POCO F8 Ultra Review: The Ultimate Flagship Killer

The smartphone world is constantly evolving, but every now and then a device shows up that makes everybody sit up straight. This time, that device is the POCO F8 Ultra — a phone that wasn’t just built for performance or style, but for sheer disruption. If you’ve followed POCO over the years, you already know that their F-series has always taken pride in pushing boundaries. But with the POCO F8 Ultra, the brand has tried something entirely new.

From the moment I picked this phone up for testing, I realized this was not just another POCO refresh. This device carries innovation in places we didn’t even expect — including a Bose-tuned rear speaker, a curved AMOLED display, a brand-new flagship processor that scores over 3 million on benchmarks, and a design language that looks nothing like previous POCO phones.

In this massive deep dive, I’ll take you through the unboxing, design, display, camera, speakers, gaming, HyperOS experience, performance metrics, battery life, and more. If you’re planning to buy the POCO F8 Ultra or are simply curious to know whether it deserves the hype, this review is for you.

Let’s begin.

1. Introduction: The Rise of POCO’s F-Series

When POCO launched the original F1, it rewrote the definition of value-for-money. The phone became legendary for delivering flagship performance at a price no other brand dared to try. Since then, the F-series has been the backbone of POCO’s identity.

The POCO F7 never officially arrived in India, and that left a gap. But now, the POCO F8 Ultra — the top-of-the-line device of the F8 series — is here in global markets, promising a major leap ahead in:

Display quality
Audio technology
Camera innovation
Performance horsepower
Premium feel

This is not just an upgrade; it feels like a complete transformation of what POCO stands for. The phone doesn’t try to be budget-friendly first — it tries to be excellent first.

2. Unboxing the POCO F8 Ultra

The unboxing experience sets the tone. You get a stealth black box with minimal branding. What stands out is the bold, silver text that reads “Sound by Bose.” Seeing Bose branding on a POCO box is surprising, refreshing, and slightly unbelievable — in a good way.

Inside the box:

POCO F8 Ultra smartphone
Soft silicone case
SIM ejector tool
Type-A to Type-C cable
Documentation
No charger (global trend continues)

The unit I tested is the global variant. The moment I lifted the device out, I could tell that POCO isn’t playing around with the Ultra lineup.

3. Premium Design: A New Identity for POCO

This is the best-designed POCO phone ever. Period.

The POCO F8 Ultra has a completely fresh design language that makes it feel like a premium flagship from the moment you hold it. The back panel uses a premium textile-style texture that genuinely feels unique — almost like denim-inspired abstract art. It doesn’t look cheap, doesn’t attract fingerprints, and feels great in hand.

Build & Dimensions

Width: Slightly wider than normal POCO phones
Thickness: 8.3 mm
Weight: ≈ 214 g
Frame: Metal
Back: Textured premium finish
Design: Large horizontal camera island
Certification: IP68 water & dust resistance

The phone is on the heavier side, but that weight gives it a flagship feel.

The camera module reminds you of Apple’s Pro lineup — a wide, horizontal slab that instantly catches your eye. The POCO branding is subtle and the “Sound by Bose” badge gives it a premium aesthetic rarely seen on mid-premium phones.

Simply put: POCO has never designed something this classy before.

4. Display Review: The Best Screen Ever Seen on a POCO Phone

If one feature completely shocked me in the POCO F8 Ultra, it’s the display. This is the first time a POCO screen made me genuinely say: “Wow.”

Specifications

6.9-inch Hyper RGB AMOLED
1.5K resolution
Curved Display
120Hz refresh rate
3500 nits peak brightness
2000 nits HBM
SDR certification
POCO Shield Glass protection

The brightness on this device is insane. Indoors, the display looks ultra-vibrant. Outdoors, full brightness is more than enough to overpower direct sunlight.

The colors are rich, punchy, and incredibly sharp thanks to the high-density RGB AMOLED panel.

Bezel Quality

The bezels are extremely thin and symmetrical — POCO calls them “nano bezels”. For a curved display, symmetry is hard to achieve, so this is impressive.

Content consumption looks fantastic. Watching videos at 2160p feels smooth and fluid. The curve adds a premium feeling similar to Samsung’s higher-end S-series phones.

This is hands down the best display on any POCO phone to date.

5. Audio Review: Bose Speaker Magic

Yes, you read that right: sound tuned by Bose.

This is the first time Bose has collaborated with POCO, and possibly the first time Bose tuning has appeared on a smartphone in this price segment.

So how does it sound?

Speaker Quality

Loud — extremely loud
Clear vocals
Deep bass
Super wide surround effect

The rear speaker is designed for surround sound projection, and it works. Even at high volume, the phone does not distort or crackle. Watching movies or playing games becomes a whole new experience.

If you’re someone who listens to music without earphones, the POCO F8 Ultra is perfect.

