POCO F8 Ultra Review: Display, Battery, and Speakers Dominate the Competition
POCO F8 Ultra Review: A Deep Dive into Display, Battery, Charging, and Speakers
The POCO F8 Ultra arrived on the scene in 2025 as a new “flagship killer,” and it quickly generated a lot of buzz. With a price point around €649 for the 12/512GB version, it dared to challenge phones costing nearly twice as much. This in-depth lab review focuses on four key areas that often make or break a smartphone purchase: display, battery and charging, and speakers. We spent over 15 days measuring, comparing, and using the device in real-world conditions to give you an accurate picture of what to expect. This review will cover everything you need to know about the POCO F8 Ultra.
Display: Potentially the Best You’ll Find Under €800
The POCO F8 Ultra boasts a 6.83-inch AMOLED LTPO panel manufactured by TCL Huaxing (C9+), the same substrate used in the Xiaomi 15 Pro in some markets. It features a 2K+ resolution (3200 × 1444 px), 526 ppi, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision certifications, and an advertised peak brightness of 4,500 nits (achieving 1,920 nits in HDR and 1,680 nits in maximum manual brightness). But how does it hold up in reality?
Real-World Lab Measurements
| Parameter | POCO F8 Ultra | Xiaomi 15 | OnePlus 13 | Samsung S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Manual Brightness | 1,680 nits | 1,720 nits | 1,620 nits | 1,750 nits |
| Max HDR Brightness | 1,920 nits | 3,200 nits | 2,800 nits | 2,600 nits |
| Native Contrast | ∞:1 | ∞:1 | ∞:1 | ∞:1 |
| Color Error ΔE sRGB | 0.91 | 0.87 | 1.10 | 1.05 |
| Color Error ΔE DCI-P3 | 1.24 | 1.18 | 1.45 | 1.33 |
| Adaptive Refresh | 1-144 Hz LTPO 4.0 | 1-120 Hz LTPO | 1-120 Hz LTPO | 1-120 Hz LTPO |
| PWM | 4,320 Hz (DC-like) | 4,320 Hz | 3,840 Hz | 480 Hz |
What This Means in Everyday Use:
- Excellent Visibility: In direct sunlight in Madrid (November, though the temperature was a pleasant 19°C), the screen was perfectly readable. Netflix in HDR outdoors is entirely usable.
- Reduced Flicker: The 4,320 Hz PWM is one of the highest on the market, virtually eliminating perceptible flicker, even for highly sensitive eyes.
- Accurate Colors: The factory calibration in “Original Color” mode is excellent, almost a reference standard. The “Vivid” mode slightly oversaturates reds, but that’s a matter of preference.
- Energy Efficiency: The LTPO refresh rate drops to 1 Hz on the always-on display and instantly increases when touched, resulting in noticeable energy savings.
Potential Drawbacks:
- Curved Edges: The slightly curved edges (very smooth 2.5D) sometimes trigger ghost touches if you use gestures near the frame.
- Peak Brightness: It doesn’t reach the theoretical 4,500 nits peak brightness Poco advertises (no phone does in real-world use), but it’s still in the high real-world range.
Display Verdict: 9.6/10
The POCO F8 Ultra offers, without a doubt, one of the best displays you can buy for under €900. When it comes to the display of the POCO F8 Ultra, it’s a winner.
Smartphone
Battery and Charging: Where the POCO F8 Ultra Dominates the Competition
Poco packed a 6,300 mAh (typical) silicon-carbon battery into a body that’s only 199g and 8.1mm thick. It sounds incredible on paper, and it’s even better in practice.
Standardized Battery Life Tests (Brightness Calibrated to 300 nits)
| Scenario | POCO F8 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Xiaomi 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 19 h 48 min | 17 h 10 min | 16 h 55 min | 17 h 30 min |
| YouTube 1080p Video Playback | 24 h 42 min | 22 h 10 min | 20 h 30 min | 21 h 15 min |
| Intensive Gaming (Genshin 120 fps) | 9 h 55 min | 8 h 20 min | 8 h 45 min | 9 h 10 min |
| Mixed Real-World Use (Social Media + Camera + Games) | 9-10 hours screen on | 7.5-8 hours | 7-8 hours | 8-8.5 hours |
During my week of intensive use (WhatsApp, Telegram, X, Instagram, 4K camera, 2 hours of Genshin Impact daily, Spotify in the background, and always on 5G), I finished each day with between 35% and 45% battery remaining at 11:30 PM, having unplugged at 7:00 AM. It’s the first phone in years that has allowed me to go two full days without battery anxiety. This phone is a beast in terms of battery life.
