Xiaomi launched the Mi 8, Mi 8 Explorer Edition, Mi 8 SE, and Mi Band 3 at a massive event last month in China. It still hasn’t confirmed whether any of the phones will be making the trip overseas, but a new report has some interesting information about the smallest of the bunch.
Beebom claims that Xiaomi is going to release the Mi 8 SE as the Mi 8i in India. The “i” apparently stands for India. The company had done something similar with the Mi 4i back in 2015, so this is certainly a possibility. Plus, the URL for the device’s Chinese page refers to it as the Mi 8i.
Mi 8i Launch Speculation
A source asserts that the renamed Mi 8i will cost somewhere between Rs 18000 and Rs 20000 in India. The 4GB/64GB version of the Mi 8 SE is priced at CNY 1799 (roughly Rs 18935) and the 6GB/64GB one at CNY 1999 (roughly Rs 21040).
The Mi 8i may arrive alongside the Mi Band 3 next month. Sadly, it appears that the Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer Edition won’t be tagging along. This isn’t entirely unexpected since the company has so far done well only in the budget segment in India.
Also See: Xiaomi Redmi Y2 launched in India along with MIUI 10 Global ROM
Even Xiaomi’s last flagship phone, the Mi 6, never made it to India. The Mi 8 SE is a bit different since it offers the same looks as the Mi 8, but with downgraded specs. For instance, it runs on a Snapdragon 710 processor. It’s the first smartphone to get its hands on the SoC.
Specifications of the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE:
– OS: Android Oreo-based MIUI 10
– Display: 5.88-inch 18.7:9 AMOLED, 1080 x 2244 pixels
– CPU: 2.2GHz Snapdragon 710
– GPU: Adreno 616
– Storage: 64GB
– RAM: 4GB/6GB
– Camera: 12MP + 5MP rear, 20MP front
– Battery: 3120mAh
– Size: 147.28 x 73.09 x 7.5mm
– Weight: 164g
– Connectivity: dual-SIM, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fiac, USB Type-C, NFC, A-GPS, GLONASS
The Mi 8 SE and Mi Band 3 might enter India in the last week of July or the first week of August. We’ll let you know the moment Xiaomi decides to officially confirm or deny the rumors.