Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones from the Chinese brand, released in 2018. Despite its age, the device is still in demand due to its balanced characteristics and affordable price. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is a key component of any smartphone that determines its performance in games, multitasking and everyday tasks. In this article, we will analyze in detail which chipset is installed in the Mi 8 Lite, analyze its architecture, compare it with competitors and give recommendations for optimization of work.
Many users still confuse the Mi 8 Lite with the flagship Mi 8 lineup, expecting similar performance from it. However, the Lite model was positioned as a budget option with a focus on design and camera, not hardware. This reflected in the choice of processor. If you are planning to buy a used device or want to overclock your current smartphone, this information will be especially useful.
Technical characteristics of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite processor
The Mi 8 Lite is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, a mid-range 14nm chipset announced in May 2017, which is a logical extension of the Snapdragon 600 lineup and offers significant performance gains over the Snapdragon 652/653 predecessor.
- 🔹 Architecture: 8 Kryo 260 cores (4 high-performance) Cortex-A73 @ 2.2 GHz + 4 energy efficient Cortex-A53 @ 1.8 GHz)
- 🔹 Graphics accelerator: Adreno 512 with OpenGL support ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.0 and DirectX 12
- 🔹 Process technology: 14 nm LPP (Low Power Plus by Samsung
- 🔹 Memory support: LPDDR4X (before 8 GB), in Mi 8 Lite — 4/6 GB LPDDR4X @ 1866 MHz
- 🔹 Modem: Snapdragon X12 LTE (Cat. 12/13, before 600 Mbps download)
Importantly, the Snapdragon 660 was Qualcomm’s first chipset to support hardware acceleration dual camera (via the Spectra 160 ISP), which allowed the Mi 8 Lite to offer quality images in its price segment, but the processor also has limitations: for example, it does not support 4K@60fps video recording (maximum 4K@30fps or 1080p@60fps).
Performance in benchmarks and real-world tasks
To objectively assess the capabilities of the Snapdragon 660 in the Mi 8 Lite, we turn to the results of popular tests and real user experience. Below are the averages for a device with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of memory (based on MIUI 12.5):
| benchmark | The result | Comparison with competitors |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu 9 | ~140,000 points | 20% slower than the Snapdragon 710 (175,000 points), but 30% faster than the Snapdragon 636 (105,000 points) |
| Geekbench 5 (Single-Core) | ~350 points | Kirin 710 (400 points) but beats Helio P60 (320 points) |
| Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core) | ~1,300 points | Comparable to the Exynos 7904 (Samsung Galaxy A50), but loses the Snapdragon 730 (1,800 points) |
| 3DMark (Sling Shot Extreme) | ~1,200 points | Adreno 512 is weaker than Mali-G72 MP12 (Kirin 710) by ~15% |
In real-world applications, the Snapdragon 660 shows the following results:
- 🎮 Games: PUBG Mobile - stable 30 FPS In the settings "Balanced", Call of Duty: Mobile - 40 FPS Genshin Impact can slow down even at minimal settings.
- 📸 Camera: Quick processing HDR-photo (delay) ~1 sec, but recording video in 4K It may cause overheating after 10-15 minute.
- 🔄 Multitasking: Up to 10 apps in the background (with 6GB of RAM), but switching between heavy gaming and instant messengers sometimes causes the latter to reboot.
💡
If you see friezes in games, try turning off the background activity of applications in the Battery settings → Optimizing power consumption. This will free up the CPU resources for the main task.
Comparison with Competitor Processors
In 2018, the Snapdragon 660 competed with chipsets from Huawei (Kirin), MediaTek (Helio) and Samsung (Exynos).
| Processor | Core (architecture) | GPU | AnTuTu 9 | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 660 | 4×A73 @2.2 GHz + 4×A53 @1.8 GHz | Adreno 512 | ~140 000 | Best Optimization for Games, Quick Charge 4+ Support |
| Kirin 710 | 4×A73 @2.2 GHz + 4×A53 @1.7 GHz | Mali-G51 MP4 | ~155 000 | More energy efficient, but less optimized for emulators |
| Helio P60 | 4×A73 @2.0 GHz + 4×A53 @2.0 GHz | Mali-G72 MP3 | ~110 000 | Cheaper, but weaker in schedule and heats up more |
| Exynos 7904 | 2×A73 @1.8 GHz + 6×A53 @1.6 GHz | Mali-G71 MP2 | ~120 000 | The weakest on this list, but with the best energy efficiency |
The Snapdragon 660’s key advantage is that it supports Qualcomm’s technologies, such as aptX for wireless headphones and Quick Charge for fast charging, which competitors don’t have. However, in terms of clean performance, the Kirin 710 (like the Huawei Nova 3i) is slightly faster in benchmarks, although the difference in real-world tasks is minimal.
