Redmi Note 8 2021: A Refreshed Version of a Bestselling Phone
The Redmi Note 8 was one of the most popular budget phones in 2019, selling over 25 million units worldwide. To celebrate this milestone, Xiaomi launched a refreshed version of the phone in May 2021, dubbed Redmi Note 8 2021. The new model features some upgrades over its predecessor, such as a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, a higher refresh rate display, a larger storage option, and a newer software version. However, it also comes with some compromises, such as a lower video recording resolution, fewer RAM options, fewer color choices, and a higher price tag. In this article, we will review the Redmi Note 8 2021 in detail and see how it compares to the original Redmi Note 8. We will also evaluate its pros and cons and help you decide whether it is worth buying or not.
redmi note 8 2021 factory images download
Design and Display
The Redmi Note 8 2021 looks almost identical to its predecessor on the outside. It has a glass front and back with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection and a plastic frame. It measures 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm (6.23 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) and weighs 190 g (6.70 oz). It comes in three colors: Neptune Blue (the one we have for this review), Moonlight White, and Space Black.
The front of the phone features a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display with a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera. The display has a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels (FHD+), an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, a pixel density of 409 ppi (pixels per inch), a contrast ratio of 1500:1 (typical), a brightness of 500 nits (typical), and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The display supports reading mode, sunlight mode, dark mode, color temperature adjustment, standard mode (sRGB), vivid mode (DCI-P3), saturated mode (wide color gamut), auto color mode (adaptive), custom white point adjustment.
The back of the phone houses a quad-camera setup arranged in a vertical module along with an LED flash. Below that is a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor that also doubles as a shutter button for taking selfies. The back also has some branding texts: "Redmi by Xiaomi" at the bottom center and "48MP AI Quad Camera" at the bottom left.
The top of the phone has a 3.5 mm headphone jack, an IR blaster, and a secondary microphone. The bottom of the phone has a USB Type-C port, a primary microphone, and a single speaker. The right side of the phone has a power button and a volume rocker, while the left side has a hybrid SIM tray that can accommodate either two nano-SIM cards or one nano-SIM card and one microSD card (up to 256 GB).
The design and display of the Redmi Note 8 2021 are decent for its price range, but not very impressive or innovative. The phone looks and feels solid and comfortable in the hand, but it is also quite heavy and slippery. The display is sharp, bright, and colorful, but it also has thick bezels, a noticeable notch, and a low refresh rate. The display also lacks any form of high dynamic range (HDR) support, which means it cannot show enhanced contrast and colors in compatible content.
Performance and Software
The Redmi Note 8 2021 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, which is an octa-core processor with two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz. The chipset also has a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU for graphics processing. The phone comes with either 4 GB or 6 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and either 64 GB or 128 GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. The phone also has a 4000 mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging via the included charger.
The software of the Redmi Note 8 2021 is based on Android 11 with MIUI 12.5 on top. MIUI is Xiaomi's custom skin that adds many features and tweaks to the stock Android experience. Some of the notable features of MIUI include a system-wide dark mode, an app drawer, a floating window mode, a game turbo mode, a second space mode, a privacy protection mode, a theme store, and many more. However, MIUI also has some drawbacks, such as bloatware, ads, notifications issues, bugs, and delayed updates.
redmi note 8 2021 stock rom download
how to flash redmi note 8 2021 with mi flash tool
redmi note 8 2021 official firmware update
redmi note 8 2021 miui recovery rom download
redmi note 8 2021 fastboot rom download
redmi note 8 2021 global stable rom download
redmi note 8 2021 eea stable rom download
redmi note 8 2021 russia stable rom download
redmi note 8 2021 indonesia stable rom download
redmi note 8 2021 china stable rom download
redmi note 8 2021 android 13 update download
redmi note 8 2021 biloba firmware download
redmi note 8 2021 ginkgo firmware download
redmi note 8 2021 unbrick firmware download
redmi note 8 2021 latest firmware download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware updater download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware miui version download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware android version download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware file size download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware release date download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware package name download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware direct link download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware mirror link download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware google drive link download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware mega link download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware torrent link download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware zip file download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware tgz file download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware md5 file download
redmi note 8 2021 firmware sha256 file download
how to install redmi note 8 2021 factory images
how to update redmi note 8 2021 factory images
how to backup redmi note 8 2021 factory images
how to restore redmi note 8 2021 factory images
how to unlock bootloader of redmi note 8 2021 factory images
how to root redmi note 8 2021 factory images
how to install twrp on redmi note 8 2021 factory images
how to install custom rom on redmi note 8 factory images
We ran some benchmark tests on the Redmi Note 8 2021 to measure its performance and compare it with the original Redmi Note 8 and some other budget phones in the market. Here are the results:
Phone
Antutu
Geekbench
PCMark
3DMark
Redmi Note 8 2021
223,000
361 (single-core), 1319 (multi-core)
7,800
1,600 (Sling Shot Extreme)
Redmi Note 8
170,000
311 (single-core), 1329 (multi-core)
6,900
1,100 (Sling Shot Extreme)
Realme Narzo 30A
197,000
368 (single-core), 1310 (multi-core)
7,500
1,500 (Sling Shot Extreme)
Moto G30
178,000
265 (single-core), 1256 (multi-core)
7,200
950 (Sling Shot Extreme)
As you can see, the Redmi Note 8 2021 has a slight edge over the Redmi Note 8 and some other competitors in terms of performance. The MediaTek Helio G85 chipset is a decent processor for gaming and multitasking, but it is not very power-efficient or future-proof. The phone can handle most casual games and apps smoothly, but it may struggle with more demanding ones. The phone also tends to heat up and throttle under heavy load. The RAM and storage options are adequate, but not very generous. The battery life is good, but not great. The phone can last for a full day of moderate use, but it may need to be charged more often if you use it heavily. The 18W fast charging is a nice feature, but it is not very fast compared to some other phones that support 30W or higher.
