Choosing a smartphone in 2026 between devices released a few years ago requires a special approach to analyzing the characteristics. iPhone 8 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro represent two different philosophical approaches to creating gadgets, each with its own strengths.
Both are no longer new to the market, but continue to be in demand as budget or second-phone devices. Apple offers a compact form factor and optimized system, while Xiaomi relies on modern display technology and multitasking. It is important to understand that buying such models today is a compromise, and the choice depends on your priorities.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the specifications, build quality, shooting capabilities and the relevance of the software for both smartphones, you will learn which one will last longer and will be able to comfortably cope with tasks in the current environment.
Body design and ergonomics
The iPhone 8 is a classic for its time style, using aviation aluminum and glass. The back panel is made of matte glass, which not only looks aesthetically pleasing, but also allows you to use wireless charging. The dimensions of the device are compact, making it ideal for one-handed control, and the weight of 148 grams is almost not felt in your pocket.
In turn, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro offers a more modern design with a gradient back cover and a protruding camera block.The body is completely glass on both sides, giving it a premium look, but making the device more slippery and brittle when dropped.The screen size of 6.53 inches significantly increases the area of the smartphone, making it convenient for consumption of content, but less convenient for your use.
The flagship from Apple has IP67 certification, which allows it to survive a short-term immersion in water. the Chinese competitor is deprived of official moisture protection, so owners of Redmi should be extremely careful when using the gadget in rainy weather or near water bodies.
⚠️ Warning: glass panels of both smartphones easily break when falling.The use of protective glass and a durable case is a prerequisite for the long service of the device.
Screen and multimedia capabilities
The display is one of the main differences between the models in question. iPhone 8 is equipped with a 4.7-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 1334x750 pixels. Despite modest by modern standards, the color calibration and brightness here are reference, and the pixel density is 326 ppi, which provides a clear picture without visible grain.
The Redmi Note 8 Pro offers much more: a 6.53-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels. The pixel density here is higher at 401 ppi, and the 19.5:9 aspect ratio allows you to comfortably watch movies without black stripes. Support for Corning Gorilla Glass 5 technology provides additional scratch protection, although shock resistance remains in question.
Multimedia experiences also vary. iPhones use stereo, where the second speaker is a conversational speaker. The sound is clean, but not the loudest. Xiaomi has also implemented a stereo system with a dedicated bottom speaker, which, when combined with a larger screen, creates a more immersive effect when watching videos.
💡
To check the screen quality before buying a used device, turn on the white image at full brightness and check the matrix for yellow spots or burnouts.
The screen refresh rate on both devices is standard at 60 Hz. In 2026, this is no longer considered a high figure, but for the interface and most applications, this is quite enough. An important advantage of Redmi is the presence of an infrared port, which turns the smartphone into a universal remote for controlling household appliances.
Productivity and gaming opportunities
The heart of the iPhone 8 is the A11 Bionic processor. Despite its age, this SoC still shows impressive speed in single-core tasks. Optimizing iOS allows the system to run smoothly, without jerks and delays, even years after its release. However, 2 GB of RAM can be a bottleneck when switching between heavy applications.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro runs on the MediaTek Helio G90T chipset, which was originally designed for mobile gamers. When paired with 6 or 8 GB of RAM, this processor shows excellent results in multitasking. Games are launched quickly, and the storage allows you to keep open a lot of background processes.
Compare them in benchmarks and real load:
- 🚀 AnTuTu: Redmi Note 8 Pro scores about 280,000 points, overtaking the iPhone 8, which stops at 230,000 points.
- 🎮 Graphics: Mali-G76 MC4 Xiaomi is better at modern-day 3D graphics than the PowerVR Series 7XT Plus at Apple.
- ⚡ Heating: The MediaTek processor is known for its tendency to heat up under prolonged loads, while A11 Bionic is cooler, but it resets frequencies faster.
The impact of trolling on games
If you plan to use your smartphone primarily for instant messengers, social media, and navigation, the performance difference will be almost invisible. Both devices will do these tasks with confidence. However, for mobile gaming, Redmi looks preferable due to the greater volume of RAM and a more powerful GPU.
