Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

Overview:

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is a smartphone that demands attention with its stunning design and impressive features. With a transparent back panel that showcases fake components, this flagship device stands out from the crowd. It boasts a 6.21-inch AMOLED display, delivering vibrant colors and sharp visuals. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and 8GB of RAM, the Mi 8 Pro offers exceptional performance for multitasking and demanding tasks. The camera setup captures stunning photos with its dual 12-megapixel rear cameras and 20-megapixel front camera. Priced affordably at £499, the Mi 8 Pro offers flagship-level features without breaking the bank. It's definitely a device worth considering for tech enthusiasts looking for a unique and powerful smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro boasts an eye-catching design that sets it apart from other smartphones on the market. With its transparent back panel, the device showcases a unique aesthetic that is sure to catch the eye of onlookers. The stainless steel sides and red power button add a touch of elegance and premium feel to the phone. The Mi 8 Pro has a sleek and slim form factor, making it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. Despite its lightweight construction, the phone feels robust and sturdy, instilling confidence in its durability. The buttons and controls are well-placed and offer a satisfying click when pressed. The bezels are minimal, allowing for an immersive viewing experience on the 6.21-inch AMOLED display. The back panel has a smooth texture and the finishing touches are done with precision, giving the phone a high-quality look and feel. The Mi 8 Pro strikes a good balance between portability and screen size, making it easy to carry around while still offering a spacious display for multimedia consumption. Overall, the Mi 8 Pro's design and build quality are impressive, combining aesthetics, ergonomics, and premium materials to create a device that stands out in the crowd.

Display

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro features a 6.21-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2248 x 1080, offering a sharp and vibrant visual experience. The display has good color accuracy and vibrancy, making images and videos look vivid and lifelike. The maximum brightness of 600 nits ensures that the screen remains visible even in bright outdoor conditions. The touch responsiveness of the display is smooth and accurate, making it easy to navigate and use the phone. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, providing durability and scratch resistance. With a pixel density of approximately 402 pixels per inch, the display delivers crisp and detailed visuals. It supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), allowing for a wider range of colors and better contrast in supported content. The wide color gamut ensures that colors are reproduced accurately and with richness. The viewing angles are wide, allowing for comfortable viewing from different angles without color distortion. The display also has an anti-reflective coating, reducing glare and improving visibility in bright conditions. The Mi 8 Pro features a notch design and slim bezels, contributing to a high screen-to-body ratio. It also offers features like an always-on display, blue light filter, and adaptive brightness for an enhanced user experience. The display can be easily calibrated to suit individual preferences.

Performance

The performance of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is impressive, thanks to its powerful chipset and GPU. The phone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, which delivers excellent performance in various tasks and applications. It is backed by 8GB of RAM, allowing for smooth multitasking and seamless app switching.

In terms of gaming capabilities, the Mi 8 Pro does not disappoint. It handles graphically demanding games with ease, providing a smooth gaming experience without any noticeable lag or frame drops. The GPU benchmarks of the Mi 8 Pro showcase its ability to handle intense gaming sessions, with high graphics scores and impressive gaming benchmarks.

The CPU benchmarks of the Mi 8 Pro highlight its strong processor performance. It excels in tasks that require high processing power, such as running resource-intensive apps and performing complex calculations. The processor efficiency of the Mi 8 Pro ensures that it can handle demanding tasks without draining the battery excessively.

The Mi 8 Pro also offers excellent system optimization, resulting in fast app loading speeds and a smooth user experience. The phone's thermal management is well-handled, preventing overheating during intensive tasks and ensuring consistent performance.

While specific benchmark tests and scores were not provided in the review, the overall performance analysis and performance metrics indicate that the Mi 8 Pro delivers a high level of performance. Its combination of a powerful chipset, GPU, and ample RAM results in a device that can handle demanding tasks and provide a lag-free experience.

In conclusion, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro offers impressive performance across various aspects. Its powerful chipset, GPU, and ample RAM contribute to smooth multitasking, fast app loading speeds, and an enjoyable gaming experience. The phone's efficient processor and system optimization further enhance its performance, making it a capable device for both productivity and entertainment.

Software and User Interface

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro runs on MIUI 10, which is based on Android 8.1.0. MIUI 10 offers a range of features and customization options, providing users with a unique and personalized experience. The interface is clean and user-friendly, with smooth animations and transitions. The software allows for easy navigation and access to various settings and features.

One notable aspect of MIUI 10 is the level of customization it offers. Users can personalize their device with different themes, wallpapers, and icon packs, allowing them to create a look that suits their style. Additionally, MIUI 10 provides a range of system-level optimizations that enhance overall performance and efficiency.

In terms of pre-installed apps, MIUI 10 comes with a suite of Xiaomi's own applications, including Mi Music, Mi Video, Mi Browser, and Mi Community. These apps provide additional functionality and features, although some users may consider them as bloatware if they prefer using other alternatives.

