Who is the best between Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, Moto G4 Plus and Lenovo Zuk Z1?
Among the hundreds of handsets launched in this segment in the last few months, three smartphones have managed to leave their own mark. We are talking about Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Review), Moto G4 Plus (Review) and Lenovo ZUK Z1 (Review).
There is no harm in buying any of these three handsets. But which one is the best? Let’s try to find out.
(Specifications: Moto G4 Plus vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 vs Lenovo ZUK Z1)
design
Design is a matter of personal preference. But after using all three smartphones, we found Moto G4 Plus to be the best. It is the thinnest and lightest among the three handsets. It is also easy to grip due to the rubber backcover. Motorola has not compromised on build quality either. Metal frame is present to provide strength. The other two are also good looking and their build is also metallic. But they lag behind compared to Moto handsets.
Winner – Moto G4 Plus
display
The quality of the display is most important because it is only through it that you are able to communicate with your phone. All three phones have 5.5-inch full-HD displays with scratch protection. They are successful in providing sharp visual output. However, Xiaomi’s Sunlight Display hardware feature makes it better than the other two. The brightness level of Z1 is excellent. The Moto G4 Plus manages to grab the second position despite having a TFT display.
Winner- Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
software
All three smartphones are excellent in the software department. You will get a different variety in Android with Xiaomi and Lenovo Zuke handsets. If you want a pure Nexus like experience then Moto G4 Plus is for you. It comes with the latest Android and also has some important apps. In this the user has to decide which app they want to download.
On the other hand, if you are a user who likes to customize everything then you should go for the ZUK Z1 which runs on Cyanogen OS. Xiaomi MIUI 7 has a lot of customization options, but it is not as extensive as Cyanogen’s. However, it has a unique feature that other phones do not have. You will be able to lock any app with the fingerprint sensor so that no one else can use your app.
Winner – depends on your choice
performance
In terms of statistics, Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is at the forefront. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 hexa-core chipset is much better than the Z1’s Snapdragon 801 and the Moto G4 Plus’s mid-range Snapdragon 617. All three handsets have 3 GB RAM (in Redmi Note 3 and G4 Plus you will also get the option of 2 GB RAM). The lack of microSD card slot in Z1 has been addressed by providing 64 GB storage. Redmi Note 3 has a hybrid SIM slot and it is possible to use a 32 GB SD card. It is possible to use cards up to 128 GB in the SD card slot provided in Moto G.
All three phones handle apps and games with ease. However, we found that the Moto phone heats up faster than the other two. Considering the interface, apps, fingerprint sensor and connectivity features, Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is the winner of this segment. In second place is ZUK Z1.
Winner – Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
battery life
All three smartphones have a big battery which will last for a day in normal use. However, the ZUK Z1’s battery lasted an hour longer than the other two phones in our video loop test. One thing to note is that the Z1 does not have a fast charging feature but it comes with a larger capacity charger for faster charging. But you will not be able to charge its battery faster than the Redmi Note 3 or Moto G4 Plus.
Winner- Lenovo ZUK Z1
camera
Camera has become the most important part of any smartphone today. Once again the ZUK Z1 is better than the other two in this department as well. You will be able to focus faster in this phone. During the review, we were able to take good pictures of landscapes and macros with it. This is the first smartphone equipped with optical image stabilization feature in this price range. Its performance in low light is also excellent. The Moto G4 Plus and Redmi Note 3 lag behind in this department. Its camera app is also better than the other two phones.
Winner – Lenovo ZUK Z1
our decision
As we said earlier, all these three phones are excellent in their own way. In such a situation, you should choose the phone that meets your needs. If we look at the score, there seems to be a tie between ZUK Z1 and Redmi Note 3. If you are looking for a great camera and great battery life, the Lenovo ZUK Z1 is the best. It gives good performance in other departments also. The Redmi Note 3 handset surpasses the other two in terms of display quality and performance. Keep in mind that this phone is also cheaper than the other two.
However, don’t ignore the Moto G4 Plus, as you will most likely end up buying a Moto handset as well. Because Redmi Note 3 and ZUK Z1 are available through flash sale model. If luck is with you then it is good, otherwise you have the option of Moto G4 Plus.