Xiaomi Mi 8: A Flagship Smartphone Overview

Xiaomi Mi 8

1. Basic Overview

The Xiaomi Mi 8 is a flagship smartphone developed and marketed by Xiaomi Corporation, unveiled on May 31, 2018, at a launch event in Shenzhen, China. Positioned as the company’s 8th-anniversary flagship device, it marked Xiaomi’s significant push into the high-end smartphone segment, competing directly with Samsung’s Galaxy S series and Apple’s iPhone lineup. The Mi 8 was Xiaomi’s first smartphone to adopt 3D structured light facial recognition (a premium feature at the time) and featured a dual-camera system co-engineered with Sony for enhanced imaging performance.

Launched with Android 8.1 Oreo and Xiaomi’s MIUI 9 custom skin, the device later received updates to Android 10 (MIUI 12.5), with Xiaomi providing major software support for two years and security patches for an additional year. The Mi 8 was discontinued in 2019, succeeded by the Xiaomi Mi 9. It remains a notable model in Xiaomi’s history for bridging the gap between the brand’s budget-friendly roots and premium flagship aspirations, gaining popularity in both domestic Chinese and global markets (rebranded as Mi 8 Global Version for international release).

2. Key Hardware Specifications (Global Variant: M1803E1A)

Component	Technical Specifications
Display	6.21-inch Super AMOLED panel; 2248×1080 (FHD+) resolution; 402 ppi; 18.7:9 aspect ratio; DCI-P3 wide color gamut; 60 Hz fixed refresh rate; Corning Gorilla Glass 5; in-display fingerprint sensor (optical type, optional on some variants)
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core chip (4×2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold + 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver); Adreno 630 GPU; 10nm FinFET manufacturing process
Memory (RAM)	6 GB / 8 GB LPDDR4X RAM (non-upgradable)
Storage Options	64 GB / 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 2.1 storage (non-expandable, no microSD card slot)
Rear Camera System	Dual-camera setup co-engineered with Sony:- 12MP Wide: Sony IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), 1.4 μm pixels, phase-detection autofocus (PDAF)- 12MP Telephoto: f/2.4 aperture, 2x optical zoom, 1.0 μm pixels, PDAFFeatures: 4K video recording (30 fps), 1080p slow-motion video (240 fps), AI scene recognition, portrait mode with bokeh effect, HDR
Front Camera	20MP Selfie Camera: Sony IMX376 sensor, f/2.0 aperture, fixed focus; AI beauty mode, portrait mode; 1080p video recording (30 fps)
Biometric Security	Optional 3D structured light facial recognition (for premium variants); optical in-display fingerprint sensor (optional); rear-mounted fingerprint sensor (standard on base models)
Battery	3,400 mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery; 18W wired fast charging (QC 4.0+ compatible); no wireless charging support
Connectivity	4G LTE Advanced (Cat 18, up to 1.2 Gbps download); Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band); Bluetooth 5.0; NFC; USB-C 2.0 port; 3.5 mm headphone jack; GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/Beidou
Dimensions & Weight	154.9 × 74.8 × 7.6 mm; 175 grams
Build & Durability	Aluminum alloy frame; glass back panel; Gorilla Glass 5 front; no official IP rating for water/dust resistance
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, electronic compass, Hall effect sensor, infrared sensor (for facial recognition)
Audio	Single bottom-firing speaker; 3.5 mm headphone jack; Hi-Res Audio certification

3. Core Software & Feature Highlights

3.1 Flagship Performance & Hardware Innovations

Snapdragon 845 Processor: The 10nm Snapdragon 845 was one of the most powerful mobile chips in 2018, delivering flagship-level performance for gaming (e.g., PUBG Mobile at high settings), 4K video editing, and multitasking. The Adreno 630 GPU supported advanced gaming features like Vulkan API, reducing power consumption while boosting frame rates.
3D Structured Light Facial Recognition: Exclusive to premium Mi 8 variants, this feature projected 30,000 infrared dots onto the user’s face to create a 3D depth map, enabling secure face unlocking even in complete darkness— a significant upgrade over 2D facial recognition used in budget smartphones.
Optical In-Display Fingerprint Sensor: An optional feature on higher-end models, the in-display fingerprint sensor replaced the rear-mounted sensor for a cleaner design, offering convenient one-tap unlocking by detecting fingerprint patterns through the AMOLED display.

