The Poco M8 5G is one of the most interesting mid-range smartphones of 2026, combining a slim design, rugged protection, AMOLED 120Hz display, and a big battery into a package that targets both everyday users and power users. In this detailed Poco M8 5G review, you will find everything you need to know about its design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, and connectivity, along with FAQs to help you decide if this is the right 5G phone for you.
Poco M8 5G: Design and Built Quality
The Poco M8 5G measures 164 x 75.4 x 7.4 mm and weighs 178 grams, which makes it slim in the hand while still feeling solid and reassuring. The in-hand feel is comfortable for long use, and the overall footprint strikes a balance between large-screen entertainment and day-to-day practicality.
Where it really stands out is durability. The phone is rated IP66 for dust tightness and protection against high-pressure water jets, giving it serious resistance against water splashes and tougher conditions. There is also IP65 water resistance for low-pressure jets in the European variant and drop resistance up to 1.7 meters, making the Poco M8 5G a strong choice for users who are worried about accidental falls and rough daily use.
Dual Nano-SIM support allows you to use two numbers at the same time, ideal for managing work and personal life or combining different data and call plans. This makes the Poco M8 5G a flexible companion for frequent travellers and multi-SIM users.
Display: 120Hz AMOLED with 3200 nits Peak
The Poco M8 5G features a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with an impressive screen-to-body ratio of about 89.7 percent, giving you an immersive viewing experience for streaming, social media, and gaming. With a resolution of 1080 x 2392 pixels and around 388 ppi density, content looks sharp and detailed, while text remains crisp for long reading sessions.
This panel supports 68 billion colors, HDR, and a 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling, animations, and gameplay feel exceptionally smooth. Thanks to 3840Hz PWM dimming, the display is also designed to be gentler on the eyes at lower brightness, which can help reduce visible flicker for sensitive users.
Brightness is another highlight, with 800 nits typical brightness and up to 3200 nits peak, meaning the screen remains clearly readable even under strong sunlight or bright outdoor environments. If you consume a lot of HDR content or use your phone outdoors frequently, this level of brightness is a significant plus.
Performance: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and HyperOS 2
Under the hood, the Poco M8 5G runs Android 15 with HyperOS 2, and it is promised up to four major Android upgrades, which greatly extends its software lifespan. This makes it appealing for users who plan to keep the phone for several years without quickly feeling outdated.
Powering the device is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset built on a 4 nm process, focusing on efficiency and consistent performance. The octa-core CPU includes four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz for performance and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz for efficiency, which collectively deliver solid responsiveness in apps, multitasking, and everyday usage.
Graphics are handled by the Adreno 710 GPU, capable of running popular games smoothly at balanced settings, especially when combined with the 120Hz display for more fluid visuals. Overall, this setup positions the Poco M8 5G comfortably in the upper mid-range for performance, ideal for users who game casually or heavily multitask.
RAM, Storage, and Expandability
The Poco M8 5G comes in two main memory variants: 256GB storage with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage with 8GB RAM, both using UFS 2.2 for faster read and write speeds compared to older standards. This helps apps open quicker, games load faster, and the general system feel smoother in day-to-day use.
There is also a microSDXC card slot that shares space with the second SIM slot, giving you the choice between dual-SIM functionality or storage expansion. For users who keep large video libraries, offline media, or huge photo collections, this flexibility is valuable, even if it means sacrificing a second SIM.
Camera: 50MP Main and 20MP Selfie
On the back, the Poco M8 5G houses a dual camera setup with a 50 MP main wide sensor at f/1.8, using a 1/2.88-inch sensor and 0.61µm pixels, along with phase-detection autofocus for faster, more reliable focusing. There is also an auxiliary lens that supports additional modes, while features like HDR and panorama help in handling challenging lighting and wide scenes.
Video recording on the rear camera goes up to 4K at 30 fps, with 1080p at 30 or 60 fps for smoother footage, which is ideal for content creators and social media users who record a lot of clips. LED flash is available for low-light shots, complementing the camera in dark environments.
The front camera is a 20 MP wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 1/4.0-inch size, designed to deliver sharp selfies and clear video calls. It also supports HDR and panorama, and can record 1080p video at 30 or 60 fps, making it suitable for vlog-style content and high-quality front-facing videos.
Audio: Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos
For audio, the Poco M8 5G offers stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, which enhances the soundstage and immersion when watching movies, playing games, or listening to music. Even though there is no 3.5mm headphone jack, the audio experience through the speakers is designed to be rich and detailed for a phone in this category.
The phone supports 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio, making it attractive to users who use high-quality wired or wireless headphones and prefer lossless or high-bitrate audio content. This combination positions the Poco M8 5G strongly for multimedia consumption.
