{"id":284821,"date":"2026-01-15T00:11:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T00:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/284821\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T00:11:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T00:11:59","slug":"poco-m8-pro-review-goin-loco-over-this-poco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/284821\/","title":{"rendered":"POCO M8 Pro review: Goin’ loco over this POCO"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking back at my first few months with GadgetMatch back in 2018 nostalgically evoked my Pocophone F1<\/a> core memory. It was touted as THE \u201cflagship killer for less.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pre-pandemic, that \u201cPocophone\u201d simply became \u201cPOCO\u201d and became an \u201cindependent\u201d kiddo who moved out of its parent\u2019s house.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Almost eight years after that very first iteration, I\u2019ve finally had my first (and long overdue) POCO-perience with the latest POCO M8 Pro<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Design: Repurposed with a purpose<\/p>\n

While I have not held a POCO phone until very recently, I am still aware of the brand\u2019s offerings over the years.<\/p>\n

Seeing the POCO M8 Pro for the first time instantly reminded me of last year\u2019s Redmi Note 14 Pro series.<\/a> That\u2019s not me saying POCO blatantly ripped the aesthetics as the POCO X7<\/a> also had the same design language.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch<\/p>\n

Like a full circle moment, the aforementioned phones were launched back a year ago.<\/p>\n

In all honesty, it still confuses me which direction Xiaomi is heading, especially with the non-stop rebadging of existing POCO and REDMI phones \u2014 just with scrambled internals and CMF (color, materials, finish).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Having said that, I still consider the M8 Pro a level up from the last M7 Pro. The former\u2019s design felt like it was not given much importance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The centered camera island with a squircle cutout seemed like a signature design element of Xiaomi\u2019s newer midrange line moving forward.<\/p>\n

I also love how the phone felt in my hands. Even with that plastic back, it felt grippy enough when held.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You have to be wary of fingerprint smudges though \u2014 especially if you rock the black colorway. Luckily, the green shade I have still looks clean despite those unwanted smears.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And, if you\u2019re brave enough to clean it in running water, the POCO M8 Pro boasts not just one, not two, but quadruple IP ratings<\/strong>: IP66, IP68, IP69<\/strong>, and even IP69K<\/strong>. These used to be exclusive only among 2025 flagships.<\/p>\n

Now Playing: IDOL I<\/p>\n

Much like my fanaticism to anything tech, the same can be said with Korean Pop Stars. More known as \u201cK-Pop Idols\u201d, I have been a huge geek of K-Pop for 16 long years (and still counting).<\/p>\n

Interestingly, after finishing a series that just ended in Netflix, IDOL I<\/a> swiftly came by. Even if I am the type of viewer who values the drama\u2019s synopsis more than the cast involved, this K-Drama instantly hit two birds in one.<\/p>\n

For one, its starred by a true iconic idol herself: Choi Sooyoung \u2014 or one of the nine members of SNSD \/ Girls\u2019 Generation<\/a> a.k.a the ultimate 2nd generation K-Pop girl group I\u2019ve been stanning since my youth.<\/p>\n

Although Maeng Se-na here is a heartless and \u201cselfish\u201d lawyer, she is the opposite for being a huge (yet silent) fan of \u201cGold Boys\u201d with Do Ra-ik as his \u201cUlt\u201d (or Ultimate Bias).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In a wild turn of events, the idol became a \u201cmurderer\u201d overnight \u2014 blaming him for the sudden death of his co-member after waking up from their drinking session.<\/p>\n

But, no matter how the general public looks at him as the prime suspect, finding faults against Ra-ik is difficult. That\u2019s pointing out the fact that he was just sleeping in his bed while his former bandmate slash loyal friend got stabbed without clear answers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I can pretty much say the same thing with the 6.83-inch screen<\/strong> of the POCO M8 Pro: I cannot see any fault at all.<\/p>\n

For one, it\u2019s an AMOLED<\/strong> display<\/strong> that made me enjoy binging the first four episodes non-stop. But, being able to display 68.7 billion Colors and 12-bit color depth aside from the usual HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support? That\u2019s likely unusual for a phone in such price point.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And, with a 1.5K display resolution plus a pixel density of 447 ppi, it\u2019s as crisp as it could get. Watching it outdoors is neither a problem with its mighty 3200 nits peak brightness.<\/p>\n

