Xiaomi Mi3 prototype leaked, 3GB RAM and 5.5-inch 1080 display!


We have seen plenty of leaked photos of the Mi3, but this purported Xiaomi Mi3 prototype nicely brings everything together!

This image of a leaked Xiaomi Mi3 prototype has been doing the rounds this morning, and although I am excited to see the full phone for the first time I’m not all that surprised by the angular design as we have already seen it here.

Gizchina News of the week


What has shocked us though are the supposed specifications for the Xiaomi Mi3 which have changed quite a bit from what we have heard before. Sources who took this spy photo claim that the screen on the Mi3 isn’t a 5-inch unit but a much larger 5.5-inch 1080 panel! That’s a huge upgrade from the current Mi2S which measure just 4.3-inch.

The next shocking updated is the amount of RAM the Mi3 is claimed to be using. 3GB is the new figure! The rest of the hardware details remain unchanged from previous reports including the 13 mega-pixel rear camera, 5 mega-pixel front, 3600mAh battery, built-in NFC and new HIFI quality stereo.

August 16th is the date we expect the Xiaomi Mi3 to launch, and you can be sure that as soon as the phone is on sale I’ll be picking one right up!

[ Source ]
Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

Previous iOcean X7 Plus 16GB brings the Youth phone to almost Premium spec
Next Is this the first real picture of the Xiaomi tablet?

124 Comments

  1. July 9, 2013

    K900 it is.

    Also pass, 5″ is the limit for me. Guess I’ll see Jiayu S1 instead, hopefully it’s not going to be a long wait (ha yeah right).

  2. July 9, 2013

    LUMIA !

  3. July 9, 2013

    3gb? Cool. I hope it’s LPDDR3, but anyway, I haven’t been able to see much difference in performance between it and 2 yet, although it’s clearly present in Antutu (compare i9500 and M7, most difference comes from RAM).

    I guess it won’t cost anything below 450$ with shipping when it comes out. If it does, ‘big-name’ brands will suffocate and die.

  4. July 9, 2013

    5.5”??? I was hoping for a 5″ max.

    • liljohn
      July 10, 2013

      cheer up bro, it look expensive, just like samsoong note series! its not really that big, u can still hold it using one hand…

      • July 10, 2013

        Do you know him personally? How do you judge people you only know from a line of words?

        • liljohn
          July 10, 2013

          why so serious???

          • July 10, 2013

            i kne w rite maet

          • July 10, 2013

            why so curious???

    • cpuzz
      July 11, 2013

      No way. I have an LG optimus G pro. And the screen is big and fantastic. The skinnier screen makes it much more weidly than a fat note 2

  5. Alex
    July 10, 2013

    Why must the corners be so 90°? I would rather see the zero bezel screen size and more rounded corners. This phone seems like it could cut through cloth liners in jean pockets after a while lol. Also seems like a finger print magnet… Other then that the specs seem fine, though the price will probably suck… Ohh and a front flash would be interesting and pull away from the herd…

    • July 10, 2013

      because curvy phones look like an ugly toy and like every other phone from Apple and Samsung. It’s good to see something different like HTC One, Xperia Z and this Xiaomi. Just my Opinion.

      • July 10, 2013

        I’ll take usability over “being different”

        Oh and I take that when everybody start using sharp corner you’ll look for curvy phone then?

        • July 10, 2013

          Nope, i’ll look for a flexible phone then

  6. liljohn
    July 10, 2013

    OMG!!! drooling drooling drooling!!!

    honestly i also prefer the edges to be a bit curvy, but the desing in the pic is not that bad, it is like xperia z….

    is the battery removable? microsd slot?

    is the $320 price tag real???

    • July 10, 2013

      Yes 320 dollars like their older phone , but it this should a also be taken with a bit of salt 🙂

      • liljohn
        July 10, 2013

        yes, but if ur not in china, you wont feel the magic! i have a felling resellers price will reach $550????

  7. July 10, 2013

    Haha, nice watermark Andi ! ^^

  8. liljohn
    July 10, 2013

    fake?

    • July 10, 2013

      i Hope so , i like 5 in better .

  9. Pete
    July 10, 2013

    5,5 inch, I am out. I was sceptical with 5 inch, but said “yeah it is a Xiaomi, they do always good stuff”. BUT now with 5.5 inch I have to look for other phones.

    PLEASE don’t make this mistake, who needs such big phones. Bloody Samsung started this shit with the Notes

    • July 10, 2013

      I agree. At 6.5″ might as well call it a tablet that could use phone network, at 5.5″ it’s simply not great at either.

