Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra Review (2025): The New Value King is an Absolute Monster

Introduction

The battle for the best mid-range phone just got a nuclear option. The Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra has arrived, and it’s not playing nice. Boasting specs that rival phones at twice the price, it aims to dethrone the “flagship killer” category it helped create. After using it as our main device for two weeks, we’re ready to give you the definitive verdict: does the Poco F8 Ultra over-deliver, or is it too good to be true?

Design & Build: Premium Feel Without the Price Tag

Picking up the Poco F8 Ultra, the first thing you notice is how premium it feels. The glossy glass back and polished aluminum frame are a world away from the budget builds of the past. It’s sleek, modern, and feels solid in the hand. The under-display fingerprint sensor is blazingly fast, and the IP67 rating for dust and water resistance provides peace of mind missing from many competitors.

Display: A Breathtaking Viewing Experience

The 6.78-inch Flow AMOLED display is, simply put, a masterpiece.

• Crystal Clear: The 1.5K resolution offers sharpness that’s easy on the battery.

• Buttery Smooth: The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate makes every scroll and animation fluid.

• Incredibly Bright: With a peak brightness of 2600 nits, you can see everything perfectly, even in direct sunlight.
  Watching HDR content on Netflix or YouTube is an absolute joy, with vibrant colors and deep blacks. For gaming and media, this display is a top-tier feature.

Performance & Gaming: Unmatched Power

This is the heart of the beast. The Poco F8 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a chip typically found in $1,200 phones. Paired with up to 16GB of RAM, the performance is staggering.

• Daily Use: Apps fly open, and multitasking is a breeze with no lag or slowdowns.

• Gaming: We played the most demanding games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail at maximum graphics settings. The experience was flawless, maintaining high frame rates without overheating, thanks to a superior cooling system. This is arguably the most powerful phone in its price class.

Software: Clean and Committed

Running on MIUI 15 for Poco based on Android 14, the software experience is clean and focused on speed. Bloatware is minimal, and useful features like Game Turbo are included. Critically, Xiaomi has promised 3 major Android updates and 4 years of security patches, ensuring your investment is protected for the long haul.

Camera: Capable Shooter in Most Scenarios

The triple-camera system is headlined by a 200MP main sensor.

• Main Camera: In good light, photos are exceptionally detailed with great colors. Low-light performance is also strong, thanks to advanced pixel-binning. The 200MP mode is fun for capturing extreme detail in landscapes.

• Ultra-Wide Camera (8MP): Good for wide group shots and scenery, though quality dips compared to the main sensor.

• Macro Camera (2MP): This is the system’s weak point, feeling more like a spec-sheet filler than a practical tool.

• Selfie (32MP): Takes sharp, detailed selfies that are perfect for social media.

For most users, the main camera will deliver fantastic results that rival much more expensive phones.

Battery Life & Charging: All-Day Power, Recharged in Minutes

The 5,500mAh battery is an absolute workhorse. It easily powers through a heavy day of use, including gaming, streaming, and browsing, with plenty of juice left over. For moderate users, two days on a single charge is achievable.

When it’s time to recharge, the included 120W HyperCharge brick is a game-changer. It can take the massive battery from 0 to 100% in under 25 minutes.