World’s First Smartphone with a 64 MP Camera: Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 Pro
by Anton Shilov on August 31, 2019 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Snapdragon
- Android
- Mobile
- Xiaomi
- MediaTek
- Redmi
- Redmi Note 8
Xiaomi has unveiled its new breed of Redmi Note smartphones boasting with high-performance SoCs as well as premium cameras. The new flagship Redmi Note 8 Pro is the industry’s first handset to feature Samsung GW1 64MP camera module, whereas the Redmi Note 8 offers a 48 MP camera at an entry-level price point.
The Redmi Note 8 Pro
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro comes in a rather standard chassis comprised of an aluminum frame encompassed with Gorilla Glass 5 and features a 6.53-inch IPS LCD display with a 2340×1080 resolution as well as a 19.5:9 ratio. With a screen to body ratio of 91.4% (according to Xiaomi) and a rain drop selfie camera module, the device will be available in three colors: Mineral Grey, Pearl White and Forest Green.
Being a range-topping ‘Pro-level’ device, the Redmi Note 8 Pro is based on MediaTek’s flagship G90T SoC (two Cortex-A76, six Cortex-A55, quad-cluster Mali G76 at 800 MHz, AI-specific accelerators, dual-channel LPDDR4X controller, 12FFC) accompanied by 6 or 8 GB of LPDDR4X memory as well as 64 or 128 GB of NAND flash storage (expandable using a microSD card). The SoC is cooled down using Xiaomi’s LiquidCool cooling system (featuring a large piece of aluminum and a heat pipe) in a bid to sustain peak performance for prolonged periods. Performance wise, the new smartphone promises to be rather powerful, yet one of the main reasons to use the MediaTek G90T is because it supports a 64 MP camera module.
In fact, imaging capabilities are the key selling point of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. The main camera is comprised of the Samsung GW1 64 MP RGB module, an 8 MP ultrawide sensor with a 120° field of view, a 2 MP dedicated macro lens, a 2 MP depth sensor, and a dual-LED flash. Meanwhile, the phone also has a 20 MP camera for selfies.
Of course, the Redmi Note 8 Pro supports 4G/LTE: up to 600 Mbps downloads and up to 150 Mbps downloads. Other notable features of the Redmi Note 8 Pro include a 4,500 mAh battery, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, IP52 splash-proof protection, a USB 2.0 Type-C port for data and charging, a 3.5-mm audio jack, an IR blaster, and stereo speakers.
The Redmi Note 8
The 'younger' brother of the family — the Redmi Note 8 — is naturally a more cost effective option. Coming in an aluminum with glass on the front and plastic on the back chassis, this smartphone has a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display with 2340×1080 resolution. It is based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 SoC (four Cortex-A73-like cores, four Cortex-A53-like cores, an Adreno 610 GPU, X12 LTE modem) that is paired with 4 or 6 GB of RAM as well as 64 GB or 128 GB of storage.
Even though it is positioned as a mainstream smartphone, the Redmi Note 8 also has a premium quad-module main camera comprising of a 48 MP RGB sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide sensor with a 120° field of view, a 2 MP dedicated macro lens, a 2 MP depth sensor, and a LED flash. It also has a 13 MP camera for selfies. Inherited from the 'older' brother are a USB Type-C connector, an IR blaster, and a 3.5-mm headset jack.
Spec Comparison
| The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Family | |||
| Redmi Note 8 Pro | Redmi Note 8 | ||
| Display | IPS LCD 6.53" 2340x1080 Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
IPS LCD 6.3" 2340x1080 |
|
| SoC | MediaTek G90T 2x Cortex-A76 at 2 GHz 6x Cortex-A55 at 2.05 GHz quad-cluster Mali G76 at 800 MHz AI-specific accelerators dual-channel LPDDR4X controller 12FFC |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 4x Cortex-A73-like cores 4x Cortex-A53-like cores Adreno 610 GPU X12 LTE modem |
|
| RAM | 6 or 8 GB LPDDR4X | 4 or 6 GB DRAM | |
| Storage | 64 GB or 128 GB of NAND flash microSD card slot |
||
| Local Connectivity | Wi-Fi | 802.11ac Wi-Fi | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | ||
| Data/Charging | USB 2.0 Type-C | ||
| Audio | 3.5-mm jack stereo speakers active noice cancellation |
3.5-mm jack stereo speakers |
|
| NFC | Yes | - | |
| LTE | 4G/LTE CAT 12 UL 600 Mbps CAT 13 UL 150 Mbps |
X12 LTE | |
| Navigation | A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS | A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | |
| Rear Camera | Main | 64 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7-inch 0.8µm pixels PDAF |
48 MP, f/1.8, 1/2-inch 0.8µm pixels, PDAF |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP, f/2.2 13mm (ultrawide) 1/4-inch 1.12 µm pixels |
||
| Macro | 2 MP, f/2.4 1/5-inch 1.075 µm pixels |
||
| Depth | 2 MP, f/2.4 1/5-inch 1.075 µm pixels |
||
| Front Camera | 20 MP, f/2.0 | 13 MP, f/2.0 | |
| Battery | Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Expected Life | ? | ? | |
| SIM Size | Nano SIM + Nano Sim | ||
| Sensors | accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | ||
| Biometric Security | Fingerprint | Yes (?) | Yes |
| Facial Recognition | - | - | |
| Dimensions | Height | 161.3 mm | 6.35 inches | 158.3 mm | 6.23 inches |
| Width | 76.4 mm | 3.01 inches | 75.3 mm | 2.96 inches | |
| Thickness | 8.8 mm | 0.35 inches | 8.4 mm | 0.33 inches | |
| Weight | 199 grams | 7.02 ounces | 190 grams | 6.7 ounces | |
| Colors | Mineral Grey Pearl White Forest Green |
Blue White/Grey Black |
|
| Protection | Drop | ? | - |
| Splashes | IP52 | - | |
| OS | Google Android 9.0 with MIUI 10 | ||
| Launch Countries | China initially, NA/EU launch later | ||
| Price | 6 GB + 64 GB — RMB 1,399 6 GB + 128 GB — RMB 1,599 8 GB + 128 GB — RMB 1,799 starts at $172 |
4 GB + 64 GB — RMB 999 6 GB + 64 GB — RMB 1,199 6 GB + 128 GB — RMB 1,399 starts at $124 |
|
Price and Availability
So far, Xiami has introduced its Redmi Note 8 series only for China, where they will ship in September, but expect the smartphones to hit other markets in the future. The Redmi Note 8 Pro starts at RMB 1,399 for a 6 GB + 64 GB version and goes all the way to RMB 1,799 for an 8 GB + 128 GB model. The Redmi Note 8 is naturally cheaper: it costs RMB 999 – RMB 1,399 depending on configuration.
