Xiaomi Mi Note 3 vs Google Pixel 6a: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Google Pixel 6a decisively wins this comparison. While the Mi Note 3 had its strengths, the Pixel 6a's superior chipset, camera, and software experience, coupled with excellent battery life, make it the better overall choice despite similar charging speeds.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Mi Note 3 | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2017, September. Released 2017, September | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 152.6 x 74 x 7.6 mm (6.01 x 2.91 x 0.30 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~73.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 512 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 7.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9, MIUI 12 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), PDAF, 4-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.6, 52mm (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), AF | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 720p@120fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Music play | Up to 54 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | MCE8 | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | About 280 EUR | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR | 0.50 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.39 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -95.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 83h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.679 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 64dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 73dB | - |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 813Basemark X: 4802 | - |
Xiaomi Mi Note 3
- Large Display
- Long Battery Life
- Competitive Price (when new)
- Decent Performance for the Price
- Outdated Chipset
- Slow Charging
- Camera Not as Good as Competitors
- Limited Software Updates
Google Pixel 6a
- Excellent Camera
- Clean Android Experience
- Guaranteed Software Updates
- Smooth Performance
- Bright Display
- Slow Charging
- Design Can Be Divisive
- No Expandable Storage
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a boasts a significantly brighter display (876 nits) compared to the Mi Note 3, offering better visibility in sunlight. While both have 'infinite' contrast ratios (a nominal value), the Pixel 6a's higher brightness provides a more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience. The Mi Note 3's display is adequate but lacks the punch of the Pixel 6a.
Camera Comparison
Google's computational photography is legendary, and the Pixel 6a delivers exceptional image quality. The Mi Note 3's camera is decent, but it can't compete with the Pixel 6a's dynamic range, detail, and low-light performance. The Pixel 6a consistently produces better photos in various conditions.
Performance
The Google Pixel 6a's Google Tensor chip is a clear winner here. The Snapdragon 660 in the Mi Note 3 is a capable mid-range processor, but the Tensor's Cortex-X1 core and overall architecture provide a noticeable performance boost, especially in demanding tasks and gaming. The Pixel 6a feels significantly snappier and more responsive.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings of 94h. While the Mi Note 3 initially had a slightly higher rating, the Pixel 6a's efficiency with the Tensor chip keeps it competitive. Both support 18W charging, which is relatively slow compared to modern standards.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 is a good option for users seeking a large display and long battery life on a tight budget, especially if they can find it at a significantly discounted price. The Google Pixel 6a is ideal for those prioritizing a fantastic camera, clean Android experience, guaranteed software updates, and smooth performance.