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Poco F8 Pro review: Two-minute review
(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)
Over the past two decades, I’ve been lucky enough to test hundreds of smartphones from a range of brands around the world. Some of these brands receive the credit they’re due, others are criticized fairly or unfairly, and some fail to get the global recognition they deserve.
Xiaomi's sub-brand, Poco, falls into the latter category, and the Poco F8 Pro is another example of an extraordinary phone that should be talked about more than it is.
While its pricier sibling, the Poco F8 Ultra , packs true flagship specs and a stunning denim material finish, the Poco F8 Pro more closely follows Poco’s model: take the core features that every smartphone user needs, build a great overall experience, and offer it at a truly affordable price.
The Poco F8 Pro marries the first-gen flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. Yes, this is not the second-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that powers many of the current best Android phones , but you’d be hard-pressed to notice the difference. The Poco F8 Pro flies through day-to-day tasks with flagship-level ease, and its Bose-tuned stereo speakers deliver the same great audio experience as its pricier sibling.
There’s also an excellent 6.59-inch 120Hz OLED display, which is my favorite size for a smartphone screen, and it’s wonderful to use, with a 3,500-nit peak brightness and excellent color reproduction. As is customary with Poco phones, there’s no skimping on battery life, either, with the F8 Pro packing a 6,210mAh battery that can last for multiple days, and 100W charging that’s among the fastest on any phone.
There’s also a 2.5x telephoto camera, a first for Poco’s Pro lineup, although it does lack OIS. That’s indicative of the Poco F8 Pro as a whole; yes, there are compromises — including a lack of wireless charging, occasional slowdowns under heavy gaming loads, sluggish USB speeds, and some bloatware in apps — but if you can live with them, this phone offers the best value-for-money in its price bracket.
Poco F8 Pro review: price and availability
(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)
Launched for £549
The current retail price in the UK is ~£449
Not available in the US or Australia
In terms of availability, the Poco F8 Pro falls into the "widely available outside the US" category, and if you’re in the UK, you’ll find it’s priced extremely aggressively (the phone can be imported to the US, but its network compatibility will be limited).
At the time of writing in August 2026, the 256GB model is available for just £449. That's £100 cheaper than its already reasonable £599 launch price, and exceptional value for money in 2026 (note that the Poco F9 series is likely to arrive towards the end of the year, though we're expecting to see a sizeable price hike for all models).
This £400-£500 range pits the F8 Pro directly against devices like the Google Pixel 10a , Nothing Phone (4a) , and Samsung Galaxy A57 . But compared to these phones, it offers the fewest compromises against a £1,000+ flagship. If you want the higher 512GB storage option, that configuration has also been discounted by £100 to £499.
The Poco F8 Pro is available in three colors: Black, Blue, and Titanium Silver. There’s no denim-leather finish, like you'll find on the Poco F8 Ultra, but my Titanium Silver unit did come with a nice silicone case in the box.
Value score: 5 / 5
Poco F8 Pro review: specs
Poco F8 Pro Dimensions:
163.2 x 78 x 7.5mm
Weight:
194g
Display:
6.83-inch AMOLED (1280 x 2772), 120Hz, 3,200 nits peak brightness
Chipset:
MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra
RAM:
12GB RAM
Storage:
256GB / 512GB
OS:
Android 15, but Android 16 is now available
Primary camera:
50MP, f/1.7 1/1.55-inch sensor PDAF, OIS
Ultra-wide camera:
12MP, f/2.2, 120° 1/3.06-inch sensor,
Telephoto camera:
50MP, f/1.9, 46mm 1/2.75-inch sensor 2x optical zoom, PDAF
Selfie camera:
32MP, f/2.2 1/3.44-inch sensor
Battery:
5,500mAh
Charging:
67W wired
Colors:
Black, Gray, Rose Gold
Poco F8 Pro review: design
(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)
Three colors
Premium aluminum and glass design
6.59-inch display is ergonomically friendly
I mentioned earlier that 6.59 inches is my favorite smartphone screen size, and that’s because it's at the top end of the perfect 6.5-6.6-inch range. With these sizes, I’ve found you get the comfort benefits of a smaller phone like the Pixel 10 Pro while also getting the viewing benefits of larger flagships like the Galaxy 26 Ultra .
The F8 Pro strikes the perfect balance between those two phone sizes, and it pays off: it’s very comfortable to hold. Yes, it lacks the added grip of the denim leather finish on the Poco F8 Ultra, but the F8 Pro's is a more mature approach that appeals to everyone. Instead of a denim back, you get a flat aluminum frame paired with a frosted glass rear panel. It’s adult and functional, but deliberately less interesting than its flashier sibling.
(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)
What makes this design more comfortable is the overall lack of heft: weighing 199g and measuring 8.1mm thick, this is a phone that’s lighter than most, and that pays dividends in the overall experience. What's more, despite being thinner and lighter than many other phones, the F8 Pro still offers full IP68 dust and water resistance; it's one of only a few devices to do so at this price point.
At the top of the phone, you’ll find the IR blaster, which is a common feature of Chinese-made phones, and it’s brilliant. I think every phone maker should bring back an IR blaster, as it’s a feature you don’t know you need until you lose your TV remote or need to bypass a locked-down hotel TV remote. Yes, the IR blaster has solved both of those problems for me.
Design score: 4.5 / 5
Poco F8 Pro review: display
(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)
6.59-inch 120Hz OLED display
Flagship-grade color accuracy
The F8 Pro's 6.59-inch display is not only...
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