She will never get round to using most of the pre-installed apps - she's really a browser and a texter and that's why I didn't go for an imported Galaxy Note 4 - it would have been a waste of a phone for what she uses it for.
On the other side, I would like to root a phone and install a custom ROM just because I like to get to know these things and understand them more. It's the same when I started with Amazon Fire Sticks. I was forever pausing and rewinding a YouTube tutorial and now I don't even need to look on YouTube to install Kodi and Pulse. (for friends and not for sale on ebay by the way!)
badboyofrock
5 Nov 16#55
I'm with you. I have stock, uprooted global rom installed and all my banking apps work fine, as Miui is a stock Rom on a mi phone. As CM is a custom ROM, some banks don't like it as they see it as a security risk. Same goes for any rooted phone, as the entire device is opened up and again, it could be a security risk, so some apps may not work.
Opening post
Note that this is the international version (they call it Overseas Edition) however it has 2GB RAM.
Top comments
All comments (58)
Really interested in getting a import mobile when I feel the need for a new mobile too.
I took put CM13 on the other week now its official however have gone back to miui.for two reasons.1. I muhc prefer the notification panel. 2(the main reason) native one handed mode. Found it hard to cope without it. Its such a handy and well though out feature.
I guess if they have stock you'll have no issue
http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_308843.html
Be serious
If you want it this side of Christmas then I'd advise shopping elsewhere.
Can anyone recommend which to go for?
1. The deal posted here.
2. The 3gb ram version: http://www.eglobalcentral.co.uk/xiaomi-redmi-note-3-pro-dual-sim-32gb-4g-lte-sim-free-unlocked-silver.html?gclid=CPOCh6KkjNACFQML0wodZNsCdg
3. The Umi Super ( I really like the UMI especially the notification LED and the stock android experience)
Any suggestions, please share.
I have purchased Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro. There are some problems with the SIMs I thought is due to the SIMs. But even when I have changed them the problems still persist - no recognition of the SIM, bad line, when somebody calls me, he/she doesn't hear me sometimes.
I ordered it from the UK Gearbest store.
And now they offer me to send the phone in CHINA?!?! for the warranty ..... So in fact no warranty.... 1 month for the delivery to China, 1 month back, and 2-4 weeks for repair.... So about 3 months without phone. The returning shipping costs are on my own and if there are any problem at the customs and they want to pay a VAT too.
Think before order from Gearbest - in fact you have no warranty :disappointed:
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi 3s
Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
Link
I prefer the 5" factor aswell hopefully the redmi 4 will come in a international version
I'd say just bite the bullet and go via Gearbest. I think they may only have the gold colour at the mo though. Make sure you get the International version too.
Is the camera that much better than the one on the Redmi Note 2?
I got that and the camera really was a dire as people suggested.
I love the phone but because I use the camera so much I've switched to my fruit device. A shame as the RN2 is otherwise a class act.
She will never get round to using most of the pre-installed apps - she's really a browser and a texter and that's why I didn't go for an imported Galaxy Note 4 - it would have been a waste of a phone for what she uses it for.
On the other side, I would like to root a phone and install a custom ROM just because I like to get to know these things and understand them more. It's the same when I started with Amazon Fire Sticks. I was forever pausing and rewinding a YouTube tutorial and now I don't even need to look on YouTube to install Kodi and Pulse. (for friends and not for sale on ebay by the way!)