This updated blog entry is about the . Ever since Banggood sent off a Bakeey cover for the Redmi Note 8 Pro phone when all I had at the time was the original Note 8 (there IS a difference – both great phones at the price but this one starts to make my Pocophone F1 look dated) and I realised I just HAD to have this improved phone which was released in September 2019 and which at the time of writing features a customised Android 10 (as of May 2020).
Having recently returned from a trip to Chicago, before I start I should politely point out for the benefit of died in the wool Apple and Samsung enthusiasts I met or know over there as well as the “comms expert” at Wallmart who seemed confused by my reference to a “Chinese phone – the Pocophone F1” and refused to believe my Pocophone was unlocked (i.e. not tied to any particular cellular provider like AT&T etc) – yes, there ARE other decent phone manufacturers, no they are not all cheap and no they aren’t all spying on us 🙂 In my experience Xiaomi make pretty good phones at a very reasonable price – please bear that in mind when looking at these specs.
In the photo above I’ve shown the Note 8 Pro in the Bakeey case. Below I show the phone without any case so you can see the actual colour of my model. Available in a range of colours, the Xiaomi (pronounced something like a soft “SHOW ME”) Note 8 Pro sitting in front of me is the “grey” version (a description which fails to get across the beauty of the phone). Here’s a quick list of important features which I think are important, to start the ball rolling. If you want the full list I’ve provided links at the top but I will also go into some detail later on in this entry, no doubt adding as I go along.
- 64MP ultra-high resolution camera (total 4 cameras including ultra-wide and macro lenses).
- 6.53″FHD + dot drop display 1080×2340 px – Gorilla Glass 5, HDR
- High performance Helio G90T processor
- 4500MaH battery with 18w fast-charge
- 6GB RAM and 64GB storage (variations are available)
- Dual SIM or 1 SIM + SD
- MIUI 11.0.3.0 – Android 9(Pocophone F1 has MIUI 11.0.5.0)
- Dimensions 161.4 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.35 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
- Weight 200 g (7.05 oz)
- Video quality – up to 4K at 30 FPS, slow motion, time-lapse
- Image quality – up to 64Mpx ultra HD, AI, HDR, 0.6x, 1x, 2x (highest resolution 9248×6936)
- 4-sided curved back
- Multifunction NFC, Bluetooth 5.0
- USB type C and 3.5mm jack
The Mi Note 8 Pro, like the Pocophone F1, has it’s rear cameras running along the centre (unlike the Mi Note 10 which has them running down one side. You have to wonder why the change).
As many of you will know, phone cameras can’t do the wide range of adjustments that some “proper” camera lenses handle so having multiple lenses seems like a sensible alternative and the Note 8 Pro has LOTS of options – more than my Pocophone F1 by some margin and THAT was (is) impressive). Add to that a WORKING, reliable port of the GooglePixel camera producing 4K video at 30fps as well as many other functions and making full use of the Note 8 Pro cameras.
The Note 8 Pro comes complete with an optional transparent back-case but oddly, no screen protector (I chose instead to use the Bakeey case I bought from Banggood months ago and that includes front and rear protection). I make it a rule never to use a phone without some kind of protection – it is easy to scratch any phone but nigh on impossible to un-scratch one – better safe than sorry, hence the .
Did I say I am pondering moving on the Pocophone F1 in favour of this new phone? It is midnight on a cold, miserable UK day – as soon as all of that changes I’ll be outdoors with the Note 8 Pro putting the camera lenses through their paces – as for the actual phone – well, it just works as expected – beautifully.
Note: Some of you with early experience of inexpensive Chinese phones may be hanging onto memories of unreliable GPS and/or WiFi- I’ve not seem that in years.
I think this phone will be better than other versions.
I’ve been using a Poco F1 for a good while now on your recommendation Pete, just a great all rounder phone and there is no offering from Apple or Samsung that I would consider for even a second as an alternative. it’s getting a little worn now so my mind is beginning to turn to a replacement. I suspect I know where to look…
PS thanks for all your good work.
Strange you should mention that David. My F1 has performed flawlessly for over a year but just yesterday I think there’s an issue with the Bluetooth. I thought it was my new earplugs but then tried without them – same issue, interference with WiFi. Turn the Bluetooth off and the WiFi is pefect. I’m about to look see if anyone out there has any ideas but there is SO much crap out there – I’m sure most of it is one Chinese company trying to damage another with misleading info – I say that because most of them can’t spell – could be teens in west of course. I looked up “Pocophone WiFi Bluetooth issues” and got the most abysmal rubbish. Still searching.
Haven’t experienced that issue Pete, I’ve been using bluetooth earphones a lot recently, streaming music from my home server and various podcasts from a range of sources, all over wifi with no probs to report.
You’ve got me worried It’ll all go pear shaped tonight now!!
I’m still for apple iphone 5> but this xiaomi looks even cool 🙂 and the specification is not the worst either.
I’ve had lots of different Xiaomi products and they are generally good. Smart watches, phones, other stuff. No complaints at all so far.
Many of my friends today recommend the Note 8 for its speed and low price that rivals the more expensive models. But I have to get NOTE 8 too:))
Hi
Here is the link for the Note 8
https://www.banggood.com/Xiaomi-Redmi-Note-8-Global-Version-6_3-inch-48MP-Quad-Rear-Camera-4GB-64GB-4000mAh-Snapdragon-665-Octa-core-4G-Smartphone-p-1577312.html?utm_campaign=247370_1577312&utm_content=1087&p=6W232147703332016054&ID=6277631&cur_warehouse=HK
Above is the link for the Note 8
Below is the link for the more expensive but more powerful Note 8 Pro.
https://www.banggood.com/Xiaomi-Redmi-Note-8-Pro-Global-Version-6_53-inch-64MP-Quad-Rear-Camera-6GB-64GB-NFC-4500mAh-Helio-G90T-Octa-Core-4G-Smartphone-p-1569414.html?utm_campaign=247370_1569414&utm_content=1087&p=6W232147703332016054&ID=6274951&cur_warehouse=ES
They are both good phones.
Pete
I want of those who’s using a Chinese phone, my first venture was actually the Google 6p which was a Huawei phone, I have an amazing experience with that phone, when a trip to Europe to see family I ran across family member who had the mi-max 3, a 6.8 in cell phone that of course you don’t hear about in the US, my 6p was on his last leg so I said the minute I’ll come back I’m going to order that one, when I came back started looking to find a source to buy the phone I came across another Chinese company but most people probably never heard Okitel with the model K9 that has 7.12 inch scream that’s the only thing that interests me in the phone I’m an old man who can’t see very well I’ve been using it since it works perfect for what I use it for wish they had more of that size but unfortunately accept Huawei nobody does, and you know the story with Huawei in the US.
I am well familiar with Oukitel – had 2 of them – both good – spec not as high as the Note 8 screen but long lasting batteries. I used K10000 as a server for a while https://tech.scargill.net/android-phone-as-a-server/ and I believe I had a K7000 at one point. The USA seems to have paranoid fears about China and Huawei in particular. Apart from central infrastructure I don’t see why and I believe Britain will go ahead with using Huawei kit. If your age is affecting your sight – looks for the larger screens on the Chinese phones – Oukitel isn’t a bad place to start. K9 sounds ok. As for cost – I think spending £1000 on a phone is madness personally… I rarely pay more than £300 ($400, 350 Euros – roughly)