While my eyes aren\u2019t very sensitive to light and flicker, its 3840Hz PWM dimming and T\u00dcV Rheinland Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light certifications are still worth mentioning \u2014 especially if you stay up all night binge-watching hours worth of titles like yours truly.<\/p>\n

On Queue: Apink\u2019s RE:LOVE + Chuu\u2019s XO, My Cyberlove<\/p>\n

Pumping up the volume by 60%, it\u2019s expected that the POCO M8 Pro possesses a louder than ever sound output. However, my audio assessment doesn\u2019t end just there.<\/p>\n

Just like POCO starting the year with a bang, the K-Pop scene in January 2026 has already exploded with real hit bangers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

First and foremost, Apink finally gathered again to released their 11th Mini Album (their previous Mini Album dates back to 2020). As per usual, I used Apple Music to take full advantage of that Lossless format.<\/p>\n

Their title track \u201cLove Me More\u201d<\/a> not only brought a lot of the group\u2019s nostalgic intro and dance break instrumental during their early days in the industry, it also reminded me of the pre-millennium K-Pop era back in the early 90s.<\/p>\n

Pair that with b-sides such as \u201cSunshine\u201d that sounded pure and soulful, this latest mini album will truly make Pink Pandas\u2019 hearts flutter.<\/p>\n

In addition, Chuu (LOONA) finally releases her 1st Full Album titled \u201cXO, My Cyberlove.\u201d<\/a> It is a complete opposite of her first ever solo song <\/a>\u201cHeart Attack\u201d<\/a> almost a decade ago\u00a0which highlighted her cutesy, innocent charms.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The comeback track of the same title is as quirky and whimsical as it gets. Not only does it highlight Chuu\u2019s light yet ethereal vocals, but it shows her newer, more mature side.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, lyrics that evoke unexpected budding love in this digital era where everyone enjoys making connections through the cyber world.<\/p>\n

With POCO M8 Pro\u2019s speakers, I fully enjoyed playing the entirety of her freshly-baked album while I was writing this piece. Teeny Tiny Heart and Love Potion are currently my fave b-sides from this release.<\/p>\n

Such music fulfillment was possible with the Dolby Atmos stereo speaker setup<\/strong> and Hi-Res Audio support<\/strong> of the M8 Pro. Not only its proudly loud, the audio produced is full and immaculate with clear line between its highs, mids, and lows.<\/p>\n

Performance: Adequate for most<\/p>\n

On paper, the POCO M8 Pro runs Qualcomm\u2019s<\/strong> latest<\/strong> Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 SoC<\/strong> based on a 4nm process. As confusing as it seems, this is different from the more powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 4.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

That being told, game settings will vary depending on how demanding one is.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For instance, CoDM (Call of Duty: Mobile) runs in Very High and Max settings upon first set-up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Racing Master (based on NVIDIA\u2019s PhysX engine) can run Ultra settings at 60fps.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

However, it throttles during the first two ranked races.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Fortunately, the game detects if it gets sluggish \u2014 suggesting lowering down the settings altogether.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Lastly, playing Zenless Zone Zero is doable but, at the lowest graphics by default.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You wouldn\u2019t dare to go past it as Combat Mode will literally feel like combatting the phone itself due to how heavy the game is.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The only \u201cremedy\u201d for these hardware limitations? It\u2019s none other than the Game Turbo mode that boosts graphics performance and input through Xiaomi\u2019s software advancements. And it sort of helped make the gameplay smoother, but not fully.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For the rest of apps that are not graphics-intensive, the M8 Pro can breeze through various apps without hiccups, do split-screens, or multitasking along floating windows with ease.<\/p>\n

I can truthfully say that the only thing dragging the POCO M8 Pro down is the software as a whole.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After experiencing the beauty of vivo\u2019s OriginOS 6 and HONOR\u2019s MagicOS 10, Xiaomi\u2019s HyperOS still feels like an after-thought. While it can keep up with the modern-day Android features, its stability and optimizations simply don\u2019t make the cut.<\/p>\n

Besides, its built-in AI tools, device ecosystem, as well as cross-compatibility functionality aren\u2019t as polished as what you get on other Chinese brands. Let alone, a rip-off from everyone\u2019s fruit rival without much feature improvements.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Seriously, Xiaomi?<\/p>\n

