Can't afford a Mi 8? Xiaomi might have a budget model for you (Update: Now with photos)

Update, September 10, 2018 (02:00AM): Xiaomi‘s latest smartphone, thought to be a budget Mi 8 variant, appeared on TENAA a few days ago. Now, the regulatory body has issued photos of the device, showing a distinct departure from the Mi 8.

The new photos show a phone with a metal-looking frame, as well as what appears to be a white glass back. Additionally, the Mi 8’s vertically stacked dual camera setup has been exchanged for a horizontally aligned dual camera combination.

We can’t make out a display notch, but the fact that the sensors are centered suggests it indeed has one. Otherwise, as detailed in the original article below, the phone has an unnamed 2.2Ghz chipset, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, 32GB to 128GB of storage, and a 3,250mAh battery.

Xiaomi has also announced a launch event in Chengdu, China, complete with a teaser poster. This poster, seen below, shows a phone with a similar rear to the above device (albeit without a rear fingerprint scanner). However, Xiaomi’s Redmi 6 also has a similar back to the teased phone, suggesting that we’re either looking at a Redmi or Mi 8 launch of sorts.

Original article, September 7, 2018 (03:06AM): The Xiaomi Mi 8 family ranges from the pseudo-flagship Mi 8 SE to the premium Mi 8 Explorer Edition. But what if these phones don’t quite tickle your fancy? Well, a new Xiaomi phone has appeared on China’s TENAA website, and it could be the device you’re looking for…

The TENAA listing doesn’t have any photos, but the model number (M1808D2TE) lines up with “Mi 8X” reports. There have also been “Mi 8 Youth Edition” reports, but either way, the new phone seems like a Mi 8 variant.

In terms of specifications, we’ve got an unnamed 2.2Ghz processor (this clock speed matches up with the Snapdragon 670 and 710), 4GB to 8GB of RAM, 32GB to 128GB of expandable storage, and a 3,250mAh battery.

Rounding out the package is a dual camera setup with at least one 12MP shooter, a 24MP selfie snapper, and a 6.26-inch full HD+ TFT screen. Much like the Mi 8 series, we have no headphone jack here.

An alternative to Mi 8 SE?

The Mi 8 SE seems like the more premium offering in some ways, as it packs an AMOLED screen and 64GB of base storage. Otherwise, this mystery phone offers a slightly bigger battery, more RAM in the top-end model, and a higher resolution selfie camera.

Based on these specs, it seems like the new smartphone could have a similar (or even slightly cheaper) price tag to the Mi 8 SE. But when will we see it? Xiaomi is expected to reveal the Mi Mix 3 in the coming weeks, so we might not have to wait too long.

Would you rather get the Mi 8 SE or this mystery phone? Let us know in the comments.