Xiao Mi 8 Review: Everything You Need to Know

The Xiao Mi 8 is a powerhouse of a smartphone, and for good reason. It boasts a massive 6.21-inch OLED display, making it perfect for watching your favorite shows or browsing the web.

The Xiao Mi 8 is also a photography enthusiast's dream, with a quad-camera setup that includes a 12MP primary sensor, a 12MP telephoto lens, a 12MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom, and a 24MP selfie camera. It's no wonder that this phone has received rave reviews from photography enthusiasts.

One of the standout features of the Xiao Mi 8 is its sleek and durable design, with a stainless steel frame that provides a premium feel. The phone's IP68 rating also means it's fully waterproof and dustproof, making it perfect for everyday use.

The Xiao Mi 8 is powered by a large 4000mAh battery, which provides all-day battery life and can easily last a full day with heavy use. Whether you're a gamer, a social media addict, or just someone who likes to stay connected, this phone has got you covered.

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The Xiaomi Mi 8 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, which is a top-notch processor for its time.

It comes with 6 GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which should handle most tasks with ease, and an Adreno 630 GPU for smooth graphics rendering.

The Mi 8 features a 6.21-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, which is great for watching videos or browsing the web.

Storage options include 64 GB or 128 GB, giving you plenty of space to store your apps, photos, and files.

The phone has a fingerprint scanner on the rear or on the screen under the display in the Explorer Edition, for convenient biometric security.

A 3,400 mAh battery powers the Mi 8, with a USB-C reversible connector that supports Quick Charge 4.0+ for fast charging.

The phone's design includes Gorilla Glass 5 for added protection against scratches and drops.

Unfortunately, the Mi 8 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack, but it does come with a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter in the box.

The display on the Xiaomi Mi 8 is a standout feature, offering a high-quality AMOLED experience.

The screen resolution is slightly higher than FHD, and it reaches a maximum brightness of 434 nits, which is good but not exceptional.

The display's performance is middle-of-the-pack compared to its competitors, but it does offer support for HDR-10 and a better brightness distribution.

Here's a comparison of the display's brightness with other devices:

On overcast days, the device remains usable outdoors, even on medium brightness, but on sunny days reflections quickly take over and it becomes harder to use.

As expected, the display's viewing angles are excellent with only minor color distortions.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 has a dual-camera setup with a wide-angle main lens and a short telephoto lens, both with 12MP sensors.

The main camera features phase detection autofocus, 4-axis optical image stabilization (OIS) on the wide-angle module, and an LED flash. This is similar to the camera setup on the Mi MIX 2S.

The rear-facing camera is capable of recording videos in 4K at 30 FPS, but its slow-motion mode is limited to 120 FPS at 1080p.

The main camera captured colors slightly overexposed when tested under controlled conditions, and the photos were not as crisp around the edges as they were in the center.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 camera is a dual-camera setup with a wide-angle main lens and a secondary telephoto lens. It features a 1/2.55-inch size sensor, 1.4µm pixels, and an f/1.8-aperture lens on the main lens, and a slightly slower f/2.4 aperture on the telephoto lens.

The camera has phase detection autofocus and 4-axis optical image stabilization (OIS) on the main camera. This is a great feature for capturing sharp photos and reducing blur.

The rear-facing camera can record videos in 4K at 30 FPS, which is a decent feature for a premium smartphone. However, the slow-motion mode of just 120 FPS at 1080p is not as impressive as some other high-end smartphones.

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The camera software supports a portrait mode with blurry backgrounds and additional lighting effects. However, it can be finicky and doesn't always work as well as expected in low light conditions.

In our lab tests, the main camera captured colors slightly overexposed, and the photos were not as crisp around the edges as they were in the center. However, the photos were still acceptable with a light weakness for black texts on red backgrounds.

Here's a summary of the key camera features:

The Xiaomi Mi 8 has a dual-camera at the rear.

The Mi 8's camera is a notable feature, especially considering its affordable price of just over $400.

At the rear, you'll find a dual-camera setup, which is a common feature in high-end smartphones of 2018.

This camera setup is a great addition to the Mi 8, making it a competitive option in the premium device market.

The Mi 8 Explorer Edition, a variation of the Mi 8, also features a dual-camera at the rear, highlighting the camera's importance in the Mi 8's design.

The Mi 8's camera capabilities are on par with other 2018 premium devices, such as the OnePlus 6T, the Sony Xperia XZ3, and the Samsung Galaxy S9.

The Mi 8's performance is a mixed bag. Gaming on the device is a mostly smooth and pleasant experience, with "Arena of Valor" running at a smooth 60 FPS throughout the game.

