Xiaomi 8T: when the flagship of 2018 came out and why it became a legend

Xiaomi 8T is one of the most memorable smartphones of the Chinese brand, which is still discussed by mobile enthusiasts. This device has become a bridge between the budget solutions of the company and premium flagships, offering users a balanced combination of performance, design and innovation. But when exactly did Xiaomi 8T come out, and what made it so special? In this article, we will examine not only the exact release date, but also the context of its appearance on the market, key technical characteristics, and how it fit into the line of Xiaomi devices at the time of release.

If you’re planning to buy a used Xiaomi 8T or just wondering about the history of smartphones, this information will help you understand what the flagship was capable of four years ago and whether it is relevant today. We will also compare it with other models of the Mi 8 series and tell you what chips made it cult among fans of the brand. Don’t miss the section with rare facts about the development – there you will find information that is not covered in standard reviews!

Official release date of Xiaomi 8T: chronology of events

Xiaomi 8T was announced on September 26, 2018 at a special event in China, and the global release took place a little later – October 19, 2018.It was a time when the company was actively expanding its presence in international markets, and the Mi 8T became one of the key players in this process. Interestingly, the release date coincided with a period of intense competition between Xiaomi, Huawei and Samsung in the mid-budget flagship segment.

In Russia, the smartphone went on sale in early November 2018, and its price at the start was about 25,000 rubles for the version with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of memory. For comparison: the top at the time Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro cost 10,000 rubles more, which made the 8T extremely attractive offer. It is important to note that the model came out under the Mi brand (not Redmi), which emphasized its positioning as a “lightweight” flagship.

• 📅 26.09.2018 – official announcement in China
• 🌍 19.10.2018 – Global release (including Europe)
• 🇷🇺 News 2018 – start of sales in Russia (November)
• 💰 25 000 ₽ — starting price (6/64 GB)

The Xiaomi 8T was the first smartphone to officially support NFC for contactless payments in the global version, previously only available in Chinese versions or requiring manual activation through an engineering menu, a solution that made life much easier for European users who could use Google Pay immediately without additional manipulation.

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi 8T: under the hood of the flagship of 2018

Beneath the body of the Xiaomi 8T was the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the same chipset used in top-end smartphones of the time, including the Samsung Galaxy S9 and OnePlus 6. It was a 10-nanometer eight-core processor with clock speeds up to 2.8 GHz, which provided excellent performance in both everyday tasks and games. the Adreno 630 graphics accelerator allowed you to run even the most demanding projects at maximum settings.

The memory was two options: 6 GB 8 GB (depending on the modification), and built-in — 64, 128 or 256 GB: Unfortunately, there was no memory card slot, which was typical of Xiaomi's flagship models of the period. AMOLED-diagonal 6,39 resolution 2340×1080 (Full HD+) supportive of technology HDR10. It was bright. 600 strand and contrast — 60000:1, What made the picture juicy and deep.

Special attention should be paid to the dual main camera: 12 MP (wide-angle, f/1.8, optical stabilization) + 13 MP (telephoto, f/2.4, 2× This was one of Xiaomi's first attempts to incorporate optical zoom into a non-flagship model. 20 diaphragm-map f/2.0 And it's got face unlock support. 3400 Mach supports fast charging Quick Charge 4.0+, But, alas, it did not have wireless charging - it was the prerogative of more expensive models.

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If your Xiaomi 8T is slow to charge, try cleaning the USB port of dust with a wooden toothpick. Often the problem lies in poor contact, not in the battery.

Xiaomi 8T differs from other models of the Mi 8 series

The Mi 8 lineup in 2018 was introduced by several models, and the 8T held a special place in it. Let's compare it with other devices in the series to see what it stood out for:

• 🔹 Xiaomi Mi 8 - the basic model with AMOLED-screen-less NFC in the global version and with less advanced camera (without a telephoto module).
• 🔹 Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro – the top version with a screen with a fingerprint sensor, wireless charging and 3D-The scanner was much more expensive, but it was much more expensive.
• 🔹 Xiaomi Mi 8 SE — "The younger brother with the Snapdragon 710 processor and AMOLED-screen diagonal of 5.88 inches, positioned as a compact flagship.
• 🔹 Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite – budget version with IPS-screen and processor Snapdragon 660, without optical zoom and with a plastic case.

