Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite - test.We checked if it is worth buying a cheaper version of the top smartphone

Home ›Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite - Test.We checked if it is worth buying a cheaper version of the top smartphone21.11.2018 20:07Mateusz Budzeń

One of the most interesting proposals among mid -range smartphones is Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, which can be described with a cheaper version of the top Mi 8.Yes, it is a poorer model, but it certainly cannot be said that we are dealing with a weak smartphone.On the contrary, Mi 8 Lite can be a good choice, especially now that its price has dropped to about PLN 1050.However, it is worth remembering that when choosing this model, you need to accept a few shortcomings.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: Specification

Workmanship and large housing

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, like most smartphones from the Chinese manufacturer's offer, can positively surprise the quality of workmanship, despite the low price.The described model can compete in this respect with devices that cost 2 thousand.zlotys.

The front cover of the fifth generation Gorilla Glass, which is characterized by high scratch resistance.After almost three weeks, there are no first signs of use on my test copy.I must point out that during this period Mi 8 Lite was worn in a pocket in which he found himself with the car keys several times.I certainly did not care about it and I did not use a case or protective film.

The back was also covered with glass.However, Xiaomi does not specify what kind of glass we are dealing with.This is probably not the fifth generation glass.Despite this, it copes quite well with maintaining the initial splendor.Yes, no scratches appeared in the back.However, I do not exclude the option that after a long time we can see any signs of use.So let's equip yourself with a case, which will additionally provide protection during falls.The manufacturer adds a fairly good quality silicone case to the box.

The sides were covered with aluminum.Due to the fact that they are rounded, my 8 lite is well in my hand, and it must be noted that we are dealing with a really large smartphone.The exact dimensions are 156.4 × 75.8 × 7.5 mm, which is only slightly less than the iPhone XS Max.Returning to the materials used - the side buttons are made of plastic.They have a slight, pleasant jump, although associated with lower price devices.

Unfortunately, it is not perfect.As I mentioned in the introduction, reaching for Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, you need to accept a few shortcomings.The first ones are already in the case of the housing.She eagerly collects fingerprints.It is enough to literally a few minutes to cover the whole back in fatty traces.Secondly, the camera placed on the back slightly protrudes, which exposes it to damage.In addition, it can disturb when the smartphone lies on a hard surface - then it rests on the rear island.Although due to the fact that both lenses are placed horizontally, there are no undesirable swaying effect.Third, Mi 8 Lite can just be too big for many people.Yes, both hands are needed to operate.You really feel the whole block in your pocket.

Display and notch

For people who prefer large smartphones, one of the biggest advantages of Mi 8 Lite will be the display.The screen can boast of a 6.26 inches diagonal.For comparison, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4 -inch screen, and the iPhone X is "only" 5.8 inches.The resolution is 1080 × 2246 pixels, which ensures pixel density at 403 ppi.So we get a really sharp picture in which individual pixels cannot be seen in normal use.

Colors or viewing angles are good.However, I have to attach to maximum brightness, which should be slightly greater to ensure higher comfort when using outside.Some deficiencies are felt primarily on a sunny day.

There was a notch upstairs.Opponents of doubtful attractive cutouts on the screen certainly write a comment about them, notch!I do not buy.I am also not delighted with this solution applied after the premiere of the iPhone X.However, it also has advantages - due to the lack of a frame upstairs, the smartphone is simply smaller.Moreover.However, there is still a problem with a limited number of notifications displayed on the top beam.

Notcha can be "hidden" in the settings.This option, however, does not be in the display section.It is necessary to look for a full -screen display in the menu.I consider such a breakdown to be very intuitive and unnecessarily introducing chaos.After hiding the cut on the sides, a black belt with icons will be displayed.Interestingly, it is slightly larger vertically than a physical notch.In addition, due to the fact that we are dealing with a smartphone with an LCD screen, which does not provide perfect black, you can quite clearly see a real notch.

Xiaomi can use the potential of a large display.In Mi 8 Lite, just like in other models, the screen division option is available into two applications running side by side.I admit that I have never needed this option and I really do not feel any increase in productivity while using two applications on your smartphone.Especially since the interface in applications is often cut and not all options are easily available.Of course, I understand that there will be people who will use the division function.Therefore, it deserves to be included in the list of advantages.

Performance, games and battery

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is equipped with an octa -core Snapdragon 660 processor, which reaches a maximum clock speed of 2.2 GHz.This system is made in a 14-nanometer lithographic process and consists of the Kryo 260 cores.Adreno 512 deals with graphics processing.The user receives in the basic version of 4 GB RAM and 64 GB per files in the basic version.In turn, in the more expensive variant, we have 6 GB RAM and 128 GB for data.It is worth adding that there was a microSD memory card slot.

A similar set can be found in other medium shelf smartphones. Chociaż warto zauważyć, że także w modelach, które potrafią kosztować kilkasetzlotys więcej.Nobody will complain about performance - yes, this is not the top Snapdragon 845, but the 660 model will work in most tasks.Android with the MIUI overlay works really efficiently.Popular applications from Google Play, as well as, of course, system applications, start almost immediately.The memory should not be missing, even if we use several running applications in the background, and in Google Chrome we always have several cards open.This applies to the tested basic variant with 4 GB of RAM, so in the more expensive model with 6 GB RAM it will be even better.

