Monkey see, monkey do: Xiaomi Mi 8 to score iPhone X-like AR emoji

by Peter Kostadinov / May 28, 2018, 4:30 AM

Monkey see, monkey do: Xiaomi Mi 8 to score iPhone X-like AR emoji

As a way to commemorate its 8th anniversary, Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi is set to unveil its brand new flagship device on May 31. It's expected to carry the Mi 8 name, feature top-of-the-line hardware, an iPhone X-like vertical camera, and also bring Xiaomi onto the notch design bandwagon. Interestingly, the notch on this one is expected to carry a slew of infrared flood sensors that will reportedly allow for face recognition and... Xiaomi's own take on the trendy AR emoji.

The company itself posted on micro-blogging network Weibo just recently, hinting that a "A big wave of cuteness is coming, " accompanied by the dead giveaway that is a slew of animated emoji looking very similar to Apple's own animoji. They feature a slew of cute animal faces, including Xiaomi's own mascot.

At this point it doesn't seem Xiaomi's interpretation of animoji doesn't bring anything new or beneficial to the table aside from blindly following Apple's footsteps with the "monkey see, monkey do" mantra that's plaguing the majority of China-based manufacturers. Xiaomi was on the right track with it exceptional Mi Mix 2s, a surprisingly well-done bezelless device, but it looks it could be taking an unfortunate detour with the Mi 8.

A detour that will most certainly further postpone its arrival on the US market due to the numerous patent implications and predicaments the Mi 8 will likely introduce.

Here follows the Weibo teaser:

In terms of hardware, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 will power the smartphone, coupled with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Additionally, 128GB of internal storage will be on offer. On the software side of things, Android 8.1 Oreo will ship straight out of the box with the MIUI 10 custom overlay on top. Lastly, in terms of a release date and pricing, the Xiaomi Mi 8 is expected to go on sale towards the beginning of June, with pricing rumored to start at roughly $470. Here's more to know about the upcoming phone.

source: Weibo via GizmoChina

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45 Comments

2. Muche

Posts: 17; Member since: Aug 22, 2012

What's with title

posted on May 28, 2018, 4:36 AM 2

23. worldpeace

Posts: 3106; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

That's just a quick warning that this phone will get 4.5/10 review score

posted on May 28, 2018, 8:25 AM 4

30. 47AlphaTango

Posts: 715; Member since: Sep 27, 2015

With a high probability of not having a MicroSD slot? No future software update support. And no advance camera features similar to True Depth Camera from apple? I say 3/10 review score

posted on May 28, 2018, 9:56 AM 0

40. Anshulonweb

Posts: 468; Member since: Feb 07, 2014

no future update??... you better see Xiaomi's update record.. they update their 4 years old devices too... they provide apple like updates in terms of update durations

posted on May 28, 2018, 1:08 PM 0

3. cmdacos

Posts: 3970; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

No shame

posted on May 28, 2018, 4:36 AM 6

6. someguy2261

Posts: 250; Member since: Feb 12, 2016

And why would they not copy it. It was a success in iPhones why would they bring the same features to their customers.

posted on May 28, 2018, 4:53 AM 0

15. cmdacos

They copied many of the animals almost identically. At least Samsung did something different.

posted on May 28, 2018, 7:12 AM 1

8. whatev

Posts: 2154; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

Omg, it’s a saying, why is people so offended? This is not a racist title at all

posted on May 28, 2018, 5:32 AM 7

19. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

Thought the same thing, people are so easily offended these days.

posted on May 28, 2018, 7:52 AM 2

12. miketer

Posts: 505; Member since: Apr 02, 2015

I totally agree with the title. Companies with no originality trying to 'ape' the so called leaders for a market share. Nothing wrong with the title.

posted on May 28, 2018, 6:06 AM 6

13. Awalker

Posts: 1968; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

It's a great title. It explains exactly what Xiaomi is doing.

posted on May 28, 2018, 6:31 AM 5

28. miketer

Absolutely

posted on May 28, 2018, 9:19 AM 1

14. whatev

I think people who is offended and saying the title is racist and stuff don’t know much about English conventional expressions https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_see,_monkey_do

posted on May 28, 2018, 6:59 AM 5

17. darkkjedii

Posts: 30900; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Xiaomi is doing this copy iPhone thing to the max.

posted on May 28, 2018, 7:24 AM 7

33. ahmadkun

Posts: 553; Member since: May 02, 2016

Copying level 99+ .. Wow i really don't know how to describe this

posted on May 28, 2018, 10:34 AM 2

34. someguy2261

And what is the problem with that

posted on May 28, 2018, 10:52 AM 0

41. darkkjedii

They’re on it man.

posted on May 28, 2018, 1:44 PM 0

20. razmahtaz001

Posts: 501; Member since: May 11, 2013

emoji's is found in online chatrooms way before apple did it on their iphones...just as the X notch was not the first on a smartphone LOL but emojis originated on japanese mobile phones in 1999https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoji so yah apple, monkey see monkey do LOL

posted on May 28, 2018, 7:57 AM 0

21. gmp009

Posts: 23; Member since: Feb 27, 2012

Am I only one who can not see that video

posted on May 28, 2018, 8:08 AM 0

22. razmahtaz001

anyone remember yahoo messenger, web version? i think 2005 (or maybe before that) was the last time i chatted in yahoo messenger...they had talking emoticons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng0sScn1J8s&list=PL0E700035987701DD

posted on May 28, 2018, 8:15 AM 0

24. Plasticsh1t

Posts: 3094; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

Shameless copying. Why people bother buying these unoriginal products is beyond me.

posted on May 28, 2018, 8:47 AM 2

27. sissy246

Posts: 7035; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

Maybe because there are a lot of people that can't pay $800 to $1000 for a phone.

posted on May 28, 2018, 9:07 AM 2

31. Plasticsh1t

There are cheaper alternatives without resorting to such shameless copying. Don’t state the obvious.

posted on May 28, 2018, 10:13 AM 1

37. gmp009

Why u care whether it's copied or not ? if you are so that original why on earth you click on that article anyway ? If you don't like it don't buy it! Simple as that.

posted on May 28, 2018, 11:25 AM 1

26. sissy246

So what. This is now a world of other manufacturer coping the other. We all may as well get use to it.

posted on May 28, 2018, 9:06 AM 0

29. Rager722 unregistered

Why do Chinese companies always copy Apple?

posted on May 28, 2018, 9:38 AM 2

32. Plasticsh1t

Because they are following their leader and to have some of that apple pie which will they never achieve.

posted on May 28, 2018, 10:15 AM 2

46. mootu

Posts: 1449; Member since: Mar 16, 2017

If they keep growing at the current rate Xiaomi will catch Apple in terms of market share within 3 to 4 years. Not too shabby for a privately owned Chinese company that has hardly moved out of China and India.