XIAOMI Redmi NOTE 8,- 6GB + 128GB-White

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

The recommended retail price of the Redmi Note 8 in Kenya is around 22,000 shillings. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) chipset, has a quad 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP camera, 4000 mAH battery, 6GB RAM, 6.3-inch display and is available in Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, or Space Black color options.

Introduction

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 was released alongside Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro. The former is the lite version, so to speak, of the latter. In other words, the event you happen to love  Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro and have not enough legal tender to acquire it, then you can find rest in the base model, which is the subject of today’s review. Although I must put this out there, the difference in price between the two is but a matter of a few tens hundreds. That aside, let us now delve into this review and see what lies under the hood.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 features

• GSM, HSPA, and LTE network technology
• Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
• IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
• 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio)
• 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 PPI density)
• Corning Gorilla Glass 5
• Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10
• Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) chipset
• Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) CPU
• Adreno 610 GPU
• 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
• micro SD, up to 256 GB (dedicated slot)
• Primary camera 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2″, 0.8µm, PDAF
  8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultra wide), 1/4″, 1.12µm
  2 MP, f/2.4, 1/5″, 1.75µm (dedicated macro camera)
  2 MP, f/2.4, 1/5″, 1.75µm, depth sensor
• LED flash, HDR, panorama
• 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro- EIS
• Selfie camera 13 MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm
• HDR, panorama
• 1080p@30fps
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
• Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
• Infrared port
• FM Radio
• USB 2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go
• Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
• Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery
• -Fast battery charging 18W
• Colors Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, Space Black

Design and build

Some will think it a strange thing for Xiaomi to do squeezing the inscription Redmi on the already slim bottom bezel. I agree with them, I mean, do away with the bezel already. But moving on this is a phone with a dewdrop notch and close to 82% screen-to-body ratio. Above the notch is a call speaker and within it is the selfie camera.

The volume rocker and power button are on the same side of this phone. Its glossy back panel beautifully bounces and reflects light. You will love how simple details go a long way with it. All your eyes will note is the back panel and the only other minimal detail of the Redmi logo, camera setup, and LED flash – simple and neat.

Platform and memory

Performance

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is powered by Android 9.0 (Pie) with MIUI 10 interface theme. It is Android that powers the phone, not MIUI. It is important to make that distinction. Onboard is a Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) chipset, an Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) CPU, and a youthful Adreno 610 GPU for graphics performance.

Storage

The models of this phone available are 32GB + 3GB RAM, 64GB + 4GB RAM, 64GB + 6GB RAM, 128GB + 4GB RAM and 128GB + 6GB RAM. All models have room for internal storage expansion using a micro SD up to 256 GB (dedicated slot).

Battery

Enjoy hours and hour of battery life with its non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery that charges with fast battery charging 18W when that time comes.

Display and camera

Display

The display of any phone is an important part of it. Think about it, what would phones in these times be without displays? Long and gone are those days. On this phone is an IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen that has support for 16M colors and a multi-touch feature. This is a 6.3 inches panel that covers a 97.4 cm2 surface area and view estate.

Its field of view is packed with 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution which works in your favor as you might soon learn. And the ~409 PPI density it has makes it even sharper. Slapped on top is Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to ensure its durability and protection.

Camera

Let us see what cameras this one has shall we? The main or primary camera is a 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2″, 0.8µm, PDAF. Another camera apart from it is an 8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm ultra-wide, 1/4″, 1.12µm shooter. You will also appreciate its 2 MP, f/2.4, 1/5″, 1.75µm (dedicated macro camera) and 2 MP, f/2.4, 1/5″, 1.75µm, depth sensor.

We love that video recording on it is 4K with 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps with gyro- EIS. OIS would have been a better catch but for the price, the difference can be overlooked. Then there is that selfie camera which is a decent 13 MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm lens that can handle 1080p@30fps video recording.

A decent budget phone this is. Be sure to check out the Pro version of it. It is available in color Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, and Space Black. Rock it how you want it.