Worst thing? Maybe the ad slash bloatware infestation found not just on the lock screen. Even transferring personal files through Xiaomi\u2019s native File Manager app plays an unskippable ad.<\/p>\n

Battery: Eat it up! Eat it, eat it up! \ud83c\udf5d\ud83c\udfb6<\/a><\/p>\n

At 8.31mm, the POCO M8 Pro is as slender as it can get. How they were able to fit a 6500mAh battery <\/strong>inside its chassis is a true feat of engineering.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For the record, this is the first POCO M-series smartphone to have such a ginormous battery. It joins the same league as the POCO F8 Ultra<\/a>, F7<\/a>, and the X7 Pro<\/a> (in India).<\/p>\n

For added context, the M7 Pro, as well as the X7 with a similar form factor, only had a 5110mAh battery. But, numbers are just part of the story.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In day-to-day scenarios with light to moderate usage, the POCO M8 Pro can last you a full day \u2014 even more when you hit the bed with around 30% to spare.<\/p>\n

As one would expect though, the biggest hogging can be felt when playing games.<\/p>\n

During my gameplay stress test, downloading resources in Racing Master for about 30 minutes already consumed 5% charge (92% down to 87%). An hour of racing ate up 11 percent \u2014 from 87% down to 76%.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Letting it rest on my desk for 18 hours, the phone depleted to 51%.<\/p>\n

At around 9 in the evening, I then started playing HoYoverse\u2019s Zenless Zone Zero for exactly an hour. Battery charge went down further to 36%. Then, a 1.5-hour game in CoDM resulted to a 28% battery percentage. And, as of writing, the POCO M8 Pro still had a 3 percent charge left in its massive tank.<\/p>\n

\ufeff<\/p>\n

That said, the POCO M8 Pro comes with Xiaomi\u2019s 100W wired HyperCharge <\/strong>speeds \u2014 adapter still bundled in the box.<\/p>\n

By default, the battery charging speed is set in regular with the prompt \/ option to enable boosting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In my GadgetMatch Charge Test results, it can be seen that the difference isn\u2019t too far off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBoosted HyperCharge<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\nRegular HyperCharge<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\nPPS Charging<\/b>
<\/b>(UGREEN 100W Nexode)\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\nSTART TIME<\/b>
<\/b>From 0%<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n1:11AM<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n3:10PM<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n4:06PM<\/b>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n3 minutes\n<\/td>\n\n10%\n<\/td>\n\n8%\n<\/td>\n\n1%\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n5 minutes\n<\/td>\n\n17%\n<\/td>\n\n11%\u00a0\n<\/td>\n\n4%\u00a0\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n10 minutes<\/strong>\n<\/td>\n\n25%<\/strong>\n<\/td>\n\n18%<\/strong>\n<\/td>\n\n13%<\/strong>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n15 minutes\n<\/td>\n\n40%\n<\/td>\n\n23%\n<\/td>\n\n21%\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n20 minutes\n<\/td>\n\n46%\n<\/td>\n\n32%\n<\/td>\n\n28%\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n30 minutes<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n70%<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n50%<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n46%<\/b>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n45 minutes\n<\/td>\n\n88%\n<\/td>\n\n71%\n<\/td>\n\n67%\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n1 hour<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n99%<\/strong>\n<\/td>\n\n91%<\/strong>\n<\/td>\n\n84%<\/strong>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n1 hour 15 minutes\n<\/td>\n\n\u2013<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n99%\n<\/td>\n\n96%\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\nEND TIME<\/b>
<\/b>100%<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n2:14AM<\/b>
<\/b>1 hour 3 minutes<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n4:27PM<\/b>
<\/b>1 hour 17 minutes<\/b>\n<\/td>\n\n5:30PM<\/b>
<\/b>1 hour 24 minutes<\/b>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

PPS Charging is also possible. Although the device only showed \u201cQuick Charge\u201d while being filled up, it\u2019s safe to say that it performs as fast as Xiaomi\u2019s regular HyperCharge with a super close margin of only seven minutes.<\/p>\n

