Smartphone Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro - advantages and disadvantages

Xiaomi in the fall of 2018 introduced two new items at once - Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Lite. Smartphones vary greatly in both features and price. This review is dedicated to the flagship Xiaomi models Mi 8 Pro.

If you look closely at the novelty, it turns out that it is not so new. Mi 8 Pro is very similar to the Mi 8 Explorer Edition released in May 2018, but there are still some differences between these models. In addition, Explorer Edition is positioned as a version for the Chinese market, and Pro as an international model.

Equipment

The smartphone comes in a stylish black box with a large number 8 on it. Opening the box, in addition to the phone, we can see:

• a charger that supports fourth-generation fast charging;
• USB Type-C cable;
• adapter from Type-C to 3.5 mm audio output;
• silicone transparent case;
• a device with which you can remove the SIM card;
• user's manual;
• warranty card.

Appearance

Xiaomi has developed an original design for its flagship. First of all, the transparent back cover of the smartphone is striking. Very impressive! In this regard, the fingerprint scanner has been moved to the screen. The dual rear camera and the Xiaomi logo have remained in their usual place.

The fingerprint sensor is different from what is used in the Explorer Edition. It's faster and more accurate. According to the manufacturer, the speed increased by 29%, and the accuracy increased by 9%. The scanner that is used in the Explorer Edition has a significant drawback - it is always on. This reduces battery life in standby mode. The new scanner recognizes pressing and turns on only when a finger is applied in the detection zone. After scanning, the sensor turns off and does not consume power when not in use.

Only the photomodule remained on the back panel, which in appearance and location is very similar to the one in the iPhone X. The smartphone has a frameless design. At the top is a large monobrow, which houses the front camera and numerous sensors.

In addition to the classic black case with a transparent back, which was first used in the Mi 8 Explorer Edition, the new model uses two more color options, called Twilight Gold and Dream Blue. Both options have a gradient color: golden color turns into fiery, and blue into lilac.Looks great! So, for those who don't like to contemplate the insides of the phone, now there is a great alternative (even two alternatives).

The Pro model has become a little larger than the classic "eight", its dimensions are 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm, and, accordingly, a little heavier - 177 g.

Specifications

We list the main technical characteristics of Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro

Screen

The smartphone has a 6.2-inch Samsung Amoled display with a resolution of 2248 x 1080 pixels. The aspect ratio is 18.7:9. The screen is very bright, good viewing angles. When tilted, the screen does not go into blue or other colors.Everything looks great in the sun. The color reproduction is very juicy. The display is great for watching videos, photos and games, it is a pleasure to surf the Internet.

At the top of the screen, like all the best manufacturers, Xiaomi has placed a unibrow. Many do not like it, but usually users quickly get used to it. It can be completely disabled in the screen settings. You can also adjust colors and contrast.

Operating system

Mi 8 Pro runs on Android 8.1 along with the long-awaited MIUI 10 skin. One of the novelties here is the algorithm for predicting the actions of the owner of the phone. The smartphone preloads the applications that it predicts the user will run. This increases system performance. In addition, the notification panel, gesture sets, ringtones and sounds have been updated.

The shell is pleasant to use, it has a convenient interface. I am glad that Xiaomi is constantly optimizing and updating the system.

Performance

The smartphone is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. It has 8 cores, 4 operate at a frequency of 2.8 GHz, and another 4 at 1.8 GHz. And this is not just a smart, but a super-efficient processor. Mi 8 has an excellent speed in the interface, in applications, and in games. Does not slow down, does not heat up, does not buggy. Everything is just perfect. The device is great for active games. For example, in PUBG or Battlefield games, the frame rate will be around 50. It is hard to imagine a scenario in which the Mi 8 Pro will stumble in performance. There is no strong heating of the phone, even if you play continuously for more than an hour. And no throttling.

The minimum configuration comes with 6 GB of RAM. The older version already has 8 GB installed. Permanent memory 128 GB. There is no 6/64 option like Mi 8.The memory is also fast, clocked at 1866 MHz.

The test results are very impressive. This is one of the fastest phones at the moment.

autonomy

The Mi 8 Pro has a 3000 mAh battery. The battery lasts for about 4 and a half hours of screen operation, about 7 hours of video playback at maximum brightness in FULL HD format and 4 hours of games. Without charging, you can work 1-2 days, depending on the load. These are pretty average figures.

The charger supports Quick Charge 4.0 and charging is very fast.

cameras

Smartphone cameras are very good. These are true flagship cameras.

Main camera

The Mi 8 has two 12MP modules. Used sensor Sony IMX 363 and S5K3M3. Aperture 1.8 and 2.4 respectively. There is a 2x optical zoom, four-axis optical stabilization, dual-phase autofocus and hardware multi-frame noise reduction. Photos are bright, saturated, contrast. Little noise even in low light. The camera has the correct white balance. Focusing is very fast and accurate. Sharpness is excellent.

The camera has manual settings, but the advantage of a smartphone is the automation of all processes. Artificial intelligence works perfectly. In most cases, the camera takes care of everything. It accurately determines the objects in the frame, beautifully finishes the colors, sometimes unnecessarily embellishing the picture. Blurring the background works well.

