Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra review: Bang for your buck

Finest Costs At this time: Xiaomi Poco F8 Extremely

Xiaomi-owned Poco has targeted on inexpensive handsets for its complete existence, however the firm is starting to alter tack. 

The launch of its first-ever ‘Extremely’ cellphone sees Poco nearly step into flagship territory. At £749, it undercuts three key rivals – the common Pixel 10, Galaxy S25 and iPhone 17 – but affords a extra premium expertise in a number of key areas. 

Is that this a budget flagship breakthrough that we’ve been ready for? I’ve been testing the Poco F8 Extremely for over three weeks to search out out. 

Design & Construct: Lovely end, cumbersome dimension

The Poco F8 Extremely is obtainable in both Black or Denim Blue finishes, however I’d solely significantly take into account the latter. 

In my hands-on assessment, I described it as “the best design I’ve ever seen”. Whereas the novelty has worn off since then, I stand by it. Regardless of not being manufactured from actual denim, it carefully reproduces the feel and sample of a pair of denims. 

The grip it provides makes it preferable to go case-free, whereas my assessment pattern hasn’t collected any important dust within the three weeks I’ve been utilizing it. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

It’s additionally effectively protected in opposition to the weather. An IP68 score verifies its skill to tolerate submersion in as much as 1.5m of freshwater for as much as half-hour and means it’s absolutely dust-proof. As somebody who likes visiting the seashore and often will get caught within the rain, this peace of thoughts is essential.

Nonetheless, I actually haven’t been having fun with the majority of this cellphone. The Denim Blue model is a quite chunky 8.3mm thick, and it weighs 220g. That’s not remarkable for a 6.9-inch cellphone, however it may be uncomfortable to carry at occasions. 

Additional ideas

• The Denim Blue model makes use of fibre-reinforced plastic on the again, whereas the Black variant has a silicone polymer 
• Its aluminium alloy body feels robust and sturdy

Display & Audio system: World-class sound

It speaks volumes that the Poco F8 Extremely’s spectacular show isn’t certainly one of its highlights. However make no mistake, this expansive 6.9-inch panel doesn’t disappoint. 

A 1200 x 2608 decision provides it pin-sharp readability, whereas the 120Hz refresh fee ensures silky-smooth visuals. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Usually, it’s an excellent AMOLED, providing the excessive distinction and deep blacks that we all know and love. I used to be very completely happy to make use of it as my solely display screen for journeys away, even whereas watching longer YouTube movies. 

Whereas barely muted colors make it a small step down from one of the best cellphone screens round, the identical can’t be stated for the audio system. Tuned by Bose, the F8 Extremely has two devoted audio system (one prime, one backside) and a separate subwoofer on the again. 

They mix for one of the best audio high quality I’ve ever heard from a smartphone. Sound is wealthy, full-bodied and dripping in bass, getting impressively near room-filling. It tolerates excessive volumes effectively, avoiding any audible distortion.  

It’s so good to have the ability to have a premium listening expertise with out connecting to headphones or an exterior speaker. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Additional ideas

• The show lacks LTPO tech, which means the refresh fee can’t go under 60Hz 
• The optical under-display fingerprint sensor is among the finest round 
• Peak brightness of 3500 nits ensures wonderful out of doors visibility 

Specs & Efficiency: Stutter-free with out breaking a sweat

The Poco F8 Extremely couldn’t provide higher efficiency if it tried. With Qualcomm’s newest and best Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset beneath the hood and 12- or 16GB of RAM, it’s a stellar performer in each conceivable scenario. 

With my typical utilization – a number of net searching, messages, e mail, navigation and photo-taking – the F8 Extremely has an virtually embarrassing quantity of energy in reserve. It’s additionally a extremely competent multitasker, with the big show making it ideally suited for productiveness duties. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Even when you push it more durable, the cellphone doesn’t break a sweat. I examined it throughout 4 of probably the most demanding titles: Name of Responsibility Cell, Asphalt Legends, PUBG Cell and Genshin Affect. Gameplay remained {smooth}, sustaining excessive body charges all through, with a barely heat again the one indicator that the cellphone was working exhausting. 

If you’d like top-class cellphone efficiency throughout the board, look no additional than the Poco F8 Extremely. 

Xiaomi Poco F8 Extremely benchmarks

Additional ideas

• Obtainable in both 12/256GB or 16/512GB choices 
• Helps twin bodily SIM playing cards and eSIM 
• Affords the most recent Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 requirements 

Cameras: The primary disappointment seems

The cameras on the Poco F8 Extremely are a blended bag. 

On one hand, the cellphone excels in good lighting situations, with the 50Mp most important lens an actual spotlight. Regardless of having no actual digicam experience, I used to be capable of persistently seize dozens of beautiful images throughout my three-week testing interval.  

Usually, you’ll be able to anticipate pictures which are vibrant, well-exposed and brimming with element. Dynamic vary is superb, and hues are usually true to life. 

Spectacular efficiency continues if you swap to the 50Mp telephoto, which affords a reliable 5x optical zoom. Even photographs at 10x, which depend on digital zoom, are sometimes very usable. 

I’d additionally advocate utilizing the telephoto lens for portrait mode, which struggles with edge detection at occasions however usually delivers a satisfying picture with a professional-looking background blur. 