Cameras: photo and video
When it comes to photography, the iPhone 8 relies on a single 12MP optically stabilized camera. Apple's image processing algorithms work wonders: natural colors, dynamic ranges are wide, and video is shot in 4K with excellent stabilization, a choice for those who value point and shoot.
The Redmi Note 8 Pro offers a four-camera module led by the Samsung GW1's 64MP sensor. The main advantage here is detailing in good lighting and the presence of an ultra-wide-angle lens, macro module and depth sensor. Night mode at Xiaomi works aggressively, significantly lightening scenes, but sometimes losing the naturalness of colors.
Comparative table of camera characteristics:
| Characteristics | iPhone 8 | Redmi Note 8 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Core module | 12 MP, f/1.8 | 64 MP, f/1.8 |
| Additional cameras | No. | Wide-angle, macro, depth |
| Video | 4K at 60 fps | 4K at 30 fps |
| Front camera. | 7 MP | 20 MP |
Video shooting is the territory where the iPhone traditionally wins. Stabilization and sound quality when recording video on Apple remain benchmark even for newer models. Xiaomi is able to shoot in 4K, but only at 30 frames per second, and high-resolution stabilization often crops the frame or works less efficiently.
⚠️ Attention: 64 MP mode in Redmi Note 8 Pro is turned off by default. To get a photo of maximum resolution, you must manually activate the mode"64MP" in the camera application, which increases the processing time of the image.
Autonomy and charging speed
Battery is one of the critical parameters when buying a used or old smartphone. iPhone 8 was originally equipped with a battery capacity of 1821 mAh. By 2026, it is extremely difficult to find an instance with the original battery in good condition.
Redmi Note 8 The Pro has a more impressive battery on the 4500 mAh. Even with Android's less optimistic and more energy-intensive screen, this smartphone is capable of living a full day of active use. 18 The watt allows you to replenish the energy supply much faster than standard 5-10 The basic versions of charging Apple.
☑️ Checking the status of the battery of the used phone
An important advantage of the iPhone 8 is its support for Qi wireless charging, which adds convenience to everyday use. Xiaomi is deprived of this feature, relying solely on a wired connection via a USB Type-C port, which, however, is more modern and reliable than Lightning.
Software and relevance
In terms of software support, the situation for both devices in 2026 is challenging. iPhone 8 received the latest major version of iOS 15. Although the system is stable, many new features and applications may cease to be supported by developers in the near future.
The Redmi Note 8 Pro has settled on the MIUI version of Android 11, which means that there will be no official Android updates for it, users will have to rely on custom firmware or put up with the lack of new security features, but the MIUI interface remains functional and saturated with settings.
For whom the relevance of the OS is critical:
- 📱 Banking apps: may stop working on older versions of Android and iOS first.
- 🔒 Security: Lack of security patches makes devices vulnerable when connected to public Wi-Fi networks.
- 🎮 Newer versions of games may require more recent versions of operating systems.
💡
Buying these smartphones in 2026 is only justified as a secondary device, for a child or elderly relatives who don't need the latest features.
⚠️ Note: when buying an iPhone 8, be sure to check the activation status and availability of iCloud lock. The device with the “Find iPhone” feature enabled is useless without access to the previous owner’s account.
Conclusions and Comparisons
To sum up, the iPhone 8 remains the choice for conservatives who love compactness, quality build and Apple’s ecosystem, a device that will suit those who are looking for a phone for calls, messengers and music listening, and who care about brand status.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a choice of pragmatists who want a large screen, good autonomy and versatility. It is better suited for content consumption, navigation and those who are not afraid to experiment with the system settings. Having an IR port and headphone jack makes it more functional in everyday life.
If you consider the devices as a purchase in 2026, the most sensible choice would be the Redmi Note 8 Pro because of the larger storage capacity, the fresher version of Android (relatively) and better autonomy, provided you find an instance in good technical condition. iPhone 8 makes sense to take only fans of the brand or at a very low price.