Overall, the software on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is user-friendly, customizable, and offers a smooth and enjoyable experience. The combination of MIUI 10 and Android 8.1.0 provides a solid foundation for the device, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and security updates.

Camera

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro boasts a dual 12-megapixel rear camera setup, which includes features like 4-axis OIS, 2x optical zoom, and AI scene recognition. With a wide aperture and a focal length that captures a good range of subjects, the camera offers versatility for different photography scenarios. The sensor size ensures great image quality, with sharpness and natural colors. In daylight photography, the Mi 8 Pro excels in capturing fine details and maintaining a good dynamic range. Indoor photography also produces impressive results, with low-light sensitivity and noise reduction capabilities that preserve image quality. For night photography, the Mi 8 Pro offers a dedicated night mode that enhances low-light performance, capturing brighter and clearer images. The camera features AI scene recognition, which accurately identifies subjects and adjusts settings accordingly, resulting in vibrant and well-balanced shots. In terms of video recording, the Mi 8 Pro supports 4K video with video stabilization, providing smooth and steady footage. Slow-motion videos and time-lapse are also available, allowing for creative video capture. The camera on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro offers a range of features and shooting modes that cater to various photography and videography needs.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro comes with a decent battery that offers a satisfactory performance. With its battery capacity and power efficiency, the device can last a full day with moderate usage. The phone supports fast charging technology, allowing you to quickly charge up the battery when needed. However, it does not have wireless charging capabilities. The Mi 8 Pro also includes battery optimization features to help extend battery life and manage battery usage. While the battery performance is generally good, some users may experience battery drain in certain scenarios. It is recommended to use battery saver modes and manage battery usage to maximize battery longevity. Overall, the battery endurance of the Mi 8 Pro is reliable and should meet the needs of most users.

Connectivity and Networking

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro offers a wide range of connectivity options to ensure seamless communication and data transfer. It supports 4G LTE network compatibility, allowing for fast data speeds and reliable connectivity. The device also supports dual SIM functionality, making it convenient for users who need to manage multiple phone numbers or switch between different networks.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Mi 8 Pro supports Wi-Fi standards such as 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, ensuring fast and stable internet connections. It also features Bluetooth version 5.0, which offers improved speed and range for connecting to other devices such as headphones, speakers, and smartwatches. NFC (Near Field Communication) is also available on the Mi 8 Pro, enabling quick and secure contactless payments and file transfers.

The Mi 8 Pro comes with a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, providing a fast and reliable connection. It does not support wireless charging, so users will need to rely on the USB-C port or a charging dock to power up their device.

For navigation and location services, the Mi 8 Pro supports GPS, allowing users to accurately pinpoint their location and get directions. It also has a mobile hotspot feature, which enables users to share their internet connection with other devices, making it convenient for those on the go.

Overall, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options, ensuring that users can stay connected, transfer data, and navigate with ease. Whether it's through 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or USB-C, the Mi 8 Pro has you covered.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro with other related gadgets in the market, it becomes clear that Xiaomi has positioned itself as a strong competitor in the smartphone industry. Let's take a look at how the Mi 8 Pro stacks up against some of its competitors.

In terms of market positioning, the Mi 8 Pro offers flagship-level performance at a more affordable price compared to other top-end smartphones from brands like Apple, Samsung, Google, and Huawei. For example, the Mi 8 Pro's pricing of £499 puts it in direct competition with devices like the OnePlus 6T and the Honor View 20.

In terms of features, the Mi 8 Pro stands out with its unique transparent back panel, which is reminiscent of the iPhone X and XS. However, it should be noted that the components visible through the back panel are mostly constructed and not actual functioning parts. This design choice may appeal to some users but may also be seen as tacky by others.

When it comes to specifications, the Mi 8 Pro boasts a 6.21-inch AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, and 8GB of RAM. These specs put it on par with other flagship devices in terms of performance. However, the Mi 8 Pro lacks waterproofing and a headphone jack, which may be a drawback for some users.

In terms of performance, the Mi 8 Pro delivers excellent speed and multitasking capabilities thanks to its powerful processor and ample amount of RAM. It also offers a decent camera setup, with a dual 12-megapixel rear camera and a 20-megapixel front-facing camera. However, it should be noted that the in-display fingerprint sensor on the Mi 8 Pro is described as slow and unreliable, which may be a downside for some users.

Overall, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro offers a unique design, competitive pricing, and solid performance. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of other flagship devices, it provides good value for money and stands as a strong contender in the market.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Conclusion:
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is a smartphone that offers a unique design, powerful performance, and competitive pricing. With its transparent back panel and stainless steel sides, it certainly stands out from the crowd. The AMOLED display provides vibrant colors and deep blacks, while the Snapdragon 845 processor and 8GB of RAM ensure smooth multitasking and speedy performance. The camera system captures impressive photos with good detail and accurate colors. However, the phone does have its drawbacks, such as the unreliable in-display fingerprint sensor and below-average battery life. Despite these shortcomings, the Mi 8 Pro still offers excellent value for its price and is a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone market.