Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 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

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is a feature-packed smartphone that offers a stellar user experience at an affordable price. With its sleek design and impressive display, this device is sure to catch your eye. The 6.3-inch IPS LCD screen delivers vibrant and sharp visuals, while the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection ensures durability. Equipped with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor and up to 6GB of RAM, the Redmi Note 8 can handle multitasking and demanding applications with ease. The standout feature of this device is its quad-camera setup, including a 48MP main lens for capturing stunning photos. The 4,000mAh battery provides long-lasting power, and the 18W fast charging support ensures you're always ready to go. With its affordable price tag, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 boasts a sleek and aesthetically pleasing design that exudes a premium look and feel. It features a glass front and back, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, with a plastic frame. The device has a well-constructed form factor, with dimensions of 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm and a weight of 190g, making it comfortable to hold and use. The back panel has a smooth texture, providing a good grip and reducing the chances of accidental slips. The finishing touches on the device are commendable, giving it an overall polished and elegant appearance.

Ergonomics have been taken into consideration during the design process, ensuring that the buttons and controls are conveniently placed for easy access. The bezels surrounding the 6.3-inch IPS LCD display are slim, resulting in an impressive screen-to-body ratio of approximately 81.7%. This enhances the immersive viewing experience on the device.

In terms of durability, the Redmi Note 8 is built to withstand daily wear and tear. The device is constructed with robust materials, and its build quality is reliable. It also features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, adding an extra layer of security and convenience.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 strikes a balance between portability and functionality. Its sleek design and manageable weight make it easy to carry around, while its sturdy construction ensures longevity. The device's dimensions and grip enable comfortable one-handed usability, making it user-friendly for various tasks.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 impresses with its design and build, combining aesthetics, durability, and practicality. It offers a premium look and feel without compromising on robustness and ergonomics.

Display

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 features a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which provides durability against scratches and accidental drops.

In terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, the Redmi Note 8 offers decent performance. It produces vibrant and punchy colors, making visuals appear lively and engaging. The display also offers good brightness levels, ensuring clear visibility even under direct sunlight. Additionally, the device comes with an anti-reflective coating, which helps reduce glare and improve outdoor visibility.

The pixel density of the Redmi Note 8 stands at around 409 pixels per inch, resulting in sharp and detailed visuals. The viewing angles are wide, allowing for a comfortable viewing experience from different angles.

While the Redmi Note 8 doesn't come with an OLED display, it still offers a satisfactory LCD technology that delivers accurate colors and sufficient brightness levels. However, it lacks features like a high refresh rate or HDR support, which are often found in more premium devices.

The device also includes features like an always-on display and a blue light filter, which can be beneficial for users who prefer to have information at a glance or reduce eye strain during nighttime usage. Adaptive brightness is another useful feature that automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on the ambient lighting conditions.

Overall, the display of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 provides a decent viewing experience with its good color reproduction, sharpness, and outdoor visibility. While it may not have the advanced features found in higher-end smartphones, it still offers a satisfactory display performance for its price range.

Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 offers impressive performance capabilities, thanks to its well-optimized chipset and GPU. Powered by the Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) chipset, this device ensures smooth multitasking, fast app loading speeds, and a lag-free user experience. The octa-core CPU, consisting of 4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold cores and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver cores, delivers efficient processing power for everyday tasks and demanding applications.

In terms of gaming performance, the Redmi Note 8 provides a satisfying gaming experience. The Adreno 610 GPU handles graphics-intensive games with ease, offering smooth gameplay and vibrant visuals. With its GPU efficiency, the device allows for longer gaming sessions without excessive battery drain or overheating.

Benchmark tests and synthetic benchmarks further affirm the Redmi Note 8's strong performance. The device achieves impressive scores in CPU benchmarks, showcasing its processor efficiency and capability. Gaming benchmarks also highlight its ability to handle graphically demanding games, providing high graphics scores and delivering an enjoyable gaming experience.

The Redmi Note 8 excels in system optimization, ensuring a smooth and responsive user experience. The device effectively manages thermal management, preventing overheating during extended usage or gaming sessions. This feature contributes to sustained performance and minimizes the risk of performance throttling.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 offers commendable performance metrics, making it a reliable choice for users seeking a device that can handle various tasks with efficiency. Whether it's multitasking, gaming, or everyday usage, the Redmi Note 8 delivers a smooth and lag-free performance, enhancing the overall user experience. Its powerful chipset, GPU, and system optimization contribute to its impressive performance capabilities.

Software and User Interface

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 runs on the Android 9.0 (Pie) operating system, which can be upgraded to Android 11 with the MIUI 12.5 user interface. This combination provides a smooth and user-friendly experience for the device. The MIUI 12.5 interface offers a clean and intuitive interface, making navigation and customization a breeze for users. The software comes with a range of pre-installed apps that cover various essential functions, including messaging, email, web browsing, and media playback.

One aspect worth noting is the level of customization available on the Redmi Note 8. The MIUI 12.5 interface allows users to personalize their device by changing themes, wallpapers, and icon styles. This adds a touch of individuality to the user experience. However, some users might find the pre-installed apps to be a bit excessive, which can be considered as bloatware. While these apps can be useful for some users, others might prefer a more streamlined approach with fewer pre-installed apps.

In terms of performance, the Redmi Note 8's software offers a seamless experience. It is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset and an octa-core CPU, providing smooth multitasking and app performance. The software also supports various features like gesture navigation and split-screen multitasking, enhancing the overall user experience.

Overall, the software on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 offers a user-friendly interface and a range of customization options. The pre-installed apps might be a drawback for some users, but the performance and smoothness of the software make up for it. Whether you're a casual user or a power user, the Redmi Note 8's software is designed to cater to your needs.

