We’ve got a surprise for you: The Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A were not the only smartphones that the company launched in the Philippines today. Its flagship phone, the Xiaomi Mi 8, is now official in the country, too.

We reported more than a month ago that the flagship phone would be unveiled in the local market this month. And here it is, ready for you to snap it up, especially with appealing P25,990 (around $486, 6GB RAM/64GB ROM) and P27,990 ($524, 6GB RAM/128GB ROM) price tags, the lowest for a Snapdragon 845 device. It will be available starting July 30.

READ ALSO: Xiaomi Redmi 6, 6A priced as low as P5,290 ($99) in the Philippines

We saw the Xiaomi Mi 8 in China, and if there’s one thing that we first noticed, it’s that the 8th-anniversary Mi somehow resembles the Apple’s 10th-anniversary iPhone, the iPhone X — something we don’t mind. Notched screen? Check. Dual cameras placed vertically on the upper left side of the back? Check. Glass body? Check. The absence of a headphone jack? Check.

People check out the Xiaomi Mi 8 at the company’s flagship store in Shenzhen, China, which we visited weeks ago

Xiaomi Mi 8

Technology-wise, the Mi 8 uses the same face-scanning technology as the iDevice. The 20-megapixel camera housed in the notch at the top of its Samsung-supplied 6.2-inch OLED display makes iPhone X-style portrait lighting possible. You can also unlock the handset with a glance, even in a dim environment.

The dual 12-megapixel rear camera setup is rated high on camera-benchmarking site DxOMark. With an overall score of 99, the Xiaomi Mi 8 trumps Apple’s flagship smartphone. The latter has a 97 rating.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi Mi 8 is closest thing to Apple iPhone X running Android

Powering the unit is, as we mentioned earlier, a Snapdragon 845 processor paired with 6GB of RAM and up to 256GB of non-expandable memory. It’s the first device to feature dual-frequency GPS for accurate positioning and reduced signal delays when using location-based services such as Google Maps and Waze. The battery is rated at 3,400mAh and supports Qualcomm’s latest — and fastest — Quick Charge 4+ technology.

Xiaomi Mi 8 specs

• Infrared/3D face unlock
• Fingerprint reader (rear-mounted; front-mounted on the Explorer Edition)
• 6.2-inch OLED display, 2,248 x 1,080 resolution (18.7:9)
• Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
• 6GB RAM (8GB on the Explorer Edition)
• 64GB/128GB/256GB non-expandable storage
• Dual 12-megapixel rear cameras with LED flash
• 20-megapixel front camera
• 3,400mAh battery with fast charging
• Android 8.1 Oreo

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Alora Uy Guerrero

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Editor-in-chief: Alora Uy Guerrero is a 24-year media veteran who has survived the newsrooms of giants like Yahoo and a high-stakes detour into OPPO's digital marketing. She eventually returned to her journalism roots to helm REVU. A strict advocate for quality over quantity, Alora lives by a family-first philosophy — mostly because her babies are the only bosses she can't negotiate with. When she isn't chasing kids or deadlines, she's probably traveling, shooting, or passionately over-analyzing her favorite bands, films, and basketball teams.