Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer
$0
Overview
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer is a budget Android smartphone released in 2018 with a 6.21-inch Super AMOLED, Snapdragon 845 chipset, 12 main camera, and 3000 mAh battery.
The device runs HyperOS with features like Leica partnership. Priced at $0, it targets users seeking budget performance.
Specifications of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer
The display of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer measures 6.21 inches with Super AMOLED technology. Peak brightness reaches 600 nits for excellent outdoor visibility. The screen renders at 1080x2248 pixels resolution.
The camera system of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer features 2 rear cameras: 12 main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto. Optical zoom reaches 2x for detailed distant shots. Video recording supports up to 2160p.
The battery of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer has 3000mAh capacity with 18 wired charging. A full charge takes approximately 90 min minutes.
The performance of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer is powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset with Adreno 630 GPU.
The memory of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer offers 8GB RAM with 128GB storage options. RAM uses LPDDR4X technology. Storage is 128GB 8GB RAM. Storage is not expandable.
The connectivity of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer includes 5G support, Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, and Bluetooth 5.0. NFC is supported for contactless payments.
The build of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer weighs 177.0g with Aluminum frame and Glass back. Dimensions measure 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm.
The software of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer runs Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12 with MIUI. Software support extends 2 years through 2028.
Compare Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer
Frequently Asked Questions about Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer has a 12 camera suitable for casual photography. For professional photography, consider phones with higher-resolution sensors.
Yes, Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer is excellent for gaming with its Snapdragon 845 chipset. It handles demanding games at high settings with smooth frame rates.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer receives 2 years of updates through 2028. Consider this when planning long-term device usage.
Yes, Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer supports 5G connectivity with both Sub-6GHz and mmWave bands for maximum network compatibility and fastest speeds. It works with major 5G carriers globally.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer has a 3000mAh battery. Battery life varies based on usage patterns.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer at $0 is a budget device offering Snapdragon 845. It's worth buying if you prioritize affordability over premium features.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer supports 18 wired charging with full charge in approximately 90 min minutes.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer is available in 128GB storage options. Storage is not expandable, so choose your capacity based on your needs.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer has a 6.21-inch Super AMOLED with 60Hz refresh rate and 600 nits peak brightness. HDR support includes HDR10.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer in Category Rankings
See how Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer ranks in these categories:
Verdict
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer delivers practical value for users prioritizing affordability over premium features. Pick this phone for essential smartphone functionality, if you prioritize affordability while still needing core features.
Key Specifications
Display
6.21"
Main Camera
12
Chipset
Snapdragon 845
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| 2G Bands | GSM / |
| 3G Bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G LTE Bands | LTE |
| 5G Sub-6 Bands | [] |
| 5G mmWave Bands | [] |
| Speed | N/A |
| Carrier Aggregation | |
| SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Dual SIM Mode | Dual SIM |
| eSIM Support | |
| VoLTE Support | N/A |
| VoWiFi | N/A |
| NR CA Support |
Launch
| Announced | 2018 |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Availability | N/A |
| Model Variants | N/A |
| Launch Price | N/A |
Body & Design
| Dimensions (mm) | 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm |
| Weight (g) | 177.0 |
| Build Materials | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame (7000 series) |
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Back Finish | Glass |
| Colors | ["Black (transparent back)"] |
| IP Rating | N/A |
| Rugged Certifications | N/A |
| Ingress Gaskets | N/A |
