Why the processor is important for the Redmi Note 8
Choosing a Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 smartphone is often associated with price-performance balance. But what exactly lurks under the hood of this popular gadget? The processor is the brain of a device that determines speed, multitasking, and even camera capabilities. In 2019, when Redmi Note 8 was released, manufacturers relied on proven solutions, not revolutionary innovations, which means that the processor here is not the top-end, but optimized for everyday tasks.
Many people still wonder, "Is the Redmi Note 8 chipset obsolete?" The answer depends on what you're trying to do with your smartphone. If you want a device for social media, photography and light gaming, the Snapdragon 665 will do just fine. If you're planning to run heavy games like the Genshin Impact at maximum settings or mount video in 4K, you should look at more modern models. Let's see what this processor is and what it's capable of in 2026.
Technical characteristics of the Snapdragon 665 processor
The heart of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset (codenamed SM6125), an 8-core processor built on an 11nm process, making it energy efficient enough for its time. The Kryo 260 architecture includes:
- 🔹 4 cores Cortex-A73 clock speed up to 2.0 GHz (for heavy tasks)
- 🔹 4 cores Cortex-A53 up to 1.8 GHz (for background processes)
- 🔹 Adreno 610 Graphics Accelerator with OpenGL Support ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.1
- 🔹 Snapdragon modem X12 LTE maximum download speed up to 600 Mbit/s
The Snapdragon 665 features support for third-generation artificial intelligence from Qualcomm, which allows faster photo processing, voice recognition and power optimization. For example, the AI Scene Detection feature in the Redmi Note 8 camera automatically selects settings for the type of scene (portrait, landscape, food, etc.).
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If you notice that your smartphone is slowing down, try turning off animation in the developer settings. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times), then to Developer Settings → Animation Scale and select No Animation.
Comparison with competitors: Snapdragon 665 vs other chipsets
To see how good the Redmi Note 8 is, compare it to similar chipsets from the same period. In 2019, the main competitors were:
| Chipset | Technique | CPU (core) | GPU | AnTuTu (points note) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 665 | 11nm | 4×A73 @2.0 GHz + 4×A53 @1.8 GHz | Adreno 610 | ~180 000 |
| Helio G90T (Redmi Note 8 Pro) | 12 nm | 2×A76 @2.05 GHz + 6×A55 @2.0 GHz | Mali-G76 MC4 | ~280 000 |
| Snapdragon 730 (Realme XT) | 8 nm | 2×A76 @2.2GHz + 6×A55 @1.8GHz | Adreno 618 | ~250 000 |
| Kirin 810 (Huawei Nova 5) | 7nm | 2×A76 @2.27 GHz + 6×A55 @1.88 GHz | Mali-G52 MP6 | ~300 000 |
As you can see from the table, the Snapdragon 665 is inferior in performance to more advanced chipsets, but benefits in energy efficiency thanks to 11-nm process technology. For example, the Helio G90T in the Redmi Note 8 Pro shows better results in games, but warms up stronger and discharges the battery faster. But the Kirin 810 from Huawei is generally in a different class, but it costs an order of magnitude more.
Performance in Games and benchmarks
One of the key questions when choosing the Redmi Note 8 is its ability to run modern games.
- 🎮 PUBG Mobile: Medium settings, 30-40 FPS (Possible lags in battle)
- 🎮 Call of Duty: Mobile: Medium settings, 40–50 FPS
- 🎮 Genshin Impact: Low Settings, 20–25 FPS (not recommended)
- 🎮 Free Fire: High Settings, 60 FPS (stably)
In synthetic tests, the Snapdragon 665 shows the following results (according to AnTuTu 9):
- 📊 CPU: ~70,000 points
- 📊 GPU: ~30,000 points
- 📊 UX (user experience): ~50,000 points
- 📊 Overall score: ~170 000–190 000
⚠️ Warning: During long gaming sessions (more than 1 hour), the processor may overheat, leading to trottling (automatic performance decline).To avoid this, use cooled cases or take breaks every 30-40 minutes.
By comparison, the Snapdragon 730 scores ~250,000 in the same tests, and the Helio G90T scores up to 280,000. However, the difference in real use is not always critical. For example, in PUBG Mobile, at mid-sets, the FPS difference between these chipsets is only 5-10 frames.
Optimization and Overclocking: Can Productivity Be Improved?
Many users are asking, "Can I overclock the processor in the Redmi Note 8?" Unfortunately, there are no official overclocking methods for the Snapdragon 665. Qualcomm blocks such capabilities at the firmware level. However, there are several ways to optimize the chipset:
Disable unnecessary background processes in Settings → Applications → Autorun
Enable Performance Mode in Settings → Battery → Performance Mode
Clear the cache through Settings → Storage → Clear the cache
Update MIUI Up to the latest version (bug fixes improve performance)-->
For advanced users, there is a custom core option (such as FrancoKernel), but this requires unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware, which is unwarranted and can lead to brick. It is also worth noting that even after optimization, the Snapdragon 665 will not be comparable in power to the Snapdragon 8xx – its architectural limitations remain.
What is trottling and how to avoid it?
Compatible with modern versions of Android and MIUI
At the time of the release of the Redmi Note 8 was running on Android 9 Pie with the shell MIUI 10. Now (2026) official support for updates is discontinued, but the device can work on:
- 📱 MIUI 12.5 (last stable version for this device)
- 📱 Android 11 (the latest official version of Android)
- 📱 Custom firmware (for example, LineageOS 20 based on Android 13)
The question is, “Does the Snapdragon 665 pull the current versions of Android?”
- ✅ MIUI 12.5 is optimized for this chipset and runs smoothly.
- ⚠️ Android 11 can slow down when multitasking (for example, when you start the camera and the navigator at the same time).
- ❌ Android 12+ on custom firmware often leads to lags due to lack of resources.
⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware on Redmi Note 8 with Snapdragon 665 can lead to problems with: NFC (If you have it in your modification. - Camera (some firmware does not support 48 MP main module). - Quick charging (Quick Charge 4.0 may not work).
Which smartphones are better than the Redmi Note 8 in 2026?
If you’re short on the performance of the Snapdragon 665 but like the Redmi Note concept, it’s worth considering more modern models:
| Model | Processor | AnTuTu (note) | Price (2026, b/y) | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | Snapdragon 732G | ~350 000 | 15 000–18 000 ₽ | 120Hz screen, best camera |
| Poco X3 Pro | Snapdragon 860 | ~450 000 | 18 000–22 000 ₽ | 2020 Flagship Chipset |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | MediaTek Dimensity 1080 | ~500 000 | 25 000–30 000 ₽ | 5G, OLED-screen, fast charging |
If you're on a budget but want something more powerful, the Poco X3 Pro with the Snapdragon 860 is a great choice. This processor is a head taller than the Snapdragon 665 and pulls any game at high settings. And if the camera and display are important, the Redmi Note 10 Pro offers the best balance.
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The Snapdragon 665 in 2026 is good for basic tasks, but if you need multitasking or modern games, consider models with Snapdragon 7xx or Dimensity.