Conclusion

POCO has officially transformed from a budget-focused brand into a serious premium contender. By launching the F8 Ultra at an early-bird price of S$848 to S$899, they’ve managed to deliver the next-gen Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 at a price that makes other flagships look overpriced.

Elite Performance & Connectivity

This isn’t just about raw speed; it’s about sustained power. With a massive 6700mm² IceLoop cooling system and WildBoost Optimisation, the F8 Ultra handles intense gaming without breaking a sweat. It also keeps you connected everywhere with support for both 5G SA and NSA networks, ensuring top-tier speeds on any carrier.

A New Standard for Mobile Audio

One of the most impressive features we tested was the audio. POCO teamed up with Bose to create a 2.1-channel system featuring an independent 1620 subwoofer.

  • The Result: A solid bass boost and a wide soundstage that actually rivals small portable speakers.
  • The Display: This is paired with a stunning 3,500-nit HyperRGB AMOLED screen, making it a portable movie theater.

Professional Optics

The triple 50MP camera system is a massive step up for the brand. The Light Fusion 950 sensor and the new 5x periscope lens offer great versatility.

  • The Good: Excellent OIS and solid stabilization for 8K video.
  • The Note: While the hybrid zoom is impressive, clarity does start to drop off once you push into the higher digital zoom ranges.

Smart Features & Battery Life

Xiaomi’s software suite adds some serious “pro” tools to the mix, including speech recognition, AI interpreter, and real-time subtitles. Personalization gets a boost with dynamic wallpapers, while eSIM support makes travel easy. Under the hood, the 6500mAh silicon-carbon battery is a beast—retaining 80% health after 1,600 cycles and charging to 100% in just 38 minutes via 100W HyperCharge.

If you want flagship specs, industry-leading audio, and emergency Astral Communication (offline calling) without the “premium brand” tax, the POCO F8 Ultra is currently the one to beat.

Pros

  1. Flagship Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 at a lower price
  2. Strong cooling and gaming performance
  3. Excellent Bose-tuned 2.1 audio
  4. Very bright 3,500-nit AMOLED display
  5. Big battery with fast 100W charging

Cons

  1. Digital zoom quality drops at high levels
  2. No longer a budget-priced POCO phone
  3. Likely bulky due to large battery and cooling
  4. Camera brand reputation still behind rivals
  5. Feature-heavy software may not suit minimal users

Rating

Performance: 10/10

Design: 9/10

Features: 9/10

Usability: 9/10

Value for Money: 8/10

Score : 9 / 10

Pricing from S$899 at Lazada (click link below)

https://c.lazada.sg/t/c.ciZ4u9

By Paul S