The Infinix Note 8 and Realme 8 Pro represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a feature-rich experience without breaking the bank, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this goal. The Note 8 prioritizes a balance of features, while the 8 Pro leans heavily into camera capabilities and faster charging. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and significantly faster charging, the Realme 8 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 720G chipset and 50W charging offer a noticeable advantage over the Infinix Note 8’s Helio G80 and 18W charging, despite similar battery endurance ratings.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - Asia |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 15. Released 2020, November 04 | 2021, March 24 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, March 25 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 175.3 x 78.8 x 9 mm (6.90 x 3.10 x 0.35 in) | 160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.32 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 176 g (6.21 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1640 pixels (~258 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.95 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 480 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 10, XOS 7.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lenses | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1440p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP
2 MP, (depth) | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash | HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 50W wired, 50% in 17 min, 100% in 47 min |
| Type | 5200 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue, Green | Infinite Blue, Infinite Black, Punk Black, Illuminating Yellow |
| Models | X692, MZ-Infinix X692 | RMX3081 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.10 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 116h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.2 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 286666 (v8)
GeekBench: 1678 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Infinix Note 8
- Balanced feature set for everyday use
- Potentially lower price point
- Decent battery endurance
- Slower charging speed (18W)
- Less powerful processor (Helio G80)
- Likely inferior camera performance
Realme 8 Pro
- Faster charging (50W)
- More powerful processor (Snapdragon 720G)
- Potentially better camera performance
- May be slightly more expensive
- Similar battery endurance to Note 8
- No high refresh rate display
Display Comparison
Both the Infinix Note 8 and Realme 8 Pro feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting typical IPS LCD characteristics. However, detailed specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given the Realme 8 Pro’s positioning, it likely benefits from slightly better color calibration. The absence of high refresh rate panels on either device suggests a focus on battery life over visual fluidity.
Camera Comparison
The Realme 8 Pro is marketed heavily on its camera capabilities, though specific sensor details are absent. The focus on 'Photo/Video' suggests a more versatile camera system. While both phones likely feature multiple rear cameras, the Realme 8 Pro’s chipset benefits from a more advanced Image Signal Processor (ISP), enabling better noise reduction, dynamic range, and video stabilization. The Infinix Note 8’s camera will likely be adequate for casual photography, but the Realme 8 Pro is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on either device is largely a marketing tactic, offering limited practical benefit.
Performance
The Realme 8 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm) holds a clear advantage over the Infinix Note 8’s MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm). The 8nm process node of the Snapdragon 720G translates to improved thermal efficiency and power consumption, meaning sustained performance during extended gaming sessions is more likely. While both CPUs feature an octa-core configuration with similar Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, the Snapdragon 720G’s Kryo 465 Gold cores (2x2.3 GHz) outperform the Helio G80’s Cortex-A75 cores (2x2.0 GHz) in both single-core and multi-core benchmarks. This difference will be most noticeable in demanding applications and graphically intensive games.
Battery Life
Both devices boast an endurance rating of 116 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Realme 8 Pro’s 50W wired charging is a game-changer. Achieving 50% charge in just 17 minutes and a full charge in 47 minutes significantly reduces downtime compared to the Infinix Note 8’s slower 18W charging. This faster charging capability is particularly valuable for users who frequently find themselves needing to quickly top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Infinix Note 8 if you need a reliable daily driver with a decent processor for everyday tasks and aren't heavily reliant on fast charging or demanding mobile games. Buy the Realme 8 Pro if you prioritize camera quality, faster charging speeds, and a slightly more powerful processor for smoother multitasking and gaming, even if it means potentially spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 720G in the Realme 8 Pro get noticeably warmer during prolonged gaming sessions compared to the Helio G80 in the Infinix Note 8?
While both chipsets will generate heat during gaming, the Snapdragon 720G’s 8nm process node is more efficient, meaning it’s likely to run cooler and experience less thermal throttling than the Helio G80’s 12nm process. This translates to more consistent frame rates over extended gaming periods on the Realme 8 Pro.
❓ Is the 50W charging on the Realme 8 Pro compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?
Realme typically uses its own proprietary fast charging standard (Dart Charge) which is not fully compatible with standard Power Delivery chargers. While a PD charger *may* provide some charging, it won't reach the full 50W speed. Using the included charger is recommended for optimal charging performance.
❓ How significant is the performance difference between the Cortex-A75 cores in the Helio G80 and the Kryo 465 Gold cores in the Snapdragon 720G for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
For basic tasks like browsing and social media, the performance difference will be minimal and likely unnoticeable. However, the Snapdragon 720G’s cores offer a substantial advantage in more demanding applications, multitasking, and graphically intensive games, resulting in smoother and more responsive performance.
