The POCO F series has always focused on performance and value. This year's second release is the POCO F8 Series, which continues on that direction with a package that aims to deliver power, design upgrades, and a more refined user experience. I spent my first few days with the POCO F8 Pro, and the early impressions show a phone that confidently pushes into the premium space.
Before diving into the hardware and features, the unboxing already gives a good sense of how POCO wants the F8 Pro to position itself in the market.
Unboxing Experience
The POCO F8 Pro arrives in the brand’s classic black and yellow box. The packaging feels sturdy and the presentation follows a clean and familiar style that POCO fans will recognize.
Once the lid comes off, the first layer contains the documentation sleeve. Inside the sleeve are the user manuals, warranty card, and a clear protective case that feels similar to what we have accustomed to with the previous release. The case provides a decent grip and enough coverage around the corners which helps secure the device.
Under the sleeve sits the POCO F8 Pro itself. The phone immediately feels premium because of its weight balance and smooth frame. The box also includes a 100W fast charger and a USB-C cable. It's good to see that POCO continues to include a fast charger because this remains one of the biggest conveniences for users who want immediate access to fast charging without buying additional accessories.
The unboxing process feels straightforward and practical as POCO included everything needed to start using the phone immediately.
First Look and Design
The POCO F8 Pro gives a strong impression on the first hold. The device uses a flat frame with a clean and modern finish. We have the Titanium Silver variant which has a matte back finish. The camera module sits on the upper left area. It is framed by a glass plateau which includes the BOSE logo that gives nod to their new partnership. This blends well with the overall design, and I could also say that it accentuates the overall aesthetics. The phone feels solid and the weight distribution helps maintain a comfortable grip during long use.
POCO refined the build to feel more premium than previous generations. The edges remain smooth, the sides feel sturdy, and the buttons sit within comfortable reach. Both the power and volume buttons feel tactile and responsive. At the bottom, you'll find the USB-C port, speaker grille, and SIM tray, while the top houses another speaker outlet. The F8 Pro looks and feels like a device that wants to compete in a higher segment.
Display Impressions
The device features a large 6.59-inch, 120Hz ultra-clear AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution. The display takes most of the attention as soon as the screen lights up. Colors appear vibrant and the contrast levels make images pop. The high refresh rate helps create smooth transitions when scrolling through menus and social media feeds. Brightness reaches strong levels that make the display readable even under direct sunlight. I used the phone outdoors during midday and the screen remained visible without difficulty.
The bezels look slim and even on all sides which creates a more immersive viewing experience. Watching videos feels enjoyable because the display keeps details sharp and motion clear. Meanwhile, the touch response stays snappy which helps during gaming sessions. Early impressions show that POCO placed a strong emphasis on the screen quality which easily positions the F8 Pro as a top choice for users who want an excellent display at this price.
Performance During a Few Days of Use
The POCO F8 Pro uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The chipset brings top-tier power to the device, and the performance shows immediately. There's up to 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. App launches happen quickly and transitions flow smoothly. Multitasking feels effortless as the phone switches between apps without delay.
I tested a few games during the first day, and the results looked promising. Titles like Mobile Legends, Fortnite, and Genshin Impact ran with visibly high frame rate stability. The phone handled heavy visuals well.
Thermal control was steady throughout. The device warmed up slightly during longer sessions, but it never reached uncomfortable levels. Early impressions show that the POCO F8 Pro appear to have optimized performance and heat management effectively for the Philippine market.
HyperOS 3.0 also contributes to the smooth experience. The interface feels lighter compared to older MIUI builds. Navigation feels consistent and animations look polished. Finally, notifications arrive without delay, and customization features remain accessible.
Camera First Impressions
The POCO F8 Pro carries a 50 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP telephoto camera. Early test shots show that the main camera delivers natural colors and good sharpness. Daylight shots look detailed and the dynamic range remains wide enough to handle bright skies and shadowed areas in one frame.