      • July 10, 2013

        I agree man !

  10. July 10, 2013

    I’m giving a high credit to this company. Why? Because of its secret marketing skills. As a management student, any company who can not protect its information is easily and always beaten down by competitor… And in this line, credit to xiaomi.

    Guess no one here has been able to predict them, even Andi himself who tells us of his reliable source, yet xiaomi is still playing us around. Well that is very good for them.

    About the image, it cool, but how on earth will xiaomi, from all our experience with this previous device design, make a flagship with 90° edge point. Even the xperia z has a little curve by the edge.

    3gb of RAM sound cool… But let just wait and see. 16th August may take another turn… 🙂

    • Robin Hood
      July 10, 2013

      I’ll manage you *evil laugh*

  11. de heer kaseem
    July 10, 2013

    if it atlest 5inch this is it i buy on the 1ste day i like big screen smarphone itz shame only galaxy note is havin succes i was hopin xiaomi ever think about qhone like 5inch 5.5inch or even 6inch alot of people like huge 1080p screen

  12. guau
    July 10, 2013

    saving 450$ for a 64gb version xD

  13. leon
    July 10, 2013

    im okay with an angular design but they could have at least slightly rounded the corners as seen on the xperia z.edges are too pointy

  14. Jeremy
    July 10, 2013

    Slight curves, like on the Xperia Z are perfect. Overly curvy corners are ugly. Just look at the Galaxy S3/S4 – an embarrassment in public when using it next to the Xperia Z or the HTC One.

    Function over form? Please, that depends on the individual. You may well not care about how the phone looks because you are more concerned about how it performs, but many people place a lot of importance on design and form factors – external appeal, so to speak. It’s a very individual thing, and I feel companies should place serious effort into designing really good looking phones – Samsung doesn’t cut it, too bland and curvy for my taste.

    OTOH, almost everyone drools at the sight of the HTC One – I think this phone has set the standard when it comes to finish and form factor – It’s a head turner.

    You couldn’t care, that’s understandable – you have no taste beyond admiring a plastic shell that just works – Others? They’d not buy such tasteless designs even if it had a 80 core processor. I’m one of them, excessively nit-picky about design, and I know there are many like me.

    I hope the next Samsung phone (S4 successor) comes with a aluminium/metal finish and at least somewhat appealing looks – the current S4 and S3 are bashed by almost every blogger/user with even half a taste.

    (And ripped jeans and clothes? Are you serious? What’s your attire made of? Ripped and leaking condom sheets? Ridiculousness at its best).

  15. Simon
    July 10, 2013

    If it’s 5.5″ that is a huge disappointment.

  16. July 10, 2013

    remember people this is only a prototype things might change between now and august

    • July 10, 2013

      +1

  17. Jason
    July 10, 2013

    5.5 inch is maybe too big for me, 5 inch would be perfect for me.

    I am also hoping they are using the Sanpdragon 800 processor and not the Tegra 4 processor. Maybe the costs of the Tegra 4 processor is cheaper than Snapdragon 800 and that’s why they are using this processor.

    I also wish they have put a larger camera sensor size in the phone. The upcoming Sony flagship model Honami i1 seems to have a 20MP 2/3″ BSI Exmor R sensor. This sensor size can also be found in high-end compact camera’s.

  18. hoang vung
    July 10, 2013

    @ Andy: I’m using xiaomi mi2. Could you give me an advice that should I replace the current 2000mAh with 3000mAh baterry?

    • July 10, 2013

      I am thinking to for my trip abroad less hassle than having to charge it.

  19. liljohn
    July 10, 2013

    maybe its just a survey by xiaomi, they purposely leaked the pic, to collect fans opinion…..5″ is gut, 5,5″ is still acceptable, for me it looks exclusive like a sgnote

  20. Simon
    July 10, 2013

    Hopefully the size will be limited to 5″ and not less than 4.7″. I want a phone not a phablet !!

  21. Judah
    July 10, 2013

    Andi,
    any idea where they possible will sell these?
    Maybe I can buy it via Taobao or something?

    It must be really really hard to get.

    I also can’t find the No.1 S6 plus anywhere..
    Only @ fastcardtech, but it is still out of stock.

    • July 10, 2013

      Wait until it launches

      • Judah
        July 10, 2013

        I live in the Netherlands, it will be really hard to get, but any idea where to buy the No.1 S6 (it has 2gb ram and 32gb rom right)?

