Xiaomi Mi 8

The Mi 8 uses a 6.21-inch FHD+ Samsung AMOLED full screen display with an 18.7:9 aspect ratio and 86.68% screen-to-body ratio. The body features a four-sided curved glass back panel, aviation-grade aluminum frame and a 2.5D glass screen. It is the first smartphone to adopt dual-frequency GPS, supporting both L1 and L5 bands, for more accurate navigation.

Xiaomi has unveiled its new flagship Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer Edition smartphones featuring a notch, 3D face unlock, animated emojis, an in-display fingerprint sensor and more.

“As we mark our 8th year with significant milestones and prepare to enter a new stage in our journey, Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer Edition celebrate our growth and truly show how far we have come,” said Lei Jun, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi. “They demonstrate Xiaomi’s commitment to relentlessly pursuing innovation, and our dedication to deliver amazing products at honest pricing. Pursuing innovative technology and outstanding design is in our DNA, and we will continue to push boundaries and constantly improve ourselves, as we set out to win the hearts of our users.”

The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 845 platform with Artificial Intelligence Engine (AIE) and Adreno 630 graphics, achieving an AnTuTu score over 300,000. It has a 12MP dual AI camera, which received a 105 DxOMark photo score. On the front is a 20MP camera that uses pixel binning technology to combine information from four pixels to create one large 1.8µm pixel for clearer photos in low light. Xiaomi has also included a Studio Lighting function and facial retouching effects.

The Mi 8 also features an infrared camera paired with a dedicated infrared illuminator for face unlocking similar to the iPhone X.

The higher end Explorer Edition offers 3D face unlock and also includes a pressure-sensitive in-display fingerprint sensor. Users can also create their own animated emojis based on facial expressions.

Setting it apart from the Mi 8, the Mi 8 Explorer Edition comes with a transparent glass back panel.

Xiomi has also announced a slim Mi 8 SE, designed for those who favor a smaller smartphone. It has a 5.88-inch Samsung AMOLED full screen display and a Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 710 SoC.

Pricing and Availability
Mi 8 and Mi 8 SE will be available in China starting 5 and 8 June, starting at RMB 2699 ($421) and RMB 1799 ($281), respectively. Mi 8 Explorer Edition is priced at RMB 3699 ($577) and will be available at a later date.