The POCO F9 Ultra marks a significant move towards a full premium strategy, offering advanced features such as a 200-megapixel camera, increased battery capacity, and refined design, redefining the brand’s positioning within the high-end market.
POCO’s Ultra line has moved a long way in a short time. What began as an attempt to sell near-flagship hardware at aggressive prices now looks closer to a full premium strategy, and the latest F9 Ultra shows how far that shift has gone. Compared with the earlier F8 Ultra, the new model keeps the same broad formula but pushes harder on battery life, display speed, imaging and build quality.
The most immediate change is price. The F8 Ultra launched in Spain from €829.99 for the 12GB/256GB model, with launch offers that cut the effective cost sharply. By contrast, the F9 Ultra starts much higher at €1,099.99 for the same memory configuration, although early purchase promotions reduce that figure considerably. That places the new phone in a more premium bracket even before the larger 16GB/1TB version is considered.
Design is also more mature on the newer handset. The F8 Ultra used a two-tone rear finish, including a denim-style option that gave the device a distinctive identity. The F9 Ultra replaces that approach with a textured fibreglass back in black or cherry red, softer edges and a more conventional premium feel. It is thicker and heavier, but that trade-off is tied to the bigger battery and more ambitious cooling system. It also gains IP69 resistance, which is a meaningful step up from the older model’s IP68 rating.
The display remains 6.9 inches on both phones, but the F9 Ultra is the more advanced panel. POCO has lifted refresh rate to 185Hz, compared with 120Hz on the F8 Ultra, and has paired that with stronger protection and broader HDR support. The company also claims a higher peak brightness level on the new model. In practical terms, the newer screen should feel smoother in gaming and scrolling, while also offering more headroom for outdoor visibility.
On paper, the two phones share the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform, so core performance is not the main reason to upgrade. The F9 Ultra does, however, add a GPU revision, more storage headroom up to 1TB, and a slightly more robust thermal design. That should help it sustain high performance for longer periods, especially under heavy gaming or camera use. Android 16 and HyperOS 3 are standard on both, alongside POCO’s longer software support commitment.
Battery capacity is where the new model makes the clearest leap. The F8 Ultra already offered a large 6,500mAh cell with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. The F9 Ultra stretches that to 8,050mAh while keeping the same charging speeds. That is a major increase in endurance, and it is likely the strongest argument for choosing the newer device if battery life matters more than price.
The camera system shows a similar pattern: familiar structure, but more ambitious execution. The F8 Ultra used three 50-megapixel rear cameras, including a telephoto lens. The F9 Ultra keeps the same overall layout but upgrades the main sensor to 200 megapixels and adds more flexible zoom features, including POCO’s own claims around lossless 10x zoom and AI-assisted 20x mode. It also extends 4K recording at 60fps to the telephoto camera, which broadens its appeal for video users. For buyers who want the sharpest main camera and the longest battery life, the F9 Ultra is the stronger phone. For those who want flagship performance at a much lower cost, the F8 Ultra still looks compelling.
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.