| Form Factor | Bar |
| Hinge Type | N/A |
| Folded Dimensions | N/A |
| Thermal Solution | Graphite |
| Notification/Alert | |
| Haptics | Basic |
Display
| Panel Type | Super AMOLED |
| Size (inches) | 6.21 |
| Resolution (px) | 1080x2248 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 135:281 |
| Pixel Density (ppi) | 402 |
| Screen-to-body Ratio (%) | 83.8 |
| Refresh Rate (Hz) | 60 |
| Adaptive Refresh Rate | |
| Touch Sampling Rate (Hz) | 240 |
| Peak Brightness (nits) | 600 |
| HDR Standards | HDR10 |
| Color Gamut | sRGB |
| Color Depth | 24 |
| PWM Dimming (Hz) | 200 |
| Glass Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Oleophobic Coating | N/A |
| Curvature | Flat |
| Always-on Display | |
| Display Driver IC | N/A |
| Cover Display |
Platform (SoC)
| OS at Launch | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Update Policy | 2 years |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 845 |
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 |
| NPU/AI TOPs | 4 TOPS |
| ISP Features | Spectra 280 |
| Modem | Snapdragon X20 LTE |
| Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Chip | N/A |
| Throttling Behavior | N/A |
| Geekbench Single-Core | N/A |
| Geekbench Multi-Core | N/A |
| AnTuTu Score | N/A |
| 3DMark Scores | N/A |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Storage Type | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Storage Speed | UFS 2.1 |
| Expandable Storage | |
| Slot Type | N/A |
| USB OTG | |
| Filesystem Encryption |
Main Camera System
| Rear Cameras | 2 |
| Main Sensor | 12 |
| Main Sensor Size | 1/2.55" |
| Main Sensor Model | Sony IMX363 |
| Main Lens | f/1.8, 26mm |
| OIS | |
| Autofocus | PDAF |
| Pixel Binning | |
| Ultrawide | 12MP, FOV: 120° |
| Telephoto | 12MP, 2x optical zoom |
| Macro | N/A |
| Depth/ToF/LiDAR | |
| Flicker/Color Sensors | N/A |
| Flash | Dual-LED |
| Video Resolution | 2160p |
| HDR/Dolby Vision Video | |
| Video Codecs | ['H.264', 'H.265'] |
| Slow Motion | 240 |
| Video Stabilization | EIS |
| Night Mode Features | |
| RAW/Pro Controls | N/A |
Selfie Camera
| Resolution | 20 |
| Sensor Size | 1/3.1" |
| Aperture | f/2.0 |
| AF/OIS | |
| Secondary Front Cam | |
| Front Flash | |
| Video | ['1080p@30fps'] |
| HDR/Dolby Vision | N/A |
| Face Unlock | 2D |
Audio
| Loudspeakers | |
| 3.5mm Jack | |
| Hi-Res Audio | |
| Spatial Audio / Dolby Atmos | |
| Microphones | 2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | ['aptX', 'aptX HD', 'LDAC'] |
| DAC/Amp | Qualcomm WCD9341 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Wi-Fi Features | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 |
| NFC | |
| IR Blaster | |
| UWB | N/A |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Dual-Band GNSS | |
| FM Radio | |
| USB | USB Type-C |
| Display Out | |
| eSIM Capacity |
Sensors
| Fingerprint Sensor | Fingerprint (Under Display, Optical) |
| 3D Face ID | 2D |
| Accelerometer | |
| Gyroscope | |
| Magnetometer | |
| Proximity Sensor | |
| Ambient Light | |
| Barometer | |
| Thermo/Hygrometer | N/A |
| UV Sensor | N/A |
| Hall Sensor | |
| Color Temp Sensor | |
| Health Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Proximity |
| Satellite SOS |
Battery & Charging
| Capacity (mAh) | 3000 |
| Type | Li-Po |
| Removable | |
| Endurance Rating | N/A |
| Wired Charging | 18 |
| Wired Standard | QC4 |
| 0-50% Time (mins) | 30 min |
| Full Charge Time | 90 min |
| Wireless Charging | N/A |
| Wireless Standard | N/A |
| Reverse Wireless | N/A |
| Reverse Wired | |
| Charger in Box | 18 |
| Battery Health Features | ['battery_saver', 'optimized_charging'] |
Software
| OS at Launch | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Update Window | 2 years |
| UI Skin / Launcher | MIUI |
| Feature Drops | N/A |
| App Cloning | N/A |
| Game Mode | |
| Privacy Features | ['app_lock', 'second_space'] |
| Accessibility | ['screen_reader', 'magnification', 'color_inversion'] |
| Satellite Messaging UI |
Miscellaneous
| In-Box Contents | ['phone', 'charger', 'usb_cable', 'sim_eject_tool', 'case', 'manual'] |
| Recycled Materials (%) | N/A |
| Repairability Score | N/A |
| Warranty | N/A |
Reviews & Ratings
186 ratings
Showing 3 of 186 reviews
Alex R.
2 weeks ago
Absolutely love the camera on this phone! The zoom is incredible and the photos are so crisp. Battery life is also a huge plus.
Ben C.
1 month ago
Great performance and beautiful display. My only complaint is that it feels a bit heavy, but you get used to it. Solid phone overall.
Chloe D.
3 months ago
The best phone I've ever owned. It's fast, the software is clean, and the build quality is top-notch. Highly recommend!
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Review: Solid Performance for the Price
Our comprehensive review of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer covers display quality, camera performance, battery life, and overall value. A solid choice in its price segment.
- + Powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset for smooth performance
- - Camera performance is average
- - Battery life could be better