Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro review: Redmi Note 8 Pro features a quad-camera setup including a 64MP main camera, and is powered by the new MediaTek G90T processor. Here is our review of the performance.
The Redmi Note 8 Pro comes eight months after the Redmi Note 7 Pro, but it packs some major upgrades. The biggest is the 64MP main camera at the back, an upgrade over the 48MP Sony IMX586 camera we saw in the earlier variant. It also carries a 2MP macro-camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP camera for depth detection. But camera isn’t the only big upgrade in the new Redmi Note 8 Pro.
This is also the first Redmi Note phone in a long time to run a MediaTek processor in India. The original Redmi Note 3G had a MediaTek chipset as well, but ran into legal trouble with Ericsson. The Redmi Note 8 Pro is powered by the MediaTek G90T gaming processor. Xiaomi claims it has worked closely with the chipset maker on this. This time around, Redmi Note 8 Pro also gets an HDR-ready display, it has a dedicated microSD slot and starts at 6GB RAM going up to 8GB RAM.
The phone comes with a bigger 4500 mAh battery and support for 18W fast charging. Xiaomi has also included the fast charger in the box, instead of forcing users to buy one separately. The Redmi Note 8 Pro also sports liquid cooling and improves on its water-resistance rating with IP52. It also sports a new Halo White and Gamma Green colour option in addition to the Black.
Redmi Note 8 Pro Specifications:
6.53-inch full HD+ (1080p) display
MediaTek G90T octa-core processor
6GB or 8GB RAM with 64GB or 128GB storage with expandable storage support up to 512GB
64MP main camera + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro + 2MP depth camera + 20MP camera
4500 mAh battery with 18W fast charging
MIUI 10 with Android Pie
Price in India: Rs 14,999 for 6GB RAM +64GB, 6GB RAM+128GB at Rs 15,999 and 8GB RAM +128GB at Rs 17,999
Redmi Note 8 Pro Review: Design, Display
The Redmi Note 8 Pro has a curved back design, though this is a broad and bulky device compared to the previous variant. One reason is the bigger battery. Redmi Note 8 Pro also has a bigger display at 6.53-inches, with the full HD+ resolution.
The positioning of the fingerprint sensor right at the bottom of the camera module is not ideal either, because you will end up touching the lens like I did and covering it with smudges. The macro camera is placed away from the other three sensors to the right with flash on top of it. The idea here is to let people use flash to add more light when using macro shots.
The display on the Redmi Note 8 Pro continues to be one of the best for its price. It does come with Widevine L1 certification you can stream content at HD or full HD on YouTube, Netflix, etc. The viewing angles are good, and this is a sharp display, which works well in most scenarios. My only complaint would be the auto-brightness, which in some instances kept reducing brightness.
Redmi Note 8 Pro Review: Performance, battery
The Redmi Note 8 Pro runs the MediaTek G90T processor. It scores 228519 in Antutu objective test, putting it below flagships like S9, which is impressive. In PC Mark, Work 2.0 performance test it scored 9871, which is again comparable to flagship phones. So as far as objective tests go, the Redmi Note 8 Pro is making all the right noises.
Games like Asphalt 9, Badland, Nova Legacy all ran without any hitches. I switched Asphalt 9 to high graphics settings and the phone had no problems handling it. The graphics looked smooth without any lag. In regular usage, be it just browsing on social media or using the phone to edit photos to keeping 20 tabs open on Chrome, the experience was smooth.
Redmi Note 8 Pro Review: Camera
This is the part which Xiaomi is hyping up, given there’s a 64MP camera out here. The automatic resolution is 16MP. The camera certainly produces bright photos with accurate colour tones, even at night. The details are preserved in the photos. The selfies are quite impressive on this phone, and it actually creates a nice depth in Portrait mode, though it is not all perfect with edges on the hair.
The Night mode will brighten the scene, but once again you need to stay very still while taking this shot. There’s a dedicated 64MP mode to shoot at the higher resolution. You can double-tap on photos taken in this mode to view at HD resolution, according to the Xiaomi gallery app prompt. When you zoom in, yes the 64MP mode has more details, though not as sharp as one would want them to be, but it certainly packs in more than the regular 16MP mode.
The ultra-wide mode is not impressive. The difference in quality is noticeable compared to the main camera and it appears to be a downgrade. Even in a well-lit room, the results have too much noise. My major complaint with the camera was that at times, the focus would not lock. Perhaps Xiaomi will have to push an update to address this.
Redmi Note 8 Pro Review: Verdict
The Redmi Note 8 Pro has a lot riding considering it packs major upgrades such as four cameras, a 64MP main camera, a bigger battery, a new MediaTek processor. It is also being introduced in the market ahead of the crucial Diwali season. But along with more upgrades, Redmi Note 8 Pro starts at a higher price of Rs 14,999, though it now includes 6GB of RAM. The series now goes up to Rs 17,999.
Good
- Great performance
- Versatile cameras
- Premium build quality
- HDR display
Bad
- Gets warm under load
- Sub-par low-light video performance
Our Review For Mi Note 8 Pro : 9/10
Design : 9/10
Display : 8/10
Software : 8/10
Performance : 9/10
Camera : 9/10
Value for Money : 9/10
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