Redmi Note 8 series and MIUI 11 launched in India
After a bunch of teasers and speculations, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has finally launched the Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro smartphones in India. Both the handsets come with waterdrop notched design, full-HD+ displays, quad rear cameras, and mid-level internals. Alongside, the company has also introduced the MIUI 11 and will begin its rollout in the country starting October 22. Here's our roundup.
First, let's take a look at the smartphones
Up front, both Redmi Note 8 Pro and Note 8 sport a conventional waterdrop notched design with a thin bottom bezel and offer 91.94% and 90% screen-to-body ratio, respectively. On the rear side, the gradient finished panel on both handsets house quad cameras with LED flash and a physical fingerprint scanner for secure authentication.
Both handsets offer full-HD+ displays
The Redmi Note 8 Pro comes with a 6.53-inch LCD display with full-HD+ (1080x2340 pixels) resolution, while the standard Note 8 sports a smaller 6.39-inch LCD screen with the same resolution. Also, the displays on both smartphones are protected by Gorilla Glass 5 layer.
What's the camera like on Redmi Note 8 series?
The Redmi Note 8 Pro houses quad rear cameras including a mighty 64MP primary sensor, paired with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 2MP dedicated macro lens, and another 2MP depth sensor. On the other hand, the standard Note 8 sports a similar setup, but with a 48MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.
For the selfie lovers
Further, the Redmi Note 8 Pro houses a 20MP front-facing camera, while the standard Note 8 offers 13MP selfie shooter. The front cameras on both handsets offer features such as HDR, scene detection, and can record 1080p videos at 30fps.
Under the hood
The Redmi Note 8 Pro is powered by MediaTek Helio G90T processor and comes with liquid-cooling technology for smooth gaming experience. On the other hand, the standard Note 8 is fueled by a Snapdragon 665 chipset. The Pro model offers upto 8GB RAM and upto 128GB storage, while the standard Note 8 comes with upto 6GB RAM and upto 128GB storage.
Battery and operating system
The Redmi Note 8 Pro is backed by a 4,500mAh battery, while the standard Note 8 packs a smaller 4,000mAh battery. Both the handsets offer 18W fast-charging support. Presently, both phones run on Android Pie-based MIUI 10, but the standard Note 8 will get an MIUI 11 update in November and the Pro model will get that update in December.
Finally, here's a look at the pricing and availability
The Redmi Note 8 Pro starts at Rs. 14,999 for the 6GB/64GB model and goes upto Rs. 17,999 for the 8GB/128GB variant. Meanwhile, the Redmi Note 8, available in two configurations, costs Rs. 9,999 for the entry-level 4GB/64GB variant and Rs. 12,999 for the 6GB/128GB model. Lastly, both handsets will go on sale starting October 21 via Amazon, Mi.com, and Mi Home stores.
And, what's new in the MIUI 11?
Alongside the smartphones, Xiaomi has also introduced the MIUI 11, company's Android-based custom UI which was launched in China last month. The latest UI offers a bunch of new features including a dedicated system-wide dark mode, dynamic video wallpapers, an animated Dynamic Clock to offer an always-on experience, and more. Notably, the company will begin its roll-out in the country starting October 22.
