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Business News/ News / Business Of Life/  Tech Review | Xiaomi Mi3 vs HTC Desire 616
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Tech Review | Xiaomi Mi3 vs HTC Desire 616

These Android phones are now offering better performance and improved features

Xiaomi Mi3Premium
Xiaomi Mi3

NEW DELHI :

Affordable, yet smart

Until the Moto G was launched earlier this year, affordable Android phones were all about compromises—sluggish performance, basic screens and battery life that was shoddy at best. But newer Android phones seem to be changing all that. We examine two:

Xiaomi Mi3

13,999

The build quality indicates that an attempt has been made to make the affordable Mi3 feel premium. The metallic finish on the back panel contrasts well with the dark finish up front. The right- and left-side spines are slightly curved, which improves grip. The display’s glass design drops over on the sides, in a sort of cascade effect, and feels nice while using the swipe gestures on screen. The machined speaker grille
reminds of the precision HTC showed with the much more expensive One M7 and M8 ( 35,000-45,000).

The Mi3 has fairly high-end specifications, something largely unseen in other phones in this price range. The Snapdragon 800 processor is what the previous generation of high-end flagship phones used, and there’s no doubt that the performance is good. The interface, unlike some other Android phones, doesn’t affect performance in a negative way. The 5-inch full high-definition in-plane switching display ticks almost all the boxes—good for games and movies, and equally comfortable for reading and Web browsing. However, the fingerprint-attracting glass layer above the screen is rather reflective, which can be an issue outdoors.

The MIUI interface removes the separate app drawer, putting all the icons on various home screens. Seemingly inspired by Apple’s iOS interface, but something that will appeal to anyone switching to Android for the first time. There are a whole bunch of themes that users can download, to customize the interface. On the lock screen, double-tapping on the “slide to unlock" circle immediately takes the screen into music-player mode. Long-press the home touch key below the screen, and the flashlight switches on.

The 13-megapixel camera does a fairly good job in daytime as well as low-light conditions. The shots have adequate detailing and the colours look good too. One feature it misses out on is the Optical Image Stabilization, which automatically negates any hand shaking or slight camera movement while taking a shot, resulting in clearer images.

The 3,050 mAh pack lasts a day and a half when used as a primary phone. The phone packs a fairly recent Android version 4.4.2.

HTC Desire 616

16,990

View Full Image
HTC Desire 616

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Published: 29 Jul 2014, 06:49 PM IST
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