Redmi 8: Xiaomi’s budget 5,000mAh smartphone supports USB-C fast charging

After announcing the Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro in Malaysia, Xiaomi has introduced its latest budget smartphone, the Redmi 8 in India. This replaces the current Redmi 7 and it boasts a huge battery that can support fast charging.

Redmi 8

Upfront, the device gets a 6.22″ HD+ IPS display that comes with a tiny notch at the top. Despite being a budget phone, the display is protected with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5. The Redmi 8 gets an “Aura Mirror Design” back for a more upmarket look and it even has P2i nano-coating for better splash resistance.

Under the hood, it runs on a Snapdragon 439 processor, which seems to be a downgrade from the Redmi 7 that is powered by a Snapdragon 632. It can be configured with up to 4GB of RAM and up to 64GB of internal storage which is also expandable via a dedicated microSD card slot.

For taking pictures, the device gets a 12MP f/1.8 main camera and a secondary 2MP shooter for depth effects. The front also gets an 8MP f/2.0 selfie shooter that can be used for AI face unlock. For quicker access, there’s also a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

In terms of connectivity, it supports 4G with dual VoLTE support as well as Bluetooth 4.2 and 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi. Interestingly, it also wireless FM Radio support which lets you tune in without having to plug in your headphones. Also included is an IR blaster that you can use as a universal remote control.

Powering the Redmi 8 is a huge 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging via USB-C. Do note, however, that the device gets a standard 10W charger out of the box. In India, the Redmi 8 with 4GB RAM + 64GB storage is listed for INR 7,999 (about RM472).

Redmi 8A

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, there’s also the Redmi 8A that was announced earlier and it shares a lot of similarities to the Redmi 8. It also gets a 6.22″ HD+ display, a Snapdragon 439 processor and a huge 5,000mAh battery with USB-C 18W fast charging support.

However, it only gets a single 12MP main camera, has less RAM and storage, and tit lacks a fingerprint sensor. The Redmi 8A is priced at INR 6,499 (about RM384) for 2GB RAM + 32GB storage and INR 6,999 (about RM413) for 3GB RAM + 32GB storage in India.

So far there are no details yet on Malaysian pricing and availability. However, we believe that the Redmi 8 should be announced very soon. Stay tuned to us for the latest updates.