The 50Mp ultrawide is rather less spectacular, with some noticeable drop-off in color accuracy and a few lacking particulars, however that’s solely actually obvious when evaluating it on to the primary lens. 

And the front-facing 32Mp digicam has been a pleasure to make use of more often than not. The element I’ve been capable of seize in some selfies has been astounding, whereas the portrait mode right here is arguably much more convincing. 

Nonetheless, the cameras are badly let down by their low-light efficiency. The robotically enabled evening mode overcompensates, shedding color accuracy and giving faces a bizarre AI-like look. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Additionally, the lengthy publicity required to make this occur means there’s a noticeable delay between hitting the shutter button and the photograph being taken. This was a nightmare throughout a gig I went to, the place the headlining duo have been leaping round on stage. 

I attempted turning off evening mode, however the images have been virtually unusable, so there’s no good answer right here. 

Additional ideas

• The ultrawide lens solely has a 102-degree area of view, which isn’t as broad as many rivals 
• The F8 Extremely can shoot video at as much as 8K at 30fps. Each the primary and telephoto lenses provide OIS (optical picture stabilisation) 

Battery Life & Charging: Two days on a single cost

With a 6500mAh capability, the Poco F8 Extremely has one of many largest batteries of any cellphone proper now, and it’s one of many issues the cellphone excels at. 

Whereas working from house, I used to be capable of comfortably get two full days on a single cost, regardless of round six hours of utilization in complete. On one event, I headed out for the day with solely 30% cost, however it didn’t even drop into single figures eight hours later.  

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

And even on these extra demanding days, I by no means anxious about making it to the top of the day, giving me complete peace of thoughts. 

Poco claims that the F8 Extremely’s 100W wired charging can get you from 0-100% in simply 38 minutes, however you want a appropriate charger – there isn’t one within the field. 

I solely had a 67W one accessible, which means it took 68 minutes for me. Nonetheless, half-hour was nonetheless sufficient for 64% cost, which was loads for a full day in all however probably the most excessive circumstances. 

Additional ideas

• The F8 Extremely has a lithium-ion battery, which takes up extra space than equal silicon-carbon cells however ought to maintain up higher over time 
• 22.5W reverse wi-fi charging means you should utilize the cellphone to prime up earbuds and different Qi equipment shortly 

Software program & Apps: Slick however bloated with add-ons

• Software program is filled with helpful options 
• Too many advertisements and a number of bloatware 

The F8 Extremely ships operating the identical HyperOS 3 software program as Poco’s mother or father firm, Xiaomi. It’s primarily based on Android 16 however appears and feels fairly totally different – and never in a great way. 

My most important gripe is the bloatware, with a number of additional pre-installed apps from Xiaomi and third events. A number of the bloatware is doubtlessly helpful, different apps are a complete waste of time, and none of it must be on the gadget with out your consent. 

Then there’s the ‘Wallpaper Carousel’, an excuse for Xiaomi to serve a unique lock display screen picture and related article each time. It’s very annoying, and I’m but to see one I’d click on on. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

You possibly can take away many of the offending apps and switch off many of the advertisements, but it surely shouldn’t need to be that approach. HyperOS 3 can really feel overwhelming, particularly if you’re coming from one other model of Android or an iPhone. 

It’s a disgrace, as a result of the remainder of HyperOS is slick, quick and usually well-organised. It’s filled with helpful options and affords virtually limitless customisation alternatives. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Additional ideas

• AI instruments embody the standard suspects, similar to writing, transcription and picture era instruments, however there’s nothing revolutionary right here 
• Xiaomi affords solely 4 main Android OS updates, however six years of safety patches 

Worth & Availability: Aggressive at its present worth

Formally, the Poco F8 Extremely begins at £749, placing it in direct competitors with the common Pixel 10, Galaxy S25 and iPhone 17 (all from £799).

Nonetheless, each Xiaomi and Amazon have often been promoting the cellphone for a lot much less following its launch, and you may get it for £549 from the previous on the time of writing. 

With reductions like these, it turns into one of one of the best choices within the ultra-competitive mid-range cellphone market. However sadly, it’s not accessible within the US.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Must you purchase the Xiaomi Poco F8 Extremely?

Sure – however provided that you’ll find it at a reduction. At something beneath £600, the F8 Extremely represents excellent worth for cash, combining flagship-level efficiency with unbelievable battery life. 

At full worth, the shortcomings turn out to be more durable to disregard, most notably within the software program and low-light digicam efficiency. However Poco’s first ‘Extremely’ cellphone is an undoubted success, and it provides extra established rivals an actual run for his or her cash. 

Specs

• HyperOS 3, primarily 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 most important digicam  
• 50Mp, f/3.0 periscope telephoto 
• 50Mp, f/2.4 ultrawide   
• 32Mp, f/2.2 selfie   
• As much as 8K @ 30fps rear video   
• Stereo audio system tuned by Bose 
• Wi-Fi 7 
• Bluetooth 6.0 
• 6500mAh battery   
• 100W wired charging   
• 50W Qi wi-fi charging   
• 163.3 x 77.8 x 7.9 mm or 8.3 mm 
• IP68 licensed   
• 218 or 220g 
• Colors: Black, Denim Blue