Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro has become a real phenomenon in the mobile market, largely due to the company’s bold decision to use the innovative chipset from MediaTek. When it comes to performance of this device, the first thing that attracts attention is the computing platform, which is radically different from the usual solutions of Qualcomm at the time. Many users are still wondering how relevant the processor in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro in modern realities and whether it is able to pull heavy games or cope with multitasking.
The answer to the question of which chip is installed in the device opens the door to a world of interesting technical trade-offs. Xiaomi engineers chose the Helio G90T, which was positioned as the world’s first mid-range gaming processor, a decision designed to prove that the budget segment can offer performance previously available only in flagship models, albeit with certain limitations in energy efficiency.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the architecture, temperature and real-world capabilities of this hardware, and explain why the choice of this particular chip was a turning point for the Redmi Note line and how it behaves several years after its release. Understanding the characteristics of the processor will help you make an informed decision when buying a used device or assessing its potential for daily tasks.
Architecture and technical specifications of the Helio G90T
The heart of the smartphone is the eight-core chipset MediaTek Helio G90T, manufactured according to the norms of 12-nanometer process technology of TSMC. the Processor architecture is built on the scheme of big.LITTLE, which implies the presence of two clusters of cores with different performance. It includes two powerful cores Cortex-A76 with a clock speed of up to 2.05 GHz and six energy-efficient cores Cortex-A55, operating at a frequency of up to 2.0 GHz. This resource allocation allows the system to dynamically switch between high performance and energy saving modes depending on load.
The most important element of the bundle is the Mali-G76 MC4 graphics accelerator, which operates at 800 MHz. It is this component that is responsible for rendering graphics in games and interfaces, ensuring smoothness of the picture. Although 12-nm process is no longer considered an advanced standard, for its time it was an attempt to squeeze the maximum of available production capacity. However, this factor directly affected the heat generation of the device, which we will talk about later.
⚠️ Note: Don’t confuse the Helio processor G90T The weaker Snapdragon 730, which was installed in the global version of the regular Redmi Note 8 (without the Pro console), are different platforms with different architecture and performance.
The amount of RAM that the processor works with also plays a critical role. Depending on the modification of the smartphone, the chipset could address from 6 to 8 GB of memory standard LPDDR4X. This provided sufficient bandwidth to process large amounts of data, which is especially important when working with a high-resolution camera or switching between heavy applications.
Performance in Games and Benchmarks
Testing the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro in synthetic benchmarks such as AnTuTu, the device consistently scores around 270,000 to 280,000 points. This is an impressive result for its price segment, which puts it above many competitors based on the Snapdragon 7xxx series of the same period. In the Geekbench test, the processor demonstrates a confident multithreaded performance, which indicates the competent implementation of all eight cores under load.
In real-world scenarios, the Mali-G76 graphics chip performs well, and popular projects like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile run on high graphics settings with frame rates of around 40-50 FPS. However, it is worth noting that to achieve maximum smoothness, you often have to reduce the settings to average to avoid trotting, the forced decrease in the frequency of the processor due to overheating.
- 🎮 PUBG Mobile: Stable 40 FPS setting HDR, possible heating.
- 🏎️ Asphalt 9: High graphics settings, dynamic resolution, about 30-40 FPS.
- ⚔️ Genshin Impact: Minimum settings, 25-30 FPS, heat-up.
- 🏓 Brawl Stars: Maximum settings, stable 60 FPS no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no.
The Game Turbo system, pre-installed in the MIUI shell, is particularly noteworthy for its ability to redistribute CPU resources to a running application, block notifications and improve sensor response. For gamers, this means being able to squeeze extra frames per second from the Helio G90T, although the physical limitations of the chip do not overcome this.
Why do benchmarks have different results?
Comparison with competitors: Helio G90T vs Snapdragon
At the time of the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s release, Qualcomm’s main competitor was the Snapdragon 730, which was installed in many mid-range smartphones. Comparing the two platforms reveals interesting features: MediaTek won in clean computing power and graphics performance, while Qualcomm traditionally offered better optimization and energy efficiency.
