Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 review

Design and materials

Like we mentioned, the Redmi Note 8 2021 is physically identical to the vanilla Redmi Note 8. It has the same 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm dimensions and tips the scale at 190g. As a whole, its design is far from premium in the traditional sense - thick bezels surround the 6.3-inch display, for a total of about 81.7% screen-to-body ratio. However, just because you aren't getting a borderless display doesn't mean the Redmi Note 8 2021 lacks any charm of its own. Quite the contrary.

The Redmi Note 8 2021 still has one of the prettier display frames around. On our Neptune Blue unit, there is a subtle blue accent on the left and right bezel, which intensifies around the bottom just below the Redmi logo. It is not over the top and makes for a cool and unique look.

Left: Redmi Note 8 2021 * Right: Redmi Note 8 Pro

The frame is painted in the same blue hue as the bezels, and it adds even more points to Redmi Note 8 2021's looks. It is made of plastic, though it took us a while to figure that out as it doesn't feel cheap at all. So, we definitely won't hold the choice of material against this Note.

The subtle, yet distinctive color play is arguably even more striking on the back on the phone. The Neptune Blue version is based on the somewhat pearly blue color that goes gently to purple towards the bottom of the phone.

Even though the Redmi Note 8 2021 can no longer be had in either Nebula Purple or Cosmic Purple, you can still pick one up in Moonlight White. On that one the colors go from light blue to light purple. The middle frame on that one is silver, which is a good pairing. If that is a bit too colorful for your taste, there is also the Space Black, which also has all of its body parts uniformly colored but skips on subtle color gradients and shades and foes for solid black on the back.

It should be noted that all of these colors, including their shades, gradients and hues, are borrowed straight from the old Redmi Note 8. That is not a complaint in the slightest and doesn't really diminish the fact that the overall look is still quite unique, eye-catching and distinctive, but just a clarification. Overall, the Redmi Note 8 2021 is a great-looking device.

Despite its affordable price tag, the Redmi Note 8 2021 doesn't feel cheap in any way. The two big pieces of Gorilla Glass 5 on its back and front definitely contribute to that end. This was the case on the older Redmi Note 8 as well.

Allegedly, the new model also has an extra internal water coating applied for improved ingress protection. This should be noted and is worthy of some extra "points", so to say, though even with it, the Redmi Note 8 2021 still lacks any formal ingress protection rating. Perhaps partially for cost reasons.

All that glass inevitably makes the Redmi Note 8 2021 a bit slippery and prone to accumulating fingerprints and grease. Not more so than any other modern glass phone, though. Plus, the back panel arguably makes all of this up in looks alone. The gradients are gorgeous, there is an awesome S-shape under different light conditions, and the pearl-like color is one of a kind.

Controls

The Redmi Note 8 2021 has a pretty rich set of controls. Ironically more than you are likely to get on a modern flagship or midranger. In terms of actual buttons, there is a power button and a volume rocker on the right side - both offer great tactile feedback and are conveniently positioned. No complaints there.

There is a traditional capacitive fingerprint reader on the back of the phone. It is very fast and accurate. These kinds of sensors are mature at this point, not to mention inexpensive, making them a great budget choice. Especially until under-display units catch up in pricing and performance.

There is a single bottom-firing speaker on the Redmi Note 8 2021. A stereo setup is potentially attainable even at this price point. Flanking that on the bottom of the phone, you have a trusty, old 3.5mm audio jack and the main microphone. The USB Type-C port can expectedly only do USB 2.0 speeds but does also support USB Holt mode.

On the top side of the phone, we find a secondary noise-canceling microphone, as well as an IR blaster. That's an increasingly rare feature, with Xiaomi seemingly being one of the last remaining companies keeping it around. Impressively so on a device as cheap as the Redmi Note 8 2021.

The Redmi Note 8 2021 has support for two nano-SIM cards. Nothing too fancy - dual-SIM, dual-standby 4G. The tray is a triple-slot one and includes a dedicated microSD card slot. No picking and choosing between a second SIM and more storage.

In another great "retro" move, the Redmi Note 8 2021 also has a status LED on the front, above the display. It is not RGB and only does white. Even so, this is yet another increasingly rare feature nowadays and one we love to see.

Finishing off, a "quick-fire" round on controls and connectivity in no particular order: there is no NFC, but an FM radio is included in the mix. In terms of sensors, you get an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor and compass. There is a lux meter on the front, as well.

The MediaTek Helio G85 might not be able to do 4K video capture, but it does offer a newer Bluetooth 5.2 adapter, plus GALILEO support on its GPS receiver.