Related Reading:
- Xiaomi Unveils Black Shark 2 Pro: Snapdragon 855+, UFS 3.0 Storage
- Xiaomi Mi 9 Lauched in China: 6.39-inch Snapdragon 855 with Game Turbo
- Xiaomi Announces Mi MIX 2S: Snapdragon 845 and Dual Camera for Mi MIX
- Xiaomi Launches Redmi Note 5 & Redmi Note 5 Pro with 18:9 5.99-Inch LCDs
- Xiaomi Announces the Redmi Note 4 in India
Sources: Xiaomi/Redmi, GSMArena
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Plumplum - Saturday, August 31, 2019 - link
Some tiny mistakes...About CPU fréquence on G90T, it's the opposite :
2xA76 at 2.05ghz
6xA55 at 2.00ghz
About 2MP sensors, I think it's 1.75micro not 1.075
Fingerprint sensor : yes...you see it clearly on photo
ads295 - Sunday, September 1, 2019 - link
active "noice" cancellation... someone seems to like B-99.However it would be really strange if ANC was available only on the Pro, it's like a default feature for voice calls for generations of smartphones now.
ads295 - Saturday, August 31, 2019 - link
I'd buy Xiaomi if they did OLED. The Mi A3 isn't good enoughheffeque - Saturday, August 31, 2019 - link
I'm actually really happy with my Xiaomi 9T phone. It's got a really nice OLED screen, it's all screen (no notch), a decent set of cameras, a more than decent CPU that combined with a big battery give me more than 2 days of normal use... For 300€ it was a steal.ads295 - Sunday, September 1, 2019 - link
Nice. Where are you located, it is not sold in my countryWatcherCK - Sunday, September 1, 2019 - link
you could try buying one from Aliexpress (I buy alot of used computer gear from there prices are great and free shipping) you would be best to confirm that the phone will work on your countries cellphone grid and if you decide to buy a phone from there load the Global ROM (I got my phone from a local supplier so it was already running the global ROM...)WatcherCK - Sunday, September 1, 2019 - link
Just wanted to add some more thumbs up for the 9T, and some initial thoughts after using it for a week... as heffeque mentioned there is no in screen front facing camera instead there is a mechanical pop up camera which had two instant reactions " Ooooh" and "how long before it breaks" Battery life has been amazing (4000mAh) Im on day three of moderate usage and still over 20% battery capacity left. 128GB of storage. I think a snapdragon 730 processor? In screen finger print sensor is pretty cool. Camera app is fairly light (although looking though the google app store decent camera apps is a bit of a hot mess at the moment) and the price is I think is what a mid-end smartphone should cost, I just couldnt justify paying 1000 or more local tokens for a S or A branded phone...Lolimaster - Sunday, September 1, 2019 - link
Use the gcam @xda, MASSIVELY improves the Mi9T camera.StormyParis - Saturday, August 31, 2019 - link
I like Xiaomi products and have been recommending their Note to most people around me. Have had positive feedback, even from ex-iUsers (love the battery !).The megapixel crap has to stop though.They already pulled it with the 48mpx Note 7, which in the end didn't usually take better picture then the 12mpx Note 5 since the SoC can't handle that rez anyway, and often took worse pics because they downgraded the autofocus.
There's little to dislike about the Redmi Note (mic ain't great for Skyping and shoting talkies, no NFC on the non-pro), and a lot to like (cute, solid HW, solid SW, solid battery, SD, jack...)... the whatever-mpx camera is prolly good-not+great, as always. If that's the reason you want that Note, turn around right now.
StevoLincolnite - Saturday, August 31, 2019 - link
Yeah. I thought the megapixel wars were over with... Seems they might be back.I would like to see a comparison between this and other flagship cameras because I would assume that even 20MP shooters in a flagship from say... Samsung would probably resolve better images overall.