The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is a discontinued Android smartphone that still matters in specification comparisons because it captured the mid-range formula of its generation: a sharp Full HD display, Snapdragon 665 hardware, expandable storage, a quad rear camera system, and a large battery at an accessible launch price.
This article focuses on what the Redmi Note 8 offers on paper and how those details translate for buyers comparing older used, refurbished, or budget Android phones today. The full specifications table is handled separately, so the sections below explain the practical value behind the listed hardware.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 |
| 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced | 2019, August 29. Released 2019, October 16 |
| Status | Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm (6.23 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 190 (6.70 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
Display
| Type | IPS LCD |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
Platform
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 |
Memory
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 |
Main Camera
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
Selfie camera
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Features | HDR, panorama |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
Sound
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
Comms
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| NFC | No |
| Infrared port | Yes |
| Radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Features
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
Battery
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 18W wired |
Misc
| Colors | Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, Space Black, Nebula Purple, Cosmic Purple |
| Models | M1908C3JH, M1908C3JG, M1908C3JI |
| SAR | 0.26 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.19 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| Price | About 220 EUR |
Our Tests
| Performance | AnTuTu: 141915 (v7), 161572 (v8) GeekBench: 5590 (v4.4), 1339 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1521:1 (nominal) |
| Camera | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 78dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 81dB |
| Audio quality | Noise -94.0dB / Crosstalk -93.3dB |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 108h |
Price and Availability
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €220, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of July 19, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $252
- Japan: ¥40,868
- United Kingdom: £187
- Australia: A$360
- Canada: C$353
- Taiwan: NT$8,128
- Denmark: kr1.642
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼943
- South Korea: ₩373,912
- Germany: €220
- Brazil: R$1.283
- Vietnam: ₫6.597.240
- Kenya: KSh 32,577
- India: ₹24,231
- Indonesia: Rp 4.516.915
- Nigeria: ₦342,761
- Pakistan: ₨69,969
- Philippines: ₱15,504
- Bangladesh: ৳৩১,০২১
Value Position
The Redmi Note 8 was positioned as a value-focused phone rather than a flagship alternative, and that still defines how its specifications should be read. Its original price was listed at about 220 EUR, which placed it in the affordable mid-range segment at launch. The stronger points are clear: a 1080p display, Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, a Snapdragon 665 chipset, a 48 MP main camera, USB Type-C, infrared, FM radio, and a 4000 mAh battery. Those were meaningful advantages in 2019, especially against lower-cost phones that still used HD displays, microUSB ports, or weaker processors.
The important caution is age. This is not a modern 5G phone, and it is officially discontinued. Its value today depends less on the original launch price and more on condition, battery health, storage variant, and local network compatibility. A 128GB model with 4GB or 6GB RAM is much easier to recommend than the base 32GB model, especially if the phone will be used with modern apps.
Design and Build
The Redmi Note 8 has a more premium-feeling construction than many budget phones because it uses Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back, paired with a plastic frame. At 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm and 190 g, it is not especially small, but it remains manageable by current standards. The design is conventional: a rear fingerprint reader, dual Nano-SIM support, and a dedicated microSDXC slot, which is useful for users who want two SIM cards and expandable storage at the same time.
Color options include Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, Space Black, Nebula Purple, and Cosmic Purple, giving the phone a broader visual range than plain black-and-white budget models. The main durability limitation is the lack of any listed water-resistance rating, so buyers should treat it as a standard glass-backed phone that benefits from a case and careful handling.
Display Quality
The 6.3-inch IPS LCD is one of the most practical parts of the Redmi Note 8 specification sheet. Its 1080 x 2340 resolution gives it roughly 409 ppi, so text, app icons, and web pages look sharp compared with basic HD panels. The 19.5:9 aspect ratio also fits the tall-screen Android layout that became common across mid-range phones.
Independent test data lists a nominal contrast ratio of 1521:1, which is respectable for an IPS LCD. It will not match the deep blacks or high refresh rates of newer AMOLED phones, but it remains suitable for browsing, messaging, video streaming, and reading. The main tradeoff is that there is no high refresh rate and no OLED-level contrast, so users coming from a modern 90Hz or 120Hz display will notice that this panel feels more traditional.
Performance and Storage
The Snapdragon 665 is the heart of the Redmi Note 8. It uses an 11 nm process and an octa-core Kryo 260 CPU paired with the Adreno 610 GPU. In everyday use, this platform was designed for balanced mid-range performance rather than heavy gaming. The listed benchmark results, including AnTuTu v8 around 161,572 and GeekBench v5.1 at 1,339, point to capable basic performance for calls, social apps, streaming, maps, and light multitasking.
