Poco, the brand that began its journey in 2018 as Xiaomi's sub-brand focused on mid-range smartphones, has officially stepped into the premium flagship arena. The company unveiled its first high-end duo - the Poco F8 Ultra and F8 Pro - at an event in Bali, marking a significant transformation from its budget-powerhouse image to a serious contender in the premium smartphone market.
Audio Excellence Through Bose Partnership
The most striking feature of the new F8 series is the strategic partnership with audio giant Bose. Both phones feature stereo speakers that Bose has personally designed and tuned, promising exceptional sound quality for users who consume media directly from their devices.
The Poco F8 Ultra takes audio innovation further by incorporating a small subwoofer inside the phone, a rare feature even among top-tier flagship devices. This engineering marvel aims to deliver deeper bass and fuller sound without requiring external speakers, making it ideal for gaming enthusiasts, movie lovers, and music listeners.
Hardware Powerhouse: F8 Ultra Specifications
The Poco F8 Ultra emerges as the true hero of this launch, packing impressive hardware that competes with established premium smartphones. It features a massive 6.9-inch OLED screen and runs on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.
Poco has enhanced the visual experience with its proprietary VisionBoost D8 chipset, which powers features like AI Super Resolution. The device also utilizes innovative HyperRGB display technology where red, green, and blue subpixels work together to deliver sharper text and images.
The camera setup includes a triple 50-megapixel configuration at the rear, while wireless charging support brings it at par with other high-end devices in this category.
Battery Life That Lasts All Day
Battery performance receives significant attention in both models. The F8 Ultra houses a massive 6500 mAh battery, the largest ever in a Poco F series device. This substantial power source is designed to handle extended gaming sessions and hours of video streaming without requiring midday charging.
The F8 Pro, while slightly less powerful, still impresses with its 6210 mAh battery that promises up to 16 hours of continuous use. Both devices clearly target users frustrated with their current phones dying by late afternoon.
Playful Design with Denim Innovation
Poco experiments with bold design choices, particularly with the F8 Ultra's Denim version. At first glance, the back appears wrapped in authentic denim fabric, but it actually uses a special Xiaomi nanotech material that mimics the jeans look without the durability concerns of real cloth.
This creative approach gives Poco a distinctive visual identity that stands out in photographs and short videos, while ensuring the phone withstands daily handling.
F8 Pro: Almost Flagship Experience
The Poco F8 Pro positions itself as a more accessible flagship alternative. It features a 6.59-inch screen with a subtle micro-curved design where edges gently blend into the back panel. Powered by last year's Snapdragon 8 Elite platform, it delivers robust performance for daily tasks and gaming, though the Ultra claims the top performance crown.
Shared Premium Features
Both phones share several premium characteristics expected in this segment. They carry IP68 ratings for dust and water resistance, run on Xiaomi HyperOS 3 for familiar software experience, and benefit from Bose-tuned stereo speakers, though only the Ultra includes the additional subwoofer.
Pricing Strategy and Market Positioning
Poco's pricing reflects its attempt to balance value roots with premium aspirations. Globally, the F8 Pro starts at USD 579 for the 12GB + 256GB variant, going up to USD 629 for the 12GB + 512GB model. The F8 Ultra begins at USD 729 for 12GB + 256GB and reaches USD 799 for the 16GB + 512GB version.
Early bird offers reduce these to USD 529/USD 579 for the F8 Pro and USD 679/USD 729 for the F8 Ultra. Indian pricing and availability remain unconfirmed and may vary by region.
This launch represents a turning point for Poco, positioning the F8 Ultra as its new flagship benchmark and the F8 Pro as a way to bring that premium experience to more users. With Bose audio partnership, innovative design, larger batteries, and competitive pricing, Poco signals its ambition to compete in the premium tier while maintaining its value proposition.
