The POCO X8 pairs an enormous 8,340mAh battery with a bright AMOLED display and unusually strong speakers, but ordinary performance, limited cameras and cluttered software reveal the compromises behind its endurance.
POCO X8 is built around a clear priority: endurance. In a two-week test of the 12GB/256GB model, the handset stood out most for its unusually large 8,340mAh battery, while the 6.83-inch AMOLED panel and stereo speakers helped make it a capable everyday device rather than a one-trick machine. That balance is echoed in reviews from Mobilkanal and Exhibit.tech, both of which describe the phone as a solid mid-range option for users who value battery life and durability over premium performance or a feature-rich camera system. According to those reviews, the overall proposition is coherent, even if it comes with obvious compromises.
The physical design reflects that emphasis on practicality. POCO has not tried to make the phone compact or especially light. At 163.45 x 78.27 x 8.6mm and 223g, it is a large handset, but the rounded frame makes it easier to hold than the numbers suggest. The rear finish on the white version tested is understated, although the camera island is prominent enough to make the phone unstable on a flat surface when used without a case. Mobilkanal also notes that the device is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and carries IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings for dust and water resistance, reinforcing the impression that POCO has aimed for robustness rather than elegance.
The display is one of the stronger elements of the package. POCO uses a 6.83-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2,772 x 1,280 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate and support for DCI-P3 colour. The company also claims peak brightness of up to 3,500 nits in specific conditions, alongside high-frequency PWM dimming and TÜV Rheinland certifications for reduced blue light and flicker. In daily use, the screen proved bright enough for outdoor viewing and well suited to video, browsing and general media consumption. It does not redefine the mid-range class, but it does its job well and without obvious weaknesses.
Audio is more surprising. The dual stereo speakers, with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio support, deliver a fuller and louder result than is common in this segment. In practice, that matters more than it may sound on paper, because the large display makes the handset particularly suited to watching films, playing back music and consuming social content. Several reviews describe the sound as one of the phone’s more persuasive features, and that assessment aligns with the test experience: the speaker system is not merely adequate, but genuinely one of the device’s better qualities.
Performance is more ordinary. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 is a 4nm octa-core chip positioned squarely in the mid-range, and the tested configuration pairs it with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Everyday responsiveness is acceptable, but the phone does not feel especially quick or refined under heavier use. That conclusion is consistent with the wider view from other reviews, which describe the X8 as suitable for routine tasks and everyday handling rather than demanding workloads. The large memory allocation is welcome, but it does not transform the underlying level of processing power.
Software is equally mixed. POCO X8 runs Xiaomi HyperOS 3 and includes Google Gemini, Circle to Search and various AI-assisted image-editing functions, including object removal, glare reduction and photo expansion. In practice, however, the experience is held back by the familiar problem of preloaded software and intrusive prompts, which continue to undermine the polish of Xiaomi’s interface. That criticism is not new, and it remains one of the device’s more frustrating traits. The AI tools add breadth, but they do not change the fact that the software layer feels busier than it needs to be.
Battery life is the clearest reason to consider the phone. During the review period, the 8,340mAh cell delivered what can fairly be described as exceptional endurance, and the practical effect was simple: charging anxiety all but disappeared. POCO says the battery can retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 1,600 full charge cycles, while wired charging tops out at 67W and reverse wired charging reaches 22.5W. Those are useful figures, but the most important point is the lived experience. For users who value long intervals between charges above all else, the X8 has a strong and rare advantage.
The camera system is competent rather than ambitious. On the rear there is a 50-megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilisation, plus a 2-megapixel depth sensor, while the front camera is 16 megapixels. The lack of an ultra-wide lens is a clear limitation, and video capture is restricted to Full HD at 30fps on both front and rear cameras. Reviews from Exhibit.tech and iTechGuides make the same point: daylight results are usable, but low-light performance, video flexibility and the overall breadth of the photographic setup are all behind what more camera-focused rivals can offer.
POCO launched the X8 in Italy on 1 October 2026, with prices set at €399.90 for the 8GB/256GB model and €449.90 for the 12GB/256GB version, alongside promotional launch prices of €319.90 and €369.90 respectively. Against that backdrop, the phone’s value depends heavily on what the buyer wants. It makes a convincing case on battery life, display quality and audio, but asks for compromise in performance, camera versatility and software tidiness. For readers who want a phone that can last, rather than one that tries to do everything, POCO X8 is straightforward to understand and easy to evaluate. It is not the most balanced mid-ranger available, but it is one of the more distinctive.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
