Xiaomi offers a range of smartphones catering to different budgets and needs. The Mi 8 Lite, a former mid-range champion, now faces off against the newer Poco F5, boasting significant upgrades. This comparison will help you decide which phone is the right fit for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Poco F5 is the clear winner. Its vastly superior chipset, faster charging, brighter display, and improved camera make it a compelling upgrade over the aging Mi 8 Lite, despite both offering impressive endurance ratings. The Mi 8 Lite remains a viable option for those on a very tight budget.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, September. Released 2018, September | 2023, May 09 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, May |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 156.4 x 75.8 x 7.5 mm (6.16 x 2.98 x 0.30 in) | 161.1 x 75 x 7.9 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.26 inches, 97.8 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.91 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.49 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SM7475-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 512 | Adreno 725 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 11 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, HyperOS |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Auto HDR | - |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | 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/6, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 46 min |
| Type | Li-Po 3350 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Aurora Blue, Twilight Gold | Black, Blue, White |
| Models | M1808D2TG | 23049PCD8G, 23049PCD8I |
| Price | About 360 EUR | € 202.76 / $ 289.99 / ₹ 23,790 |
| SAR | 0.75 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -35.4dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 77h
|
Endurance rating 118h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1453 (nominal), 2.862 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 67dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 77dB
|
-24.3 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 143257 (v7)
GeekBench: 5894 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
- Excellent battery life (77h endurance)
- Affordable price
- Decent display contrast (1453 nominal)
- Outdated chipset (Snapdragon 660)
- Slow charging (18W)
- Lower display brightness
- Older camera technology
Xiaomi Poco F5
- Powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset
- Fast charging (67W)
- Bright and vibrant display (963 nits)
- Improved camera performance
- High endurance rating (118h)
- Potentially higher price than Mi 8 Lite
- May lack some premium features
Display Comparison
The Poco F5 boasts a significantly brighter display (963 nits vs. unknown for Mi 8 Lite) and an 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent blacks and vibrant colors. The Mi 8 Lite's contrast ratio of 1453 (nominal) is good, but falls short of the Poco F5's capabilities. The Poco F5 likely has a higher resolution and refresh rate as well.
Camera Comparison
While both phones have 'Photo / Video' capabilities listed, the Poco F5's newer hardware and likely improved image processing algorithms should result in better image quality, especially in low light. Expect more detail, better dynamic range, and more accurate colors from the Poco F5. The Mi 8 Lite's camera is adequate but dated.
Performance
The Poco F5's Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is a massive upgrade over the Mi 8 Lite's Snapdragon 660. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Poco F5. The newer chipset's efficiency also contributes to sustained performance.
Battery Life
Both phones have impressive endurance ratings (77h and 118h respectively). However, the Poco F5's 67W charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in just 46 minutes, compared to the Mi 8 Lite's 18W charging.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is ideal for users on a very limited budget who prioritize long battery life and don't need cutting-edge performance. The Xiaomi Poco F5 is perfect for those seeking a balance of performance, features, and value, especially gamers and content creators.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite still worth buying in 2024?
Only if you're on a very tight budget and prioritize battery life above all else. Otherwise, the Poco F5 offers a much better overall experience.
❓ How much faster is the Poco F5 than the Mi 8 Lite?
The Poco F5's Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is significantly faster, offering roughly 2-3 times the performance of the Mi 8 Lite's Snapdragon 660 in benchmarks and real-world usage.
