Redmi Note 7 vs. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: is Redmi’s new phone a step ahead of the Mi line

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 vs. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: specs

First, let's take a quick look at the specs of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 and Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite.​

	Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 4G Phablet - BLUE
	Arrival Notice

	Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 4G Phablet Global Version Dual Rear Camera Dual SIM Dual Standby - BLUE
	$293.87 $229.99	(402 reviews)

Redmi Note 7 vs. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: small notch vs. big notch

The Redmi Note 7 definitely takes a notably different approach to design than most other Xiaomi phones — and this may be on purpose and a way to set the new line apart from the Mi series.

The Note 7 comes with the smallest notch we've seen on a Xiaomi phones: there is a miniature waterdrop camera holder on the phone's 6.3 inch FHD display. The design is strongly reminiscent of Oppo, Honor and Vivo models. The display comes with 2340 x 1080 resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio and 409 pixels per inch. Another highlight is that the Redmi Note 7 adopts 2.5D curved glass on both the back and front. There are three colors available: Twilight Gold, Fantasy Blue and Bright Black colors in China.

Connectivity-wise, everything is quite classic: you get an IR blaster, a fingerprint scanner on the back, a USB-C connector and a headphone jack.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite comes with a 6.26 inch, 2280 x 1080 FHD+ screen with a much more noticeable rectangular notch  — so, if you are not a fan of these, the Note 7 would definitely get points over the Mi 8 Lite here.  

The thing that the two phones have in common is the ambition to give us a bezel-less screen. With the 82.5% screen-to-body ratio for the Mi 8 Lite and 81.4% screen-to-body ratio for the Note 7, the two devices come quite close.

Redmi Note 7 vs. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: two Snapdragon 660 CPUs

Both smartphones come with the mid-range  Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 Octa Core processor under the hood — the one you will encounter on a number of other Mi models this year like the Xiaomi Mi 6X and the Xiaomi Mi A2.

The Note 7 starts with the basic model sporting 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and there are  two more options to consider: 4GB RAM + 64GB of storage and 6GB RAM + 64GB of storage.
With that, there is also the option of expanding the phone's memory with external storage on an SD card — up to 256GB supported. The Mi 8 Lite, on the other hand, comes in one variation: 6GB of RAM + 64GB of storage. Unfortunately, there is no option for memory expansion on an SD card.

The Note 7 continues to impress when it comes to charging: there is a 4000mAh battery onboard and fast charging support (Quick Charge 4). You should be able to get the phone from zero to a full charge in 1 hour and 43 minutes with standard charging — but if you get the fast charger (sold seperately), you will be able to speed things up with the 9V/2A charging option.

The Mi 8 Lite features a smaller 3350mAh battery. There is also the fast charging option enabled via Quick Charge 3.0.

Redmi Note 7 vs. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: can you really beat 48MP?

Cameras is where game is really on when it comes to smartphones these days — and the Note 7 does bring some serious game to the table. The phone features a 48-megapixel camera on the back with the a second 5MP rear sensor with f/1.8 aperture. This would be quite impressive even on a high-end device (like the Huawei Nova 4 and the Honor View 20)— but as the Note 7 is marketed as a budget phone, there is a true sense of value for money here. The cam comes with auto HDR, double flash, electronic image stabilization, PDAF and more.

On the front, you get a much less impressive 13MP selfie shooter with AI Portrait Mode, background blur, Smart Beauty Mode, front HDR and more.

The Mi 8 Lite comes with a much more modest rear camera setup: you get the pretty standard combo of a 12.0MP and a 5.0MP sensors on the back. On the front, however, there is an impressively powerful 24MP selfie shooter sporting the high-end Sony IMX 576 sensor, AI makeup and other enhancers.

Redmi Note 7 vs. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: the verdict

The Redmi Note 7 is definitely an impressive phone. And what makes it even more impressive is the $150 price tag. Compared to $229.99 you will need to pay for the Mi 8 Lite, the Note  7 does seem like an incredible bargain — and, with that, Redmi's debut on the market seems very promising.