Portrait mode has a studio light function. This option allows you to post-process your photo right on your phone, choosing interesting effects. You can also play around with the blur settings already on the finished photo.

If you really find fault, then you can find small flaws.In portrait mode, the camera recognizes people well, but if you shoot objects, it often does not correctly determine their contours. Sometimes small details are lost, sometimes autofocus does not work well, but this is rare. Occasionally, a barely noticeable color fringing appears around objects.

The phone can shoot video in 4K resolution up to 30 frames per second. And he knows how well, including thanks to stabilization. Autofocus is accurate and very fast. The noise level is low, but sometimes there is a slight loss of detail.

Selfie camera

20MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. The front camera also takes great pictures. And the bokeh effect works even better than on the main camera. In low light, the result is good, but if everything is in order with the light, then the result is simply wonderful.

Photo examples

Wireless interfaces

The Mi 8 Pro has an NFC module, but, unfortunately, there is no wireless charging. A dual GPS antenna is installed here, which gives increased positioning accuracy, especially in urban areas, when the signal is reflected from buildings. Supports Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, Dual Sim. There is no radio.

Comparison with other popular models

Let's compare popular models that have similar characteristics and functionality. This will help determine which company's device is better. So, let's see who will lead the ranking of quality smartphones.

Comparison with Huawei P20 Pro

Both smartphones are similar in size and screen size. Fashionable materials - glass and metal - were used in the production. Amoled screens are also very similar and good, but the P20 has a much smaller monobrow, which allows more information to be placed at the top of the screen.

The cameras on the P20 Pro are better. There are as many as three main cameras 40 MP + 20 MP + 8 MP.The second camera is monochrome and gives shots a wider dynamic range. The third camera has a 3x optical zoom versus 2x for the Mi 8 Pro. In the daytime, the difference between the photos is almost imperceptible. Only if you use the increase, then the P20 Pro wins a little. Even inexpensive phones have now learned to shoot well during the day. What matters is how the smartphone takes pictures at night. But when shooting in low light conditions, the difference is already big. The P20 has a clear advantage. The pictures are much better and more detailed, and the colors are closer to natural. The P20 Pro has the best night camera on a smartphone right now.

The performance is much better in Mi 8. The Snapdragon 845 is far ahead of the Hisilicon Kirin 970, which is installed on the P20 Pro.

The P20 Pro has a 4000 mAh battery versus just 3000 mAh for Xiaomi. Accordingly, the autonomy of Huawei is higher.

The average price of P20 Pro is now about 15,000 rubles higher than the price of Mi 8 Pro. And this is a significant difference, which may well compensate for the difference in camera quality.

Advantages of Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro:

• better performance;
• better implemented face unlock;
• lower price.

Advantages of Huawei P20 Pro:

• small unibrow;
• better cameras;
• better autonomy.

What is the best model to buy? Here the selection criteria are simple. If you need an excellent camera, then you can safely buy P20 Pro. If this is not so important, then the Mi 8 Pro wins, especially for the price. These, of course, are not budget models, but you also need to pay attention to how much a smartphone costs.

Comparison with OnePlus 6

Mi 8 Pro and OnePlus 6 share the same chipset and similar Amoled displays.OnePlus has a smaller monobrow, but Xiaomi has an IR light that allows you to unlock the screen even in complete darkness, while OnePlus does not have one. The appearance of Mi 8 Pro is more interesting.

OnePlus has dust and moisture protection, as well as a slot for additional memory. All this is missing from Mi 8. Autonomy, despite the slightly larger battery capacity of OnePlus, is about the same.

The cameras are equally good during the day. If we look at how the OnePlus rear camera takes pictures at night, then this is simply bad compared to the Mi 8. The front camera is also better with Xiaomi.

The sound from the speaker of Mi 8 is better than that of OnePlus 6. Maybe this is due to the additional protection of the latter. The sound in the headphones is equally good on both devices.

Advantages of Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro:

• stylish design;
• better cameras;
• better implemented face unlock;
• better external speaker.

Advantages of OnePlus 6:

• small unibrow;
• the possibility of installing additional memory;
• protection against splashes and dust;
• the presence of a 3.5 mm jack.

How to choose from these models? Everything is more complicated here. Smartphones are similar. Brand loyalty can influence the popularity of models. Someone loves BBK models, someone buys Xiaomi. Definitely here we can say that the design of Mi 8 Pro is more interesting and diverse.

Results: advantages and disadvantages of Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro

• original design;
• chic Super Amoled screen;
• excellent camera;
• the presence of NFC;
• dual frequency GPS;
• quick face unlock.

• no slot for memory expansion;
• no protection against dust and moisture;
• no stereo speakers.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro smartphone has not yet officially entered our market.Therefore, it is not known where it is profitable to buy the device, except to try on AliExpress. Feedback on the results of various tests is good. In addition, many users have a good experience with the usual "eight". So, this model can be safely recommended to those who are looking for a stylish and reliable phone with excellent performance, a good screen and a camera.