  22. liljohn
    July 10, 2013

    how about 5,3″???

  23. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    K900 it is.

    Also pass, 5″ is the limit for me. Guess I’ll see Jiayu S1 instead, hopefully it’s not going to be a long wait (ha yeah right).

  24. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    LUMIA !

  25. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    3gb? Cool. I hope it’s LPDDR3, but anyway, I haven’t been able to see much difference in performance between it and 2 yet, although it’s clearly present in Antutu (compare i9500 and M7, most difference comes from RAM).

    I guess it won’t cost anything below 450$ with shipping when it comes out. If it does, ‘big-name’ brands will suffocate and die.

  26. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    5.5”??? I was hoping for a 5″ max.

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      cheer up bro, it look expensive, just like samsoong note series! its not really that big, u can still hold it using one hand…

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      Do you know him personally? How do you judge people you only know from a line of words?

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      why so serious???

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      i kne w rite maet

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      why so curious???

    • Guest
      July 11, 2013

      No way. I have an LG optimus G pro. And the screen is big and fantastic. The skinnier screen makes it much more weidly than a fat note 2

  27. Simon
    July 10, 2013

    If it is greater than 5″ may have to go for the Nubia Z5 Mini or even Jiayu S1 !

  28. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    Why must the corners be so 90°? I would rather see the zero bezel screen size and more rounded corners. This phone seems like it could cut through cloth liners in jean pockets after a while lol. Also seems like a finger print magnet… Other then that the specs seem fine, though the price will probably suck… Ohh and a front flash would be interesting and pull away from the herd…

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      because curvy phones look like an ugly toy and like every other phone from Apple and Samsung. It’s good to see something different like HTC One, Xperia Z and this Xiaomi. Just my Opinion.

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      I’ll take usability over “being different”

      Oh and I take that when everybody start using sharp corner you’ll look for curvy phone then?

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      Nope, i’ll look for a flexible phone then

  29. Simon
    July 10, 2013

    Thats a relief (then I can justify having both a Xiaomi smartphone & tablet).

  30. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    OMG!!! drooling drooling drooling!!!

    honestly i also prefer the edges to be a bit curvy, but the desing in the pic is not that bad, it is like xperia z….

    is the battery removable? microsd slot?

    is the $320 price tag real???

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      Yes 320 dollars like their older phone , but it this should a also be taken with a bit of salt 🙂

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      yes, but if ur not in china, you wont feel the magic! i have a felling resellers price will reach $550????

  31. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    Haha, nice watermark Andi ! ^^

  32. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    fake?

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      i Hope so , i like 5 in better .

  33. Liljohn
    July 10, 2013

    Indeed! Why bother using a full hd resolution on a small screen??? Its pointless, imo, for phone under 5” 720p is enough

    • Liljohn
      July 10, 2013

      @de heer kaseem

  34. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    5,5 inch, I am out. I was sceptical with 5 inch, but said “yeah it is a Xiaomi, they do always good stuff”. BUT now with 5.5 inch I have to look for other phones.

    PLEASE don’t make this mistake, who needs such big phones. Bloody Samsung started this shit with the Notes

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      I agree. At 6.5″ might as well call it a tablet that could use phone network, at 5.5″ it’s simply not great at either.

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      I agree man !

  35. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    I’m giving a high credit to this company. Why? Because of its secret marketing skills. As a management student, any company who can not protect its information is easily and always beaten down by competitor… And in this line, credit to xiaomi.

    Guess no one here has been able to predict them, even Andi himself who tells us of his reliable source, yet xiaomi is still playing us around. Well that is very good for them.

    About the image, it cool, but how on earth will xiaomi, from all our experience with this previous device design, make a flagship with 90° edge point. Even the xperia z has a little curve by the edge.

    3gb of RAM sound cool… But let just wait and see. 16th August may take another turn… 🙂

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      I’ll manage you *evil laugh*

  36. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    if it atlest 5inch this is it i buy on the 1ste day i like big screen smarphone itz shame only galaxy note is havin succes i was hopin xiaomi ever think about qhone like 5inch 5.5inch or even 6inch alot of people like huge 1080p screen

  37. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    saving 450$ for a 64gb version xD

  38. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    im okay with an angular design but they could have at least slightly rounded the corners as seen on the xperia z.edges are too pointy

  39. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    Slight curves, like on the Xperia Z are perfect. Overly curvy corners are ugly. Just look at the Galaxy S3/S4 – an embarrassment in public when using it next to the Xperia Z or the HTC One.

