At a glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Stunning, unique design
- Stellar battery life
- Incredible performance
- The best speakers of any phone
Cons
- Disappointing low-light photos
- Annoying bloatware
- Only 4 major Android updates
Our Verdict
The Poco F8 Ultra offers flagship-level hardware at an affordable price. While it falls short in some areas, it competes well with top rivals like Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25, especially with discounts available.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Best Prices Today: Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra
Xiaomi’s Poco brand, known for its budget-friendly phones, steps into the flagship territory with the Poco F8 Ultra. Priced competitively at £749, it offers a premium experience compared to key rivals like Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25.
Is this the breakthrough in affordable flagship phones we’ve been waiting for? After testing the Poco F8 Ultra for over three weeks, here’s what I found.
Design & Build: Unique Design, Bulky Size
The Poco F8 Ultra comes in Black or Denim Blue finishes, with the latter being the standout choice. The denim-like texture adds grip and style, making it a great option for those who prefer a case-free experience.
Despite its unique design, the phone’s bulkiness at 8.3mm thick and 220g weight may not be comfortable for everyone. However, the IP68 rating ensures durability and protection against water and dust.
Further thoughts
- The Denim Blue version features fibre-reinforced plastic, while the Black variant has a silicone polymer
- The aluminium alloy frame adds toughness to the design
Screen & Speakers: Impressive Display and Audio
The Poco F8 Ultra features a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering sharp visuals and smooth performance. While the display is not the absolute best, it still delivers vibrant colors and high contrast.
The standout feature is the audio quality, with speakers tuned by Bose providing rich, full-bodied sound with impressive bass. The phone offers a premium listening experience without the need for external speakers.
Further thoughts
- The display lacks LTPO technology for lower refresh rates
- The optical under-display fingerprint sensor is top-notch
- Peak brightness of 3500 nits ensures excellent outdoor visibility
Specs & Performance: Top-Class Performance
The Poco F8 Ultra excels in performance with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and 12-16GB of RAM. It handles tasks effortlessly and offers smooth multitasking capabilities, making it ideal for productivity.
If you seek top-notch phone performance, the Poco F8 Ultra delivers without breaking a sweat.
Further thoughts
- Available in 12/256GB or 16/512GB options
- Supports dual physical SIM cards and eSIM
- Offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 standards
Cameras: Mixed Performance
The cameras on the Poco F8 Ultra offer a mixed experience. While excelling in good lighting conditions, the phone struggles in low-light situations. The main lens and telephoto lens provide good results, but the ultrawide lens falls short in color accuracy and detail.
The front-facing camera captures impressive detail in selfies, but the low-light performance and night mode leave room for improvement.
Further thoughts
- The ultrawide lens has a narrower field of view compared to competitors
- The phone supports video recording up to 8K at 30fps with OIS
Battery Life & Charging: Long-Lasting Battery
With a 6500mAh battery, the Poco F8 Ultra offers impressive battery life, lasting up to two days on a single charge with moderate usage. The fast charging capabilities provide quick recharges, ensuring you stay powered throughout the day.
Further thoughts
- The phone features a lithium-ion battery for long-term durability
- Reverse wireless charging allows for convenient charging of accessories
Software & Apps: Feature-Rich but Bloatware-Heavy
The Poco F8 Ultra runs on HyperOS 3, based on Android 16, offering a feature-rich experience. However, the software is weighed down by bloatware and ads, detracting from the overall user experience.
While the software provides useful features and customization options, the presence of unwanted apps and ads can be overwhelming.
Further thoughts
- The phone includes AI tools for various tasks, but nothing groundbreaking
- Xiaomi offers limited Android OS updates but promises extended security patches
Price & Availability: Value for Money
The Poco F8 Ultra offers competitive pricing, especially with discounts available. While its full price may deter some, the phone’s performance and features make it a strong contender in the mid-range market.
Should you buy the Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra?
Yes, the Poco F8 Ultra is a great value for money option, especially with discounts. Its flagship-level performance and impressive battery life make it a compelling choice for those seeking a balance of features and affordability.
Specs
- HyperOS 3, based on Android 16
- 6.9-inch, 1200 x 2608 AMOLED, 120Hz
- Optical fingerprint scanner
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset
- 12/16GB RAM
- 256/512GB storage
- 50Mp, f/1.7 main camera
- 50Mp, f/3.0 periscope telephoto
- 50Mp, f/2.4 ultrawide
- 32Mp, f/2.2 selfie
- Up to 8K @ 30fps rear video
- Stereo speakers tuned by Bose
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth 6.0
- 6500mAh battery
- 100W wired charging
- 50W Qi wireless charging
- 163.3 x 77.8 x 7.9 mm or 8.3 mm
- IP68 certified
- 218 or 220g
- Colours: Black, Denim Blue
