Xiaomi Mi 8 – key information

A few days ago, Xiaomi unveiled 3 new smartphones: Xiaomi Mi 8 SE, Xiaomi Mi 8, and Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition. Today, we will focus mostly on the last two.

Mi 8 fully deserves the title of a flagship

The latest devices deserve admiration from the tech world. Mi 8 SE will be an ideal choice when it comes to the mid-range class – it is characterized by an almost perfect price-to-quality ratio. Mi 8 is a worthy competitor to devices like the Huawei P20 or Samsung Galaxy S9.

The last of the presented devices breaks away from the template in design. It is the Explorer Edition that stands out with features like a transparent back, an in-screen fingerprint reader with pressure recognition, and face unlocking.

When choosing between Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer Edition, we must be aware that the former will lack some features. Additionally, if you want to buy the SE model, remember that it has a smaller screen by almost 0.4 inches and a slightly weaker Snapdragon 710 processor.

A word about the specifications

The Chinese giant has outdone itself in designing its new phones. The Mi 8’s specifications look very promising. The smartphone has the following dimensions: 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm and weighs 175 grams. It also features a 6.21-inch AMOLED display with an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. Speaking of the front panel, it’s worth mentioning the resolution. It’s quite modest for 2018 – FULL HD+ (2248 x 1080) with a brightness level of 600 nits.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo with the MIUI overlay. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor (Mi 8 SE by Snapdragon 710) along with Adreno 630. Users will have the choice of 6 or 8 GB of RAM. There are also three built-in storage options: 64, 128, and 256 GB. As for the battery, there is also a distinction. Namely, the Explorer Edition has a 3000 mAh cell, while the Mi 8 has a 3400 mAh capacity (there is also support for Quick Charge 4+).

Regarding the camera, there is a dual lens – 12 Mpx with an f/1.8 aperture and 12 Mpx with an f/2.4 aperture. Here are the main features of the rear lens: optical image stabilization, dual-pixel autofocus, and a portrait mode supported by artificial intelligence. Incidentally, the Mi 8 scored as high as 105 points in the DxOMark test, which is more than the iPhone X. The front camera is 20 Mpx with an f/2.0 aperture.

Other features related to the device itself include: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, dual-band GPS module (support for L1 and L5), GPS, GLONASS, dual SIM, NFC, fingerprint reader/face scanner, and USB-C port.

Mi 8 Explorer Edition deserves a separate piece

The management of the Chinese giant has repeatedly emphasized that the Explorer Edition is one of their most advanced smartphones. Aside from the technical parameters, the device stands out at first glance from the competition. This is, of course, about the transparent back, where the components used in the phone are visible.

While discussing this device, one cannot forget about the fingerprint reader, which is embedded in the front display. Additionally, a system known from iPhones, i.e., pressure recognition, has been applied here. Xiaomi boasts at every turn that this sensor generates a very low error rate, and its operation is lightning-fast.

The last thing worth mentioning is the camera system, which we first saw in the iPhone X. Xiaomi couldn’t be worse, so it developed its own “Face ID.” Thanks to it, we will be able to unlock the device as well as create animated emojis (something similar to Apple’s Animoji). It’s worth knowing that the Mi 8 Explorer Edition is the first Android smartphone that allows for three-dimensional face scanning.

Xiaomi Mi 8 – when and for how much can we buy it?

Once again, the Chinese giant has shown that it is capable of designing and producing a decent device for a reasonable price. Below we present the price list of the Xiaomi Mi 8.

1. Xiaomi Mi 8 6 GB, 64 GB built-in memory – 2699 yuan (approx. 1600 zlotys)
2. Xiaomi Mi 8 6 GB, 128 GB built-in memory – 2999 yuan (approx. 1800 zlotys)
3. Xiaomi Mi 8 6 GB, 256 GB built-in memory – 3299 yuan (approx. 2000 zlotys)
4. Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition 8 GB, 128 GB built-in memory – 3699 yuan (approx. 2200-2500 zlotys)

The Mi 8 and Mi 8 SE models will be available for sale from June 5-8. Initially, only in China. The price of the cheapest version and the 8 SE model is not yet known. The availability date of the Explorer Edition has not yet been disclosed.