Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is the flagship model of 2018, which is still in demand today due to its balanced performance and affordable price in the secondary market. One of the key components determining its performance is the processor. But what kind of chip is in this model? Why is it important for everyday tasks and games? And how does its capabilities compare with modern solutions?
In this article, we will take a closer look at the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro processor, its architecture, specifications and real performance, learn what this chip is capable of in 2026, how to optimize it to extend the life of the smartphone, and get answers to frequent questions from users. If you are planning to buy a used device or already own it, this information will help you make an informed decision.
It’s worth noting that the Mi 8 Pro is a modification of the standard Mi 8 with an improved camera and a screen with a fingerprint sensor under the display, but the heart of both devices is the same, which makes our analysis relevant for the base model.
What is the “heart” of Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro: model and architecture of the processor
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro has the flagship chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (codename) SDM845). This processor was announced in December 2017 and has become one of the most popular solutions for Android smartphones 2018-2019. It is built on a 10-nm process technology (an improved version of Samsung). 10LPP), This provided the optimal balance between productivity and energy efficiency.
The Snapdragon 845 architecture includes:
- 🔹 8 Kryo 385 cores (4 high-performance) + 4 energy efficient, operating in big.little mode.
- 🎮 Adreno 630 Graphics Accelerator – 30% more powerful than its predecessor (Adreno 540).
- 📡 modem X20 LTE with support for speeds up to 1.2 Gbps.
- 🤖 Support for neural networks with Hexagon 685 DSP (Artificial intelligence for camera and voice assistants).
Chipset is equipped with a third level cache (L3) 2MB, which reduces processing delays. Important: Snapdragon 845 does not support 5G — The maximum speed of mobile Internet is limited by the standard LTE Cat.18.
By comparison, today’s flagships (such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) use 4nm process technology and show 2-3 times more performance in synthetic tests. However, for most everyday tasks, the Snapdragon 845 is still a viable solution, especially when the system is optimized correctly.
Specifications of Snapdragon 845: analysis by components
Let’s take a closer look at the key components of the processor and their impact on the smartphone.
Central processing unit (CPU):
- 🔥 4 cores Cortex-A75 (clock speed up to 2.8 GHz – responsible for heavy tasks (games, video rendering).
- ⚡ 4 cores Cortex-A55 (up to 1.8 GHz – save battery power for simple operations (messaging devices, calls).
This configuration allows dynamically distribute the load, prolonging the battery life.
Graphics processor (GPU):
Adreno 630 supports:
- 🎮 Display resolution to 4K at 60 Hz or QHD+ At 120Hz, although the Mi 8 Pro screen is Full HD+).
- 🖥️ Vulkan 1.1, OpenGL technologies ES 3.2 and DirectX 12 for games and graphics applications.
- 🎥 Hardware video decoding 4K HDR (including H.265 and VP9).
Other important components:
| Component | Characteristics | Influence on the user |
|---|---|---|
| modem | X20 LTE (Cat.18) | Download speeds up to 1.2 Gbps, but requires operator support |
| ISP (image-processing) | Spectra 280 (14-bit) | Support for dual cameras up to 16 MP, video recording 4K@60fps |
| Security | Secure Processing Unit (SPU) | Protection of biometric data (fingerprints, face) |
| Memory. | LPDDR4X (until 1866 MHz) | Fast multitasking and working with heavy applications |
Note: Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro comes with 6 or 8 GB of RAM (depending on version), which in combination with Snapdragon 845 provides smooth operation even with open 10 GB+ annexes.
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If your Mi 8 Pro is starting to slow down, try limiting the background activity of apps in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Process limit).
Productivity in 2026: benchmarks and real use
To assess the relevance of the Snapdragon 845 today, consider the results of synthetic tests and real-world use cases.
Synthetic tests (average values for the Mi 8 Pro):
- 📊 AnTuTu 9: ~280,000–300,000 points (compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 scores) ~1 300 000).
- 🎮 3DMark Wild Life: ~1,800–2,000 points (modern flagships – 10,000)+).
- 🔋 Geekbench 5 (multi-core): ~1,800 to 2,000 points.
Real productivity:
- 📱 Everyday tasks: Messengers, social networks, web surfing - without delay. MIUI 12/14 stable.
- 🎮 Games: 🟢 PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile – Medium settings, 40–60 FPS. 🟡 Genshin Impact – Low Settings, 20–30 FPS (Possible slackening in battles). 🔴 Honor of Kings at maximum settings - overheating in 20-30 minutes.
- 📸 Camera and video: Recording 4K@30fps without problems, but with prolonged shooting, overheating is possible.
- 🔄 Multitasking: Up to 15-20 apps in the background (at 8 GB of RAM).
Weaknesses:
⚠️ Attention: At long loads (games, video rendering), the Snapdragon 845 is prone to trottling, which causes a drop in frequency due to overheating. FPS 20–30% after 15–20 minutes of continuous use.
Compared to 2018 competitors:
- 🆚 Kirin 980 (Huawei Mate 20 Pro) – better in energy efficiency, but weaker in graphics.
- 🆚 Exynos 9810 (Samsung Galaxy S9) — Similar performance but less optimized for gaming.
- 🆚 Apple A12 Bionic (iPhone XS) — Exceeds single-core performance by 40-50%.
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The Snapdragon 845 in 2026 is suitable for everyday tasks and medium-loaded games, but does not cope with modern modern games. AAA-high-setting projects.
How to optimize the processor on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro
Even after 6 years, the Snapdragon 845 can be overclocked software to improve performance and reduce heat.
