Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite Full Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Design and Build

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite bears the hallmark of modern elegant design. It features a glass front and back encased in an aluminum frame, providing both beauty and durability. The device measures 156.4 x 75.8 x 7.5 mm, which makes it comfortable to hold while still offering a large display screen. Weighing in at 169 grams, the device balances heft and lightness to facilitate everyday use without being cumbersome.

Display

The 6.26-inch IPS LCD screen captures the eye not only through its size but also its vibrant display capability. With a resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels and a 19:9 ratio, users can enjoy an immersive viewing experience. The screen-to-body ratio of approximately 82.5% ensures minimum bezel interference, making multimedia consumption all the more engaging. The display sharpness is evident with a ~403 ppi density, allowing for crisp, detailed visuals whether browsing photos or streaming videos.

Performance

Internally, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is powered by the Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 chipset built on a 14 nm process. This is coupled with an octa-core CPU (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) and an Adreno 512 GPU. Together, they provide a smooth and responsive performance whether used for productivity apps or light gaming. The device offers configurations of 4GB or 6GB of RAM and internal storage options of 64GB or 128GB, expandable via microSDXC using a shared SIM slot.

Camera

Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the dual-camera setup at the rear of the Mi 8 Lite. The primary camera boasts a 12 MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture, dual pixel PDAF, and 1/2.55" sensor size that ensures quality image capture with enhanced low-light performance. The depth sensor completes the setup for bokeh effects in portrait shots. Video recording capabilities include 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 60/120fps, and stabilized 1080p at 30fps via gyro-EIS. For selfies, the front-facing single camera provides a 24 MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture, capturing sharp and detailed self-portraits. Auto HDR enhances image quality by balancing highlights and shadows.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a non-removable Li-Po 3350 mAh battery, supporting 18W wired charging through Quick Charge 3. This allows users a considerable amount of usage time, with an endurance rating of up to 77 hours, ensuring the phone lasts through a busy day of use. Charging is efficient to ensure minimum downtime.

Software and User Experience

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite runs on Android 8.1 (Oreo) and is upgradable to Android 10 with MIUI 11. This blend offers a seamless user interface with many customization options through MIUI. The system is designed to be intuitive, offering several features such as a dark mode, enhanced privacy controls, and performance optimizations for a smoother user experience.

Connectivity and Network

Network support in the Mi 8 Lite is comprehensive, with GSM, CDMA, HSPA, and LTE technologies ensuring connectivity in various regions. The phone supports 4G bands globally, providing LTE speeds of up to 300 Mbps. Despite lacking NFC, the phone's connectivity suite includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GLONASS, and BDS for positioning needs. The device employs a USB Type-C port, aligning with modern connectivity standards.

Additional Features

The device is equipped with an array of sensors, including a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass. Audio is delivered via a loudspeaker, although the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack is absent. Despite this, the device's hardware provides good audio quality. The Mi 8 Lite offers competitive pricing, making it a value proposition with its feature set in the smartphone market.