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

49. Wazupmrg

Posts: 232; Member since: Apr 10, 2017

Smdh..... But I'm sure back then when apple copied the note when they increased the size of their phone, or copied android going to amoled, etc these writers didn't say squat. But anything to please their overlords....

posted on May 28, 2018, 10:43 PM 1

44. Zylam

Posts: 1827; Member since: Oct 20, 2010

LOLOLOL love the title. All it takes to get the fandroids roaring is a reminder of how much Android OEM's copy Apple.

posted on May 28, 2018, 2:28 PM 1

47. mootu

Posts: 1541; Member since: Mar 16, 2017

Yeah , yeah ,yeah! Heard it all before, but when Apple gets accused of copying all the sheep start bleating that Apple don't copy and just improve others ideas. Thats lots of "improving" over the years.

posted on May 28, 2018, 4:35 PM 1

48. sissy246

Posts: 7129; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

I believe it's all you apple fans crying here.

posted on May 28, 2018, 7:13 PM 0

43. Vokilam

Posts: 1503; Member since: Mar 15, 2018

Xiaomi convinced me. Now that it has apples Animoji, no reason for me to use iPhone - gonna switch tomorrow.

posted on May 28, 2018, 2:05 PM 1

45. someguy2261

Posts: 262; Member since: Feb 12, 2016

There is no reason other then just being a apple fan.

posted on May 28, 2018, 2:40 PM 0

42. kevin007in

Posts: 327; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

and its the monkeys that has evolved to humans .Chances r that they will evolve and make things better. So . PhoneArena, please do not think that only apple can do things. If Iphone can innovate, others can improve it. And we all know about the sales of Iphone x . lol. stop being biased . Apple has done nothing amazing and eye opening.

posted on May 28, 2018, 1:55 PM 0

39. Nine1Sickness

Posts: 896; Member since: Jan 30, 2011

In Xiaomi’s defense, their animojis are a lot cuter.

posted on May 28, 2018, 1:03 PM 0

29. Rager722 unregistered

Why do Chinese companies always copy Apple?

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

32. Plasticsh1t

Posts: 3109; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

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: 1541; 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.

posted on May 28, 2018, 4:30 PM 1

35. someguy2261

Posts: 262; Member since: Feb 12, 2016

Why not

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

26. sissy246

Posts: 7129; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

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

24. Plasticsh1t

Posts: 3109; 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: 7129; 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

Posts: 3109; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

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

Posts: 24; Member since: Feb 27, 2012

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

22. razmahtaz001

Posts: 501; Member since: May 11, 2013

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

21. gmp009

Posts: 24; Member since: Feb 27, 2012

Am I only one who can not see that video

posted on May 28, 2018, 8:08 AM 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

17. darkkjedii

Posts: 31817; 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: 719; 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

Posts: 262; Member since: Feb 12, 2016

And what is the problem with that

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

41. darkkjedii

Posts: 31817; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

They’re on it man.

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

14. whatev

Posts: 2477; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

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