Every now and again, a new phone comes along that stops me in my tracks, that makes me realise that smartphones can still look cool and fun and interesting.
It happened last week, when I unboxed the new Poco F8 Ultra. It’s a strong near-flagship that’s going toe-to-toe with the likes of the iPhone 17 , Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 .
However, the Xiaomi-owned brand has Apple, Google and Samsung beaten when it comes to design. The Denim Blue variant I’m testing doesn’t just make a statement, it makes every other phone at this price point look boring and unambitious by comparison.
As the name suggests, this version of the F8 Ultra boasts a rear that looks and feels just like real denim (it’s fibre-reinforced plastic instead). The textured back adds a premium finish and lots of grip, while looking unlike any phone I’ve ever seen before.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
It’s likely to divide opinion, but having used it for over a week, I’m a big fan. Poco includes a silicone case in the box, but why would you cover up something so beautiful?
To some, the huge, industrial-looking rear camera module might feel jarring, but I think it gives the phone a cool, futuristic look. Alongside the three lenses and a separate depth sensor, it also includes a dedicated rear speaker – something I’ve never seen before.
Tuned by celebrated audio company Bose, the set-up comprises stereo speakers with a sub-woofer for an audio experience that’s out of this world.
It’s full-bodied, rich sound that gets impressively loud and offers a nice hit of bass – lovely! Unless you’re in a public place, you won’t need to connect headphones for a high-quality listening experience.
The F8 Ultra is a chunky phone, but it’s worth it for the battery and speakers
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The sound quality from the Poco F8 Ultra is, hands-down, the best on any phone I’ve ever tested.
But the F8 Ultra has plenty of other strings to its bow. The aforementioned triple rear cameras are all 50Mp: main, periscope telephoto and ultrawide. The results so far have been promising, if not class leading.
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip ensures performance that’s up there with the very best. Meanwhile, the monster 6500mAh battery has served me very well so far, even during a long, busy day in London.
Other notable features include a gorgeous 6.9-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display, IP68 water and dust resistance and an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor which has worked flawlessly so far.
This photo doesn’t do the gorgeous 6.9-inch display justice
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
My main frustration so far has been software, with Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3 skin (based on Android 16 ) delivering a fully featured but cluttered user experience with plenty of unnecessary bloatware.
But with a £749 price tag, the Poco F8 Ultra undercuts the iPhone 17, Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25, making it a compelling alternative so far.
See more great deals like this in our comprehensive Black Friday coverage , including more of the best deals on phones .
More interested in tablets? Read about the Poco X1 and M1 slates that launched alongside the phones.
Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.
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