Connectivity and Sensors
Connectivity is comprehensive, with Wi‑Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac support on dual-band, along with Wi‑Fi Direct for easy device-to-device sharing. Bluetooth 5.1 with A2DP and LE ensures reliable connections with low power consumption for wireless headphones, smartwatches, and other accessories.
For navigation and positioning, the Poco M8 5G includes GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS, and BDS, helping provide accurate and stable location tracking globally. NFC is available depending on the market or region, enabling contactless payments and fast pairing, while an infrared port allows the phone to act as a universal remote for compatible TVs and appliances.
There is no FM radio, but the USB Type‑C 2.0 port with OTG support lets you connect external drives, card readers, or peripherals when needed. For security, the phone includes an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, along with an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, and virtual proximity sensing for intelligent screen behavior during calls.
Battery Life and Charging
The Poco M8 5G is powered by a 5520 mAh silicon-carbon Li‑Ion battery, designed to deliver full-day and often multi-day endurance depending on usage patterns. Paired with the efficient 4 nm chipset and optimized software, this capacity is well-suited for heavy social media, streaming, and gaming sessions.
Charging is handled by 45W wired fast charging, which significantly reduces the time needed to top up the battery from low percentages. Additionally, the phone supports 18W reverse wired charging, allowing it to act as a power source for other devices, such as earbuds, another phone, or accessories, using a compatible cable.
Price, Colors, and Availability
The Poco M8 5G launched in January 2026 and is available in Black, Green, and Silver color options, catering to different style preferences. Pricing starts around £189 or €229.90 for the 256GB 8GB RAM variant, and around £219 or €259.90 for the 512GB 8GB RAM model, placing it in the competitive mid-range segment with strong value for its specifications.
Final Thoughts: Is the Poco M8 5G Worth It?
The Poco M8 5G delivers a compelling combination of slim design, rugged IP66/IP65 and drop resistance, bright 120Hz AMOLED display, capable Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 performance, and a large 5520 mAh battery with fast and reverse charging. For users who want a mid-range 5G phone that can handle daily abuse, multimedia, gaming, and long battery life without breaking the bank, this device stands out as a very strong option in 2026.
Poco M8 5G FAQs
1. Is the Poco M8 5G good for gaming?
Yes, the Poco M8 5G uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset with Adreno 710 GPU and 8GB RAM, which together offer smooth performance for most popular games at balanced settings, especially with the 120Hz AMOLED display enhancing visual fluidity.
2. Does the Poco M8 5G have an AMOLED display?
The Poco M8 5G features a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with 1080 x 2392 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, 68B colors, and up to 3200 nits peak brightness, making it excellent for content consumption indoors and outdoors.
3. What is the battery life of the Poco M8 5G?
With a 5520 mAh Si/C Li‑Ion battery and an efficient 4 nm processor, the Poco M8 5G is designed to easily last a full day of heavy use and often more with moderate usage.
4. How fast does the Poco M8 5G charge?
The Poco M8 5G supports 45W wired fast charging, allowing the battery to charge quickly, and it also offers 18W reverse wired charging to power other devices through a cable.
5. Is the Poco M8 5G water-resistant or rugged?
Yes, the device is IP66 dust tight and resistant to high-pressure water jets, with additional IP65 low-pressure water resistance in Europe, and it is drop resistant up to 1.7 meters, giving it strong durability compared to typical mid-range phones.
6. Does the Poco M8 5G support 5G networks?
The Poco M8 5G supports GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G bands, including popular SA and NSA 5G bands, ensuring it works with a wide range of global operators and 5G coverage areas.
7. Can I expand storage on the Poco M8 5G?
Yes, it supports microSDXC cards for storage expansion, though the card uses a shared SIM slot, so you will need to choose between dual-SIM usage or expanded storage.
8. What camera features does the Poco M8 5G offer?
The phone has a 50 MP main rear camera with PDAF and an auxiliary lens, offering 4K@30fps and 1080p@30/60fps video recording, plus HDR and panorama modes; the 20 MP selfie camera also supports HDR, panorama, and 1080p@30/60fps video.
9. Does the Poco M8 5G have stereo speakers and good audio?
Yes, it includes stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and supports 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio, although it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, so wired audio uses USB-C or adapters.
10. How long will the Poco M8 5G get software updates?
The Poco M8 5G launches with Android 15 and HyperOS 2 and is promised up to four major Android upgrades, giving it a long software support window for a mid-range device.
More Stories
Motorola Signature Review: Ultra-Thin Flagship with DXOMARK Gold Cameras & Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
Moto G Power (2026) Review: IP68/IP69 Rugged Budget 5G Phone with Wireless Charging & 5200mAh Battery – Worth Buying in 2026?
Ulefone RugKing 4 Pro – The Rugged Value King with 10,200mAh Battery, 120Hz Display & Extreme Durability