Known for its flagship killer reputation, we had pretty high expectations for POCO’s latest release, the POCO M8 Pro 5G. Glad to say, it didn’t disappoint. Performance-wise, it delivers exactly what you’d expect from a POCO phone, but what really surprised us were its other offerings beyond raw speed.
The POCO M8 Pro 5G (8GB + 256GB) is priced at PHP 16,999, with a promo price of PHP 13,149. Meanwhile, the 12GB + 512GB variant is priced at PHP 19,999, with a promo price of PHP 15,899.
Design
Design-wise, the POCO M8 Pro 5G has a familiar look. It strongly resembles its distant cousin from the Redmi lineup, particularly the Redmi Note 15 series. There’s a subtle racing stripe at the back, which I think nicely hints at what this phone is really about: speed. The color variant we have is Green, although in person it leans more toward a bluish tone.
The camera module sits at the center, again borrowing design cues from the Redmi Note 15 line. In hand, this one actually feels easier to hold. The display has very slight curves around the edges, not enough to call it a curved display, but just enough to make it more comfortable.
Display
Speaking of the display, I feel like a broken record saying this again and again, but this also feels very similar to the Redmi Note 15 series, especially the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G. Color reproduction is easy on the eyes and, oddly enough, feels more “sophisticated,” if that makes sense.
It’s a high-resolution AMOLED panel and feels a bit wider than most phones, giving you more horizontal screen real estate. This also makes one-handed use easier. Media consumption is a joy here thanks to vibrant colors, sharp details, and even light distribution.
Audio helps elevate the experience too, with support for the same 400 percent volume boost we’ve seen on Redmi devices.
Performance
Performance is where the POCO M8 Pro really flexes. Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, it’s still technically a midrange chip, but it absolutely pummels hardcore games. High settings are no problem, and that’s no surprise coming from POCO. Our unit comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
In benchmarks, the POCO M8 Pro broke the 1 million mark on AnTuTu, even edging out the Redmi Note 15 Pro, which scored slightly lower. In real-world use, there’s no noticeable difference between the two, but it’s still impressive that the more affordable phone managed the higher score.
As expected, gaming performance has been impressively smooth with our Genshin Impact
For everyday use, I daily drove the POCO M8 Pro and it was a treat. It honestly made me think how lucky people are now to have affordable phones that are this capable for the price.
Software
Out of the box, the POCO M8 Pro 5G runs HyperOS 2 on Android 15. One thing I’ve noticed with POCO devices is that they still use the App Drawer by default, something you can also toggle on Redmi and Xiaomi phones. Aside from that, the experience is largely the same: familiar notification layout, Mi Home shortcuts, and lots of customization. If you already like Xiaomi’s interface, you’ll feel right at home here. The icons are circular, but that’s mostly just a visual skin.
That said, expect some annoying ads. This is something we’ve come to expect from Xiaomi and POCO devices, and the M8 Pro 5G is no exception. They can slightly ruin the experience at times, especially when random notifications pop up. The good news is that most of these can be disabled or removed manually, so while it’s annoying, it’s nothing that would make you outright dislike the phone.
Battery
The POCO M8 Pro 5G packs a 6500mAh battery, which delivers solid daily longevity. While not extreme by today’s standards, it’s still a noticeable step up from the 5000mAh batteries that used to be the norm.
In my use, the phone easily lasted two days, which is exactly what I expected given that I also switch phones occasionally. What really stands out is the 100W fast charging. Seeing this level of charging speed at this price is honestly wild, and as expected, it tops up the phone in just a short amount of time.
Camera
For a phone that isn’t really marketed as camera-focused, the POCO M8 Pro 5G’s cameras are not something you should overlook. I was genuinely surprised by how capable it was at night, managing to capture decent images even in low-light conditions.
For general photography, the results are pretty decent. There’s a bit of oversharpening, which is common with many smartphones, but it does help give photos that punchy look that most people associate with good camera quality.
POCO M8 Pro 5G Low Light Samples
Overall, it’s a fairly reliable camera. You are mostly limited to a slight digital zoom, but it’s still usable even in more challenging shooting scenarios. Just expect a bit of delay when taking photos in dim lighting as the phone processes the shot.
Conclusion
The POCO M8 Pro stays true to what the brand does best: delivering strong performance at an aggressive price. But this time around, it’s not just about speed. From the display and battery life to surprisingly capable cameras, this is a well-rounded phone that punches well above its class.
With smartphone prices continuing to rise in 2026, the POCO M8 Pro stands out as one of the better purchases in this budget range. Much of that comes down to the level of performance you can squeeze out of it, making it an easy recommendation for anyone looking for power without spending too much.
The POCO M8 Pro is available in Silver, Black, and Green variants and is exclusively available on Shopee with the following prices:
- 8GB + 256GB: PHP 13,149 promo price (from PHP 16,999 SRP)
- 12GB + 512GB: PHP 15,899 promo price (from PHP 19,999 SRP)