POCO kicked off 2026 with a bang by launching the POCO M8 5G in India on January 8, 2026. As the successor to the POCO M7 5G, this device brings a sleek redesign, premium display upgrades, solid performance, and aggressive pricing to the sub-₹20,000 segment. Positioned as a value-packed 5G smartphone, it targets users looking for a modern design, long battery life, and reliable everyday performance.
POCO M8 5G Design and Display
The POCO M8 5G stands out with its slim and lightweight build — measuring just 7.35mm thick and weighing 178g. It features a premium 3D curved frame and back panel, making it one of the slimmest phones in its class. The device comes in stylish color options: Carbon Black, Glacial Blue, and Frost Silver.
The highlight is the 6.77-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2392 pixels) 3D curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 3,200 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and support for Wet Touch 2.0 (works with wet fingers). It offers smooth scrolling, vibrant colors, and excellent outdoor visibility, a big upgrade over its predecessor’s LCD panel.
POCO M8 5G Performance
Under the hood, the POCO M8 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm octa-core chipset, up to 2.4GHz), paired with an Adreno GPU. It handles multitasking, casual gaming (like PUBG Mobile or COD at medium settings), and daily use smoothly, with AnTuTu scores exceeding 825,000 in some claims.
It runs Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0 out of the box, with four years of OS updates and six years of security patches — excellent long-term support for this price range.
POCO M8 5G RAM and Storage Variants
POCO offers three configurations:
- 6GB RAM + 128GB storage — Starting model
- 8GB RAM + 128GB storage
- 8GB RAM + 256GB storage
RAM is LPDDR4X, and storage is UFS 2.2 (expandable via microSD in some regions).
POCO M8 5G Battery and Charging
The phone packs a 5,520mAh battery — a solid capacity for all-day usage (and more). It supports 45W fast wired charging (charger included in the box) and 18W reverse charging. This is a nice balance of endurance and speed, perfect for heavy users.
Additional perks include IP65/IP66 dust and water resistance plus MIL-STD-810H durability certification.
POCO M8 5G Camera
The rear setup is a 50MP primary sensor (with AI enhancements) + 2MP depth sensor. It supports 4K video recording, slow-motion, and timelapse. The front camera is a 20MP shooter for sharp selfies and video calls with HDR support.
While not flagship-level, the camera performs well for everyday photography in good lighting, with decent low-light results thanks to the main sensor.
POCO M8 5G Price and Availability
The POCO M8 5G launched with the following pricing in India:
- 6GB + 128GB — ₹18,999
- 8GB + 128GB — ₹19,999
- 8GB + 256GB — ₹21,999
Launch offers (including bank discounts and limited-time extras) brought the effective starting price down to ₹15,999 for the first 12 hours. It went on sale via Flipkart starting January 13, 2026.
People’s Opinions
Early user feedback and first impressions are largely positive. Many praise the premium curved AMOLED display, slim design, long software support, and value for money. The performance is seen as smooth for the price, and the battery life impresses most users.
Some minor complaints include average low-light camera performance and bloatware in HyperOS (which can be managed). Overall, it’s viewed as a strong upgrade over the M7 series and a solid competitor in the budget 5G segment against devices like Realme and Samsung offerings.
In short, the POCO M8 5G delivers a well-rounded package with modern looks, a vibrant screen, reliable performance, and great battery life — all at an attractive price. If you’re in the market for a stylish, future-proof mid-ranger under ₹20,000, this is definitely one to consider!