The phone's performance under sustained load is where it falters, with a roughly 20% dip in performance noticed during GFXBench's battery test. Performance was restored to its full potential regularly, but it fluctuated wildly.

Temple Run 2 is a great way to test a smartphone's orientation sensor and touchscreen, and the Mi 8's were very quick to react and precise.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 lineup offers three distinct versions to cater to different needs and budgets.

The regular Xiaomi Mi 8 is the base model, but it packs a punch with its 6.21-inch screen and powerful Snapdragon 845 processor.

The Mi 8 Explorer Edition takes it up a notch with a see-through glass back and 3D face unlock, making it a great option for those who want a premium experience.

The Mi 8 SE is the most affordable option, featuring a smaller 5.88-inch screen and a more budget-friendly Snapdragon 710 processor.

This variety of options allows users to choose the perfect device that fits their lifestyle and budget.

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Gaming on the Mi 8 is a mostly smooth experience, with games like "Arena of Valor" running at a smooth 60 FPS throughout.

The phone's performance under sustained load, however, is a different story. We ran GFXBench's battery test and noticed a roughly 20% dip in performance, which was restored to its full potential regularly.

Temple Run 2 is a great way to test a smartphone's orientation sensor and touchscreen, and both were very quick to react and precise.

Here's a breakdown of the phone's temperature during the GFXBench test:

Maximum temperature reached during the test was 42.5 °C (109 F), with an average temperature of 39.1 °C (102 F).

The Xiaomi Mi 8 has a decent battery life, lasting 12:16 hours in our Wi-Fi test.

Its larger battery size compared to the Explorer Edition gives it an edge, lasting around 7% longer on average. The Mi 8 outlasted its sibling by 42 minutes in the Wi-Fi test.

In our battery runtime tests, the Mi 8 performed relatively well, with a 15% improvement over its competitors. However, its power consumption was still on the higher side.

Here's a breakdown of the Mi 8's battery runtime compared to its competitors:

Overall, the Mi 8's battery life is decent, but not exceptional.

The battery life of the Xiaomi Mi 8 is a notable aspect of its performance. It lasted for 12:16 hours in our Wi-Fi test, which is a decent amount of time.

The Mi 8 outlasted the Explorer Edition by 42 minutes in the Wi-Fi test, and on average, it lasted around 7% longer than its sibling. This suggests that the larger battery in the Mi 8 is making a difference.

In terms of idle time, the Mi 8 managed 27 hours and 14 minutes without Wi-Fi and at minimum brightness. This is a significant amount of time, and it's impressive to see how long the battery can last in this scenario.

Here's a comparison of the battery runtime for different devices:

In the H.264 test, the Mi 8 lasted for 897 hours, which is relatively impressive. However, it's worth noting that the OnePlus 6T lasted only 1% longer, while the Explorer Edition lasted 3% longer.

The Mi 8's power consumption was slightly lower than the Explorer Edition's in our tests, except for the average load test. This suggests that Xiaomi may have made some software optimizations to improve the device's efficiency.

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The case of the Xiaomi Mi 8 is a standard, high-end design featuring Gorilla glass at both the front and back.

The glass makes for a classy look and significantly better cellular reception compared to a metal case. However, it also renders the case slippery and prone to fingerprints and smudges.

It's available in three colors: black, blue, and white, with the bezels around the display always being black, regardless of the chosen color.

The case is very robust overall, but it can warp slightly when applying torsional force to it.

At 175 g, the Xiaomi Mi 8's weight is average.

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The Mi 8 comes with a Quick Charge 3 power supply, not the latest Quick Charge 4+ technology.

This might be a bit of a letdown for some, but it's worth noting that the included power supply still gets the job done.

A silicone bumper is also included, which can provide some extra protection for your device.

Unfortunately, if you're in the US or Canada, you won't be able to get an official manufacturer warranty for your Mi 8.

You'll have to rely on dealer warranties if they're available, which might not be the same as getting direct support from the manufacturer.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 has 8 GB of RAM, which is more than the Explorer Edition's 6 GB. This shouldn't be noticeable for most users.

The Mi 8 has 128 GB of storage space, which is decent for a high-end smartphone. However, it doesn't have a card reader slot, so you're stuck with the internal storage.

The phone has a single USB-C port that supports USB-OTG and is the only audio-out port. It also supports NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, and all current Wi-Fi standards, although it was slower than its competitors in our test.