    Function over form? Please, that depends on the individual. You may well not care about how the phone looks because you are more concerned about how it performs, but many people place a lot of importance on design and form factors – external appeal, so to speak. It’s a very individual thing, and I feel companies should place serious effort into designing really good looking phones – Samsung doesn’t cut it, too bland and curvy for my taste.

    OTOH, almost everyone drools at the sight of the HTC One – I think this phone has set the standard when it comes to finish and form factor – It’s a head turner.

    You couldn’t care, that’s understandable – you have no taste beyond admiring a plastic shell that just works – Others? They’d not buy such tasteless designs even if it had a 80 core processor. I’m one of them, excessively nit-picky about design, and I know there are many like me.

    I hope the next Samsung phone (S4 successor) comes with a aluminium/metal finish and at least somewhat appealing looks – the current S4 and S3 are bashed by almost every blogger/user with even half a taste.

    (And ripped jeans and clothes? Are you serious? What’s your attire made of? Ripped and leaking condom sheets? Ridiculousness at its best).

  40. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    If it’s 5.5″ that is a huge disappointment.

  41. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    remember people this is only a prototype things might change between now and august

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      +1

  42. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    5.5 inch is maybe too big for me, 5 inch would be perfect for me.

    I am also hoping they are using the Sanpdragon 800 processor and not the Tegra 4 processor. Maybe the costs of the Tegra 4 processor is cheaper than Snapdragon 800 and that’s why they are using this processor.

    I also wish they have put a larger camera sensor size in the phone. The upcoming Sony flagship model Honami i1 seems to have a 20MP 2/3″ BSI Exmor R sensor. This sensor size can also be found in high-end compact camera’s.

  43. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    @ Andy: I’m using xiaomi mi2. Could you give me an advice that should I replace the current 2000mAh with 3000mAh baterry?

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      I am thinking to for my trip abroad less hassle than having to charge it.

  44. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    maybe its just a survey by xiaomi, they purposely leaked the pic, to collect fans opinion…..5″ is gut, 5,5″ is still acceptable, for me it looks exclusive like a sgnote

  45. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    Hopefully the size will be limited to 5″ and not less than 4.7″. I want a phone not a phablet !!

  46. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    Andi,
    any idea where they possible will sell these?
    Maybe I can buy it via Taobao or something?

    It must be really really hard to get.

    I also can’t find the No.1 S6 plus anywhere..
    Only @ fastcardtech, but it is still out of stock.

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      Wait until it launches

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      I live in the Netherlands, it will be really hard to get, but any idea where to buy the No.1 S6 (it has 2gb ram and 32gb rom right)?

  47. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    how about 5,3″???

  48. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    If it is greater than 5″ may have to go for the Nubia Z5 Mini or even Jiayu S1 !

  49. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    Thats a relief (then I can justify having both a Xiaomi smartphone & tablet).

  50. shoe
    July 10, 2013

    I think the phone here and the one from: (https://www.gizchina.com/2013/07/10/xiaomi-mi3-appears-again-this-time-from-the-rear-and-it-isnt-5-5-inch/) are different phones. This one has sharp corners and the white one has smoothed corners.

    Possibility of 2 different models?..

    • July 10, 2013

      I think Xiaomi are just being clever and keeping everyone off the scent. Last year was the same, no one knew what the Mi2 would look like until the day it launched as there were so many false ‘leaked’ and ‘spy’ photos.

      • July 11, 2013

        Were there any that actually got it right?

  51. Guest
    July 10, 2013

    Indeed! Why bother using a full hd resolution on a small screen??? Its pointless, imo, for phone under 5” 720p is enough

    • Guest
      July 10, 2013

      @de heer kaseem

  52. July 10, 2013

    If the Xiaomi is a 5″ then im definitely gonna go for it. Too bad i dont live in China:(

  53. Guest
    July 11, 2013

    I think the phone here and the one from: (http://www.gizchina.com/2013/07/10/xiaomi-mi3-appears-again-this-time-from-the-rear-and-it-isnt-5-5-inch/) are different phones. This one has sharp corners and the white one has smoothed corners.

    Possibility of 2 different models?..

    • Guest
      July 11, 2013

      I think Xiaomi are just being clever and keeping everyone off the scent. Last year was the same, no one knew what the Mi2 would look like until the day it launched as there were so many false ‘leaked’ and ‘spy’ photos.

    • Guest
      July 11, 2013

      Were there any that actually got it right?

