Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: It does not always have to be an OLED panel

The Redmi Note 8 is another affordable handset by Xiaomi, to add to the already overflowing roster of handsets that the company offers. Strikingly, the device has a screen that rivals the luminosity of some older flagships despite only costing around €150 (~US$165).

Xiaomi has opted for a 6.3-inch display that operates at 2,340 x 1,080. While some people may bristle at it being an IPS rather than OLED panel, the one in our review unit is beyond what expected from such an affordable smartphone. The panel not only exceeds 400 PPI but also reached a maximum average luminosity of 656 cd/m² in X-Rite i1Pro 2 and 638 cd/m² in APL50. The panel does not deliver as punchy colours as most OLED panels do, but its contrast ratio of 1,200:1 is still respectable. Likewise, its black value could be better, but the display is shockingly colour accurate. The display has stable viewing angles too, so you should never experience any readability issues when using the device outside.

Better still, the display does not use pulse-width modulation (PWM) to regulate its luminosity, so you should not experience any headaches or eyestrain after looking at the device for prolonged periods.

The Redmi Note 8 is no slouch in other areas either, with Xiaomi having equipped it with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash storage. Please see our Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 review for our full thoughts on the device.

Redmi Note 8 on sale now at Amazon