If you look at older chips like the Snapdragon 712 or the Helio P60, the G90T destroys them in all respects. GPU performance differences can be as high as 50-70%, which is critical for modern three-dimensional games. However, when compared to newer solutions like the Snapdragon 720G or 732G, the gap is not so large, and in some tasks Qualcomm even bypasses MediaTek thanks to a newer process.
| Characteristics | Helio G90T | Snapdragon 730 | Exynos 9611 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technique | 12 nm | 8 nm | 10 nm |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 618 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| AnTuTu (Wednesday) | ~275 000 | ~220 000 | ~170 000 |
| Memory support | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
It’s important to understand that the choice of processor affected not only the speed of operation, but also the support of cameras. Helio G90T supported camera modules up to 64 MP, which allowed Xiaomi to install the main sensor Samsung GW1. This was a key advantage over some competitors whose processors could not process such a data stream at high speed.
The problem of heating and cooling system
The most talked-about aspect of using 12nm process technology in a powerful chipset was heat generation. The Helio G90T is known for its "hotness", especially under load. Xiaomi engineers were well aware of this feature, so they equipped the Redmi Note 8 Pro with an advanced liquid cooling system. Inside the case there is a copper tube and graphite gaskets that divert heat from the processor to the metal frame and rear panel.
⚠️ Note: For long-term play or video shooting 4K The smartphone can be heated to 40-45 It's a normal cooling system that takes the heat away from the processor, but it's uncomfortable to hold the device in your hands.
If the CPU temperature reaches a critical threshold, the trotting mechanism comes into effect. The system automatically lowers the core clock rates to prevent damage to components. Visually, this is manifested in the fall of FPS in games and slowing down the interface, which is why for gamers, using an external cooler or a removable radiator could be a necessity to maintain maximum performance.
☑️ How to reduce the heating of the smartphone
It's worth noting that in the usual use cases -- social media, surfing the web, watching videos -- the processor is calm and doesn't cause noticeable heat, and problems only begin when you run to the limit for long periods of time, when all the cores and the graphics accelerator are involved.
The effect of the processor on the camera
Many people forget that the processor is not only computing, but also image processing. The Helio G90T has an ISP (Image Signal Processor) that is capable of processing images with matrices up to 64 MP. This allowed the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro to become one of the first smartphones in its class with a 64-megapixel main camera. The speed of processing photos and recording video in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second directly depend on the power of this component.
However, opportunities ISP For example, the hardware-level video stabilization in this chipset is less implemented than the top Qualcomm solutions of the time, offset by software stabilization algorithms, but when you shoot actively in motion, you can see small jerks. In addition, the speed of focusing and processing HDR-Nighttime photos are also tied to the performance of the cores Cortex-A76.
- 📸 Sensor support: Up to 64 MP (main camera).
- 🎥 Video recording: 4K @ 30fps, FullHD @ 60fps.
- 🌙 Night shooting: Accelerated processing thanks to powerful cores.
- 🤳 Portrait mode: Fast background blur thanks to neural networks.
For mobile photography enthusiasts, it is important to know that the quality of the final images depends not only on the matrix, but also on how quickly and efficiently the processor applies noise cancellation and color correction. In this regard, the G90T shows decent results, although compression artifacts can occur in difficult lighting conditions.
Relevance of the processor in 2026-2026
It’s been years since the Redmi Note 8 Pro was released, and the question of the relevance of its hardware is becoming more pertinent. For basic tasks – instant messengers, YouTube, navigation, light games – the Helio G90T processor still has a sufficient supply of power. The MIUI interface (or its modern counterparts) runs smoothly, applications open quickly, and in everyday life the user may not notice a significant difference with the newer models of the middle segment.
The critical factor in the aging of this processor is not so much the decline in performance, as the lack of optimization of new versions of Android and heavy applications under the 12-nm architecture and old Cortex-A76 cores.
If you’re considering buying this smartphone as a second device or phone for a child/elderly person, its processor will live up to expectations. However, for avid mobile gamers looking to play heavy new projects at high settings, the Redmi Note 8 Pro may already seem a bit weak, in which case you should pay attention to models with more modern chipsets that have a process of 7 nm or less.
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If you buy a used Redmi Note 8 Pro, be sure to check the battery status. Older batteries give off current under load, which can cause artificial brakes of the processor, even if the chip itself is working.