I spent six months with the Poco F8 Ultra, and it delivers a mobile streaming experience that simply cant be matched by any phone of a similar price

Date:
Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Poco F8 Ultra proves that flagship performance no longer demands a huge price tag.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Poco F8 Ultra: Two-minute review The Poco F8 Ultra demonstrates whats possible when performance doesnt come at a premium. Packing a top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite
Gen 5 chipset, a huge 6,500mAh battery, and a bright 120Hz AMOLED display, it's among the very best phones on paper but it's Poco's photography chops and unique Bose partnership that set the F8 Ultra apart from other flagship killers.

A trio of rear cameras steals the show. Poco phones (as well as those made by its parent company, Xiaomi) often sneak under the radar for photographic performance, but having shone in both day and nighttime environments during
my testing, theres rarely been any situation where the F8 Ultras cameras havent exceeded expectations. Whats more, Xiaomis HyperOS 3 seems to finally be fulfilling its AI-centric potential, with genuinely useful photo features that allow beginners to fine-tune their shots to perfection. The brand's Bose partnership sets an equally high standard. While for many, the addition of a dedicated 1620 subwoofer in the phone's rear panel may seem like a token gesture, partnering it with symmetrical, dual 115F speakers quickly
highlights how flat other phones sound without external audio devices. Bass
is noticeable, and the overall soundscape is more than pleasant enough to enable most to ditch the headphones entirely, so long as the situation suits! Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

While the F8 Ultra's design may bear a striking resemblance to that of Apple
s iPhone 17 Pro , thats hardly a bad thing. The phone feels superb to hold
and rivals its most premium opposition for style, despite its huge 6.9-inch display. The rounded corners, flat aluminum edges, and impressive thinness (7.9 or 8.3mm, depending on variant) help its size feel manageable, and itll quickly feel much like its more premium counterparts in everyday use. The denim-like variant is certainly an acquired taste, but I grew accustomed to
it quickly and, frankly, it feels superb to use.

Under the hood, the combination of a huge 6,500mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset is stellar. The F8 Ultra achieves all-day battery life with ease, all while retaining superb performance under strain from gaming or multitasking. The only drawback: it does suffer from the chipsets trademark overheating problems. While I never found the phone to be fatally hot, this temperature increase is certainly noticeable when gaming for long periods,
and it can lead to some performance drops as a result.

The phone's availability is another drawback. It's available in the UK via both carriers and retailers, but only via third-party retailers like Amazon and eBay in the US. Still, the latter is more than can be said for the best Xiaomi phones , so I suppose that's a small win. The Poco F8 Ultra isn't available in Australia at the time of writing. Poco F8 Ultra review: Price
and availability Launched for 749 / $729 But it's now almost always on sale
US price varies heavily depending on the seller The Poco F8 Ultra undercuts almost any comparable phone when it comes to price. It launched for $729 /
749 back in November 2025, but is now available for significantly less especially in the UK likely due to the imminent release of the Poco F9
Ultra, which is rumored to land towards the end of 2026. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

It's a win in itself to see one of Xiaomis devices available via Amazon or eBay in the US. Its not available directly through carriers, though youll no longer have an issue using a US SIM with this device.

Even without a discount, the Poco F8 Ultra starts from the best part of $200
/ 200 less than youd normally expect to pay for a device boasting the latest chipset, triple cameras, and a huge battery. It even gets 4 years of major Android OS updates and 6 years of security updates. By which point, Xiaomi will almost certainly have released something of even better value to replace it.

Xiaomi and Poco do sell phones in Australia, but the Poco F8 Ultra isn't currently available in that region. Value score: 5 / 5 Poco F8 Ultra review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell 0

Poco F8 Ultra

Dimensions

163.33 x 8.3 x 77.82mm (Black) 163.33 x 7.9 x 77.82mm (Blue)

Weight

217g (Black), 220g (Blue)

OS

Android 16 (HyperOS 3)

Display

6.9-inch 120Hz HyperRGB AMOLED

Resolution

2608 x 1200

Chipset

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM

12GB (256GB), 16GB (512GB)

Storage

256GB, 512GB

Battery

6,500mAh

Rear cameras

50MP wide (f/1.7) + 50MP periscope telephoto (f/3.0) + 50-MP (f/2.4)
ultrawide

Front cameras

32MP (f/2.2)

Charging

100W wired, 50W wireless, 22.5W reverse wireless Poco F8 Ultra review: Design (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) iPhone-like camera plateau design Super comfortable to hold despite huge size Denim blue choice may not be to some peoples taste Poco adopts a reliable yet stylish look for the Poco F8 Ultra. That said, the first thing that needs discussing is its Denim Blue option.

