POCO M8 5G: Design and workmanship
Anyone who remembers the smartphone landscape from a few years ago will likely associate curved displays primarily with expensive flagship models, as curved screens were long a feature manufacturers used to differentiate their premium models from cheaper devices. However, the situation has since changed.
While even many high-end smartphones are reverting to flat displays, POCO is bringing this once prestigious feature to the budget class with the M8 5G. The curved screen doesn't offer any real added value in everyday use, but it does make the device look more modern at first glance and makes the already not particularly narrow display bezels appear somewhat less pronounced.
POCO takes a similar approach to the back, which is intended to stand out, at least visibly, from the now rather interchangeable design of many budget smartphones. Instead of a simple plastic surface, the manufacturer combines a gray central section with carbon fiber strips on the sides, giving the M8 5G a slightly technical, almost motorsport-inspired look.
The fact that the back is ultimately made of plastic is quite obvious upon first handling. Given the price, this is neither surprising nor problematic, but it does somewhat diminish the otherwise positive first impression.
In everyday use, the casing still leaves a generally harmonious impression, not least because the M8 5G is comparatively light at 178 grams and very slim in the hand at 7,35 millimeters thick.
At the same time, the construction is sufficiently torsionally rigid, so that even under somewhat firm pressure nothing creaks or gives way. In addition, it has an IP65 certification, which promises at least protection against dust and rain, a feature that is not always to be expected in this price range.
It's also noticeable that POCO is sticking with some of Xiaomi's signature features, which are now rarely found on other manufacturers' devices. For example, there's still an infrared transmitter on the top, which can be used to control devices like TVs or air conditioners, while on the bottom, next to the dual nano-SIM slot and the USB-C port (USB 2.0), there's still a second speaker that provides stereo sound.
The fingerprint sensor hidden under the display worked discreetly and reliably during the test period, which hardly inspires enthusiasm, but is ultimately exactly what one can expect from an everyday device of this class.
POCO M8 5G: Display
Poor displays have thankfully largely disappeared from the budget class. While the 6,77-inch screen only has a Full HD+ resolution (2392 x 1080 pixels), this hardly matters in everyday use, as content is displayed sharply and individual pixels are not noticeable even at close range. More importantly, POCO has opted for AMOLED technology, which simply makes a good impression.
Colors appear vibrant without constantly slipping into oversaturation, black is truly black and not dark gray, and the maximum brightness (3200 nits peak / 800 nits nominal) is easily sufficient to read messages or navigation even on sunny days.
That a smartphone in this price range now offers refresh rates of up to 120 Hz seems almost commonplace, but just a few years ago this was a selling point for significantly more expensive devices. Animations, menus, and scrolling through social networks appear correspondingly smooth.
The display isn't entirely without its flaws, however. While Xiaomi advertises the panel with HDR support, in practice the benefits are limited. Streaming services can't fully utilize the screen's capabilities, meaning HDR content offers little noticeable advantage over conventional videos. For most users, this will likely remain more of a feature on the spec sheet than a real disadvantage in everyday use.
The stereo speakers deliver decent sound for this price range, although at high volume you notice that the focus is more on volume than sound quality.
POCO M8 5G: Performance
With budget smartphones, it often becomes apparent after just a few minutes where corners were cut. Apps launch with a delay, animations are jerky, and the system stutters, especially when switching between multiple applications. Fortunately, the POCO M8 5G doesn't fall into this category. While the built-in Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 won't exactly thrill benchmark enthusiasts, it rarely gives cause for complaint in everyday use.
This starts as soon as you unlock the device and continues when scrolling through social networks, switching between messenger, browser and camera, or watching videos. The system usually responds quickly without giving the impression of constantly working at its performance limit. The fact that it doesn't use top-of-the-line hardware only really becomes apparent when demanding games come into play or when multiple computationally intensive applications need to be run simultaneously.