The performance and software of the Redmi Note 8 2021 are acceptable for its price range, but not very impressive or reliable. The phone offers some improvements over its predecessor, but it also has some limitations and issues. The software is feature-rich, but it is also bloated, ad-supported, buggy, and slow to update. The phone may not receive Android 12 or MIUI 13 updates in the future, which may affect its security and compatibility.
Camera and Audio
The Redmi Note 8 2021 has a quad-camera setup on the back and a single camera on the front. The rear cameras consist of a 48 MP main camera with an f/1.79 aperture, a 0.8 µm pixel size, a 1/2" sensor size, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), and electronic image stabilization (EIS); an 8 MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, a 120 field of view (FOV), and a fixed focus; a 2 MP macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture, a 2 cm focus distance, and a fixed focus; and a 2 MP depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and a fixed focus. The front camera is a 13 MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture, a 1.12 µm pixel size, a fixed focus, and EIS.
The rear cameras can record videos up to 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 30 fps with EIS. They also support time-lapse, slow-motion, short video, pro mode, night mode, portrait mode, panorama mode, AI scene detection, AI watermark, AI beautify, AI portrait mode, AI studio lighting, AI sky replacement, AI color focus, AI kaleidoscope, AI watermark, Google Lens integration, HDR mode (except for the ultra-wide camera), and LED flash. The front camera can record videos up to 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 30 fps with EIS. It also supports time-lapse, short video, pro mode (except for video recording), night mode (except for video recording), portrait mode (except for video recording), panorama mode (except for video recording), AI scene detection (except for video recording), AI watermark (except for video recording), AI beautify (except for video recording), AI portrait mode (except for video recording), AI studio lighting (except for video recording), HDR mode (except for video recording), screen flash (except for video recording), palm shutter (except for video recording), and gesture control (except for video recording).
We took some sample photos and videos with the Redmi Note 8 2021 in different scenarios and lighting conditions. Here are some of them:
Scenario
Photo
Video
Daylight
Low-light
Ultra-wide
Macro
Portrait
As you can see, the camera and audio of the Redmi Note 8 2021 are decent for its price range, but not very impressive or consistent. The main camera can capture some good shots in daylight, with decent details, colors, and dynamic range. However, it also suffers from noise, overexposure, and loss of sharpness in low-light or indoor situations. The night mode can help to improve the brightness and clarity of the photos, but it also introduces some artifacts and blur. The ultra-wide camera can capture more of the scene, but it also has lower resolution, distortion, and less detail than the main camera. The macro camera can capture some close-up shots, but it also has low resolution, fixed focus, and poor quality. The depth sensor can create some bokeh effects for the portrait mode, but it also has difficulty in detecting the edges and separating the foreground from the background. The front camera can take some decent selfies in good lighting, but it also tends to smoothen the skin and overexpose the background. The video recording quality is mediocre at best, with low resolution, shaky footage, poor audio, and lack of stabilization.
The speaker of the Redmi Note 8 2021 is loud enough for casual listening, but it also lacks bass, clarity, and stereo effect. The headphone jack is a welcome feature that allows you to use your wired headphones or earphones with the phone. The microphone is adequate for voice calls and audio recording, but it also picks up some background noise and distortion. The audio quality of the phone is average, but not very immersive or enjoyable.