While the material itself isnt denim rather, Poco's own nano-tech material it looks and feels as though youre texting from a pair of Levis. Its no doubt a strange experience to begin with, but youll quickly see the benefits of
this new material, namely a complete lack of scratch marks and a nice grippy feel in the hand.

If youre after a more traditional look, there is also a black variant. It
uses Pocos Glass Fibre, which gives a feel closer to that of a glass-backed phone. It should feel less slippery to hold and pick up fewer scratches than the competition, though youre definitely likely to see more fingerprints here than on its denim-look counterpart.

Either variant is also pleasantly comfortable to hold despite the phone's
huge 6.9-inch display. The F8 Ultra has a rounded aluminum frame and only weighs 220g at most (or 217g if you choose the black version). Thats over 10g lighter than an iPhone 17 Pro Max , and yet the weight cut doesnt leave the phone feeling any less premium when youre holding it, nor does it feel so light that it could be easily dropped or broken.

Where the F8 Ultra and the iPhone are more similar, however, is in their shared camera plateau design. In the case of the F8 Ultra, the plateau houses not only the rear cameras but also the subwoofer that headlines the phone's Bose partnership. Unlike many plateaus, the Poco F8 Ultras doesnt protrude hugely despite its more-than-capable cameras, which well cover later.

Aside from these features, the F8 Ultra's design bears little to shout about, which in many ways, is a win. The denim look is certainly a unique choice should you choose it, but both this and the black variant will soon leave you thinking you possess a phone far more premium than its price tag suggests. Design score: 4 / 5 Poco F8 Ultra review: Display (Image credit: Future //
Rob Dunne) Bright and easily viewed Great refresh rate Simple punch-hole front-camera The Poco F8 Ultras display gives the phone a premium feel from the moment you boot it up. This huge 6.9-inch 2608 x 1200 AMOLED screen is capable of a 3500-nit peak brightness, which, while lower than many
equivalent phones, does a faultless job of keeping the display punchy and viewable from almost all angles.

You also get a 120Hz refresh rate to play with, meaning scrolling through social media or gaming is smooth enough for even the most serious mobile gamers. This display also offers up to 480Hz touch sampling, which gives the screen a super-responsive feel, no matter if you're gaming or switching between apps.

The Poco F8 Ultra's display is also one of Xiaomis eye-care displays. These use a combination of hardware and software to reduce eye strain, headaches, and sleep problems caused by phone displays. Technologies such as high-frequency PWM dimming and circadian rhythm adjustments are employed to keep you healthy and have little to no impact on the devices performance.

All of this technology is housed under Poco Shield glass, which is
proprietary to Xiaomi and kept for only its most premium devices. In the months of using this phone, Ive never found reason to doubt Xiaomis claims of improved scratch- and impact-resistance compared to industry-standard solutions such as Corning glass. I've been able to confidently use the F8 Ultra in crowded environments without a case, where, frankly, its had more than one abrupt meeting with a floor.

That said, the biggest part of why this phone feels so premium to use is just how much display it gives you to play with. It has a huge 94.25% screen-to-body ratio and opts for a simple punch-hole front camera. This, partnered with its huge size, leaves the F8 Ultra's screen feeling nothing short of flagship-worthy while you're streaming, gaming, or browsing. Good job, Xiaomi. Display score: 4 / 5 Poco F8 Ultra review: Cameras (Image
credit: Future // Rob Dunne) Brilliant levels of detail and vibrancy
Low-light shooting is top tier Selfie camera has room for improvement The
Poco F8 Ultras cameras are nothing short of superb whether you use them at night, for close-ups, or even just regular shooting.

No matter the subject, the Poco F8 Ultra captured a level of vibrancy and detail in each shot that, frankly, it had no right to given its price point. Most noticeably, while shooting in cloudier conditions, shots continued to be detailed and well-balanced, without falling foul of extreme white blowouts in backgrounds.

I did find focusing on the F8 Ultra a touch more fiddly than some might like, especially when looking to shoot in dimmer, indoor environments, but with time, it becomes manageable. That said, the phone was near-flawless in
picking up the subject matter and retaining razor-thin focus margins to the rest of the frame.

Each of the three main cameras is 50MP, with the phone even offering a 50MP shooting mode to make full use of these megapixels though it sacrifices much of the camera's adaptability should you choose to use it.

One of the standout inclusions on the phone's spec sheet is its Light Fusion 950 light sensor. Taking the F8 Ultra out for some night photography proved just how beneficial the devices 43% improvement in light sensitivity (versus the F7 Ultra) can be. Details remained sharp, backgrounds were rarely a mere abyss of black, and the vibrancy Id seen in the daytime remained to a surprising degree.

On the front of the phone, theres a 32MP selfie camera which does a good enough job. It definitely leaves selfies a touch smoother than youd expect given the quality of the rear cameras, and it's sometimes a touch excessive when adjusting skin tones in bright environments. But its still a camera Id happily use to snap my next night out.

