Xiaomi officially confirmed the date of presentation of the Mi 8: May 31, 2018

May 31, 2018 will be a landmark date for fans of the Xiaomi brand: the company officially confirmed the presentation of its new flagship smartphone Mi 8. This event caused a real stir in the technology community, because we are talking about the successor to the legendary Mi 6, which won the love of users thanks to the powerful filling and affordable price. The announcement coincides with the 8th anniversary of the company, which adds to the symbolism: the number “8” in Chinese culture is associated with luck and prosperity.

Insiders and analysts have been discussing the possible specs of the Mi 8 for months, and now we have official confirmation of the date.The presentation will take place in Shenzhen, the technological heart of China, where Xiaomi is headquartered. The company is expected to show other new products besides the flagship, including accessories for the Mi Ecosystem ecosystem. For those planning to buy, this is the perfect moment to compare the Mi 8 with competitors like the Huawei P20 Pro or OnePlus 6, which came out in the spring of the same year.

Official confirmation: what is known about date and place

Xiaomi posted a teaser on its official Weibo account, @Xiaomi, which clearly states, “May 31, 14:00 Beijing time,” at Shenzhen University of Science and Technology, which is not a random choice, because the city is considered China’s Silicon Valley, and will be broadcast on Xiaomi’s official website and partner channels, including YouTube.

Interestingly, the date of the presentation coincides with the beginning of the summer sales season, which may indicate a strategic move of the company: the release of the flagship before the peak of consumer activity. For Russian users, the broadcast will begin at 9:00 Moscow time - this is a convenient time to follow the announcement live.

• 📅 Date: May 31, 2018
• ⏰ Time: 14:00 Beijing time (9:00 GMT)
• 📍 Location: Shenzhen University of Science and Technology
• 🌍 Broadcast: official website Xiaomi, YouTube, Weibo

Technical specifications of the Mi 8: what to expect from the flagship

Although the full specifications will not be released until May 31, leaks and certification documents provide a clear picture of what the buyer will get.

• 📱 Display: 6.21-inch AMOLED permittingly 2248×1080 side-relation 18.7:9. Support expected HDR10 brightness 600 thread.
• 🔥 Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 – the top chipset of 2018 with clock speeds up to 2.8 GHz. This guarantees high performance in games and multitasking.
• 📸 Camera: dual module 12 MP + 12 MP (wide-angle) + Telephoto) with optical zoom and support AI-Front camera - 20 MP with background blur.
• 🔋 Battery: 3400 mAh with Quick Charge 4.0 support+ and wireless charging (optional).
• 🤖 OS: MIUI 10 powered by Android 8.1 Oreo with promise of quick upgrade to Android P.

Particularly noteworthy is the underscreen fingerprint scanner, a technology that Xiaomi tested in the Mi 8 Explorer Edition prototype.If this feature is implemented in the production model, the Mi 8 will be one of the first mass-market smartphones with such a solution, ahead of even the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Price and availability: how much will cost Mi 8 in Russia

According to preliminary data, the basic version of the Mi 8 with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of memory will cost about 2600-2800 yuan (~27 000-29,000 rubles at the exchange rate of 2018). The version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of memory will rise to 3200-3500 yuan (~33,000-36,000 rubles).

By comparison, the Mi 6 cost ~2,500 yuan at launch, so the Mi 8 will rise by 10-15%, which is justified by the updated hardware. In Russia, official sales will begin 2-3 weeks after the presentation, and the first batches will go to Xiaomi partners such as Svyaznoy, M. Video and Wildberries. It is expected that the price in Russian stores will be 10-20% higher than the Chinese one due to logistics and taxes.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi was just beginning to expand in Russia in 2018, so official shipments could be delayed, and customers were advised to check for global firmware (with support for Russian language and Google services) before buying gray devices from China.

• 💰 Basic version (6/64 GB): ~27 000–29 000 ₽
• 💎 Top version (8/128 GB): ~33 000–36 000 ₽
• 📦 Start of sales in Russia: June 2018
• 🌐 Where to buy: official partners (M.Video, Svyaznoy), AliExpress (with the risk of "Chinese" firmware)

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If you are planning to buy the Mi 8 from China, make sure the model supports Russian LTE Band 3 (1800 MHz) and Band 7 (2600 MHz) frequencies. Without them, the smartphone will not catch 4G in most regions of Russia.

How to watch the presentation of Xiaomi Mi 8 online

The presentation will be available on multiple platforms, and the key is to choose a source that is convenient for you with minimal delay.

• 🌐 Xiaomi official website: mi.com (Events section")

For Russian users, YouTube is the most convenient option, where the broadcast will be duplicated with a delay of 5-10 minutes. If you want to get information as quickly as possible, you can use a VPN to access Chinese resources, but note that the comments will be in Chinese.

Ensure the stability of the Internet connection

Close background applications on the device

Connect headphones for better sound

Prepare a notebook for recording key points

Check the start time for your time zone

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What else will be announced at the presentation with the Mi 8

Traditionally, Xiaomi has used major events to announce multiple devices at the same time, with the following new products expected in addition to the Mi 8:

• 🎧 Mi Band 3: a new generation of fitness bracelets with OLED-screen-support NFC (Payment in China and improved sleep tracking.

Exclusive information: according to leaks, the event may also be presented prototype Mi Max 3 smartphone with a giant battery 5500 mAh and a screen 6.9. However, its full announcement is expected later, in July 2018.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Comparison with Competitors: Who is Stronger?

Spring-summer 2018 has been a period of fierce competition among flagships.The Mi 8 will have to compete with models such as the Huawei P20 Pro, OnePlus 6 and Samsung Galaxy S9+.

The Mi 8’s main advantage is price-performance, which is as good as the OnePlus 6, but it’s cheaper, and the Huawei P20 Pro’s photography edge is out of the competition with the Leica triple camera, but for most users, the difference of 20,000 to 25,000 rubles will outweigh the competition.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi did not have full-fledged official support in Russia in 2018, so warranty service could be limited. Before buying, check whether the warranty is valid in Russia or you will have to send the device to China in case of a breakdown.

What to do after the presentation: how to buy the Mi 8 first

If you are determined to become one of the first owners of the Mi 8, here is the algorithm of actions after the announcement:

1. Watch out for pre-orders: Official partners (e.g. M. Video) often open pre-orders immediately after the presentation with bonuses (cases, free shipping).
2. Check availability in AliExpress: Chinese sellers with high ratings (for example, Xiaomi Official Store) begin deliveries 1-2 weeks after the announcement.
3. For Russia, the global version (model code M1803E1A) with support for the Russian language and Google services is critical.
4. Make mailings: subscribe to notifications in Mi Community or official retailers, so as not to miss the start of sales.

Note that the first batches are often sold out in a few hours. If you want to get a smartphone on the day of the start of sales, prepare in advance: create accounts on the sites, save card data for quick payment and watch countdown timers.

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The main rule when buying Xiaomi Mi 8 in 2018 is to avoid the “Chinese” versions (without Google Play) and check the support of the Russian version. LTE-Otherwise, you risk getting a device with limited functionality.

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about Xiaomi Mi 8