Xiaomi Mi 3 Review: Specs, Features, and Market Impact

Xiaomi Mi 3

English Full Name: Xiaomi Mi 3

Product Category: Flagship Smartphone

Brand: Xiaomi Corporation

Release Date: September 5, 2013 (Beijing, China); subsequent rollouts in select global markets

Model Codes: 2013061 (China Unicom), 2013062 (China Telecom), 2013063 (China Mobile)

Key Technical Specifications & Features (English)

Display
- Type: 5.0-inch IPS LCD capacitive multi-touch screen
- Resolution: 1920 × 1080 pixels (Full HD), 441 ppi
- Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 2
- Color Gamut: 16 million colors; 178° wide viewing angle
Processor & Chipset (Dual Variants)
- Global/China Unicom/ Telecom Variant: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8274AB)
  - CPU: Quad-core 2.3GHz Krait 400
  - GPU: Adreno 330
  - Process: 28nm HPM
- China Mobile Variant: NVIDIA Tegra 4
  - CPU: Quad-core 1.8GHz Cortex-A15 + 1x low-power Cortex-A15
  - GPU: 72-core GeForce ULP
  - Process: 28nm
- Note: The two variants have different chip architectures and network support, with no cross-compatibility for firmware.
Memory & Storage
- RAM: 2GB LPDDR3 (non-expandable)
- Internal Storage: 16GB/64GB eMMC 4.5 (non-expandable; no microSD slot)
Camera System
- Rear Camera: 13-megapixel sensor, f/2.2 aperture, 5-element lens, autofocus, LED flash
  - Video Recording: 1080p@30fps, 720p@60fps; no 4K support
- Front Camera: 2-megapixel sensor, f/2.4 aperture, fixed focus
  - Video Call Support: 720p@30fps
Battery & Charging
- Capacity: 3050mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery
- Charging: 5V/2A wired charging (10W); no fast charging technology
- Standby Time: Up to 500 hours (theoretical); Talk Time: Up to 18 hours (3G)
Design & Build
- Material: Polycarbonate unibody shell (sandblasted finish, matte texture)
- Dimensions: 144 × 73.6 × 8.1mm; Weight: 145g
- Color Options: Black, White, Silver, Blue, Pink (limited editions)
- Buttons & Ports: 3.5mm headphone jack, Micro-USB 2.0 port, volume rockers, power button (on right edge)
Software & Connectivity
- Operating System: Initially shipped with MIUI V5 (based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean); upgradable to MIUI 8 (based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow)
- Network Support:
  - Snapdragon Variant: GSM/WCDMA/CDMA2000 (supports China Unicom 3G, China Telecom 3G)
  - Tegra 4 Variant: GSM/TD-SCDMA (supports China Mobile 3G)
- Other Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/GLONASS, FM radio
- Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, compass

Market Significance

The Xiaomi Mi 3 was Xiaomi’s third-generation flagship, marking the brand’s first attempt to use high-end chipsets (Snapdragon 800/Tegra 4) to compete with international flagships. It maintained Xiaomi’s signature high-performance, low-price strategy, which quickly gained popularity in the Chinese market and solidified Xiaomi’s position as a disruptive force in the smartphone industry. The dual-chip design was a response to China’s fragmented 3G network standards at the time, reflecting Xiaomi’s market adaptation capabilities.