Camera

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 boasts a powerful quad-camera setup that delivers impressive image quality in various shooting conditions. The main camera features a 48-megapixel lens with a wide aperture of f/1.8, allowing for excellent low-light sensitivity and sharpness. The 26mm focal length provides versatility for capturing both wide-angle shots and close-up details. The camera's sensor size and image stabilization contribute to reducing noise and ensuring clear and stable images, especially during handheld shooting.

In daylight photography, the Redmi Note 8's camera excels at capturing vibrant and natural colors, with good dynamic range and sharpness. It performs well in both indoor and outdoor photography, producing clear and detailed images with accurate colors. The camera's low-light performance is impressive, thanks to its wide aperture and advanced noise reduction capabilities. The dedicated night mode further enhances low-light sensitivity, allowing for stunning night photography with improved clarity and reduced noise.

The Redmi Note 8 offers a range of camera features, including portrait mode, HDR, panorama mode, and pro mode, giving users the flexibility to experiment with different shooting styles and techniques. The camera also incorporates AI scene recognition, which intelligently identifies various scenes and adjusts settings accordingly to optimize image quality.

For video recording, the Redmi Note 8 supports 4K video capture, delivering high-resolution footage with excellent detail. Video stabilization ensures smooth and steady recordings, while slow-motion video and time-lapse features add creativity to your videos. The device supports various video formats, providing flexibility for sharing and editing your captured moments.

Overall, the camera of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 offers a compelling package with its high megapixel count, wide aperture, image stabilization, and advanced features. It is a capable performer in different lighting conditions, delivering impressive image and video quality.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is equipped with a non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery, which offers a decent battery capacity for everyday use. The device supports 18W wired fast charging, allowing for quicker charging times compared to standard charging. However, it does not support wireless charging options.

When it comes to battery performance, the Redmi Note 8 provides a good battery backup and can last through a full day of moderate to heavy usage. The battery optimization features and power efficiency of the device contribute to its longevity, ensuring that users can make the most out of their device without worrying about frequent charging.

The battery health and capacity of the Redmi Note 8 are generally satisfactory, and users can expect reliable performance over time. The device also offers a battery saver mode, which can help extend battery life when needed. Overall, the battery endurance of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is commendable, making it a reliable choice for users who prioritize long-lasting battery life.

Connectivity and Networking

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 offers a wide range of connectivity options, making it a versatile device for staying connected. It supports 4G LTE network compatibility, allowing users to enjoy high-speed data speeds for browsing the internet, streaming videos, and downloading files. The device also features dual SIM functionality, which is convenient for users who need to manage multiple phone numbers or have separate personal and work lines. In terms of wireless connectivity, the Redmi Note 8 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards, ensuring fast and stable internet connections when connected to compatible Wi-Fi networks. Bluetooth 4.2 is available for seamless wireless communication with other devices, such as headphones, speakers, and smartwatches. Additionally, the device comes with GPS and GLONASS for accurate navigation and location tracking. It also has a USB Type-C 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. However, it does not support NFC or wireless charging, which may be a drawback for some users. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 offers a good range of connectivity options, allowing users to stay connected and enjoy a seamless digital experience.

Additional Features

• One of the standout features of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is its durable build. With a glass front and back protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, along with a plastic frame, this phone offers a level of protection against accidental drops and scratches.


• While the Redmi Note 8 does not have an official IP rating for water resistance, it does offer some level of protection against water and dust. However, it is important to note that it is not fully waterproof or dustproof.


• In terms of charging capabilities, the Redmi Note 8 does not support wireless charging or Qi wireless charging. It relies on traditional wired charging, with an 18W fast charging feature for quick battery replenishment.


• The phone is equipped with a range of sensors, including an accelerometer and a gyroscope, which enable features like auto-rotate and motion sensing. Additionally, it has a sensor suite that includes advanced sensors for measuring environmental factors, enhancing the overall user experience.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, released in 2019, is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a range of features and specifications. When comparing it to other related devices in the market, some notable competitors include the Samsung Galaxy A20, Realme 5, and Motorola Moto G7 Power.

In terms of market positioning, the Redmi Note 8 stands out for its affordable price point, which makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers. It provides a solid set of features and specifications that rival more expensive devices in the market.

When it comes to specifications, the Redmi Note 8 boasts a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset and offers various memory configurations, including options for up to 128GB of internal storage and 6GB of RAM.

In terms of camera performance, the Redmi Note 8 features a quad-camera setup on the rear, with a 48MP primary lens, an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it sports a 13MP selfie camera. The device also offers a 4000mAh non-removable battery with 18W fast charging support.

When comparing benchmark scores, the Redmi Note 8 performs well in its price range. It achieves respectable scores on platforms like AnTuTu and GeekBench, showcasing its ability to handle day-to-day tasks and moderate gaming.

In terms of pricing, the Redmi Note 8 is positioned competitively, offering excellent value for money. Its affordable price tag places it in direct competition with devices like the Samsung Galaxy A20 and Realme 5, which also target the budget smartphone market.

Overall, the Redmi Note 8 distinguishes itself with its competitive specifications, affordable pricing, and reliable performance. It offers a compelling alternative to other devices in its price range, making it a popular choice among budget-conscious consumers.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 offers an impressive package at an affordable price point. With its sleek design and durable build, it provides a premium feel. The 6.3-inch IPS LCD display delivers vibrant and sharp visuals. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks and gaming. The quad-camera setup captures detailed and vibrant photos, while the 13MP front camera takes impressive selfies. The 4000mAh battery offers decent endurance, and the 18W fast charging ensures quick recharging. Overall, the Redmi Note 8 is a reliable and feature-packed smartphone that provides excellent value for money, making it a recommended choice for budget-conscious buyers.