The specification used allows for a comfortable gameplay in Playerunknown's Battlegrounds at average graphic settings.When playing, there are only really sporadic fluidity drops.Mi 8 Lite will also cope with asphalt 9.However, races that offer one of the nicer graphic design work in low resolution - you can really see every pixel.I did not notice that the housing was getting too warm, even during longer playing sessions.Less extensive productions are not a challenge for Snapdragon 660.

A 3350 mAh battery can provide the whole day of work without a charger.Mi 8 Lite can be disconnected at 8 am and then used until late evening, without fear of discharge.Of course, if we decide to play or put down the smartphone only for a few minutes in each hour, then you will have to look after a few hours after a few hours.Working time on the screen is about 5 hours.It is worth adding that the smartphone supports Quick Charge 3 fast charging technology.0.Of course, the right charger was included in the set.

Android, MIUI overlay and a few useful functions

For testing I received a model in the Global Version edition, which is officially available in Polish stores.On the day of publication of the test, it operates under Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI 9.6.A bit poor that you still have to wait for the officially available update to MIUI 10, not to mention Android 9.0 Pie.

One of the biggest advantages of the overlay is the multitude of functions provided by Xiaomi.Despite many options, we do not get the impression that there is too much everything, and selected applications only duplicate the functionality of the others.MIUI may also be liked in visual terms.The overlay is focused on the eye -pleasant minimalism, and individual elements try to create a coherent whole.Of course, this does not apply to third -party application - there is still arbitrariness on Android.

In Mi 8 Lite we will not find any options that would not be available in other Xiaomi smartphones.Therefore, the owners of the Chinese manufacturer's models can now go to the description of cameras and sound quality.There is certainly a control panel on the software list, which is worth paying a little more attention.The application allows you to keep your smartphone in good condition.It offers a tool for cleaning old and unnecessary files, has the option to accelerate the smartphone, and also offers battery management options.At this point, we will also find a safety scanning function that uses technologies provided by Avast.Blocking the application may be another useful option - selected applications can be secured with a password that will be needed to start them.

People who use two accounts on social networking sites or a sharing smartphone with another user should be interested in the option of cloned applications.As the name suggests, it allows you to clone selected applications and create as if two separate installations.Interestingly, applications that can be cloned are selected by Xiaomi.Social applications and games hit the list.

However, if we want to divide the entire software into two parts, for example the first for private use, the second with service applications, it is worth using the second space.Each can have its own set of application, personalization settings and can be protected by a password.Switching does not require restarting the smartphone.

The quality of photos and sound

The main camera on the back consists of two lenses.They were placed on a protruding island in a horizontal position.The first camera has 12 MP (Sony IMX363) and aperture f/1.9.The second one has 5 MP and is used to get a better background blur effect.On the other hand, a 24 MP webcam was placed on the front with an aperture f/2.2 - no, does not take better photos than the main camera.Megapixes are only to encourage unconscious customers who are guided solely by this value in the apparatus' assessment.

It can certainly be said that Xiaomi has made progress in the quality of photos.Pics taken for me 8 lite usually look quite good, especially on a small smartphone screen or thrown on Instagram.However, it should be borne in mind that in a fairly bright light, there are serious slip -ups with x -rays.In addition, it should be remembered that it is better to use another smartphone/camera at night - photos in poor lighting conditions suffer M.in.for lack of detail, noise and simply look very average.

The front camera has a problem with exaggerated smoothing of the face, which is visible even after turning off all the beauty modes.Despite this, during the day he will provide a pretty good selfie.It is much worse with the drop in light.The camera application does not stand out with anything special.All basic options and modes have been drawn to the fore - short video, video, ordinary photo, portrait, square, panora and hand mode.However, it works really efficiently and is intuitive.

AI also appeared.Artificial intelligence is to recognize objects and choose the parameters properly so that the photo looks better.The mode is noticeably less stringent relative to Huaweia smartphones, although the principle of improving photos is quite similar.Most often, its action boils down to the conquest of colors and also slightly contrast, which can be compared to light retouching in the Instagram application.Pictures may seem prettier then, but you have to keep in mind that they lose their naturalness.

The speaker is placed under the grille, next to the USB-C USB connector.Well, it won't work when listening to music - the sound is too shallow.In addition, at a high volume level, purity problems begin to be heard.However, the maximum volume should be appreciated - you have to try so as not to hear the upcoming connection.Of course, when watching videos on YouTube or while playing, the sound quality is satisfactory.

Summary: Is it worth buying Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite?

Since the publication of my first impressions, Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite has become an even more interesting proposition.In many stores, its price has dropped significantly - today you can easily get it for around PLN 1050.At this price we get a nice device, although you have to keep in mind that it's a really large smartphone.The housing was made of aluminum and glass, materials that only found a few years ago in premium devices.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is also high performance, refined MIUI overlay and a rich set of useful software available after removing from the box.Of course, you have to remember about the disadvantages of this model.First, there was no NFC module.Secondly, the smartphone was not equipped with a minijack connector.In addition, the quality of the photos is quite uneven, even those performed in similar conditions.Not everyone will like the cut at the top of the screen.Despite these shortcomings, Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is the most interesting proposition among inexpensive smartphones.He should like people who are looking for a large device that has been enclosed in a fairly nice housing.

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