Xiaomi 8T The niche between Mi 8 and Mi 8 Pro, offering users optical zoom, NFC and AMOLED-The screen is cheaper than the Pro version, but it retains the same processor and basic features as the base Mi 8, but with a number of improvements. 8T Infrared port for home appliances control, which was not in the Mi 8 Pro.

⚠️ Note: If you see Xiaomi on sale 8T price-below 10 000 Check it for authenticity through the official service mi.com/verify. V 2020–2021 There have been many counterfeits of this model in the years, especially in the secondary market.

Software: Which version of Android was out of the box

At the time of the release, Xiaomi 8T was running MIUI 10 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. This was a bit disappointing, as competitors were already switching to Android 9 Pie. However, the company promised a quick update, and indeed: in early 2019, the smartphone received Android 9 with a new version of the MIUI shell 10.2. Later, in 2020, the model was updated to MIUI 12 based on Android 10, but this was the last major update.

An interesting nuance: Xiaomi 8T was one of the first smartphones of the company to support the Treble project, which meant that enthusiasts could install custom firmware (like LineageOS) without serious compatibility problems, and the model also had an unlockable bootloader, which made it popular among developers and fans of experiments with software.

Open the Settings. → The phone.|Find the line "Android Version"|Compare with the latest updates available on miui.com|If necessary, update your settings through → Updating the system-->

It is worth noting that the MIUI 10 on the Xiaomi 8T had a number of unique features that later disappeared in the new versions of the shell:

• 🎨 Super Wallpaper Mode – Animated Wallpaper Responding to Gestures.
• 🔊 Improved sound through Smart technology PA (low-frequency).
• 🔄 Dual apps – the ability to clone messengers (for example, two WhatsApp).

The relevance of Xiaomi 8T in 2026: is it worth buying?

5 years after the release of Xiaomi 8T can still be found on the secondary market, but how relevant is it today?

Pros:

• ✅ AMOLED-screen with excellent color reproduction (better than many public sector workers in 2023).
• ✅ Snapdragon 845 still pulls most games on mid-range settings (like Genshin Impact on 30) FPS).
• ✅ NFC IR port – a rare combination for smartphones in 2018.
• ✅ Informal support: there are custom firmware based on Android 13.

Cons:

• ❌ No official updates from 2021 (last version — MIUI 12.5 on Android 10).
• ❌ Weak autonomy: the battery for 3400 mAh in 5 years degrades to 70-80% of capacity.
• ❌ No. 5G Support for modern Wi-Fi standards 6/6E.
• ❌ The camera is outdated: no night mode and AI-Improvements to new models.

If you need a smartphone for everyday tasks (social networks, calls, photos on memory), then the Xiaomi 8T can still serve. However, for games, video shooting or long-term autonomy, it is better to consider newer models, such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro. The average price of a used 8T in 2026 is 6 000-10 000 rubles, which makes it an interesting option for collectors or those who like “retro technology”.

Rare facts about the development of Xiaomi 8T: what you did not know

Behind the scenes of the creation of Xiaomi 8T hides a few interesting details, which few people talk about:

1. Prototype with a cutout in the screen: initially, engineers tested the option with a “brow” (as in the iPhone X), but in the final version settled on the classic design with frames.
2. Secret Game Turbo mode: The first versions of the firmware featured a hidden game acceleration mode that was activated via the engineering menu (#4636##) and later integrated into the standard settings.
3. Wireless charging experiment: Xiaomi had a prototype 8T with Qi support in its lab, but the idea was abandoned due to increased cost.
4. Collaboration with Leica: 8T cameras were developed in consultation with Leica, but officially this partnership was announced only in 2022 with the Xiaomi 12S lineup.

Another little-known fact: Xiaomi 8T was the first smartphone of the company to pass the certification MIL-STD-810G for resistance to shock and vibration. Although marketing emphasis on this was not made, the device withstands falls from a height of 1.2 meters per concrete (provided that the screen is protected by film).

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Xiaomi 8T was the last flagship of the company with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and since the Mi 9 line, the brand completely abandoned it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Xiaomi 8T