Whether youre shooting selfies or regular shots, there are also a strong number of preset modes and effects you can use to make the shot your own if you arent a seasoned pro. Its not quite as many as youd get from something like a Pixel or Galaxy phone, but the Poco F8 Ultra's camera itself proved more than capable of providing strong results no matter the subject matter, even in my amateur hands. Poco F8 Ultra review: camera samples Image 1 of 10 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) (Image credit: Future / Rob Dunne) (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) (Image credit: Future //
Rob Dunne) (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) Image 1 of 10 View Original Image
2 of 10 View Original Image 3 of 10 View Original Image 4 of 10 View Original Image 5 of 10 View Original Image 6 of 10 View Original Image 7 of 10 View Original Image 8 of 10 View Original Image 9 of 10 View Original Image 10 of 10 View Original Poco F8 Ultra review: Performance (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) Flagship-level specs provide the expected power Doesnt struggle with multitasking or intense games Brilliant audio capabilities Its frustratingly difficult to fault a flagship-killer's performance when it
packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and DDR5X memory because, in short, its packing the same tech as its premium rivals, with a far smaller price
tag. Whats more, theres nothing to suggest any corners have been cut
elsewhere on the F8 Ultra.

For example, I tested it with hugely demanding games such as Call of Duty : Mobile and Genshin Impact , and it never so much as dropped a frame. Itll get a touch warm, as any phone would (including flagships), but, in fact, the alternative back panel material makes it far more manageable to hold when it does.

Day-to-day use is a doddle. Depending on the storage configuration you
choose, you get either 12 or 16GB of DDR5X RAM, and 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage. Simply put, nothing is slow to load, and youll likely be able to multitask however you choose to without any noticeable slowdown.

Whats more, having now spent well over six months with the device (yes, I've been testing it for a while), these performance levels haven't dropped off whatsoever. The F8 Ultra is backed by a huge 6,500mAh battery, which well cover later, and it's remained a remarkably capable phone for heavy-duty gaming sessions while I'm on the go. This performance is, in part, helped by its Game Turbo mode, though, on trying with and without this option turned
on, the difference is far less noticeable than youd expect.

Streaming on the device is something I also came to enjoy thanks in no small part to its unique Bose subwoofer system. Its well known that regular phone speakers often return flat, unappealing soundscapes, but the F8 Ultras Bose partnership quite simply throws this possibility out of the window. The subwoofer allows for a 2.1-channel audio system that restores the punchiness you want while watching intense TV series or horror films (in private, please).

Of course, the F8 Ultra is no match for a proper speaker or sound system, but Ive certainly found myself more comfortable using the phone to play music aloud or quickly watch videos while at home without connecting to a speaker separately. Performance score: 5 / 5 Poco F8 Ultra review: Software (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne) HyperOS 3 is simple enough for anyone AI is becoming increasingly involved in the experience Remains beginner-friendly without AI integrations HyperOS has quickly matured into a clean and easy OS since its launch in late 2023. Yes, the ever-increasing amount of AI features may put off those keen to avoid extreme data collection in the name of convenience, but the software experience, regardless, is smoother than ever.

Navigating menus and finding settings and toggles throughout the device is smooth, and everything is essentially where youd expect it to be. The functionality of some of the icon-based toggles could be clearer, but this is a problem thats apparent across most Android OS packages nowadays.

Photo editing is so far the best use of Xiaomis increasing AI toolset. Beginners can quickly and easily improve their photos with an AI Beautify
tool that does a far better job than most auto-adjust photo tools Ive come across in the past.

There are several more excessive options, such as sky adjustments, image expansion, and portrait adjustments, that may disturb photography purists, but, as yet, these tools arent quite as refined as they need to be for everyday use.

Outside of photography, you get several AI-based writing improvement, search, and speech tools that can be toggled to improve the everyday experience. Thankfully, having tested the Poco F8 Ultra both with and without these additions, the user experience remains simple enough if youre keen to keep AI away from your everyday tasks.

All in all, HyperOS 3 more than matches up to the F8 Ultras premium specs; it provides a simple enough experience for casual users, while power users can make the most of its many customization options. Software score: 4 / 5 Poco
F8 Ultra review: Battery Huge multi-day battery life Sub-hour charging times are very helpful Includes 22.5W reverse wireless charging Its no surprise
that the Poco F8 Ultras battery credentials are flagship-grade. The phone packs a 6,500mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, and in testing, these figures resulted in months of day-long battery life and little worry about the speed of impromptu top-ups.

Slower use days will get you multiple days of battery life, which was a welcome surprise, and in truth you'll probably get beyond a day of endurance even with a reasonable amount of social media scrolling and general browsing.

