It's a good day to be a Xiaomi fan. The Chinese company today unveiled its new Mi 8 smartphone series powered by MIUI 10, plus the new and ultra-affordable Mi Band 3. The Mi 8 and Mi 8 SE go on sale next month, while the transparent Mi 8 Explorer Edition will be available at a later date.
Xiaomi's new Mi 8 series is quite possibly the closest we've gotten to an Android-powered iPhone X so far. It doesn't just adopt the Apple flagship's controversial notch, but also the same rear-facing camera setup and many of its other design elements. It makes for an incredibly attractive device with impressive specifications.
Xiaomi Mi 8
The Mi 8 is the main handset in the series, but it's not quite the most impressive.
SPECS
|
Display |
6.21-inch OLED (2248x1080) 18.7:9 |
|
Processor |
Snapdragon 845 |
|
RAM |
6GB |
|
Storage |
64GB/128GB/256GB |
|
Rear Camera |
12MP Sony IMX363 (f/1.8) + 12MP Samsung S5K3m3 telephoto (f/2.4) |
|
Front Camera |
20MP (f/2.0) with AI Beautify |
|
Headphone Jack |
No |
|
Charging |
USB-C |
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE
The Mi 8 SE is a smaller, more affordable alternative to the Mi 8. It's also the first smartphone with a Snapdragon 710 processor.
SPECS
|
Display |
5.88-inch OLED (2244x1080) 18.7:9 |
|
Processor |
Snapdragon 710 |
|
RAM |
4GB/6GB |
|
Storage |
64GB |
|
Rear Camera |
12MP + 5MP telephoto |
|
Front Camera |
20MP with AI Beautify |
|
Headphone Jack |
No |
|
Charging |
USB-C |
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition
The Mi 8 Explorer Edition is the most impressive device in the series, with 3D Face Unlock that works just like iPhone X's Face ID, and a fingerprint scanner embedded into its display. It even has its own version of Animoji, and a transparent back panel that lets you see inside its housing.
SPECS
|
Display |
6.21-inch OLED (2248x1080) 18.7:9 |
|
Processor |
Snapdragon 845 |
|
RAM |
8GB |
|
Storage |
128GB |
|
Rear Camera |
12MP Sony IMX363 (f/1.8) + 12MP Samsung S5K3m3 telephoto (f/2.4) |
|
Front Camera |
20MP (f/2.0) with AI Beautify and 3D Face Unlock |
|
Headphone Jack |
No |
|
Charging |
USB-C |
MIUI 10
All three Mi 8 handsets come with MIUI 10 pre-installed. Xiaomi's latest software boasts new AI camera features, as well as a redesigned recent apps interface that maximizes screen space.
Mi Band 3
The new Mi Band 3 is Xiaomi's latest fitness tracker with a 0.78-inch OLED display (128x80) and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. It has a 110mAh battery that promises a 50 percent increase over the Mi Band 2, while a slightly more expensive variant packs an NFC chip that allows for mobile payments.
The Mi 8 and the Mi 8 SE will go on sale in China in early June, starting at 2,699 yuan (around $421) and 1,799 yuan (around $281), respectively. The Mi 8 Explorer Edition will arrive later, priced at 3,699 yuan (around $577).
The Mi Band 3 goes on sale June 5, priced at 169 yuan (around $26) without NFC, and 199 yuan (around $31) with NFC.
Source: Xiaomi