Update of firmware and kernel:
- 🔄 Install the latest version MIUI (Official or custom, for example, LineageOS 20).
- 🛠️ Replace the standard core with an optimized one (e.g., FrancoKernel or Perseus).
Performance settings:
☑️ Optimization of Snapdragon 845
Temperature control:
- 🌡️ Use temperature monitoring applications (e.g, CPU Monitor AIDA64).
- ❄️ When playing sessions, reduce the brightness of the screen and turn off unnecessary background processes.
Overclocking (for advanced users):
⚠️ Note: Overclocking the processor through custom cores or applications like Kernel Adiutor can overheat and shorten the life of the chip.
5. Cooling:
- 💨 Regularly clean the charging connector and speakers from dust (it worsens the heat sink).
- 🧊 When used intensively, remove the case or use a cooling stand.
Example of optimization for games:
1. Install the Game Turbo app (built into MIUI).
2. In the game settings, select the "Performance" profile.
3. Turn off notifications and background sync.
4. Reduce the graphics resolution to HD (if the game supports).Comparison with other Xiaomi processors: which is better?
If you’re choosing between the Mi 8 Pro and other Xiaomi models, it’s important to compare their processors.
| Xiaomi model | Processor | Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi 9 | Snapdragon 855 | 20% faster in CPU, better energy efficiency | Higher in the secondary market |
| POCO F1 | Snapdragon 845 | Cheaper, better cooling (liquid system) | Plastic case, weak camera. |
| Mi 10 | Snapdragon 865 | Support 5G, 40% more powerful in GPU | Price 2-3 times higher |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | Snapdragon 732G | Better autonomy, cheaper | Weaker at gaming and multitasking |
Conclusion:
- 💰 Budget up to 15,000 ₽: POCO F1 Mi 8 Pro – the best choice in terms of price/performance ratio.
- 🎮 For gaming: Mi 9 (Snapdragon 855) justified if the difference in price is small.
- 📸 For photo/video: Mi 10 or Mi 11 (but already with budget in mind).
If your priority is long-term use, look for Snapdragon models. 855/865. They will get updates longer and better optimized for modern applications.
Why is the Mi 8 Pro cheaper than the Mi 9?
Frequent Processor Problems and Solutions
Owners of Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro sometimes face problems related to the processor. Let’s consider the typical cases and ways to fix them.
1. Overheating during charging or playing:
- 🔥 Reason: Dust clogging, wear of thermal pastes, background processes.
- ⚡ Solution: Clean the compressed air charging connector. Turn off Fast Charging in the battery settings. Use the Greenify app to hibernate unnecessary apps.
Decelerations and lags:
- 🐢 Reason: Filled memory, storage fragmentation, outdated firmware.
- 🛠️ Solution: Reset the cache via recovery (Volume Up) + Power → Wipe Cache. Reverse to an older version MIUI (For example, 14 to 12.5 is lighter. Replace the heatpaste (requires disassembly of the device).
Rapid discharge of battery:
- 🔋 Reason: Active background mediaserver or optimization process MIUI.
- ⚡ Solution: Turn off Autosynchronization in your Google account. Use Power Saving mode in your battery settings. Check your energy consumption in Settings. → Battery → Battery utilization.
Disruptions in games (departures, artifacts):
⚠️ Note: If games crash with a "Device lost" error, this may indicate problems with the Adreno 630 graphics core.Try: Reduce the in-game graphics settings.Update drivers GPU Download the game version (sometimes updates contain bugs for old chipsets) If the problem persists, it may be a hardware defect (requires diagnosis at the service center).
The future of Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro: Should you buy in 2026?
When deciding whether to buy the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro today, we will evaluate its pros and cons with the Snapdragon 845 processor in mind.
The argument:
- ✅ Price: In the secondary market - from 8 000 to 12 000 ₽ (conditionally).
- ✅ Performance: Enough for social networks, videos, undemanding games.
- ✅ Screen: AMOLED supportive HDR — Better than many of the public sector workers of 2023-2026.
- ✅ Camera: Double 12+12 Optical zoom is not bad for its time.
- ✅ Updates: Unofficial firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) extends the life of the device.
The arguments "Against":
- ❌ No 5G: Snapdragon 845 does not support fifth-generation networks.
- ❌ Outdated. MIUI: The latest official version — MIUI 12.5 (without Android 13 security)+).
- ❌ Autonomy: 3000 mAh battery is not enough for modern standards.
- ❌ Heating: For long periods of time, cooling is required.
Who will be the Mi 8 Pro in 2026?
- 📱 Second phone: For calls, instant messengers and games.
- 🎓 Students: For study, notes and light tasks.
- 📸 The camera is better than the public sector in the same price category.
- 💻 Enthusiasts: For experiments with custom firmware and modding.
Who better to choose another device?
- 🎮 Gamers: Even the average settings in modern games cause overheating.
- 📶 Those who need it 5G: Snapdragon 845 does not support new networks.
- 🔋 For those who appreciate autonomy: the battery lasts for 4-5 hours of screen.
Alternatives in the same budget (2026):
- POCO X3 Pro (Snapdragon 860) – better for gaming, but worse camera.
- Redmi Note 12 Pro (Snapdragon 732G) — More modern but weaker in productivity.
- Samsung Galaxy A52 (Snapdragon 720G) — best AMOLED-screen and support for updates.
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Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro in 2026 is a good choice for the secondary market if you need a balanced smartphone for little money and you are ready to put up with the lack of a smartphone. 5G low-powered.