Cameras: Surprisingly Satisfying<\/p>\n

Prospective buyers of the M8 Pro wouldn\u2019t have a hard time dealing with its conventional camera configuration: a 50MP f\/1.6 main<\/strong> (wide) camera based on Light Fusion 800\u2019s 1\/1.55-inch sensor. That\u2019s paired with a less outstanding 8MP f\/2.2 UWA (ultra-wide angle) camera.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For the most part, the main camera does its job very well considering this type of device.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
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<\/p>\n

With the satisfactory 1x image sensor, 2x zoom is also possible, thanks to in-sensor cropping.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
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<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
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\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n


<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I honestly used the 2x mode more than I thought \u2014 especially when capturing my cats and food I devour.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
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<\/p>\n

You can go beyond the bounds. But, with obvious hardware limitations, the camera processing can only do so much.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Once that natural light disappears, it will be tricky to take low-light shots as this has NO dedicated Night Mode feature. No luck if you are using them indoors with artificial light around.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Instead, regular Photo Mode automatically detects a low-light subject and toggles Night Mode processing by itself.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n


<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n


<\/p>\n

While most results are satisfying, it\u2019s also a testament that its cameras are far from being flawless.<\/p>\n

Good thing, the flash exists for a funkier look in subjects that suit it \u2014 food specifically.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
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<\/p>\n

Portraits weren\u2019t missed. Although it only relies on some software-based processing, it still gets the job done of separating the subject away from the background \u2014 humans and pets alike.<\/p>\n

Personally, the aperture function was a bit of a nuisance.<\/p>\n

For context, these shots were set to a low \u201cf\/1.8 aperture.\u201d But, the M8 Pro rendered DoF (Depth of Field) that isn\u2019t as shallow as what it\u2019s supposed to show.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My frustration continues as the setting defaults back to f\/4.5 after quitting and re-opening the camera app. That\u2019s not even the standard lens opening when taking portrait photos.<\/p>\n

And while we\u2019re already here, selfies taken with its front-facing shooter.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
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<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Is the POCO M8 Pro your GadgetMatch?<\/p>\n

While this isn\u2019t the \u201cflagship killer\u201d most expect from a POCO phone, it\u2019s hard not to go loco over how well-rounded yet wallet-friendly this POCO phone is \u2014 especially in the year 2026 where inflation is still unstoppable alongside the almost instantaneous and ridiculous RAM price hike.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

ICYMI, the POCO M8 Pro has a starting price of GBP <\/strong>299 \/ S<\/strong>G$ 389 \/ RM 1199 \/ PhP 16,999 <\/strong>(around US$ 279) for the 8+256GB configuration<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the 12+512GB variant<\/strong> that I handle is priced at GBP 349 \/ SG$ 449 \/ RM 1499 \/ PhP 19,999<\/strong>\u00a0(approx. US$ 359).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Its closest rival is none other than the HONOR X9d. Coincidental or not, it was launched just a day after the unveiling of the M8 Pro.<\/p>\n

Frankly, the only thing you\u2019ll let go from HONOR\u2019s sweet treat are its monstrous 8300mAh battery and more polished OS. This POCO-ffering blows it out of the water with a greater chipset, faster wired charging, bigger and better display, capable cameras, durability never forgotten.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Although it wasn\u2019t totally highlighted, the POCO M8 Pro is undoubtedly a rebadged REDMI Note 15 Pro+ \u2014 Xiaomi\u2019s upcoming midranger that heavily markets its \u201cTitan Durability\u201d capabilities.<\/p>\n

The POCO M8 Pro simply possess them all: from its sturdy aluminum frame, quad IP ratings, even the fully-shielded front glass care of Corning\u2019s Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The biggest disparity? REDMI has a 200MP main camera over POCO\u2019s 50MP shooter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite some inconsistencies, the POCO M8 Pro is still an all-around midranger that will satisfy most users who want to purchase a shiny new smartphone without burning holes in your pockets.<\/p>\n

It is a Swipe Right, Super Swipe<\/strong>, and a worthy recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Looking back at my first few months with GadgetMatch back in 2018 nostalgically evoked my Pocophone F1 core…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":284822,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[257],"tags":[18,19,17,279,111207,142984,82],"class_list":["post-284821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-eire","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-mobile","tag-poco","tag-poco-m8-pro","tag-technology"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115896225615094271","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284821","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284821"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284821\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/284822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}