⚠️ Warning: If you choose between the Mi 8 Lite and the Helio device P60 (For example, Realme 2 Pro, keep in mind that the latter warms up more strongly under prolonged loads.
Typical Processor Problems and Their Solutions
Despite the reliability of the Snapdragon 660, Mi 8 Lite users sometimes face the following performance-related issues:
- Overheating when playing or charging Chipset is prone to heating up to 45-50 ° C under prolonged loads. This is normal for 14-nm process technology, but can cause trottling. How to check trottling?Install the CPU Throttling Test from Google Play. If after loading the core frequency falls below 1.5 GHz - the processor trottlit.
- MIUI Slowdowns Most often involve background processes. Solution: Turn off autoloading unnecessary applications in Settings → Applications → Autorun.
- The Adreno 512 video chip is not designed for modern games like Genshin Impact or Diablo Immortal. Try lowering the screen resolution to 720p in the game settings.
Turn off animation in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (5 times pressed) → Additional → Windows Animation (off)
Set an easy theme of design
Limit the background activity of applications
Clean the cache once a week through Settings → Storage
Use Game Turbo for Games-->
If problems persist, consider flashing to custom software (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that can boost performance with an optimized kernel, but requires unlocking the bootloader and losing warranty.
Can I overclock the Mi 8 Lite processor?
Technically, overclocking the processor on Android devices is possible, but for the Snapdragon 660, this is fraught with a number of limitations:
- 🔧 Qualcomm restrictions: Manufacturer blocks core frequency change on most mid-range chipsets.
- 🔥 Overheating: Even standard 2.2GHz causes heating - increasing frequency will make the problem worse.
- ⚡ Energy consumption: Acceleration will reduce the battery life on the 20-30%.
Alternative ways to “accelerate” the smartphone:
- Undervolting: You can try using FrancoKernel cores, but requires root rights.
- Optimize your task scheduler: Install Kernel Adiutor and choose the cfq or bfq scheduler for better responsiveness.
- Disabling Excess Cores: In the kernel settings, you can disable 1-2 Cortex-A53 cores to save energy (but this will reduce multitasking).
⚠️ Attention: Any manipulation of the kernel or firmware can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable). TWRP Recovery and make sure the bootloader is officially unlocked (via Mi Unlock Tool).
The Mi 8 Lite in 2026: Should I Buy It?
6 years after the release of the Mi 8 Lite remains an interesting option for the secondary market, but with reservations.
| Criteria | Evaluation (1-10) | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Productivity in 2026 | 6/10 | Copes with social networks and easy games, but does not pull modern AAA-project. |
| Support for the | 4/10 | Official MIUI updates are discontinued in 2021, the current version of Android is 9-10 (via custom firmware). |
| Autonomy | 5/10 | The battery 3350 mAh + 14-nm chipset = 4-5 hours of screen when used actively. |
| Price/quality | 8/10 | In the secondary market, the device costs 5-7 thousand rubles - a good option for a backup or the first smartphone. |
Who will be the best at Mi 8 Lite today?
- 📱 For those who are looking for an inexpensive smartphone for calls, instant messengers and easy games.
- 🎓 Students: For notes, reading and watching videos (screen) IPS 6.26" with good viewing angles).
- 🔧 Fans of custom firmware - the device is well documented and has an active community.
Who shouldn't take:
- 🎮 For gamers: PUBG At maximum settings or Genshin Impact power will not be enough.
- 📸 Photographer: Camera 12+5 MP is outdated compared to modern sensors (no night mode, weak detail).
- 🔋 For those who travel a lot: Fast discharge and lack of support for modern networks 5G.
💡
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite in 2026 is a workhorse for basic tasks, but not a flagship. Its main advantages are low price, maintainability and support for custom firmware.
Mi 8 Lite alternatives with better processors
If you are not satisfied with the performance of the Snapdragon 660, consider the following models with more powerful chipsets in the same price segment (up to 10 thousand rubles in the secondary market):
| Model | Processor | AnTuTu 9 | Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 8 Pro | Helio G90T | ~280 000 | More powerful in games, 64 MP camera | Heats up, MIUI with adverts |
| Realme 5 Pro | Snapdragon 712 | ~200 000 | Best optimization, AMOLED-screen | Weak vibrator, no NFC |
| Samsung Galaxy A50 | Exynos 9610 | ~160 000 | AMOLED, a good camera, One UI | Slow updates, weak GPU |
| Poco X3 NFC | Snapdragon 732G | ~300 000 | 120Hz screen, the best in gaming | Big weight, mediocre frontal |
If you need a smartphone exclusively for gaming, the best choice is the Poco X3 NFC or Redmi Note 8 Pro. For photography and autonomy, you should take a look at the Samsung Galaxy A50 or Realme 6 (with the Helio G90T).