Furthermore, POCO has equipped the M8 5G with ample power reserves to ensure it won't look outdated for years to come. A particularly positive aspect is that the device barely heats up, even under prolonged load. While some competitors have to throttle their performance after just a few minutes, the M8 5G remains pleasantly cool and performs unobtrusively even during extended gaming sessions or video recordings.
The smartphone is typically offered with 8 GB of RAM and 256 or 512 GB of internal storage, expandable by up to 1 TB via microSD card. Our test device was an international version equipped with 12 GB of RAM. This primarily benefits multitasking, although the difference in everyday use is usually less noticeable than the numbers might initially suggest. LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage are used.
POCO M8 5G: Software
The operating system is HyperOS 2 based on Android 15. Anyone who has used a Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO smartphone before will feel right at home. This applies to both the numerous customization options and the still quite generous number of pre-installed apps, not all of which every user will need. HyperOS now appears significantly cleaner than previous MIUI versions, but it still doesn't completely eliminate one or two superfluous applications.
The update policy, however, is more encouraging. While software updates have long been a secondary concern in the entry-level segment, Xiaomi promises four major Android versions and six years of security updates for the M8 5G. This doesn't automatically mean that every new Android version will be immediately available, but it at least gives buyers the assurance that the smartphone won't be obsolete after just two years.
POCO M8 5G: Camera
While many budget smartphones now advertise two, three, or even four lenses, the M8 5G essentially limits itself to a single 50 MP main camera (Light Fusion 400, 1/2,88 inch, f/1,8 aperture). The additional camera sensors are barely explained in Xiaomi's data sheet and primarily serve to support the main camera, rather than offering any noticeable photographic improvement. The POCO M8 5G completely forgoes an ultrawide camera.
main camera
In good lighting conditions, the main camera delivers usable results, impressing with good detail reproduction, natural colors, and an overall pleasing balance. The images don't appear overly artificially sharpened, which can certainly be considered a compliment these days. While the camera occasionally tends to overexpose bright areas slightly, overall the image quality is at a pleasingly high level for this price range.
The flexibility is less convincing. Those who enjoy photographing landscapes or want to capture as much as possible in confined spaces will quickly notice the lack of an ultra-wide-angle camera. The 2x zoom is also ultimately based on a crop of the main sensor and, naturally, can't compete with a true telephoto lens. It's sufficient for occasional snapshots, but don't expect miracles.
As soon as the sun sets, the usual reality of budget smartphone cameras becomes apparent. While the photos remain usable and benefit from accurate color reproduction, fine details are increasingly lost and image noise becomes visible. This isn't a problem specific to the POCO M8 5G, but rather a reminder that good night photography is still one of those areas where you usually have to spend significantly more money.
Front camera
The front camera, on the other hand, is a positive. Selfies turn out reliably in good lighting and don't appear overly soft or artificially edited. For video calls, social media, or the occasional story, the camera delivers more than sufficient quality.
Videos
For video recording, a maximum resolution of 4K at 30 frames per second is available, however, image stabilization only supports Full HD. Therefore, anyone filming in 4K should have as steady a hand as possible or use a tripod. The actual image quality is impressive, with convincing colors and dynamic range, but the lack of stabilization makes the smartphone less attractive for video recording.
POCO M8 5G: Battery
With a 5.520 mAh battery, the POCO M8 5G is generously sized, even though there are now devices that offer even larger energy reserves with 6.000 or even 7.000 mAh. During the test period, the smartphone reliably lasted through even the most intensive days and usually still had sufficient power remaining in the evening. Those who primarily write messages, scroll through social networks, or stream videos will likely not need to look for a charger again until the second day.
This is due not only to the battery capacity but also to the efficient hardware. While the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 isn't among the most powerful chips in its class, it is comparatively energy-efficient. It charges at up to 45 watts, meaning the POCO M8 5G is fully charged again in about an hour. Reverse charging of other devices via cable is supported at up to 18 watts.
Thankfully, Xiaomi hasn't skimped on essential accessories, including a 45-watt power adapter and a USB-C to USB-A charging cable. That's far from a given in 2026.
