Midrange phones are getting scary good, and the POCO X8 Pro is right in the mix. Its spec sheet reads like last year’s flagship disruptor—larger battery, brighter display, and upgraded internals—yet it still plays in wallet-friendly territory. But in a crowded field, specs alone won’t seal the deal. Is it worth your pocket space?
Design and build
The POCO X8 Pro plays it safe with flat frames, a slim chassis, and a matte rear that keeps fingerprints at bay. In short, it doesn’t stray far from the modern smartphone playbook. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—it looks clean, if a little generic. I quite like our mint green review unit, as it gives off a fresh (read: minty) vibe without trying too hard. That said, those looking for a bit more flair might find the overall design a touch too conservative.
Then there’s the RGB lighting tucked under the oversized camera rings. It’s functional—lighting up for notifications, music, and even games—but it feels like a gimmick that clashes with the otherwise understated design. The good thing is you can turn it off in the phone’s settings.
Build quality, though, is a step up from its predecessor. The metal mid-frame adds reassuring heft, and the IP68 rating means you don’t have to worry much about dust and splashes. Overall, the phone feels dense, durable, and well put together.
Display and speakers
At 6.59 inches, the AMOLED display on the POCO X8 Pro hits a sweet spot. With 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh, and 3500 nits of peak brightness, everything from social media scrolls to Netflix marathons looks smooth and vibrant. HDR10 and Dolby Vision support add punchy colors and deep contrast, while outdoor visibility is excellent.
Meanwhile, the stereo speakers are pretty loud, balanced, and punchy—which means they’re good for casual gaming or watching videos without you having to reach for your earphones.
The in-display fingerprint scanner is quick and unobtrusive, while Gorilla Glass 7i protects the screen from everyday scratches.
Camera
The camera setup sticks to familiar territory: a 50MP Sony IMX882 main sensor with OIS, paired with an 8MP ultrawide.
The main shooter delivers sharp daylight shots, decent dynamic range, and respectable low-light performance, with a usable 2x digital zoom—though detail fades beyond that.
The 8MP ultrawide, on the other hand, shows slightly muted colors compared to the main sensor.
Video tops out at 4K 60fps, which is solid for the segment.
Performance and battery
The POCO X8 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500, a modest step up from last year. While the specs don’t scream “huge upgrade,” day-to-day use feels snappy: apps open quickly, multitasking runs smoothly, and gaming is solid.
LPDDR5X RAM paired with UFS 4.0 storage makes a noticeable difference—heavy apps and games load fast. It’s not flagship-level quick, but performance rarely feels lacking.
The phone runs on HyperOS 3 (based on Android 16). It’s smooth and responsive, though it ships with some removable bloatware. Bonus points for AI features like live translation and object removal, even if you only play with them occasionally.
The POCO X8 Pro packs a 6500mAh battery that easily lasts a full day and a half with moderate use, and when you need a quick boost, 100W fast charging gets you to half in just 15 minutes.
Speed says
The POCO X8 Pro gets the basics just right: a vibrant display, solid performance, a sturdy build, and long-lasting battery. Sure, the RGB lights are a bit flashy, but otherwise it’s a solid midrange phone that does what you need it to.
Worth your pocket space? Absolutely.
The POCO X8 Pro starts at P18,999 for the 8GB+256GB variant, but you can get it for P15,499 during the early bird sale.