Indoor photos also look clean as long as there is enough ambient light. The ultrawide camera offers wider framing for landscapes and group photos. Colors remain close to those captured by the main sensor. The telephoto camera performs best in bright conditions and requires close and steady shooting.
The 20MP front camera produces natural skin tones. The results stay usable for content creation and social media posts. These first impressions show that the camera system performs reliably at the start. A more detailed review will reveal how it behaves in different lighting scenarios.
Check out our sample photos below:
Battery and Charging
The POCO F8 Pro includes a 6210 mAh battery which gives strong potential for all-day use. Early impressions show that the battery performs well during mixed usage. Social media browsing, photo shooting, video streaming, and gaming sessions did not drain the battery aggressively.
The 100W HyperCharge fast charging support provides another highlight. The included charger fills the battery quickly. A short charge already boosts the percentage significantly which becomes helpful for users who need fast top-ups during the day.
POCO F8 Pro Pricing in the Philippines
POCO announced competitive pricing for the F8 Pro lineup along with early bird deals for the Philippine market:
POCO F8 Pro pricing:
Early Bird (Nov 26 to Dec 9): PHP 26,299
Early Bird (Nov 26 to Dec 9): PHP 28,299
Buyers who purchase on Shopee also get an additional limited PHP 500 POCO voucher for the POCO F8 Pro.
POCO F8 Ultra pricing:
16GB + 512GB: PHP 42,999
Early Bird (Nov 26 to Dec 9): PHP 37,999
The POCO F8 Ultra variants are exclusively available on Lazada.
The pricing strategy shows that POCO wants to maintain aggressive positioning in the premium midrange and upper midrange segments. Users who buy during the early bird window get significant savings, which makes the F8 Pro and F8 Ultra more appealing.
Initial Verdict
The POCO F8 Pro sets a strong tone during the unboxing and early testing stages. The device feels premium, the display looks excellent, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset gives the phone flagship-level responsiveness. The camera system performs reliably at the start.
Battery life and charging speed also strengthen its first impressions. With a competitive launch price in the Philippines, the POCO F8 Pro positions itself as a solid upgrade option for users who want a powerful and polished device without jumping into flagship pricing.
POCO F8 Pro Specs
- 6.59" 120Hz ultra-clear AMOLED display
- Contrast ratio: 5,000,000:1
- Up to 120Hz refresh rate, up to 2560Hz instant touch sampling rate
- Peak brightness: 3500 nits (25% display area)
- HBM brightness: 2000 nits, Minimum brightness: 1 nit
- 68 billion colors, DCI-P3 wide color gamut
- DC dimming
- Wet Touch display 2.0
- HDR10+, Dolby Vision
- TÜV Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certification
- TÜV Flicker Free Certification
- TÜV Circadian Friendly Certification
- 50MP main camera
- Light Fusion 800 image sensor
- 2.0μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel
- 1/1.55" sensor size, f/1.88, 6P lens, OIS
- 50MP telephoto camera, f/2.2, 60mm equivalent focal length
- 8MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
- 20MP front camera
- Processor & Performance:
- 2× Prime Cores (up to 4.326GHz)
- 6× Performance Cores (up to 3.536GHz)
- Adreno GPU
- Qualcomm AI Engine
- Memory & Storage:
- 12GB + 256GB
- 12GB + 512GB
- LPDDR5X RAM
- UFS 4.1 storage
- Battery & Charging:
- 6210mAh (typ) battery
- 100W HyperCharge
- Up to 22.5W reverse charging
- USB Type-C charging port
- Audio & Security
- Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor
- Symmetrical stereo speakers
- 3-Mic array
- Hi-Res & Hi-Res Wireless Audio certification
- Dolby Atmos
- Sound by Bose
- Connectivity & Other Features:
- Dual SIM (nano + nano / nano + eSIM / eSIM + eSIM)
- Wi-Fi 7 capability
- IP68 dust and water resistance
- Powered by Xiaomi HyperOS 3
- Black, Titanium Silver, Blue
- 157.49mm × 75.25mm × 8.0mm, 199g
