When it comes to choosing a mid-budget smartphone, the first thing that a potential buyer will notice is hardware, and it is the CPU that determines how fast apps open, how smoothly social media feeds are scrolled, and whether the device will pull on modern games. The Redmi 8 Pro (known globally as the Redmi Note 8 Pro) has become a real phenomenon, thanks in large part to the chipset installed in it, which at the time of its release set new performance standards for its price class.
Inside this device, the MediaTek Helio G90T is not just a common set of crystals, but a specially designed solution for mobile gamers. MediaTek engineers, working with developers from Xiaomi, were able to create a product that in synthetic tests overtook many of the competition based on Qualcomm at the time. Understanding which processor in the Xiaomi Redmi 8 pro is critical for those looking for a balance between cost and speed of the device.
However, high performance often comes with trade-offs, especially when it comes to power consumption and heat generation, and in this article, we’ll take a closer look at the chip’s architecture, its advantages over its peers, and the nuances of its use, so you can make an informed decision about whether to buy or upgrade your smartphone.
⚠️ Note: It is important not to confuse the Redmi 8 and Redmi 8 Pro. In the usual Redmi 8 installed much less productive processor Snapdragon 439, which is not even close to the capabilities of the Pro version.
Architecture and technical features of the Helio G90T
At the heart of the smartphone is the 12-nanometer MediaTek Helio G90T chipset. It is an eight-core processor built on the scheme of big.LITTLE, which means the separation of tasks between powerful and energy-efficient cores. In this case, we see two clusters: two super-powerful cores Cortex-A76 with a frequency of up to 2.05 GHz and six energy-efficient cores Cortex-A55 with a frequency of 2.0 GHz. This distribution allows the system to flexibly manage resources, allocating maximum power for games and saving charge in the background.
The Mali-G76 MC4 graphics accelerator is particularly noteworthy, and it's the component that renders graphics in games and interfaces. In conjunction with MIUI optimizations, graphics show a stable FPS in popular projects. However, the 12-nanometer process, while good at launch, is not considered the most energy-efficient today.
Technical details of architecture
The processor has an APU (Artificial Intelligence Processing Unit) module built into the image processing processor, which takes on artificial intelligence tasks such as recognizing scenes in the camera or optimizing the power consumption of applications, which unloads the core cores of the CPU and allows the system to work more responsively even when multitasking.
Performance in Games and Benchmarks
The main question most users are interested in is: how does the processor behave in real conditions? In the popular test AnTuTu v8 Redmi 8 Pro consistently scores about 270,000 – 280,000 points. For comparison, competitors based on the Snapdragon 710 or 712 showed results in the region of 170,000 – 180,000 points, which makes the difference huge.
In the game scenarios, the situation is as follows:
- 🎮 PUBG Mobile: The game works on high graphics settings with the option to choose «HDR». Medium. FPS level 35-40 frames, but during a long session, trottling may occur (reduced frequency due to heating).
- 🏎️ Asphalt 9: Legends: Heavy graphics take resources, and here's Helio G90T shows itself worthy, providing a smooth picture at medium and high settings, although heat dissipation becomes tangible.
- ⚔️ Call of Duty Mobile: Optimization of the game allows you to reach 60 FPS on medium settings, which provides a comfortable gameplay without jerks.
It is worth noting that for stable work in heavy games, it is recommended to use external coolers or remove the case, since the heat sink is the weak side of this model. The cooling system of the smartphone, although it includes graphene film and a copper tube, does not always cope with the peak loads of the 12-nanometer chip.
Comparison with competitors: Helio G90T vs Snapdragon
At the time of the Redmi 8 Pro’s release, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 730 was considered the main competitor. In dry numbers, MediaTek’s processor often won thanks to more aggressive frequencies and a powerful graphics core.
If you look at more modern analogues, the Helio G90T is now at the level of budget entry-level solutions such as the Snapdragon 680 or Helio G85/G88, but with a better graphics core. For everyday tasks (messengers, browser, YouTube), the difference between them will be minimal, but in games the old flagship can still surprise.
| Characteristics | Helio G90T (Redmi 8 Pro) | Snapdragon 730 | Helio G85 (Redmi 9/Note 9) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technique | 12 nm | 8 nm | 12 nm |
| AnTuTu (roughly) | ~280 000 | ~220 000 | ~200 000 |
| Graphics | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 618 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| Memory support | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
⚠️ Warning: When buying a used device, be sure to check the firmware version. Early versions of the software for Redmi 8 Pro had issues with processor optimization that were patched in updates 2020-2021 year-end.
Energy efficiency and heating
The most critical aspect of using the Helio G90T is its gluttony. 12-nanometer process technology means that the transistors are larger and leakage currents are higher than those of modern 7-nm or 5-nm solutions. This leads to the fact that under the load the smartphone is significantly heated in the upper part of the case, where the chip is located.
There are no problems with standby or text reading — the six Cortex-A55 cores provide decent battery life. But when you start the navigator or hard game, as the powerful A76 cores turn on, battery consumption increases dramatically. Users often note that screen time (Screen On Time) is enough for 4-5 hours when used actively.
💡
To extend battery life and reduce heat, turn off animations in the developer settings and limit background activity of heavy apps that you don’t need all the time.
The LiquidCool system used in the Redmi 8 Pro is a copper tube that takes heat from the processor to the metal frame and back cover.This helps avoid sharp trottling, but makes the case hot to the touch, which can be uncomfortable with prolonged conversation or playing without a controller.
The effect of the processor on the camera
Many people forget that the processor is not only computing, but also processing signals from the camera matrix. In the Redmi 8 Pro, an ISP (Image Signal Processor) is installed, which supports matrices up to 64 MP. It was thanks to this smartphone that the main module for 64 megapixels (Samsung GW1) was received.
The processor performs the following tasks in the camera:
- 📸 HDR Night mode: Combining multiple frames into one to improve dynamic range and reduce noise.
- 🤳 Portrait mode: Computational background blur and definition of object boundaries.
- 🎥 Video recording: Recording support 4K at 30 frames per second, which requires high memory bandwidth and fast computing.
However, due to the peculiarities of MediaTek algorithms, photo processing can take longer than on Snapdragon. After shooting, you may notice a delay of 1-2 seconds while the smartphone saves and processes the picture before the next frame can be taken.
☑️ Checking the processor before buying a used
The final verdict: should you buy in 2026-2026?
The answer to this question depends on your needs and budget.Whether you're looking for a device for a child like a first smartphone or as a working "horse" for instant messengers and navigation, the Redmi 8 Pro can still be relevant, especially given its low cost in the aftermarket. G90T It is still enough for a comfortable interface. MIUI.
However, if you are an avid mobile gamer or you want to have great autonomy, it is better to consider more modern models, for example, based on the Snapdragon 778G or Dimensity 810/820. These chips are made on a thinner process, less warm and provide more stable operation during the day.
Key fact:
💡
The Helio G90T in the Redmi 8 Pro is still a powerful chip for everyday tasks and easy games, but its (time) in terms of energy efficiency has passed, requiring the user to compromise on autonomy.