Xiaomi has recently announced a new smartphone, the Redmi Note 3. This is the company's first ever all-metal phone and also its first smartphone to support a fingerprint scanner. For those who are unaware, the Redmi Note 3 should have been called the Redmi Note 2 Pro, but Xiaomi changed the name because it didn't want to confuse consumers.

It should also be pointed out that the release of the Redmi Note 3 came just three months following the Redmi Note 2, a very odd timing. So the question right now is how do both devices stack up against each other in terms of specifications and design?

The two devices have a lot in common, to be honest. This shouldn't come as a surprise because the Redmi Note 3 should have been called the Redmi Note 2 Pro, so obviously the similarities would be more than just minor.

From what we have seen, both handsets sport a MediaTek's Helio X10 64-bit Octa-core processor and a 5.5-inch display. They also come with same cameras, a 13-megapixel shooter at the back and a 5-megapixel shooter at the front.

Already there are no significant differences, but that changes the moment the build quality is brought into the equation. You see, the Redmi Note 2 has a polycarbonate design while the Redmi Note 3 is fully encased with metal. Furthermore, the Redmi Note 3 supports a fingerprint scanner, a hardware feature not found on the Redmi Note 2.

Interestingly enough, Xiaomi will release two versions of the Redmi Note 3. One with 2 GB of RAM and the other with 3 GB of RAM. The Redmi Note 2 only has a 2 GB variant, but with 16 and 32 GB internal storage variatns, the same with its successor.

Another significant difference we came across these two smartphones is the battery. The Redmi Note 3 has a large 4,000 mAh battery while the Redmi Note 2 can only muster 3,060 mAh. Also, the Redmi Note 3 is 8.65 mm thicker compared to the 8.3 mm thickness of the Redmi Note 2.

As it stands, it is clear the similarities here are vast, and also that Xiaomi shouldn't have named the Redmi Note 3 something else because apart from the metal exterior, there's not much significant difference to the Redmi Note 2.

So, is it worth upgrading? Probably not unless you want a metal design with bigger battery.