The Redmi Note series has inarguably been Xiaomi's most successful product lineup across Asia, and the recently launched Redmi Note 7 series has been one of the best selling products in its segment. At an event in China, the company has now launched the next generation in the Redmi Note lineup -- meet the Redmi Note 8 and the Redmi Note 8 Pro, launched alongside the RedmiBook 14 laptop and Redmi TV.
Specifications - Redmi Note 8 Series
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Specifications |
Redmi Note 8 |
Redmi Note 8 Pro |
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Display |
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SoC |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 665:
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MediaTek Helio G90T:
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RAM & Storage |
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Battery |
4000 mAh |
4500 mAh |
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USB & Charging |
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Connectivity & Extras |
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Rear Camera |
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Front Camera |
13MP |
20MP |
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Android Version |
Android 9 Pie underneath MIUI 10 |
Android 9 Pie underneath MIUI 10 |
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Pricing (China) |
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Redmi Note 8
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is immediately recognizable as a successor in the Redmi Note series, as it shares a design language that is similar to the Redmi Note 7. We already have most of the specifications in our hand, as the phone had passed through the FCC earlier, and Redmi itself had confirmed a fair few details through teasers. The biggest point of difference externally is the quad rear camera setup coming in now with a wide-angle lens shooter and a dedicated macro lens shooter, which is a massive upgrade on theoretical versatility against the dual rear camera setup on the predecessor. Bezels also see shrinking down as the phone has a higher screen-to-body ratio -- though we dislike the presence of the Redmi branding on the bottom chin. We also see a conventional fingerprint scanner on the back of the device.
On the inside, the processor comes with an upgrade in the form of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665. While the battery size remains the same, you now get fast-charging up to 18W. Unfortunately, we could not confirm if the new phone supports microSD expansion.
The Redmi Note 8 will cost CNY 999 (~$140/₹10,030) for the 4GB + 64GB variant; CNY 1,199 (~$167/₹12,037) for the 6GB + 64GB variant and CNY 1,399 (~$195/₹14,046) for the 6GB + 128GB variant. The first sale for the device will be held on September 17, 2019, in China. Indian pricing is expected to vary by a margin, though it is unclear if that would be for the better or for the worse.
Redmi Note 8 Pro
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro comes off as an entirely different device, though we still had a fair idea of what to expect here. There is a new design at play here, coming in with 3D curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the back of the phone that should give it a much better feel in the hand compared to the more "boxy" Redmi Note 7 Pro. Redmi has shrunk down bezels even further on this phone (so much so that there's no space for the Redmi branding on the chin), despite not opting for a pop-up front camera. We also see a conventional fingerprint scanner on the back, resting below the cameras in the camera module.
While Realme can claim credits for soft-launching the first phone with a 64MP quad rear camera setup, the Redmi Note 8 Pro will very well be the first 64MP quad rear camera to launch properly and reach the hands of customers, albeit in China at first. The 64MP Samsung ISOCELL GW1 sensor utilizes pixel binning technology for brighter and sharper images and is also able to produce images at full 64MP if you need to focus on details. The other three cameras are shared across the Redmi Note 8. The front camera also sees an upgrade to a 20MP shooter.
The Redmi Note 8 Pro will cost CNY 1,399 (~$195/₹14,046) for the 6GB + 64GB variant; CNY 1,599 (~$224/₹16,054) for the 6GB + 128GB variant and CNY 1,799 (~$250/₹18,062) for the 8GB + 128GB variant. The first sale for the device will take place on September 3, 2019, in China. Pricing in India is expected to differ and could sway in either direction.
Xiaomi also announced a World of Warcraft Special Edition for the Redmi Note 8 Pro, which will feature exclusive goodies and themes. The Redmi Note 8 Pro will also support a gamepad attachment accessory, which will be sold separately for CNY 179 (~$25).
RedmiBook 14
Xiaomi also took the opportunity to launch a refreshed version of the RedmiBook 14 laptop. The laptop features a 14" FHD display with 250 nits of peak brightness. The laptop measures 323 mm x 228 mm x 17.95 mm, and weighs 1.5kg. Connectivity on the laptop is handled through 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, a 3.5mm headphone jack and 1x HDMI port. The device also comes with a 46W battery, and genuine MS Office preinstalled.
On the inside, the refreshed RedmiBook 14 comes with 10th Gen Intel processors and Nvidia MX250 GPU with 2GB DDR5 graphics memory. The RedmiBook 14 comes in three variants for the processor, RAM, and storage: Intel Core i5 (10210U), 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for CNY 3,999 (~$560/₹40,160); Intel Core i5 (10210U), 8GB RAM and 512GB SS for CNY 4,499 (~$629/₹45,181); and Intel Core i7 (10510U) with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD for CNY 4,999 (~$699/₹50,202). The new laptops will go on sale in China from September 6, 2019.
Redmi TV
Redmi's first TV is a 70" 4K HDR TV, with a 64bit Amlogic SoC, 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, and Dolby Audio. Connectivity features on the Redmi TV include dual-band Wi-Fi, 3x HDMI ports and 2x USB ports. Much like Xiaomi's Mi TVs, the Redmi TV also comes with PatchWall for content aggregation and delivery. The remote for the TV connects through Bluetooth and can be controlled through voice.
The Redmi TV will be available in China for CNY 3,799 (~$531/₹38,151), which makes it one of the cheapest TVs in the segment from a well-known company. Redmi TV is expected to be launched in India in the future, though we expect the pricing to be higher than the Chinese pricing.
What are your thoughts on the Redmi Note 8, Redmi Note 8 Pro, RedmiBook 14 and Redmi TV? Let us know in the comments below!