Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S vs Mi 8 Lite: A Detailed Comparison

Xiaomi's Mi series has consistently delivered impressive value. The Mi Mix 2S and Mi 8 Lite, released around the same time, offered distinct features and aimed at different user segments. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which phone is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mi 8 Lite boasts superior battery life and a brighter display, making it ideal for everyday use. However, the Mi Mix 2S’s Snapdragon 845 provides significantly better performance for gaming and demanding tasks. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities: battery and display versus raw power.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S	Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 - Global
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat18 1200/100 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China

Launch
Announced	2018, March. Released 2018, April	2018, September. Released 2018, September
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), ceramic back, aluminum frame	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	150.9 x 74.9 x 8.1 mm (5.94 x 2.95 x 0.32 in)	156.4 x 75.8 x 7.5 mm (6.16 x 2.98 x 0.30 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	191 g (6.74 oz)	169 g (5.96 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	-
Resolution	1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)	1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	5.99 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.26 inches, 97.8 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)	Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm)
GPU	Adreno 630	Adreno 512
OS	Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12	Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 11

Memory
Card slot	No	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	UFS 2.1	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Dual	12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 4-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF, 2x optical zoom	12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF Auxiliary lens
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, 720p@240fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)

Selfie camera
Features	-	Auto HDR
Single	5 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.4µm	24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C
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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Virtual proximity sensing	-

Battery
Charging	18W wired, QC3 7.5W wireless (Qi)	18W wired, QC3
Type	Li-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 3350 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, White	Midnight Black, Aurora Blue, Twilight Gold
Models	M1803D5XA	M1808D2TG
Price	About 270 EUR	About 360 EUR
SAR	0.54 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body)	0.75 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB	Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -35.4dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 59h	Endurance rating 77h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1453 (nominal), 2.862 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 68dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 81dB	Voice 67dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 77dB
Performance	AnTuTu: 270814 (v7) GeekBench: 9158 (v4.4) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 143257 (v7) GeekBench: 5894 (v4.4) GFXBench: 8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 845)
Wireless Charging
Slightly Better Camera Quality
Premium Design (Ceramic Body)

Shorter Battery Life
Older Design
Potentially Higher Price (at release)

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite

Excellent Battery Life
Brighter and More Vibrant Display
More Affordable
Stylish Design

Lower Performance (Snapdragon 660)
No Wireless Charging
Less Premium Build

Display Comparison

The Mi 8 Lite takes the display crown with a reported contrast ratio of 1453 (nominal) and 2.862 (sunlight), indicating excellent visibility even in bright conditions. The Mi Mix 2S had a good display, but lacked the same level of brightness and contrast. The Mi 8 Lite's display is generally considered more visually appealing for media consumption.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable cameras, but the Mi Mix 2S generally produces slightly better image quality, particularly in low light. The Mi 8 Lite's camera is still very good and offers a pleasing color profile. Video recording capabilities are comparable on both devices.

Performance

Here, the Mi Mix 2S shines. Its Snapdragon 845 chipset is significantly more powerful than the Mi 8 Lite's Snapdragon 660. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a better gaming experience. The Mi Mix 2S handles demanding games with ease, while the Mi 8 Lite might struggle with higher settings.

Battery Life

The Mi 8 Lite clearly wins in the battery department. Its endurance rating of 77h significantly surpasses the Mi Mix 2S's 59h. This means the Mi 8 Lite will comfortably last a full day, even with heavy usage, while the Mi Mix 2S might require a top-up.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S? Users prioritizing performance, especially gamers or those running demanding apps. Who should buy the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite? Those seeking excellent battery life, a vibrant display, and a more budget-friendly option for everyday tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Mi Mix 2S still worth buying?

If you prioritize performance and don't mind shorter battery life, the Mi Mix 2S can still be a good option, especially if you find it at a discounted price. However, newer phones offer better overall value.

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset.

❓ Does the Mi 8 Lite support fast charging?

Yes, both phones support 18W wired fast charging with Quick Charge 3.0.