Nelson Morales

POCO has unveiled its latest POCO F8 series, bannered by the flagship unit F8 Ultra.

Article (news)

REVIEW: POCO F8 Ultra is a flagship phone without the flagship price

Erik Tenedero

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269605311PHOTO 1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="POCO has unveiled its latest POCO F8 series, bannered by the flagship unit F8 Ultra."/>POCO has unveiled its latest POCO F8 series, bannered by the flagship unit F8 Ultra. </div>BALI — It hasn&#x27;t even been a year since POCO released the F7 series, which already earned impressive feedback from tech reviewers.Apparently, POCO isn&#x27;t done yet. With a grand launch in the mystical island of Bali, POCO unveiled its F8 series, headlined by the new F8 Ultra as its latest flagship.The F8 Ultra still feels unmistakably POCO with its distinct features and aggressively affordable price but refined in a level of polish that truly marks its space within the flagship territory.  The POCO F8 Ultra 12GB+256GB is priced at P39,999 while the 12GB+512GB is at PP42,999.Armed with a 6.9-inch AMOLED display, users can expect a more immersive experience, whether casually browsing social media or indulging in heavy media consumption such as movies or gaming.  Although it is indeed larger at 163.33 mm tall × 77.82 mm wide (the denim back finish is slightly heavier at 220 grams compared to the 218-gram black variant), portability isn’t compromised.   As a solo traveler, I&#x27;m used to wielding my phone for everything amid intense walking and running throughout unfamiliar cities and rural areas. But going around with the POCO F8 Ultra did not present problems when it comes to grip, quick single-hand grabs, slipping it in jeans pockets, and even setting it up on my tripod for self-portraits.    It&#x27;s also worth noting that its sleek, refined design feels far above its price bracket.   The triple rear camera placement is similar to iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 9 Pro, with the camera module set on a centered bar stretching across the top of its back. The back panel with its special nano-tech material with flass-fiber finish gives a comfortable, flagship feel. Even the denim design doesn&#x27;t look tacky at all.  <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765274158590poco f ultra 8 camera.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>POCO F8 Ultra cameras with Bose speaker. </div><div>CAMERA AND SOUND </div>Perhaps the biggest factor that will attract Filipino buyers is its camera system. From selfies to Instagram-ready shots, action-packed travel diaries, and trend-driven TikTok videos and Reels, this new flagship is both capable and versatile. It does not have the Leica branding like the Xiaomi phones, and it&#x27;s a little behind when it comes to mature processing and superior stabilization of premium brands. But the practicality of its performance will definitely leave everyday users and even travel-loving customers satisfied.  <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269661852PHOTO 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Inside the Le Mayeur Museum at Sanur Beach in Bali"/>Inside the Le Mayeur Museum at Sanur Beach in Bali  Colors are vibrant without the typical over-sharpening or over-saturation seen in other budget devices. The images stay grounded and realistic, capturing scenes with true-to-tone accuracy while still enhancing overall aesthetics. </div>The photos I took in Bali are a testament to that: the tropical hues remained vivid yet natural, never washed out or exaggerated. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269699148PHOTO 3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="One of the prominent statues along the Sanur Beach in Bali "/>One of the prominent statues along the Sanur Beach in Bali  <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269755651PHOTO 4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Colorful umbrellas accentuated by traditional Balinese designs lined up along the Sanur Beach in Bali"/>Colorful umbrellas accentuated by traditional Balinese designs lined up along the Sanur Beach in Bali  <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269783631PHOTO 5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="This statue will welcome you as you climb the entry stairs at the GWK Cultural Park in Bali"/>This statue will welcome you as you climb the entry stairs at the GWK Cultural Park in Bali <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269809830PHOTO 6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The historic Bali Beach Hotel rising prominently at the Sanur Beach in Bali"/>The historic Bali Beach Hotel rising prominently at the Sanur Beach in Bali <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269839651PHOTO 7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="One of the traditional statues at the Byrd House in Bali"/>One of the traditional statues at the Byrd House in Bali<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269861550PHOTO 8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The beachfront near the Byrd House in Bali"/>The beachfront near the Byrd House in Bali  After all, the unit boasts a trio of 50MP cameras: main, ultra-wide, and periscope telephoto (with 5x optical zoom).  </div>Thanks to its 1/1.31&quot; Light Fusion 950 main sensor, the phone handles low-light and night photography impressively, offering brighter, cleaner, and more detailed results. Testing its zoom capabilities against the provided specs, I can confidently say it&#x27;s ideal for concert-goers who love taking fancams. Even when zooming in on the giant Garuda statue at GWK Cultural Park from a considerable distance, the details remained surprisingly intact. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765269907190PHOTO 9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="This nearly 400-foot-tall statue depicting Lord Vishnu riding Garuda is a prominent feature of the Balinese skyline. Visitors can have a close look at it at the GWK Cultural Park."/>This nearly 400-foot-tall statue depicting Lord Vishnu riding Garuda is a prominent feature of the Balinese skyline. Visitors can have a close look at it at the GWK Cultural Park.  Meanwhile, a standout feature is POCO&#x27;s partnership with Bose. </div>Equipped with its own subwoofer in a 2.1 audio system, this isn&#x27;t just a marketing gimmick. With media consumption becoming increasingly personalized, the sound quality it delivers is fitting for streaming movies and series, doom-scrolling on social media, and gaming. The F8 Ultra also allows you to customize the EQ setting depending on your taste. For bass loving users like me, you will not be disappointed.  <div>PERFORMANCE  </div>The new POCO F8 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform and has an AnTuTu score of 3.9 million.  Enhancing the gaming experience is its upgraded VisionBoost D8 chipset, further elevating its visuals to 120 FPS and resolution of up to 1.5K.  It packs a 6500mAh (typ) battery with 100W fast charging and 50W wireless charging. In actual usage, I experienced zero battery anxiety during the two weeks I used it, both while traveling around Bali and during my regular day-to-day tasks. As someone handling a social media team, I constantly jump between apps like CapCut, Canva, and multiple communication platforms. Executing everything in rapid succession on the F8 Ultra was smooth and effortless. For gaming, my nephew and I tested Mobile Legends and Genshin Impact, and we were both impressed by how responsive and seamless the experience was, made even better by its punchy colors and vibrant sound. However, despite the phone&#x27;s LiquidCool Technology with 3D dual-channel and dual-layer IceLoop system, it does heat up during intense use, especially heavy gaming or prolonged video recording. Still, the heat is manageable and comparable to what other phones in its class produce. It’s also worth highlighting that POCO&#x27;s flagship is well-equipped for the ongoing AI boom, offering AI-powered photo enhancements, Gemini integration, and more through HyperOS 3.0. And yes, the unit supports eSIM as well.   <div>FINAL WORD </div>The POCO F8 Ultra places the brand further into true flagship territory with its reliable performance. Flexibility and practicality are its trade. It&#x27;s not perfect, but for its price, the unit delivers an impressive mix of speed, imaging, sound, and smart features that put it at par, if not slightly above its direct competitors. Here’s the price list for the new F8 series with a special early bird price from November 26 to December 9:  POCO F8 Pro 12GB+256GB SRP - P29,999 Early bird price - P26,299 <div style="line-height:1"> </div>POCO F8 Pro 12GB+512GB SRP - P31,999 Early bird price - P28,299 <div style="line-height:1"> </div>POCO F8 Ultra 12GB+256GB SRP - P39,999 Early bird price - P34,999 <div style="line-height:1"> </div>POCO F8 Ultra 12GB+512GB SRP - P42,999 Early bird price - P37,999

The F8 Ultra still feels unmistakably POCO with its aggressively affordable price but refined to a level of polish that truly marks its space within the flagship territory.

The F8 Ultra still feels unmistakably POCO with its aggressively affordable price but refined to a level of polish that truly marks its space within the flagship territory.