  54. Guest
    July 11, 2013

    If the Xiaomi is a 5″ then im definitely gonna go for it. Too bad i dont live in China:(

  55. Waris
    July 11, 2013

    looks like a step backwards from xiaomi to me.

    Rectangular design is not good for balance of the phone in the hand, its edges will not make the phone feel good in the hand. The rectangular design will also deny users hand positions and this is especially important when the screen is 5+ inches large. This xiaomi mi3 will not have good handling and IMO should follow samsung gs4 design.

    MiUI has as positive in terms of being very good for 1 handed use. A 5″ large screen is not really compatible with the xiaomi philosophy.

    Lastly, this phone is rumoured to run a tegra 4 processor, when a much better processor called the snapdragon 800 is out there. Yes the tegra 4 has very good gpu power, but at the cost of battery life. Gpu power is not important even if you are playing android games which are not demanding.

    Also 1080p screen is very good but also i have doubts that the MiUI themes will support 1080p resolution. If the themes are made with a size of 720p for older Mi devices then having a 1080p screens won’t be any useful apart from for looking at blank colours.

  56. Guest
    July 11, 2013

    looks like a step backwards from xiaomi to me.

    Rectangular design is not good for balance of the phone in the hand, its edges will not make the phone feel good in the hand. The rectangular design will also deny users hand positions and this is especially important when the screen is 5+ inches large. This xiaomi mi3 will not have good handling and IMO should follow samsung gs4 design.

    MiUI has as positive in terms of being very good for 1 handed use. A 5″ large screen is not really compatible with the xiaomi philosophy.

    Lastly, this phone is rumoured to run a tegra 4 processor, when a much better processor called the snapdragon 800 is out there. Yes the tegra 4 has very good gpu power, but at the cost of battery life. Gpu power is not important even if you are playing android games which are not demanding.

    Also 1080p screen is very good but also i have doubts that the MiUI themes will support 1080p resolution. If the themes are made with a size of 720p for older Mi devices then having a 1080p screens won’t be any useful apart from for looking at blank colours.

  57. Jose Amarildo
    July 11, 2013

    I believe that Xiaomi is doing bullshit. 5.5 inches is too big. 5 polegas is the limit for me.

  58. Guest
    July 12, 2013

    I believe that Xiaomi is doing bullshit. 5.5 inches is too big. 5 polegas is the limit for me.

  59. July 12, 2013

    anyway , next week xiaomi 3 will be published, we’ll see what happens.

    • July 12, 2013

      Next month you mean

      • liljohn
        July 12, 2013

        any news on microsd slot for mi3?

        • July 12, 2013

          not likely

  60. Guest
    July 12, 2013

    anyway , next week xiaomi 3 will be published, we’ll see what happens.

    • Guest
      July 12, 2013

      Next month you mean

    • Guest
      July 12, 2013

      any news on microsd slot for mi3?

    • Guest
      July 12, 2013

      not likely

  61. July 12, 2013

    love it if it has pen caliberation like sony ultra has

  62. Guest
    July 13, 2013

    love it if it has pen caliberation like sony ultra has

  63. liljohn
    July 15, 2013

    fir those who think 5″ is big, please get a paper and draw 5″box, is it big enough? NO, it is SMALL! then draw 5,5″ box, is it too big? NO again! its not really that big at all!

  64. Guest
    July 15, 2013

    fir those who think 5″ is big, please get a paper and draw 5″box, is it big enough? NO, it is SMALL! then draw 5,5″ box, is it too big? NO again! its not really that big at all!

  65. Curt
    July 19, 2013

    I was wondering if August 16th is the official release date for the MI Xiaomi Mi3? I cannot wait to pick this phone up. Used the MIUI rom off and on for my Samsung Galaxy S3 and would imagine it being way smoother and better on there actual phone. Let me know I am debating between the Xiaomi Mi3 and the Meizu MX3.

    • July 19, 2013

      It’s the rumoured release date based on the previous two launches. I will certainly be buying one too along with the tablet if they launch it.

  66. Guest
    July 20, 2013

    I was wondering if August 16th is the official release date for the MI Xiaomi Mi3? I cannot wait to pick this phone up. Used the MIUI rom off and on for my Samsung Galaxy S3 and would imagine it being way smoother and better on there actual phone. Let me know I am debating between the Xiaomi Mi3 and the Meizu MX3.

    • Guest
      July 20, 2013

      It’s the rumoured release date based on the previous two launches. I will certainly be buying one too along with the tablet if they launch it.