The Mi 8's cellular reception was decent in urban environments, both indoors and outdoors. It supports LTE Cat. 16 for download speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

The phone's GPS modem is dual-frequency, which is supposed to increase accuracy. However, we didn't notice any difference indoors and had trouble using location services even when standing at the window.

The Mi 8 has 8 GB of RAM, which is more than the Explorer Edition's 6 GB. This should not be noticeable for most users.

The Mi 8 has 128 GB of storage space, which is decent for a high-end smartphone. However, it doesn't have a card reader slot, so memory can't be upgraded.

You'll find a single USB-C port at the bottom, connected to a USB 2.0 bus. It supports USB-OTG and is also the only audio-out port on the device.

The Mi 8 supports all current Wi-Fi standards and achieved decent transfer rates in testing. However, it was slower than its competitors.

The Mi 8 doesn't support microSD cards, so you're limited to the device's 128 GB of internal storage.

Call quality was decent, and the earphone remained very clear with just minor noise even on maximum volume.

The phone uses a Xiaomi dialer instead of Google's default telephone app to make phone calls, and its home screen contains your contacts as well as a dialpad with which you can search your contacts T9-style.

The app supports favorites and a few additional settings, such as automatically answering incoming phone calls.

On speakerphone, we were able to hear our conversational partner loud and clear.

The microphone worked equally well regardless of sound level, but our microphone was fairly quiet and we had to speak up in order to be heard.

The Xiaomi Mi 8's software is powered by MIUI, Xiaomi's custom Android skin, based on Android 9. The translation was very good overall, and we failed to notice any English or even Chinese artifacts and leftovers forgotten by the developers.

Security patches were as of December 2018 and should better be updated soon. Xiaomi includes a number of apps, among others Facebook and a large number of in-house tools. Some apps copy what Google's default apps do, such as the music app or the web browser. These preloaded apps cannot be uninstalled.

The touchscreen interface is user-friendly, allowing for a seamless navigation experience. One click changes the position on touchscreens, making it easy to explore the device.

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The software on the Xiaomi Mi 8 is based on Android 9, with the latest version of MIUI 10. The translation is seamless, with no English or Chinese artifacts left behind.

One of the notable features of MIUI 10 is the inclusion of a number of preloaded apps, including Facebook and in-house tools. These apps cannot be uninstalled, so you'll have to live with them.

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The Xiaomi Mi 8 also includes a number of Google apps, such as the music app and the web browser, which are copied from Google's default apps. This can be a bit confusing, but it's not a major issue.

Here's a quick rundown of the preloaded apps:

The software on the Xiaomi Mi 8 is a bit outdated, with security patches only up to December 2018. It's essential to update your device soon to ensure you have the latest security features.

The MIUI 10 interface is user-friendly, and you can navigate through it with ease. One click changes the position on touchscreens, making it easy to get around.

The Mi 8's input devices are a highlight of the device. The Google's Gboard keyboard application is the default, allowing for fast and reliable text input.

Other keyboards can be easily installed, so you're not locked into using Gboard. The touchscreen is very pleasant to use and accurate up to its edges.

A fast and reliable fingerprint reader is located at the rear, making it easy to unlock the device. This is in contrast to the in-display-sensor on the Explorer, which was less accurate.

Face detection is also an option, but it seems to be limited to certain countries. In our testing, it was available in India but not in Germany.

The infrared face detection camera is simpler than the 3D depth detection camera on the Explorer Edition, but it's slightly faster and more accurate. It even works in total darkness thanks to its infrared sensors.

The hardware buttons are limited to a volume rocker and a standby button, which are easy to use and very precise.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 will go on sale in China starting on June 5.

The Mi 8 starts off at 2,699 yuan (~$421) for the 6GB RAM/64GB variant.

If you need more storage, the 6GB/128GB model is priced at 2,999 yuan (~$468).

The 6GB/256GB model will retail for 3,299 yuan (~$515).

The top of the range Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition will be available for 3,699 yuan (~$577) at a later date that Xiaomi hasn’t specified.

International prices of the Mi 8, Mi 8 SE, and Mi 8 Explorer Edition will be slightly higher than their prices in China.

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The Xiaomi Mi 8 SE has a 5.88-inch AMOLED display.

This phone is the first to feature Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 710 processor, which is designed for upper-mid-range devices.

The Snapdragon 710 chip is supposed to deliver a 30 percent battery consumption improvement compared to the Snapdragon 660.

Its processor is a significant upgrade from its predecessors, making it a great option for those looking for a powerful phone without the high price tag.

This phone's processor is a great example of how technology is constantly evolving to improve performance and efficiency.