The storage setup matters a lot. Xiaomi offered 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB configurations with 3GB, 4GB, or 6GB RAM depending on variant. Because the internal storage uses eMMC 5.1 rather than faster UFS storage, app loading and file transfers will feel slower than on many newer phones. For a better long-term experience, the 128GB 6GB RAM version is the most attractive option, while the 32GB 3GB RAM version is best avoided unless the use case is very light.
Camera Setup
The Redmi Note 8 uses a quad rear camera layout led by a 48 MP wide camera with PDAF. It is supported by an 8 MP ultrawide camera, a 2 MP macro camera, and an auxiliary lens. This combination gives the phone more shooting flexibility than a single-camera budget model, especially because the main camera can handle standard daylight photos while the ultrawide lens captures larger scenes.
Video support is also notable for the class, with 4K recording at 30 fps and 1080p recording at up to 120 fps, plus gyro-EIS. The 13 MP front camera supports HDR, panorama, and 1080p video at 30 fps. The practical expectation should be realistic: the main camera is the one to rely on most, the ultrawide is useful in good light, and the macro and auxiliary hardware are more situational than essential.
Battery and Charging
The 4000 mAh battery was a strong capacity for the Redmi Note 8’s launch period and still looks acceptable for a phone with a 60Hz LCD and Snapdragon 665 hardware. The listed endurance rating of 108 hours suggests efficient standby and mixed-use behavior under older testing methods. Actual results today will depend heavily on battery wear, since many units have been in circulation for years.
Charging is handled through 18W wired charging over USB Type-C. That is not fast by current standards, but it is preferable to the slow 10W charging commonly found on older entry-level phones. For refurbished buyers, battery condition is more important than the charging wattage; a worn cell will affect the experience more than any difference between mid-range charging standards.
Software and Usability
The phone launched with Android 9.0 Pie and is listed as upgradable to Android 11 with MIUI 12.5. That makes the Redmi Note 8 usable for many common Android tasks, but it also means buyers should not expect the software support cycle of a current Xiaomi device. Security updates, app compatibility, and regional firmware status can vary by model and market.
Usability remains helped by several practical features that have disappeared from many newer phones. The Redmi Note 8 includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack, FM radio, infrared port, rear fingerprint scanner, USB OTG, compass, gyro, and a dedicated microSD slot. For users who care about legacy convenience features, that mix can be more appealing than some newer minimalist designs.
Connectivity and Network Fit
The Redmi Note 8 supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE, with LTE Cat12 speeds listed up to 600 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up under ideal network conditions. It does not support 5G. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and USB Type-C 2.0 are included, while NFC is not available.
Network band listings vary by variant, so buyers should pay attention to the exact model number, such as M1908C3JH, M1908C3JG, or M1908C3JI. This is especially important when importing or buying used units, because LTE band support can determine whether the phone works well with local carriers. For contactless payments, the absence of NFC is a clear limitation.
Who Should Buy It
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is best suited to users who want an inexpensive Android phone for messaging, browsing, media playback, navigation, and casual photography. It also makes sense for buyers who specifically want a headphone jack, microSD expansion, infrared, FM radio, and dual-SIM support in one device. Compared with many newer low-end phones, its Full HD display and glass build remain competitive.
It is less suitable for buyers who need 5G, long software support, high-refresh gaming, NFC payments, or flagship-grade cameras. For a second phone, student device, backup handset, or low-cost daily driver in good condition, the Redmi Note 8 can still be practical. For heavy use, a newer Redmi Note, Poco, or comparable Android model will usually be the smarter long-term purchase.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 remains a well-rounded older budget phone with a sharp display, useful cameras, expandable storage, strong everyday features, and dependable battery specifications. Buy it only at a sensible used or refurbished price, preferably in a higher RAM and storage variant, and choose a newer phone if you need 5G, NFC, or longer software support.
References
- Xiaomi India Redmi Note 8 Specifications – Official manufacturer specifications for the original Redmi Note 8, including chipset, display, camera, battery, dimensions, storage, sensors, and package contents.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 Mobile Platform – Official chipset reference for verifying the Redmi Note 8 processor, GPU, CPU clock, modem, Wi-Fi, GPS, and charging platform capabilities.
- FCC Equipment Authorization System (fcc.gov) – Primary regulatory source for checking wireless certification, FCC ID 2AFZZC3JG, SAR, and radio-band compliance details for Redmi Note 8 variants.
- GSMArena Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 – Established smartphone specifications database useful for cross-checking global launch details, model variants, network bands, dimensions, and specification differences.
- Notebookcheck Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Review – Reputable technical review source with independent measurements and detailed hardware notes that can help verify display, performance, battery, camera, and connectivity claims.
