New iPhone X-like phone has everything you ever wanted

May 31, 2018 09:36 GMT  ·  By

Many described the iPhone X as a rather compromised device, pointing to the Face ID facial recognition system as the backup plan that Apple turned to after failing to embed a fingerprint sensor into the glass.

Since the debut of the iPhone X, many Android OEMs more or less copied Apple’s approach, embracing the notch and putting the focus more on facial recognition. And the latest to do it is Xiaomi.

The Chinese manufacturer has just launched the Xiaomi Mi 8, a completely new model that looks like an iPhone X, works like an iPhone X, and costs a lot less than the iPhone X.

First and foremost, the looks. Naturally, the Mi 8 comes with a notch that’s the home of all the components powering the facial recognition system. The Explorer Edition model is the configuration that can truly compete against the iPhone X, as it features more complex IR modules and structured light technology for a Face ID-like feature similar to Apple’s.

The edge-to-edge screen still leaves some noticeable bezels, but overall, the Mi 8 definitely reminds of the iPhone X when viewed from the front.

On the back, the device comes with vertically-placed dual cameras, again following a design approach that’s more or less inspired from Apple.

Technical specs

In terms of specs, the device comes with a Snapdragon 845 processor and boasts a 6.21-inch AMOLED display. A Mi 8 SE model is also launching with a 5.88-inch AMOLED screen, but in this case, power comes from the Snapdragon 710 chip.

For cameras, Xiaomi picked two different 12-megapixel units, which according to the company, offers excellent performance in all lighting conditions. For selfies, there’s a 20-megapixel camera.

Xiaomi Mi 8 also features a fingerprint sensor integrated into the screen, and it can be used for pretty much anything, like unlocking the phone or authorizing payments. This feature is exclusive to the Explorer Edition, as the regular Mi 8 only includes a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

All models will run Xiaomi's own MIUI 10 based on Android 8, boasting features like gestures and a more advanced personal assistant called Xiaomi Xiao Ai.

The top-of-the-line Mi 8 Explorer Edition doesn’t yet have a release date, but it’s expected to cost around $575. On the other hand, both the standard Mi 8 and the Mi 8 SE will go on sale in China early next month and will cost $420 and $280, respectively.

Photo Gallery (5 Images)

Xiaomi Mi 8
Xiaomi Mi 8Xiaomi Mi 8
+2more