Although an upcoming Xiaomi smartphone had been rumored as the Redmi Note 2 Pro for some time, it was only yesterday that we reported it would in fact be called the Redmi Note 3. We knew it was going to be officially announced today, and now the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is official and we have confirmed specs, price and more.

The new Xiaomi phone was launched in China where it will release later this week, but there’s no news yet on whether it will release in further markets. Most of the rumored specifications and features have panned out, such as a metal unibody design (a first for a Xiaomi Redmi phone), and a fingerprint sensor that takes just 0.3 seconds to unlock the phone.

Redmi Note 3 specs on offer include a 2GHz MediaTek Helio X10 octa-core processor, and a 5.5-inch display with Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. It comes in two variants, one with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage and the other with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (both non-expandable). There’s a 13-megapixel rear camera with phase detection autofocus and dual tone LED flash, and a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter with wide-angle lens.

The dual SIM Redmi Note 3 supports 4G LTE connectivity and WiFi 802.11 ac. Battery life comes from a sizeable 4000 mAh battery that’s non-removable. It runs the Android 5.1. Lollipop-based MIUI 7. At it’s thickest point it measures 8.65mm, and it weighs 164g. The phone will be offered in gold, gray, and silver color options.

The 16GB Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 price has been confirmed at CNY 899. That’s equivalent to around $140, £93, or Rs. 9,360. Alternatively the 32GB Redmi Note 3 price is CNY 1,099, around $171, £114, or Rs. 11,430. Please note the equivalent prices for other markets do not necessarily reflect the final pricing if the phone releases elsewhere.

Are you pleased to hear that the Redmi Note 3 has been made official? What are your initial thoughts on what this new Xiaomi smartphone has to offer?