POCO has built a reputation in India's smartphone market for offering strong performance, large batteries and competitive pricing, particularly with its X series. With the new POCO X8, the company is taking things a step further by introducing a massive 9,000mAh silicon-carbon battery along with an unusually rugged build.

But a giant battery alone doesn't make a smartphone great. We used the POCO X8 to evaluate its design, display, performance, cameras and battery life to see where it shines and where it falls short.

POCO X8: Design and build quality

The POCO X8 is built with durability in mind. At 8.6mm thick and 226 grams, it isn't exactly a lightweight phone. The large battery contributes significantly to its weight, and you can feel it during prolonged one-handed use.

However, the extra weight comes with a sturdy feel. One of the phone's biggest advantages is its focus on durability.

The handset features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection and carries IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings. It is also said to have received dual five-star quality certifications from SGS and TÜV.

Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, IR blaster, USB Type-C port and dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio support.

Overall, the POCO X8 feels solid and premium, although its 226-gram weight may not suit users who prefer slimmer and lighter phones.

POCO X8: Display

The smartphone gets a large 6.83-inch 1.5K Super Sunlight AMOLED display with a resolution of 2772 × 1280 pixels and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.

The panel also offers:

• Up to 3,500 nits peak brightness

• 12-bit colour depth

• DCI-P3 wide colour gamut

• Sunlight Display

• TÜV Triple Eye Protection

• Wet Touch 2.0

The large display is excellent for watching videos, browsing social media and gaming. Its high brightness also makes outdoor viewing easier.

However, the real-world experience isn't quite as impressive as the specifications suggest. While scrolling is generally smooth, the phone doesn't always deliver the fluid, flagship-level animations you might expect from a 120Hz panel.

There can occasionally be minor stutters while navigating the interface, particularly with HyperOS 3 animations. During testing, YouTube also closed unexpectedly on one occasion, which could potentially be related to a software issue.

For gamers, the phone offers an instant touch sampling rate of up to 3,200Hz through Game Turbo, which can improve touch responsiveness.

Overall, the display is bright, large and feature-rich, but software optimisation could be better.

POCO X8: Performance

The POCO X8 is powered by the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 mobile platform, built using a 4nm process.

Its octa-core CPU consists of four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at up to 2.4GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores reaching up to 1.8GHz, with an Adreno GPU handling graphics.

POCO claims an AnTuTu score of more than 900,000.

In everyday use, the phone handles social media, video streaming, multitasking and gaming comfortably. It comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The 256GB version uses UFS 3.1 storage, while the 128GB model gets UFS 2.2 storage. The phone runs Xiaomi HyperOS 3 based on Android 16.

The processor isn't aimed at the flagship segment, but it provides enough power for everyday activities and moderately demanding workloads. Combined with the huge battery, it makes the phone particularly suitable for users who spend a lot of time on their devices.

POCO X8: Camera performance

The camera setup is arguably the weakest part of the POCO X8.

The phone has a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture, paired with a 2-megapixel depth sensor. For selfies, there's a 16-megapixel front camera.

The main camera performs reasonably well in good lighting. Images generally contain good detail, while OIS can help with stability in certain shooting conditions.

The camera app also offers features such as:

• HDR

• Portrait Mode

• Live Moments

• Ultra HD Mode

• Panorama

• Pro Mode

An Underwater Mode is also expected to be available through an OTA update.

However, photography isn't the POCO X8's strongest area. The limited camera setup means there's no dedicated ultrawide or telephoto camera, reducing shooting flexibility.

In daylight, images are generally sharp, although colours can sometimes appear less natural. Low-light performance is only average, with noticeable noise in darker scenes.

The 2MP depth sensor also doesn't add much value, and edge detection in portrait shots can occasionally be inconsistent.

Both front and rear cameras can record video at up to 1080p at 30fps.

If camera quality is your primary buying factor, there are better options to consider.

POCO X8: Battery and charging

The 9,000mAh silicon-carbon battery is easily the biggest highlight of the POCO X8.

For heavy users, the large capacity can make a significant difference. Watching videos, browsing social media, gaming and using multiple apps throughout the day is less stressful when you don't constantly have to search for a charger.

The phone supports 67W HyperCharge, and the 67W charger is included in the box.

It also supports 22.5W wired reverse charging, allowing the POCO X8 to act as a power source for other compatible devices when required.

The smartphone also uses Xiaomi's Surge G1 battery management chip. Actual charging speeds can vary depending on factors such as usage and temperature, but overall, the battery and charging package is one of the phone's biggest strengths.

POCO X8: Final verdict

The POCO X8 is a smartphone built around two major strengths: battery life and durability.

Its enormous 9,000mAh battery, 67W fast charging, reverse charging support, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection and multiple IP ratings give it an unusual combination of endurance and toughness. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 also delivers dependable performance for everyday tasks and gaming.

However, it isn't an all-round winner.

The AMOLED display looks impressive on paper, but occasional software stutters prevent it from feeling as polished as some competitors. The camera setup is also fairly basic, particularly for users who enjoy photography and videography.

Should you buy the POCO X8?

Yes, if your priorities are:
✔ Extremely long battery life
✔ Durable and rugged construction
✔ Good everyday performance
✔ Fast charging
✔ Reverse charging

Think twice if you want:
✘ A lightweight smartphone
✘ Flagship-level display smoothness
✘ A versatile camera system
✘ Strong low-light photography

Verdict: The POCO X8 is not trying to be the best camera phone or the most refined smartphone in its class. Instead, it focuses heavily on battery endurance, durability and dependable performance. If those are your top priorities, the 9,000mAh battery makes the POCO X8 an interesting option. If display refinement and camera quality matter more, you may want to look elsewhere.