Gaming and streaming were, understandably, the biggest drainers. But, even
so, it would only make an hour or sos difference to the battery life Id come to expect. To this day, over six months later, Im still never remotely
worried Ill run out of battery on the Poco F8 Ultra so long as I'm leaving
the house with 40% charge or above.

And the phone's 100W charging makes charging a breeze. Getting back up to
100% is comfortably done in under an hour, though in my experience, it takes
a tad longer than the advertised 38 minutes. 22.5W reverse wireless charging is also a handy addition for when friends find themselves in a pinch.

In my experience, youd scarcely find better battery life at this price point. Only Poco's own Poco X8 Pro Max trumps the F8 Ultra for battery value, though you will get even better endurance from true flagships like the Oppo Find X9 Pro and OnePlus 15 . Battery score: 5 / 5 Should you buy the Poco F8 Ultra? Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Poco F8 Ultra brings undoubtedly flagship capabilities to a mid-range price point. It's perfect if youre keen to save without making huge performance sacrifices.

5 / 5

Design

Despite being a clear iPhone clone, the F8 Ultra lacks no amount of unique style. Its premium to look at whether you go safe with black or opt for its denim alternative.

4 / 5

Display

Bright and smooth, its easy to see the Poco F8 Ultras premium intent as soon as you load up its huge display for the first time.

4 / 5

Performance

Nothing seems to stop the F8 Ultra from performing. Gaming and multitasking are a breeze, with little sign of let up no matter how hard you push.

5 / 5

Software

HyperOS is finally becoming the matured, reliable OS it was intended to be.
AI is definitely a centrepiece, but its easy enough for anyone to use.

4 / 5

Cameras

Vibrant, detailed, and sharp, theres little to fault about the Poco F8 Ultras triple camera array. That said, theres room for some improvement on the
front.

4 / 5

Battery

Multi-day battery life and super-quick charging. Using it makes you forget what worrying about battery life feels like, and it doesnt stop for months.

5 / 5 Buy it if

You want all-day battery life and more

The Poco F8 Ultras battery size, charging speed, and superb processing capabilities make multi-day use the norm it's perfect if youre always on the move without access to quick and easy charging.

Youre a keen mobile gamer

The mix of top-tier processing capabilities and long battery life means you can be set up for hours of high-intensity gaming. No need to turn down the graphics settings, no need to turn on battery saver; just sit down and game
as you wish.

You want an immersive streaming experience

The Poco F8 Ultras 2.1-channel audio system and huge 6.9-inch display make
for a brilliant mobile streaming experience that simply cant be matched by
any phone of a similar price. Dont buy it if

You want a guaranteed point-and-shoot camera experience

While the camera is superb, in some settings, the focus can be fiddly, which, if youre after a quick shot, is less than ideal. Poco F8 Ultra review: also consider

Oppo Find X9 Pro

Oppos Find X9 Pro is a step up in all the things that make the Poco F8 Ultra great. Superb photography, huge battery life, and strong performance. Just be aware that its regularly a more expensive choice and lacks US availability.

Read our full Oppo Find X9 Pro review

Samsung Galaxy S26

The S26 is the ideal phone if youre looking for decent photography, with strong AI integrations and an all-round better user experience. That said,
you lose out on battery life and some of the photographic potential.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 review Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell 0

Poco F8 Ultra

Oppo Find X9 Pro

Samsung Galaxy S26

Price

749 / $729

1,099 / AU$2,299

$899 / 879 / AU$1,349

Display

6.9-inch 120Hz HyperRGB AMOLED

6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED

6.3-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Cameras

50 MP wide (f/1.7) + 50 MP periscope telephoto (f/3.0) + 50 MP (f/2.4) ultra-wide

50MP main + 50MP ultra-wide + 200MP telephoto (3x)

50MP main + 10MP telephoto + 12MP ultra-wide

Processor

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

MediaTek Dimensity 9500

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Battery

6,500mAh

7,500mAh

4,300mAh How I tested the Poco F8 Ultra Tested over multiple months Used as both a daily driver and second phone Compared with previous testing Why you can trust TechRadar 100s of smartphones reviewed 15 years of product
testing Over 16,000 products reviewed in total Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech I tested the Poco F8 Ultra over a period exceeding six months, with the phone arriving at the time of its launch.

In that time, it was either my main or secondary phone and was put through several forms of testing. This included extensive usage to test battery life, intensive streaming and gaming testing, as well as regular daily use to spot usability issues, bugs, and other problems consumers may face.

This review was conducted using my own experience of the phones industry alongside other experiences reviewing phones in similar price brackets.

Read more about how we test First reviewed: July 2026 Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra: Price Comparison 799 649 View 649 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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