Earlier today Xiaomi released its nth upper-midrange phone of this year: Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite. Given the high number of variants of the Mi 8 which are now in the market with similar names and the high amount of Xiaomi upper mid-rangers, we believe it is time to shed some light about the ones sold in the same price range as the new Mi 8 Lite. Here, you will find the main differences and similarities between Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, Xiaomi Mi 8 SE and Xiaomi Mi A2. We will also suggest you which one you should eventually buy. Three handsets with high performance and similar specs at a modest price: who wins and which would be the most suitable for you? Let’s discover it together
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi 8 SE vs Xiaomi Mi A2
| Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite | Xiaomi Mi 8 SE | Xiaomi Mi A2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 156.4 x 75.8 x 7.5 mm, 169 grams | 147.3 x 73.1 x 7.5 mm, 164 grams | 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 mm, 166 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.26 inches, 1080 x 2280p (Full HD+), 19:9 ratio, 403 ppi, IPS LCD | 5.88 inches, 1080 x 2244p (Full HD+), 423 ppi, 18.7:9 ratio, Super AMOLED | 5.99 inches, 1080 x 2160 pixels, 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, LTPS IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, octa-core 2.2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB | 4 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI | Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI | Android 8.1 Oreo, Android One |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.9 24 MP front camera |
Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.9 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 12 + 20 MP f/1.8 20 MP f/2.2 front camera |
| BATTERY | 3350 mAh Fast Charging Quick Charge 3.0 |
3120 mAh Fast Charging Quick Charge 3.0 |
3000 mAh, Fast Charging Quick Charge 3.0 |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot |
Differences
Given that aesthetics are the first thing we can see while looking at a phone, let’s start with the design which is different for each device. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is definitely the most attractive one with its gradient hues. But you may also love the Mi 8 SE with its original square shape and its incredibly high screen-to-body ratio, as well as the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection for the display. Xiaomi Mi A2 is the only with a metal unibody design and it has just a midrange-level design.
Another important difference is in the displays: three different aspect ratios (19:9 for the Mi 8 Lite, 18.7:9 for the Mi 8 SE and 18:9 for the Mi A2) and three different sizes (6.26, 5.88 and 5.99 inches, respectively). Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is the most compact device due to its smaller display, high screen-to-body ratio, and smaller diagonal. It is also the one with the best viewing quality thanks to the Super AMOLED panel with HDR10 technology and DCI-P3 coverage. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite and Mi A2 both have mid-end LCD panels.
Talking about the hardware, Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is the most powerful as it has a better SoC: the Snapdragon 710 by Qualcomm paired with up to 6 GB of RAM. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite and Mi A2 have the same SoC and memory configurations, but Mi A2 is the only one of these devices to boast Android One, a stock version of the operating system supported by Google with faster updates.
Coming to camera quality, Xiaomi Mi A2 is definitely the most convincing one with its 12 + 20 MP dual camera on the rear and its bright f/1.8 aperture. It can capture stunning shots even when light conditions are not the best and it is one step forward to its opponents. Xiaomi Mi 8 SE and Mi 8 Lite have the same dual camera setup with 12 and 5 MP, f/1.9 and f/2.0 apertures. At last, there is a slight difference in battery capacities, with the Mi 8 Lite having the biggest one (3350 mAh), Mi 8 SE at the second place (3120 mAh) and Mi A2 with the smallest one (3000 mAh). One last difference: Mi 8 SE features an infrared face unlock system, while the others do not.
Similarities
First of all, these devices are similar in terms of hardware, because they all feature an upper-midrange hardware side. Even though the Mi 8 SE packs a higher-end processor, the difference should not be noticeable in everyday use. Each of these devices can be bought with the same memory configuration. All of them have the same display resolution and even though the sizes are slightly different, the level of detail is the same. The battery life is similar as well because their batteries are similar (but not the same) and so is the software optimization.
Further, all of them feature amazing front cameras with high resolutions for very detailed selfies (Mi A2 and Mi 8 SE have a smaller resolution than Mi 8 Lite but Mi A2 is the only with a front-facing LED flash). All the secondary sensors of these devices were thought to capture depth information. Other similarities which do not interest every handset regard the materials (glass back + aluminum frame for Mi 8 SE and Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite), same SoC (Mi 8 Lite and Mi A2), MIUI (Mi 8 Lite and Mi 8 SE), same rear and front cameras (Mi 8 Lite and Mi 8 SE) and similar prices (while you can get Mi A2 and Mi 8 Lite for less than $210, for Mi 8 SE you need more than $300).
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi 8 SE vs Xiaomi Mi A2: PROs and CONS
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
PROs
- Better design
- Affordable price
- Great front camera
- Wide display
- Bigger battery
CONS
- Nothing particular
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE
PROs
- Original design
- More powerful hardware
- Compact size
- 3D face unlock
- Better display
CONS
- Smaller display
Xiaomi Mi A2
PROs
- Android One
- Good price
- No notch
- Great rear cameras
- Wide display
CONS
- Smaller battery
