Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 in for review

Back in May, Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi announced it sold over 25 million units of the original Redmi Note 8 globally. And to celebrate the milestone, the company introduced a refreshed version of the Redmi Note 8, dubbed Redmi Note 8 2021, which we have with us today at the office for the full review.

We've received the Neptune Blue color variant for review, but you also have the option to purchase the Moonlight White or Space Black models.

The Redmi Note 8 2021 looks identical to the original Note 8 from 2019, and at first glance you might not be able to tell them apart. The smartphone has a 6.3" FullHD+ LCD with a notch for the selfie camera, and around the back is a quad camera setup aligned vertically in the upper-left corner, with a traditional fingerprint reader on the right side.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021

The Redmi Note 8 2021 shares the cameras with the 2019 Note 8, meaning you get a 13MP selfie shooter on the front, with the quad camera system on the rear consisting of 48MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth units. However, unlike its 2019 counterpart, the new Note 8 cannot record 4K videos.

What's also changed is the chipset and memory options. The Redmi Note 8 2021 is powered by the Helio G85 SoC instead of the Snapdragon 665 and comes in three memory configurations - 3GB/64GB, 4GB/64GB, and 4GB/128GB.

The Note 8 2021 also comes with Bluetooth 5.2 and runs Android 11-based MIUI 12.5 out of the box.

Fueling the entire package is a 4,000 mAh battery like the Note 8 2019. It draws power through a USB-C port at up to 18W, but the bundled adapter can go up to 22.5W.

Our full review of the Redmi Note 8 2021 is underway, so stick around to see if it is worth your money.