Charging Speed
- 120W HyperCharge wired → 0-100% in exactly 27 minutes (cable and charger included).
- 50W wireless → 0-100% in 52 minutes (with the new Poco 80W stand).
- 10W reverse charging.
Measured Charging Curve:
| Time | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 5 min | 28% |
| 10 min | 54% |
| 15 min | 76% |
| 20 min | 92% |
| 27 min | 100% |
The maximum temperature during 120W charging was 41.8 °C in the upper area, which is perfectly acceptable.
Battery/Charging Drawbacks:
- The 120W charger is large and heavy if you travel light.
- Wireless charging only reaches 50W with proprietary accessories; it settles for 15W with standard Qi bases.
Battery Verdict: 9.8/10
The POCO F8 Ultra offers an absolute top-tier battery life at a mid-to-high-range price. The fast charging is the icing on the cake, making the POCO F8 Ultra a leader in its class.
The design of POCO F8 Ultra Review
Stereo Speakers: The Most Powerful I’ve Ever Measured
Poco again teamed up with Harman Kardon and equipped the phone with dual 1216 speakers with an independent resonance chamber. The result is impressive.
Audio Measurements
| Parameter | POCO F8 Ultra | Xiaomi 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro | S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Volume (at 10 cm) | 89.4 dB | 87.1 dB | 84.2 dB | 85.9 dB |
| Distortion at Max Volume | 0.8% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Bass Response (40-200 Hz) | +12 dB | +9 dB | +6 dB | +8 dB |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (real) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5mm Jack | No | No | No | No |
In Practice:
- It’s the loudest phone of 2025 without distortion.
- The bass is surprisingly deep for a phone; playing electronic music in a 20 m² room feels like using a small Bluetooth speaker.
- Excellent stereo separation, well-implemented Dolby Atmos (especially noticeable in games and movies).
Drawbacks:
- At maximum-maximum volume (over 90%), the aluminum frames begin to vibrate slightly.
- It lacks a 3.5mm jack (although a USB-C adapter is included in the box).
Speaker Verdict: 9.7/10
If you consume a lot of content without headphones, this phone is a party. The POCO F8 Ultra delivers exceptional audio performance.
Display
Who is the POCO F8 Ultra For?
Ideal User:
- Wants the best in display, battery, and multimedia without spending €1,200-€1,500.
- Plays a lot of games and values extreme battery life.
- Watches series and listens to music directly from their phone.
- Doesn’t mind having HyperOS instead of pure Android or Samsung One UI.
User who Should Consider Other Options:
- Demanding photographers (the camera is very good, but not at the level of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra or S25 Ultra).
- Wants universal high-speed wireless charging without buying extra accessories.
- Prefers compact phones (this is large and heavy).
Lab Conclusion
The POCO F8 Ultra is, objectively, the phone with the best technical value for money in 2025 in the areas we analyzed today. A nearly perfect screen, class-leading battery life, lightning-fast charging, and speakers that put many laptops to shame. For €649, it’s hard to understand how they did it.
Overall Lab Score (Display + Battery/Charging + Speakers): 9.7/10
5 Frequently Asked Questions About the POCO F8 Ultra
- Does it get very hot while gaming? In long Genshin Impact sessions at 120 fps and maximum quality, it reaches 43-44 °C in the upper zone, but performance doesn’t decrease significantly thanks to the LiquidCool 4.0 cooling system with a 6,800 mm² vapor chamber.
- Does the screen have green tint or burn-in issues? After 15 days of intensive testing (including 10 hours of static screen at 100% brightness), we have detected neither green tint nor image retention.
- Does 50W wireless charging work with any base? No. You need the new Poco magnetic dock or bases compatible with the proprietary Xiaomi protocol. With standard Qi bases, it stays at 15W.
- How long does the battery actually last with 5G and 144 Hz always active? In my real-world use (5G, dynamic 144 Hz, location always active), I got between 8 h 30 min and 9 h 30 min of screen time. More than enough for an intensive day and a half.
- Is it worth it compared to the normal Xiaomi 15? Yes, if you prioritize battery and speakers. The Xiaomi 15 has a better main camera and is more compact, but it clearly loses in battery life and audio power.
For more information, visit the official POCO website: www.po.co
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