Vibration Motor

There is only one downside — the haptics are soft. I prefer stronger flagship-level vibrations, but some users may like the gentler feel.

6. Camera Review: POCO’s First Periscope Telephoto Lens

This is a milestone moment for POCO.

For the first time ever, a POCO device includes a periscope telephoto lens — something usually reserved for premium flagships like Samsung’s Ultra series or Xiaomi’s Ultra phones.

Camera Setup

50MP Light Fusion 950 main sensor
50MP periscope telephoto (OIS)
50MP ultra-wide lens
32MP front camera

Shutter Speed

Extremely fast. Zero lag. This makes street and action photography enjoyable.

Color Science

Slightly contrasty
Slightly brightened colors
Occasional pinkish tint
Good HDR handling
Not oversaturated

Portrait Mode

Portrait depth is a hit-or-miss:

1x & 2x: Depth sometimes missing
5x Periscope Portrait: Excellent depth & compression

Skin tones lean towards whitened + slightly over-sharpened. This is where improvement is needed.

Selfie Camera

Decent quality
Slight skin softening
Good edge detection

Real-World Performance

I tested the camera in many lighting conditions:

Indoor
Outdoor
Daylight
Low light
Portrait scenes

My honest conclusion:
The camera is good, but not flagship-level yet.

POCO’s product team has acknowledged this feedback and is already working on tuning upcoming camera updates.

7. Performance Review: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Dominates

This is where the POCO F8 Ultra absolutely crushes everything.

Benchmark Score

3+ million on AnTuTu

That’s insane.

Multitasking

Apps open instantly
Animations are buttery smooth
Zero stutters
Chrome opens like magic
Switching between heavy apps is effortless

Everything about this device screams raw power.

8. Gaming Experience: True Flagship Gameplay

A POCO F-series phone without gaming? Impossible.

Graphics Options

HDR Max
Ultra HDR
Super Smooth
Ultra Extreme
Supports high FPS modes in supported games

No lags. No frame drops. No overheating spikes during my tests.

Whether you’re playing BGMI, COD Mobile, Genshin Impact, or Asphalt — the performance remains rock solid.

Gamers will love this phone.

9. Battery Life & Charging

Battery: 6500 mAh

Wired Charging: 100W

Wireless Charging: 50W

With a 3nm processor and HyperOS optimization, the battery life is consistently excellent. Heavy users can easily get a full day. Light users could even stretch it to 1.5–2 days.

Charging is blazing fast — 0 to 100% in roughly 30 minutes with the supported charger.

10. Software: HyperOS + Android 16

POCO F8 Ultra runs on HyperOS based on Android 16.

The UI is clean and fluid, but…

Bloatware Exists

Some preloaded apps like:

Instagram
Linkedin
A few system apps

Not too many, but still unnecessary.

Ads in UI

This was disappointing — ads still appear in parts of the UI, especially:

App recommendations
Play Store searches
Some System UI sections

This needs improvement.

11. Connectivity

The POCO F8 Ultra supports:

Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth 6.0
NFC
11 5G bands
Dual SIM

No SD card slot.

12. Pricing & Availability

European Price: €649

Converted to INR: ₹68,000 – ₹69,000

This is the global variant — the sad news?

The POCO F8 Ultra is NOT launching in India.

13. What POCO Got Right

✔ Stunning design — best ever from POCO
✔ Beautiful curved 1.5K AMOLED display
✔ Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 performance is unbelievable
✔ Bose speaker is unique & powerful
✔ Huge battery with fast charging
✔ Periscope telephoto lens
✔ Excellent build, IP68 rating

14. What POCO Could Have Done Better

✘ Cameras need improvement
✘ UI ads should not exist at this price
✘ haptics could be stronger
✘ No charger in the box

15. Final Verdict

The POCO F8 Ultra is one of the most exciting phones I’ve tested in a long time. It has personality, power, and innovation — all wrapped in a premium design.

But because it won’t be launching in India, this excitement comes with a pinch of sadness.

This phone had everything needed to disrupt the Indian flagship market.

16. Should You Buy the POCO F8 Ultra?

Buy it if you want:

Flagship gaming performance
Stunning display
Bose speakers
Premium build
Periscope zoom
Big battery with fast charging

Avoid it if:

You want a flagship-level camera
You hate ads in UI
You want lighter phones
You want India warranty (not available)

Overall, this is easily among POCO’s top 3 most innovative smartphones ever made.

17. FAQs

1. Is the POCO F8 Ultra coming to India?

No, POCO has confirmed it will not launch in India.

2. Is the POCO F8 Ultra good for gaming?

Absolutely. Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 + high FPS modes = phenomenal gameplay.

3. Does the POCO F8 Ultra have wireless charging?

Yes, up to 50W wireless charging.

4. Is the camera flagship-level?

Not yet. Good, but not competing with Samsung S24 Ultra or Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

5. How is the battery life?

Excellent — the 6500 mAh battery easily lasts a full heavy day.

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