LG G7 Fit vs Xiaomi Mi 8: A Detailed Comparison of Two Snapdragon Contenders

Released within a similar timeframe, the LG G7 Fit and Xiaomi Mi 8 represent different approaches to the flagship experience. The G7 Fit, leveraging the Snapdragon 821, aimed for a refined experience, while the Mi 8, with the newer Snapdragon 845, pushed for outright performance. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone offers the best value today.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user in 2024, the Xiaomi Mi 8 emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 845 chipset, built on a more efficient 10nm process, delivers noticeably better performance and future-proofing compared to the G7 Fit’s Snapdragon 821. While both offer similar battery endurance ratings, the Mi 8’s QC4 charging provides a slight edge.

PHONES
Phone Names LG G7 Fit Xiaomi Mi 8
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - USA1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 - EUCDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA
Launch
Announced2018, August. Released 2018, November2018, May. Released 2018, June
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame (7000 series)
Dimensions153.2 x 71.9 x 8 mm (6.03 x 2.83 x 0.31 in)154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm (6.10 x 2.94 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight156 g (5.50 oz)175 g (6.17 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~563 ppi density)1080 x 2248 pixels (~402 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.21 inches, 97.1 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR10Super AMOLED, HDR10
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUQuad-core (2x2.35 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo)Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm)Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
GPUAdreno 530Adreno 630
OSAndroid 8.1 (Oreo)Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 4-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 56mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF, 2x optical zoom
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, PDAF-
Video4K@24/30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single8 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 32-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC318W wired, QC4
TypeLi-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 3400 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsNew Aurora Black, New Platinum GrayBlack, Blue, White, Gold
ModelsLM-Q850, LMQ850EM, LMQ850QM, LMQ850EMWM1803E1A
PriceAbout 200 EURAbout 430 EUR
SAR-0.70 W/kg (head)     1.66 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.01 W/kg (head)     1.32 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -93.7dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 86h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.086 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker- -29.1 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 217298 (v7), 341687 (v8) GeekBench: 8494 (v4.4), 2002 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

LG G7 Fit

  • Potentially more compact design
  • Likely superior color accuracy (based on LG’s display expertise)
  • Lower price point (likely in the current market)

  • Older Snapdragon 821 chipset
  • Less efficient 14nm process
  • QC3 charging is slower than QC4

Xiaomi Mi 8

  • More powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset
  • More efficient 10nm process
  • QC4 charging support

  • Potentially larger size
  • May be more expensive
  • Software experience can be more heavily customized

Display Comparison

Both the LG G7 Fit and Xiaomi Mi 8 share a similar 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) and 4.086 sunlight contrast, suggesting comparable outdoor visibility. However, detailed panel specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given LG’s display expertise, the G7 Fit likely benefits from superior color accuracy, but the Mi 8’s display technology is likely more modern. The lack of high refresh rate support on either device is a notable omission by today’s standards.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specific details are absent. The Mi 8 likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially a larger sensor, common in Xiaomi’s flagship offerings. The absence of sensor size information makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Mi 8’s overall camera system is likely more capable due to the more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 845. The G7 Fit may offer a more color-accurate image profile, aligning with LG’s display strengths, but the Mi 8 likely excels in low-light performance and dynamic range.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi 8’s Snapdragon 845, fabricated on a 10nm process, represents a significant leap over the LG G7 Fit’s 14nm Snapdragon 821. The 845’s octa-core configuration (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) provides a substantial performance advantage over the G7 Fit’s quad-core (2x2.35 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) setup, particularly in multi-threaded tasks and demanding games. The 10nm process also translates to improved thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones likely shipped with similar RAM configurations, the Mi 8 benefits from the newer chipset’s improved memory controller.

Battery Life

Interestingly, both phones achieve an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the differing chipsets. This indicates efficient software optimization on the G7 Fit partially offsets the Snapdragon 821’s less efficient process. However, the Mi 8’s support for Quick Charge 4 (QC4) offers a slight advantage over the G7 Fit’s Quick Charge 3 (QC3), potentially leading to faster charging speeds and improved power delivery efficiency. Both phones support 18W wired charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG G7 Fit if you prioritize a more compact form factor and are on a very tight budget, accepting the performance limitations of the older Snapdragon 821. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 8 if you value performance, future-proofing, and a slightly more advanced charging standard, even if it means a potentially larger device and a higher price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 821 in the LG G7 Fit struggle with modern apps and games?
Yes, the Snapdragon 821 is showing its age. While it can handle basic tasks, demanding games and newer applications may experience noticeable lag or reduced graphical settings. The Mi 8’s Snapdragon 845 offers a significantly smoother experience with modern software.
❓ Does the Xiaomi Mi 8 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 845, while powerful, was known to generate heat under sustained load. However, the 10nm process and Xiaomi’s thermal management solutions generally prevent severe throttling. Expect some warming, but not to the point of significant performance degradation in most cases.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between QC3 and QC4 noticeable in real-world use?
Yes, QC4 generally delivers faster charging speeds and more efficient power delivery compared to QC3. While both phones support 18W charging, the Mi 8 will likely reach full charge slightly quicker and with less heat generation.