POCO Unveils F8 Pro and F8 Ultra: Affordable Powerhouses in Bali

POCO has introduced its latest flagship smartphones, the POCO F8 Pro and F8 Ultra, during a launch event held in Bali, Indonesia. Both models feature a notable partnership with renowned audio brand Bose, enhancing their audio capabilities significantly. The F8 Ultra model is particularly impressive, boasting a dedicated subwoofer alongside new acoustic components that have been expertly tuned by Bose engineers.

The POCO F8 Ultra is powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, while the F8 Pro incorporates the previous year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The Ultra model is equipped with a large 6,500mAh battery and a vibrant 6.9-inch AMOLED display that features a resolution of 1.5K, a peak brightness of 3,500 nits, and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.

In terms of security, the F8 Ultra includes an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor and AI face unlock. It also features POCO Shield Glass, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Wet Touch Display 2.0. This smartphone runs on HyperOS 3, which is based on Android 16, and comes with a promise of four years of OS updates along with six years of security patches.

The F8 Ultra is designed for performance, boasting Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, Adreno GPU, and Qualcomm AI Engine. A significant thermal management feature includes a 6,700 mm² vapor chamber aimed at improving cooling efficiency. Customers can choose between two configurations: 12GB LPDDR5X RAM with 256GB UFS 4.1 storage and 16GB LPDDR5X RAM with 512GB UFS 4.1 storage.

For photography enthusiasts, the F8 Ultra houses a triple camera setup, which includes a 50MP Light Fusion 950 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. The front-facing camera offers a 32MP sensor for high-quality selfies. Additionally, the device features a rear-mounted woofer with dual speakers, delivering a robust 2.1 audio setup. It holds an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, alongside Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio support.

The POCO F8 Pro is a more budget-friendly option that starts at $579 for the 12GB/256GB variant. It features last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, which still delivers excellent performance. The Pro model includes a 3D triple-layer IceLoop system for thermal efficiency and a 6,210mAh battery with 100W fast charging capabilities. Its display measures 6.59 inches and supports FHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Both models come with a sleek design, featuring a metal frame and glass rear panel. The F8 Pro also includes Bose audio technology, though it lacks the dedicated subwoofer found in the Ultra. Similar to its counterpart, it offers an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Dolby Atmos, an IP68 rating, and eSIM support. The camera system on the F8 Pro consists of a 50MP Light Fusion 800 primary sensor, a 50MP telephoto camera with 2.5x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide camera, complemented by a 20MP selfie camera.

The pricing for the F8 Ultra starts at $729 for the 12GB/256GB model, and $799 for the 16GB/512GB variant. As part of an early bird offer, customers can purchase it for $679 and $729 respectively. The F8 Ultra is available in Denim Blue and Black.

Meanwhile, the F8 Pro is priced at $579 for the 12GB/256GB option and $629 for the 12GB/512GB version. Early bird pricing offers this model for $529 and $579. Color options for the Pro include Black, Blue, and Titanium Silver.

With these new offerings, POCO aims to deliver high-performance smartphones at competitive prices, appealing to a wide range of consumers.