Xiaomi is a reasonably familiar name to UK smartphone buyers, but until recently the Chinese company's phones have not been officially available in this country. That has now changed, with Xiaomi's UK and European launch featuring a number of handsets including the new flagship Mi 8 Pro. At £499 (inc. VAT), the Mi 8 Pro will provide competition for the likes of the £499 OnePlus 6T, the £379 Huawei Mate 20 Lite, and the £399 Honor 10.
It's worth noting that Xiaomi is a top-tier smartphone maker, ranked fourth in worldwide shipments in Q2 2018, according to IDC, so its decision to enter the UK and European markets will cause the incumbents some concern.
At first glance, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro looks pretty standard -- black chassis, rounded corners, edge-to-edge screen, minimal bottom bezel, notch. But flip the handset over and there's something completely new: the glass back is transparent, with phone circuitry (although not the actual circuitry that powers the phone) clearly visible beneath it.
Glance at someone holding the phone and you'll barely notice it, but it is a clear mark of difference, and a rather smart one at that.
The twin camera lenses are slightly raised from the backplate, offset to one side. The other notable design feature is the red power switch -- as also seen on the top-end Huawei Mate 20 Pro. One area where more affordable flagship-class smartphones tend to compromise is dust and water resistance: as with the OnePlus 6T (and its predecessors), there's no IP rating for the Mi 8 Pro.
xiaomi-mi-8-pro-181121-red-power-button-medium.jpg
The 7.6mm-thick Mi 8 Pro has a volume rocker and a red power button on the right-hand side.
Image: Sandra Vogel/ZDNet
Unfortunately, the phone's glass back is incredibly smooth and slippery. It fell off the arm of my chair numerous times during testing -- either because vibration notifications made it wobble around, or simply because it was unbalanced and had no friction to keep it in place. This is a perennial problem for glass- backed handsets, but no less irritating for that.
The edges of the phone are sparsely populated. A volume rocker and (red) power button sit on the right long edge, while the SIM caddy is on the left. The upper edge is bare, and the bottom has a pair of speaker grilles and the single USB-C connector that's used for charging and headset connection. If you need a 3.5mm headset jack, Xiaomi conveniently provides a USB-C converter.
Rewritten Content:
Xiaomi is a fairly acquainted call to uk phone shoppers, but until lately the chinese corporation's telephones have now not been officially to be had on this usa. That has now changed, with Xiaomi's uk and eu launch presenting some of handsets including the brand new flagship Mi eight pro. At £499 (inc. VAT), the Mi 8 seasoned will offer opposition for the likes of the £499 OnePlus 6T, the £379 Huawei Mate 20 Lite, and the £399 Honor 10.
it's really worth noting that Xiaomi is a top-tier smartphone maker, ranked fourth in worldwide shipments in Q2 2018, according to IDC, so its decision to go into the UK and european markets will purpose the incumbents some subject.
in the beginning look, the Xiaomi Mi 8 seasoned seems quite widespread -- black chassis, rounded corners, facet-to-part screen, minimal backside bezel, notch. but flip the handset over and there may be something completely new: the glass returned is transparent, with telephone circuitry (despite the fact that now not the real circuitry that powers the phone) honestly seen under it.
look at a person preserving the phone and you'll slightly note it, however it's miles a clean mark of difference, and a as an alternative clever one at that.
The twin digicam lenses are barely raised from the backplate, offset to one aspect. the alternative splendid design characteristic is the pink electricity transfer -- as also seen on the top-cease Huawei Mate 20 pro. One location in which extra lower priced flagship-elegance smartphones have a tendency to compromise is dirt and water resistance: as with the OnePlus 6T (and its predecessors), there's no IP rating for the Mi 8 seasoned.
xiaomi-mi-eight-seasoned-181121-red-energy-button-medium.jpg
The 7.6mm-thick Mi eight pro has a extent rocker and a crimson electricity button at the right-hand side.
image: Sandra Vogel/ZDNet
unluckily, the phone's glass lower back is pretty easy and slippery. It fell off the arm of my chair numerous times during checking out -- both due to the fact vibration notifications made it wobble round, or definitely as it was unbalanced and had no friction to hold it in location. that is a perennial problem for glass- subsidized handsets, but no much less worrying for that.
the rims of the phone are sparsely populated. A volume rocker and (crimson) energy button sit down at the right long part, at the same time as the SIM caddy is at the left. The higher aspect is naked, and the bottom has a couple of speaker grilles and the unmarried USB-C connector that's used for charging and headset connection. if you want a 3.5mm headset jack, Xiaomi conveniently presents a USB-C converter.
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