Xiaomi Mi 8

The Xiaomi Mi 8 is Xiaomi's flagship for 2018. It uses the most comprehensive specifications, is wrapped in the best and most premium materials, and features the best cameras. And yet, there is a chance you've never heard of it. We explain how that can be and why it's best to include this Mi 8 in your choice of a new mobile.

Affordable high-end phone

Xiaomi is not a big brand here because it has only been officially selling products since 2018. Before that, you had to rely on imports from webshops. That sometimes proved difficult because not all models worked flawlessly. For example, 4G sometimes did not work, problems that have now all been fixed. In the meantime, we have become accustomed to our Samsungs and iPhones. Too bad because sometimes there are real gems among what other manufacturers sometimes release. Whether this goes for the Xiaomi Mi 8 remains to be seen, but the fact is that it is a very affordable high-end phone. One with a powerful Snapdragon 845 processor from Qualcomm, dual camera with optical zoom and artificial intelligence, a large 6.21 inch AMOLED screen, and reliable face unlocking via infrared.

Beautiful casing with reliable face unlocking

But above all, let's admire its exterior. Without sounding creepy, it is beautiful. The bezel is made of rounded Series 7000 aluminum with a front and back of glass that flows nicely into the bezel. This makes it comfortable to hold, although all that glass is sensitive to fingerprints. A 6.21-inch AMOLED screen from Samsung with Full HD+ resolution and a notch sit on the front. This notch is necessary for the 20-megapixel selfie camera with which you can shoot portrait photos with a blurry background and for the infrared face unlock. This works even in the dark and is an alternative to the fingerprint scanner on the back.

Main Xiaomi Mi 8 specifications

• 6.21-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen with curved glass
• Double 12-megapixel camera with Studio Lighting Modes and optical zoom
• Powerful Snapdragon 845 processor at 2,8 GHz + large 6 GB of RAM
• High-resolution 20-megapixel selfie cam with 3D Beautify
• 4G support for mobile internet
• Available in 64 or 128 GB of storage (non-expandable)
• Dual SIM (dual nanoSIM)

Dual AI camera with room for creativity

On the back, we find a dual AI camera. Xiaomi uses a Sony IMX363 sensor, the same sensor as in the LG V40 ThinQ, which is praised for its camera performance. The dual 12-megapixel camera can detect depth and thus takes stunning portrait photos and zooms in without losing quality. Artificial intelligence recognizes 206 different situations and immediately adjusts settings accordingly. As a result, you generally shoot better pictures and videos. And often, they are sharp due to optical image stabilization on four axes. This automatically filters out unintentional movements, especially at slower shutter speeds. Something that is often necessary for dark environments. Also interesting is the Studio Lighting Modes, with which seven different lighting options can be added to your photos. For example, make it look like you are standing under a tree or behind a window so that the sun's rays fall in.

Dual sim card, no memory card

When you list all these features and take a closer look at the Xiaomi Mi 8, it looks like a modern iPhone. AR stickers, aka AR emojis, reinforce that idea. You can make an emoji laugh, talk, or sing by moving your face. Just like Apple, indeed. Unlike other Xiaomi's, you cannot expand the memory by inserting a memory card. However, there is room for a dual nanoSIM card. All in all, a recognizable phone that wants a little too much to be an Apple but is many times cheaper. If you are a bit more adventurous, then you can consider the transparent Mi 8 Explorer Edition. That one also has a fingerprint scanner on the screen, which is much more futuristic.

Pro and cons Xiaomi Mi 8

• Affordable high-end
• Reliable face unlock
• Large+bright screen
• Dual camera + zoom

• Clearly trying to be an iPhone