Femiexe
Xiaomi Redmi has worked over the last couple of years to stamp its place as the dominant participant in the budget smartphone segment. While several new competitors have joined the race, Redmi attempts to hold its position with its entrant, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8.
Redmi is well-known for making the best budget phones on the market. While competition has been stiffer lately, the Note 8 still stands its ground as a worthy contestant. The phone appears to be an improvement on the Note 7S but not up to par with the Note 8 Pro. This smartphone was designed for people who don’t mind paying slightly more for better performance and functionality
This budget smartphone comes with a range of functions which has been improved on from the previous model in the series, the Redmi Note 7S. Users who would like a mid-range phone at a budget price point will find the Redmi Note 8 attractive.
Join us as we analyse all the important details, specifications and price to help you make a choice below.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Key Specs & Features
Dimensions: 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm (6.23 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
Weight: 190 Grams (With Battery)
Display Type: IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
Size: 6.3 inches (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold + 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
GPU: Adreno 610
RAM: (Memory): 4 GB, 6 GB
Internal Storage: 64 GB, 128 GB
Memory Card Slot: microSD, up to 256 GB
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Operating System: Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10
Camera: Rear Camera 48 MP (wide) + 8 MP (ultrawide) + 2 MP (dedicated macro camera) + 2 MP depth sensor lenses
Flash: LED flash, HDR, panorama
Front Camera: 13 MP
Battery Capacity: Li-Po 4000 mAh battery + Fast battery charging 18W
Design: Looks the Part
In the design department, the Note 8 looks the part of an affordable mid-range device. The design is conservative, with a smooth blend of glass and metal first seen on the Redmi Note 7.
You might object somewhat to the blue trim around the display area which isn’t very attractive. The bezel is small enough to be barely noticeable but large enough to carry the phone maker’s name.
The phone follows the notch trend with a small waterdrop cut at the top of the display. Situated to the left of the notch, is a barely-noticeable LED indicator. The phone continues its tradition of rock-solid construction as the USB-C port, sim tray and volume buttons do not come across as fragile.
Things aren’t so smooth at the rear of the phone as the 4-camera set up causes a noticeable bulge, an unwieldy addition to an otherwise balanced device. While the device appears to be thinner than its predecessors, it feels bulkier due to the camera bulge. The rear panel is hued with a green and blue colour mix and is made of Gorilla Glass 5.
Display: Adequate
The Redmi Note 8 sports a 6.3-inch IPS LCD which performs adequately for its price point. The display isn’t the brightest in the market, but at 430 nits, it doesn’t do too badly either. The device also has a Full HD+ display which looks great on the 6.3-inch screen. The device’s display is adequate, with a leaning towards cooler colour tones but doesn’t show much else. Nevertheless, the display is crisp and text comes across as clear.
Performance: Not So Bad
Redmi Note 8 is available in two variants: 4GB RAM/64GB internal memory and 6GB RAM/128 GB internal memory. Both variants are equipped with a Snapdragon 665 chipset which lends a bit more power to the device than the Note 7S, albeit at a slightly slower speed. With this setup, the device is capable of handling most demands, although there seems to be a bit of a lag when switching between applications. Still, it performs better than most phones in the budget category.
When faced with gaming demands, the phone does not square up very well. Playing RRPG games on maximum settings will see the device experiencing a lag, although it plays fine when settings are moderate. The graphics are barely better than the Note 7S and the device heats up considerably after heavy CPU use.
Battery: A Powerhouse
With a 4000mAh battery, power isn’t a major concern. The device easily lasts a whole day and a few extra hours of use. The battery held up pretty well after hours of streaming and regular use, proving to be a solid feature of the Note 8. The phone is accompanied by an 18W charger and fast charger, which fills up the battery in about 2 hours. Wireless charging is noticeably absent.
Camera: Redmi Note 8 Goes Multi-Camera
Redmi finally caught the multi-camera bug, the Note 8 sporting four rear cameras. The 48MP camera present in the Note 7S makes an appearance, this time with three additional sensors: an ultrawide lens, a depth sensor and a macro camera. The colours and pictures are sharp and natural-looking although pictures appear to undergo some processing to sharpen the images.
The ultrawide lens proves to be one of the best for phones in the same entry-level range. The wider angle enables you to capture images at wider angles. There appear to be little noticeable differences between the main lens and the ultrawide.
The addition of a macro camera offers users the option to shoot close range shots of objects, although it seems to have less detail than the main camera. It also works quite well indoors and in low light situations. The front camera produces decent looking selfies, for the phone’s budget category.
What is the Price for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 in Nigeria
Redmi plays to its strengths as a good performance budget phone and has set its price point to reflect this. The 4GB/64GB variant is pegged at N56,500 while the 6GB/128GB option is a cool N71,000. Compare prices on Jumia and Konga
Decisions, Decisions
Redmi Note 8 is a decent entry into the budget phone category. While it might not be the best, it performs reasonably, for its price. If you’re a moderate phone user intending to use the device for the basic functions such as social media, emails, videos and some light gaming, you should seriously consider getting this and you’ll be good to go.
If you’re looking for something with much higher specifications, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
