Poco M8 5G Review: 4 Years of OS Updates & HyperOS 2 Explained Specs, Pros, and Cons

Let’s be honest: the budget segment in India has become a bit boring lately. It’s usually the same old plastic bodies and “okay-ish” screens. But the real truth is, Poco just threw a grenade into the market with the Poco M8 5G.

Launched on January 8, 2026, for an effective price of ₹15,999 (including bank offers), this phone isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a complete identity shift. We’re talking about a 3D Curved AMOLED screen and IP66 water resistance on a phone that costs less than most people’s monthly grocery bill. But is it all just fancy marketing, or can this “Yellow Submarine” actually sail? After a week of heavy usage, here is the unfiltered reality.

QUICK SPECS TABLE

Feature	Specification
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm)
Display	6.77-inch FHD+ Curved AMOLED, 120Hz, 3200 nits Peak
Rear Camera	50MP Main (Light Fusion 400) + 2MP Depth
Front Camera	20MP Selfie Camera
Battery	5,520mAh Silicon-Carbon Battery
Charging	45W Turbo Charging (Charger in box)
Software	HyperOS 2.0 (Android 15)
Durability	IP66 Dust & Water Resistant, MIL-STD-810H
Weight / Thickness	178g / 7.35mm

DESIGN & BUILD (Deep Dive)

Don’t waste your money if you want a small, “compact” phone. The Poco M8 5G is a tall device, but surprisingly, it’s one of the thinnest Poco phones ever at 7.35mm.

Poco has ditched the old “black bar” camera design for a new Squircle camera island. The back is high-quality polycarbonate, but the way it curves into the frame makes it feel significantly more expensive than it is. It weighs only 178g, which is impressive considering the battery size. Plus, with MIL-STD-810H certification, it’s built to survive the occasional “oops” moment on the pavement.

DISPLAY & VISUALS

This is where Poco has absolutely destroyed the competition. In 2026, finding a 3D Curved AMOLED at this price is like finding a parking spot in Connaught Place on a Saturday—nearly impossible.

• Brightness: It hits a peak of 3200 nits. In our outdoor test under the Delhi sun, the screen was perfectly readable.
• Tech: It features Wet Touch 2.0, which means you can actually use the screen with wet fingers (perfect for the monsoon!).
• PWM Dimming: At 3840Hz, your eyes won’t feel the strain during late-night Instagram scrolling.

PERFORMANCE & GAMING/USAGE

Under the hood, we have the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3.

• Daily Tasks: The HyperOS 2.0 (based on Android 15) is surprisingly fluid. App opening times are fast, and the 8GB LPDDR4X RAM handles multitasking without breaking a sweat.
• Gaming: We tested BGMI and Genshin Impact. In BGMI, it stays steady at 60 FPS on “Smooth + Extreme” settings. It doesn’t get as hot as the older M-series, thanks to better thermal optimization.
• The Catch: If you are a competitive gamer, you might miss the raw power of the Snapdragon 7-series, but for 90% of users, this chip is more than enough.

CAMERA: BETTER THAN EXPECTED?

Poco phones aren’t usually known for cameras, but the 50MP Light Fusion 400 sensor is a decent step up.

• Daylight: The photos are sharp with natural colors. The “Poco processing” is now less aggressive, so skies don’t look neon blue anymore.
• Video: You can shoot 4K at 30fps, which is a huge win since many competitors in this price range are still stuck at 1080p.
• Selfies: The 20MP front camera is actually quite good for skin tones, though it still tries to “beautify” you by default.

BATTERY & ENDURANCE

Poco used Silicon-Carbon battery technology here, which allows for a larger capacity (5,520mAh) without making the phone bulky.

• The Drain Test: We got 8.5 hours of Screen-on-Time (SoT). You can easily go from 8 AM to 11 PM and still have 20% left.
• Charging: It supports 45W Turbo Charging.
  • 0-50% in 26 minutes.
  • 0-100% in roughly 58 minutes.
• Bonus: It supports 18W wired reverse charging, so you can use your phone as a power bank to charge your TWS earbuds in an emergency.

Read more : Nothing Phone 4 Ultra 5G 

THE COMPETITION

Poco M8 5G vs Redmi 15 vs Realme 14 Pro

Feature	Poco M8 5G	Redmi 15	Realme 14 Pro
Price (Base)	₹18,999 (₹15,999 Offer)	₹17,999	₹19,999
Display	Curved AMOLED (3200 nits)	Flat AMOLED (2000 nits)	Curved AMOLED
Chipset	Snapdragon 6 Gen 3	Snapdragon 4s Gen 2	Dimensity 7300
Battery	5520mAh	5000mAh	5000mAh

The Winner: The Poco M8 5G wins on almost every front—it has the brightest screen, the largest battery, and the best durability (IP66). The only reason to pick the Realme 14 Pro is if you want slightly better gaming performance.

FINAL VERDICT

Buy it if:

• You want a Premium Look: The curved display makes it look like a ₹40,000 phone.
• You are an Outdoor User: The 3200 nits brightness is the best in its class.
• You want Longevity: Poco is promising 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches.

Skip it if:

• You hate Curved Screens: Accidentally touching the edges can be annoying for some.
• You are a Hardcore Pro Gamer: For ₹5k more, you can get much faster chips.
• You want an Ultra-wide Lens: This phone only has one “real” camera; the 2MP depth sensor is useless.

FAQs (People Also Ask)