Many users are still looking for information about when the legendary flagship of the Chinese company was born, because this model set new standards for the middle price segment. Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro was officially introduced to the public on September 19, 2018 in Beijing, becoming the first smartphone in the world to receive a transparent back panel with a decorative design. 3D-model of internal components.
This device is a direct successor to the popular Mi 8, and has not only a design, but also a more powerful processor, as well as improved facial recognition. It has been several years since its release, but interest in this device is not fading, as many are looking for it in the secondary market as a budget solution.
In this article, we will analyze in detail the history of the release of the gadget, its key features and answer the question of whether it is relevant in the modern realities of 2026.
Chronology of release and global release
The presentation of the device took place in China on September 19, 2018, which was timed to the release of a new version of the operating system MIUI 10. Chinese sales began almost immediately after the announcement, causing a stir due to the unique design of the rear cover.
For the international market, the device was introduced a little later, at the end of October 2018, simultaneously with the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite and the regular Mi 8. The global version received support for additional LTE frequencies, which was critical for European and Russian telecom operators.
⚠️ Attention: Global version of the smartphone has a marking M1807E8A, The Chinese version is described as M1807E8A, but may differ in the set of supported communication ranges.
It is worth noting that the Snapdragon 845 processor installed in this model, at the time of release, was the top solution from Qualcomm. This provided the device with high performance in games and heavy applications, which set it apart from competitors in its price class.
Key technical specifications
The basis of performance was a 10-nanometer chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, working in tandem with 6 or 8 gigabytes of RAM standard LPDDR4X. This volume allowed you to keep in memory a lot of running applications without the need to restart them.
The screen of the device is made by technology Super AMOLED with a diagonal of 6.21 inches and a resolution of Full HD+. An important feature of the display was the cutout in the upper part, which at the time of release was considered a controversial decision, but allowed to increase the usable area of the screen.
Built-in memory in the basic version was 64 GB, and in the top version - 128 GB. It is important to understand that there is no slot for microSD cards in the device, so you need to choose the storage amount immediately when buying.
- 📱 Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (8 cores, up to 2.8 GHz)
- 🎮 Graphics: Adreno 630
- 💾 Memory: 6/8 GB of RAM and 64/128 GB ROM
- 🔋 Battery: 3000mAh with Quick Charge 4+
The battery was 3,000 mAh battery powered by autonomy. For 2018, this was standard, but with the energy-efficient AMOLED screen and system optimization, the phone confidently held its charge for a full day of active use.
Unique design and transparent cover
The main thing that many people bought this phone for was the transparent back panel, which, unlike the fully transparent concepts, was a multi-layered design with a graphical image of the board.
There is actually a decorative glass under the glass. 3D-It was a model of the motherboard, the processor and other elements, and it was covered in silver spray, and it had a depth and technology effect, especially when light hit.
Why is the lid not completely transparent?
The body is made of Gorilla Glass on both sides and has an aluminum frame.The weight of the device is 177 grams, which makes it quite weighty, but pleasant in the hand thanks to the rounded edges.
⚠️ Attention: Transparent glass panel is extremely susceptible to scratches and chips when falling, so the use of a protective cover with braised sidebars is a must.
Cameras and multimedia capabilities
The smartphone received a dual main camera with modules of 12 MP each. the main sensor Sony IMX363 with an aperture of f/1.8 provided excellent detail even in low light conditions.
The second module was also responsible for 12 MP optical zoom and the formation of the bokeh effect in portrait mode, artificial intelligence built into the processor allowed to recognize up to 206 scenes and automatically adjust the shooting parameters.
Front camera received a resolution of 20 MP and support for Infrared technology AI Face Unlock. This meant that facial unlocking worked even in complete darkness, because it used infrared dot projection to build the dots. 3D-face-size.
| Parameter | Main camera. | Front camera. |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | 12 + 12 MP | 20 MP |
| Aperture | f/1.8 + f/2.4 | f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K @ 60 fps | 1080p @ 30 fps |
| Features | OIS, 2x Zoom | AI Beauty, Face Unlock |
Video capture supported recording in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, which was rare for smartphones at the time. Image stabilization worked correctly, although it was inferior to the flagships of Samsung or Apple of the period.
Software and Relevance in 2026
At the time of release, the smartphone was running Android 8.1 Oreo with a shell MIUI 10.During its lifetime, the device received updates to Android 10, after which official support ceased.
In 2026, stock firmware is no longer secure and compatible with modern applications, but a vibrant community of developers has created many custom firmware, such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience.
💡
For comfortable use in 2026 on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is highly recommended to install custom firmware based on Android 13 or 14, as official updates are no longer released.
Installing third-party software allows you to extend the life of the device, get fresh security patches and a cleaner interface, but this requires certain technical skills and unlock the bootloader.
- 🔄 Official support ends on Android 10.
- 🛡️ Security patches not updated since 2021 on stock firmware.
- 🚀 Castom firmware allows you to run Android 13/14.
Comparison with competitors and modifications
The 2018 lineup had three main models: the regular Mi 8, the Pro version and the Lite.The regular Mi 8 had a glass back cover without transparency and the same model's processor, but inferior in design.
The Lite version, released simultaneously with the Pro, received a mid-level Snapdragon 660 processor and a plastic body, positioned as a budget option. Mi 8 Pro occupied a niche image device for those who wanted to stand out.
The main competitors at that time were OnePlus 6, Honor 10 and Huawei P20 Pro. By the totality of characteristics Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro often won in price, offering a top processor for less money.
⚠️ Note: When buying a used device, pay attention to burnout AMOLED-The screen, as static interface elements could leave traces over the years of operation.
☑️ Check the used Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro
Should I buy the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro now?
In 2026, buying this smartphone makes sense only in a few specific cases: for example, if you need a low-cost phone for a child that is easy to break, or a second device for testing applications.
The performance of the Snapdragon 845 processor is still enough for basic tasks: messengers, YouTube, navigation and simple games. However, today’s heavy games can work with reduced graphics or heat.
If you think of it as a primary bell ringer, the lack of security updates makes it vulnerable, but as a media player or smart home device, it's a great fit.
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When buying a used Mi 8 Pro, be sure to check the originality of the display, as there are many cheap copies on the market with the worst color reproduction and fingerprints.
The price on the secondary market makes it one of the most affordable ways to get acquainted with quality products. AMOLED-screen NFC-The key is to realistically assess the state of the battery, which over the years of service could degrade.