3.2 Camera & Imaging Capabilities

Sony Dual-Camera System: The combination of Sony IMX363 wide sensor and 2x telephoto lens delivered sharp photos with accurate color reproduction. OIS on the wide lens minimized blur from hand shake, while 2x optical zoom enabled lossless close-up shots without relying on digital zoom.
AI Scene Recognition: MIUI’s AI engine recognized 20+ common scenes (e.g., food, landscape, portrait, night) and automatically adjusted camera parameters (exposure, saturation, white balance) for optimal results, simplifying photography for casual users.
Portrait Mode with Bokeh Control: The telephoto lens captured depth information to create natural-looking background blur, and users could adjust the bokeh intensity before or after taking a photo, mimicking the effect of a DSLR camera with a large aperture lens.

3.3 MIUI 9 & Software Experience

MIUI 9: Xiaomi’s custom skin introduced a streamlined interface with faster app launch speeds, improved multitasking, and a range of proprietary features, including Second Space (dual-user mode for personal and work data), App Cloner (run two instances of the same app), and Game Turbo (optimized performance for gaming).
Android 10 Update (MIUI 12.5): The major software update added system-wide dark mode, enhanced privacy controls (e.g., app permission monitoring, location spoofing alerts), and a redesigned UI with smoother animations, extending the device’s usable lifespan.
Global Version Optimization: The international variant supported multiple languages and regional services (e.g., Google Play Store, Google Assistant), addressing a key criticism of earlier Xiaomi devices that lacked official Google services outside China.

4. Market Reception & Controversies

4.1 Positive Feedback

Flagship Features at a Competitive Price: The Mi 8 offered Snapdragon 845 performance, 3D facial recognition, and a Sony dual-camera system at a price significantly lower than Samsung and Apple’s flagships, making it a favorite among value-focused power users.
Vibrant AMOLED Display: The Super AMOLED panel was praised for its deep blacks, vibrant colors, and wide color gamut, delivering an immersive viewing experience for media consumption and gaming.
Smooth Performance: Reviewers noted that the Snapdragon 845 and LPDDR4X RAM handled intensive tasks with ease, and MIUI 9’s optimizations minimized bloatware and lag compared to earlier Xiaomi devices.

4.2 Limitations & Criticisms

No IP Rating: The lack of official water and dust resistance was a major drawback, especially for a flagship device competing with IP68-rated phones like the Samsung Galaxy S9.
Non-Expandable Storage: The absence of a microSD card slot disappointed users who needed extra storage for photos, videos, and apps, as the base 64 GB storage quickly filled up with large files.
Battery Life: The 3,400 mAh battery was smaller than competitors’ flagship batteries (e.g., 3,500 mAh in Galaxy S9, 2,691 mAh in iPhone X but with more efficient chips), leading to shorter screen-on time for heavy users.
Design Similarity to iPhone X: The Mi 8’s notch display and vertical dual-camera layout were criticized for being too similar to the iPhone X, with some reviewers labeling it a “copycat” design.

5. Legacy & Positioning

Transition to Full-Screen Design: The Mi 8’s notch display was part of Xiaomi’s shift to full-screen smartphones, a trend that continued with the Mi 9’s waterdrop notch and later models’ under-display cameras.

Xiaomi’s Flagship Breakthrough: The Mi 8 was the first Xiaomi flagship to be widely recognized globally, establishing the brand as a serious competitor in the premium smartphone market rather than just a budget brand.

3D Facial Recognition for Mid-Tier Markets: By offering 3D structured light facial recognition at a lower price point, Xiaomi made this premium feature accessible to a broader audience, paving the way for its adoption in subsequent mid-range devices.

MIUI Globalization: The Mi 8 Global Version’s official support for Google services was a turning point for Xiaomi’s international expansion, helping the brand gain market share in Europe, India, and Southeast Asia.