Constipated goldfish operated on, owner pays 300 pounds

Redmi Note has an all-plastic body with removable back panel, similar to the Redmi 1S. It has the volume and power buttons on the right, headphone jack on top and the microSD + SIM slots under the panel.

On the rear is the camera module (it protrudes very slightly) and a speaker grill. The 3G version has dual SIM slots while the 4G version has a single SIM.

The phone feels well built and sturdy in hand but at 199 grams, is heavier than most phablets with similar screen sizes.

This is one of the few smartphones in this price range to feature a 5.5-inch HD display. The IPS screen has great viewing angles and uses Gorilla Glass 3 for protection.

The 1280 x 720 pixels resolution gives the display a pixel density of 267ppi. Thanks to the MIUI interface, icons and text appear sharp even on close inspection.

A pocket mode locks the screen automatically to prevent accidental touches when the phone is kept in a pocket. Overall, it is one of the best displays on a smartphone in this price bracket.

Xiaomi has launched two variants of the Redmi Note in India - one with 3G support and one with 4G network support. The 3G version is powered by a 1.7Ghz 'true' octa core Mediatek processor - which means all 8 cores can be simultaneously active.

The 4G version runs a 1.6Ghz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor.

Other specifications stay the same - 2GB RAM, 8GB storage, microSD slot and a 3,200mAh battery. The phone also has WiFi, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass and FM.

While the 3G version runs MiUI 5.0 with Android 4.2, the 4G version runs MiUi 6.0 with Android 4.4. The overall interface is similar to the Mi 3 and Redmi 1S. The phone is preloaded with apps including Switkey, Flipkart, Facebook, WPS Office and Xiaomi's own security app.

Other features include a do not disturb mode, custom settings for long press navigation buttons and a lite mode for simplified home screen and menus.

Due to different processors and software version there is difference in the performance of both phones.

The 3G version with Android 4.2 and the octa core processor works better for games and multitasking.

However, we saw sluggishness in navigation with multiple apps running in the background. As for the software benchmarks, the phone scored 13234 in Quadrant, 33500 in AnTuTu and 2385 in Geek Bench - better performance than Asus Zenfone 5 and even the HTC One M7.

In comparison, the 4G variant with Android 4.4 runs smoother in day-to-day usage but has lower benchmark scores. It scored 11566 in Quadrant, 22002 in AnTuTu and 1478 in Geekbench.

The phone also runs most high end games but we saw frame drops. For most users, either variant will work fine, but if you like gaming, the 3G variant might suit you better.

Battery life on both phones is similar, even with different processors. With basic usage the phones last close to one and half day with ease.

Add in a lot of camera usage, gaming and video playback the battery life drops to one full day - good enough for most heavy users.

The phone has a 13MP primary camera and a 5MP front camera. Both the variants have the same performance when it comes to the camera. Photos taken in daylight are excellent - natural colours, well lit and with good detail.

In low light and indoors, images appear fine on the phone's display and are good enough to share on social networks.

However when viewed on a large screen in full resolution, a lot of noise is visible along with lack of details. Video recording in full HD is top-notch.

The front 5MP camera is one of the best available in the price range - minimal noise with great quality. Again, for the price, this kind of camera performance is well worth the money.

Like all smartphones from Xiaomi, the Redmi Note sets a new benchmark in terms of features and specifications. For anyone looking at a great phablet without burning a hole in their pocket, Redmi Note is highly recommended.

However, it will face stiff competition from the YU Yureka that will be available in January 2015.

The dual SIM Yureka has a 5.5-inch HD display, 64-bit octa core Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage (expandable), dual cameras (13MP rear, 5MP front), 2,500mAh battery, 4G support and runs the highly customizable Cyanogen OS.

Price: Rs 8,999 (3G version), Rs 9,999 (4G version)

Specifications: 5.5-inch IPS display, 1280 x 720 pixels, 1.7Ghz octa core Mediatek processor/1.6Ghz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor (4G), 2GB RAM, 8GB RAM + microSD slot, 8MP rear + 5MP front camera, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, 3,200mAh battery, Android 4.2, 199 grams

Pros: Value for money, good display, battery life, great hardware and performance, fantastic front camera

Cons: 3G version runs older Android 4.2, low loudspeaker output, bulky at 199 grams