The Xiaomi Mi 8 launch event has introduced 7 new products to the world, making the occasion the brand’s largest ever. The phone has gotten announced besides the Mi 8 Explorer Edition, Mi 8 SE, MIUI 10, 75-inch Mi TV, Mi Band 3, and Mi VR Standalone.
As expected, the Mi 8 looks just like the iPhone X, from the notch design to the vertical dual cameras at its back. Xiaomi’s even equipped the handset with an Infrared face unlock tool to gain access to the smartphone even when it’s dark. The premium Mi 8 Explorer Edition goes one step further with 3D facial recognition, just like Face ID.
Xiaomi says it’s the first Android manufacturer to employ the technology. It’s also one of the first firms to use an in-display fingerprint sensor. The Mi 8 Explorer Edition is apparently the first to utilize a pressure-sensitive system, so that sets it apart from Vivo which uses an optical sensor.
The Mi 8 Explorer Edition also gets hold of a cool-looking transparent glass back so you can peer into its internal workings. The standard Mi 8 does away with this stylistic choice for a solid blue, white and black color scheme. It also makes do with a rear-facing fingerprint scanner.
Then there’s the Mi 8 SE. Like the iPhone SE, it’s meant to be a smaller and more affordable version of the flagship. While the Mi 8 measures 6.21-inch, the Mi 8 SE comes in at 5.88-inch only. The differences don’t stop there, as the former has a 12MP + 12MP dual camera system and Snapdragon 845 processor.
The Mi 8 SE carries a 12MP + 5MP lens setup and a Snapdragon 710 SoC, another first for Xiaomi. All the variants benefit from artificial intelligence. Highlights include scene detection, Animoji-like Mi Meng animated emojis, and Portrait photos with studio lighting. The company is also touting the fact that its flagship features dual-frequency GPS to provide better navigation.
Specifications of the Xiaomi Mi 8:
– OS: Android Oreo-based MIUI 10
– Display: 6.21-inch 18.7:9 AMOLED, 1080 x 2248 pixels
– CPU: Snapdragon 845
– Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
– RAM: 6GB/8GB
– Camera: 12MP + 12MP rear, 20MP front
– Battery: 3400mAh
– Size: 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6mm
– Weight: 175g
– Connectivity: dual-SIM, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fiac, USB Type-C, NFC, dual-band GPS
Xiaomi Mi 8 Launch Price
The Mi 8 is priced at CNY 2699 (approx Rs 28600) for the 6GB/64GB version, CNY 2999 (roughly Rs 31600) for the 6GB RAM/128GB variant, and CNY 3299 (about Rs 34800) for the 6GB RAM/256GB model. The Mi 8 Explorer Edition offers 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM for CNY 3699 (around Rs 39000).
Also See: Xiaomi Redmi S2 set to hit India on June 7 as Redmi Y2
As for the Mi 8 SE, it starts at CNY 1799 (approx Rs 18900) for the 4GB/64GB option and goes up to CNY 1999 (roughly Rs 21100) for the 6GB/64GB one. There’s no word on when the Xiaomi Mi 8 launch will happen in other countries, but it should be soon based on some teasers the brand has put out.