In India, Coolpad tasted first sweet success with its Note 3, which surprised everyone with a fingerprint sensor that actually worked – Even for a budget price. Few months later, Coolpad tried to replicate this success story at a lower price point with the Coolpad Note 3 Lite (Review). So when we first heard that a ‘Plus’ variant is on its way, it felt only rational that Coolpad will be trying its luck too far by once again duplicating the same formula, albeit in a higher price range.
However, that wasn’t the case. The new Coolpad Note 3 Plus is an incremental update that will help Coolpad keep milking its Note 3 cash cow for more time to come. But..
Key Specifications and Features:
| Model | Coolpad Note 3 Plus |
| Display | 5. 5-Inch, IPS Display, 1080p Full HD resolution |
| Processor | 1.3GHz MediaTek SoC |
| RAM | 3GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal Storage | 16GB, expandable up to 64GB |
| Software | CoolUI 6 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop |
| Primary Camera | 13MP, PDAF, tone LED flash, 1080p Videos |
| Secondary Camera | 5MP primary |
| Battery | 3000 mAh |
| Others | 4G Dual SIM LTE, Fingerprint sensor |
| Price | Rs. 8,999 |
Is Coolpad flogging a dead horse?
Even months after its launch, Coolpad Note 3 remains to be the only phone in its budget to offer a functional fingerprint sensor. Compared to what others are offering, the hardware specs are pretty decent as well. The point being, the original pillars of Coolpad Note 3 philosophy are still intact. But the original Coolpad Note 3 was launched almost 7 months earlier, which is like ages in Smartphone years.
It is hard to be convinced that the same design won’t feel stale, especially with the like of Le 1s Eco and Redmi Note 3 lurking not much ahead on the price scale. Besides, the popularity ratings of MT6753 octa-core chip at the heart of Coolpad Note 3 has hit rock bottom, and manufacturers are already migrating towards Helio series silicon.
Coolpad Note 3 Plus, however, has more to show than just enhanced display sharpness.
Tips: 10 Things You Must Consider Before Buying Android Mobile Online
What’s new in Coolpad Note 3 Plus?
We had some hands-on experience with the Coolpad Note 3 Plus at today’s launch event. Our initial examination tells us that besides the sharpness, overall quality of the display has also been improved. Also, the camera quality seems like a definite improvement over last-generation model. If company officials are to be believed, Coolpad has also incorporated a few changes under the hood to improve on the battery life.
Comparison: Coolpad Note 3 Plus VS Coolpad Note 3 VS Coolpad Note 3 Lite
So yes, seems like Coolpad has worked on improving the overall Note 3 “Experience” rather than just putting weight on ‘better specifications’.
Also Read: Specification wars have ultimately rendered spec-sheets meaningless
Wrap-up
Whether or not the changes made to Coolpad Note 3 have a lasting impact, we will know only after our full review. For now, Coolpad Note 3 Plus feels like a good option for online buyers restricted by a 9,000 INR budget, but might not be able to entice those open to spend a little more.