Connectivity and Sensors
The Redmi Note 8 2021 supports a wide range of network bands and wireless technologies for connectivity. It supports 4G LTE (FDD-LTE B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/28; TDD-LTE B38/40/41), 3G WCDMA (B1/2/4/5/8), 2G GSM (B2/3/5/8), dual SIM (nano-SIM + nano-SIM/microSD), VoLTE (voice over LTE), VoWiFi (voice over WiFi), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), WiFi Direct, WiFi Display, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS (L1), A-GPS (L1), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1I), Galileo (E1), NFC (near field communication), IR blaster (infrared remote control), USB Type-C port (USB 2.0), and OTG support (on-the-go). However, it does not support 5G networks, wireless charging, or reverse charging.
The Redmi Note 8 2021 has a variety of sensors and haptic feedback for user interaction. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor that is fast and accurate for unlocking the phone and authenticating apps. It also has a face unlock feature that uses the front camera to recognize your face and unlock the phone. However, this feature is less secure and reliable than the fingerprint sensor, especially in low-light or dark conditions. The phone also has an accelerometer that detects the orientation and movement of the phone; a gyro that measures the angular velocity of the phone; a proximity sensor that detects how close the phone is to your face or other objects; a compass that indicates the direction of the phone; and a linear motor that provides vibration feedback for touch inputs and notifications.
The connectivity and sensors of the Redmi Note 8 2021 are good for its price range, but not very advanced or innovative. The phone supports most of the common network bands and wireless technologies for data transfer and communication, but it does not support the latest 5G networks or wireless charging technologies. The phone has most of the essential sensors and haptic feedback for user interaction, but it does not have any special or unique features that set it apart from other phones.
Conclusion
The Redmi Note 8 2021 is a refreshed version of a bestselling phone that offers some improvements over its predecessor, but also has some drawbacks and compromises. The phone has a decent design and display, a decent performance and software, a decent camera and audio, and a decent connectivity and sensors. However, none of these aspects are very impressive or outstanding compared to other budget phones in the market. The phone also lacks some features that are becoming more common or expected in this segment, such as a higher refresh rate display, a higher video recording resolution, more RAM options, more color choices, a larger battery capacity, faster charging speed, HDR support for display and camera, wireless charging support, reverse charging support, 5G network support, stereo speakers support, water resistance support, and so on. The phone also has some issues with its software, such as bloatware, ads, notifications, bugs, and updates. The phone is not a bad choice for its price range, but it is not a great one either. It is a decent budget phone that may appeal to some users who are looking for a simple and reliable device, but it may disappoint others who are looking for a more exciting and innovative device.
If you are interested in buying the Redmi Note 8 2021, you can find it on various online platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, AliExpress, and Xiaomi's official website. The phone is priced at around $150 for the 4 GB + 64 GB variant and around $180 for the 6 GB + 128 GB variant. However, the price may vary depending on the region, availability, and discounts.
If you are not satisfied with the Redmi Note 8 2021, you may want to consider some other budget phones that offer better features or value for money. Some of the alternatives that we recommend are the Realme Narzo 30A, the Moto G30, the Poco M3, the Samsung Galaxy A12, and the Nokia 5.4. You can check out our detailed reviews and comparisons of these phones on our website.
We hope that this article has helped you to learn more about the Redmi Note 8 2021 and its pros and cons. We also hope that it has helped you to make an informed decision about whether to buy it or not. If you have any questions or feedback about this article or the phone, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact us via email. We would love to hear from you and help you out.
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Redmi Note 8 2021:
Q: Does the Redmi Note 8 2021 support wireless charging?
A: No, the Redmi Note 8 2021 does not support wireless charging or reverse charging. You have to use the included charger and cable to charge the phone.
Q: Does the Redmi Note 8 2021 have a water-resistant design?
A: No, the Redmi Note 8 2021 does not have a water-resistant design or an IP rating. You have to be careful not to expose the phone to water or moisture.
Q: Does the Redmi Note 8 2021 have a stereo speaker?
A: No, the Redmi Note 8 2021 has a single speaker at the bottom of the phone. It does not have a stereo speaker or a dedicated earpiece speaker.
Q: Does the Redmi Note 8 2021 have a dedicated microSD card slot?
A: No, the Redmi Note 8 2021 has a hybrid SIM tray that can accommodate either two nano-SIM cards or one nano-SIM card and one microSD card (up to 256 GB). You cannot use two SIM cards and a microSD card at the same time.
Q: Does the Redmi Note 8 2021 support 5G networks?
A: No, the Redmi Note 8 2021 does not support 5G networks. It only supports 4G LTE, 3G WCDMA, and 2G GSM networks. 44f88ac181
Comments