1. Launch details: when, where, and how to watch

Poco has scheduled the India debut of the M8 5G for 8 January 2026 at 12:00 PM IST, and the handset is being positioned as a Flipkart-backed launch (Flipkart microsite and Poco teasers). The company’s teasers and multiple tech outlets confirm the date/time and Flipkart availability.

So this means that if Poco streams it live you can watch the coverage on Pocos social channels and also on Flipkarts product page.

If you want to get some deals you should check out Flipkart when the product is launched.

Many companies, including Poco usually have some offers on the first day of launch, like discounts and free accessories on Flipkart.

2. Here are the main specs that Poco wants you to know about the things that Poco is really talking about.

Here are the main things that Poco has been talking about or that people who know what is going on have said:

Display: 6.77-inch FHD+ 3D curved AMOLED / Flow/CrystalRes panel with 120 Hz refresh rate and very high peak brightness claims (reports mention up to 3,200 nits) plus Wet Touch tech.

The processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. This Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 uses a 4 nanometer process. It is a -range processor from the 6 series. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor is good, for use because it balances being efficient and performing well for everyday tasks.

RAM & Storage: Configurations reported up to 8 GB RAM (and up to 16 GB “virtual/expanded” RAM in marketing) with likely 128/256 GB storage options in India. (Leaks and retailer listings show 8GB+128/256 variants).

Rear camera: 50 MP main (AI-enhanced) + secondary sensor (dual-camera setup in Poco’s teasers) capable of in-sensor 2x zoom and 4K video recording according to Poco/teasers.

Front camera: Reported 20 MP selfie camera in teasers and coverage.

Battery & charging: Around 5,520–5,650 mAh battery in various reports with fast charging — 45 W often quoted, though higher-charge rumors exist for Pro models; for the M8 standard, 45 W is the commonly repeated number.

Software and updates: This thing comes with HyperOS 2 which is based on Android 15. The people, at Poco say they will keep updating the software for a time. They mean it when they say Android versions and years of security patches.

Durability & extras: Teased as slim (≈7.35 mm), light (≈178 g), IP66 water/dust resistance and MIL-STD-810 (SGS) drop certifications in promos. Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and “300% volume boost” for outdoor listening have also been touted.

The things that make the Poco M8 special are a nice screen, a good processor, fast charging, a 50 MP camera and it is also very durable. These are the things that Poco is using to make the M8 better, than the M-series phones. The Poco M8 has a premium-feeling screen and a competent mid-range processor. The Poco M8 also has fast. A 50 MP camera. The Poco M8 is very durable.

3. What makes the design of this thing so special. How does it look when you show it to people? The design and display of this thing is really what sets it apart visually. I mean, when you look at the design and display you can see that it is pretty unique. The way the design and display work together is what makes it stand out from things.

Poco is advertising the M8 5G with a 3D curved display, and the render teasers show a phone with gently curved edges, slim bezels, and a centered punch-hole selfie camera. The curved panel — uncommon at budget price points until recently — gives the phone a more expensive look and improves one-handed feel. Reports and the Flipkart microsite list a 6.77-inch FHD+ curved AMOLED with 120 Hz refresh rate and a 2392×1080 (or similar FHD+) resolution, offering smooth motion and strong color depth.

There are some things that the display says that we should really take a look, at:

The user interface and games that work with 120 Hz are going to feel really smooth. This is a lot better than what you get with 60 Hz. When you use a device with 120 Hz it makes the user interface and the games that support it feel smoother, than devices that only have 60 Hz.

High peak brightness (claims up to 3,200 nits) — if the marketed peak brightness is accurate, it would make outdoor legibility excellent. Brands often quote HDR/peak brightness for tiny highlights rather than sustained full-screen brightness, so real-world performance can be lower than the marketing number.

The Poco phone has something called Wet Touch 2.0. This means the screen of the Poco phone still works when it gets wet. This is really useful when it is very humid outside or when it is raining a bit. You can still use the Poco phone without any problems when your fingers are wet. The touch screen of the Poco phone remains responsive even when it is wet.

The back of the phone has a shape for the camera. It is like a square and a circle mixed together. This shape has two lenses for taking pictures. The back also has a texture and different colors. Poco usually has a lot of color options for their phones. They have a bright color that stands out like yellow. They also have calm colors, like black, grey and cyan. So we can expect to see least three different colors when the phone is available. The Poco phone will have these color choices at launch.

4. Performance. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is a thing that makes your phone work really fast. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is what makes your phone do all the things you want it to do. When you use your phone the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is working hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is an important part of your phone.

The Poco M8 5G is going to use the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. This is a new chip from Qualcomm that is made using a 4 nm process. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is usually used in phones that’re not too expensive but still pretty good. It helps the phone run for a time on a single charge. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 also has a brain and graphics compared to older chips in the 6 series. Additionally it has all the connectivity features like 5G bands, a better camera and things that make gaming, on the phone more fun.

Poco says their phone is really fast. They show numbers in tests like AnTuTu scores, that are a lot better than the M7 5G. They also say you can get up to 8 GB of RAM and make it seem like you have more, like 16 GB with special features. So what does this really mean for people who use the Poco phone?

Everyday apps, social media, video streaming and moderate multitasking should be smooth.

You can play games like titles with medium settings on this thing. The Adreno GPU on a 6-series chip is okay for light to gaming. However the Adreno GPU on a 6-series chip will not be as good as the chips for really fast competitive gaming that needs high frames all the time. The Adreno GPU, on a 6-series chip just does not have what it takes for that kind of gaming.

The 4 nm process helps battery life versus older nodes, so combined with the big battery this SoC should deliver good endurance.

If you are a mobile gamer who wants the highest possible frame rates or ray-tracing style features this phone is not, for you.. For most users the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and the 120 Hz AMOLED are a good combination. The phone will feel snappy and pleasant to use for people. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and the 120 Hz AMOLED make the phone work well for what most users need.

5. Cameras — 50 MP main and what to realistically expect

Poco is highlighting a 50 MP AI main camera as the M8’s primary imaging feature, paired with a secondary sensor (teasers show a dual-camera layout). The company’s announcements and coverage say the camera supports 2x in-sensor zoom and 4K video recording. The front camera is widely reported as 20 MP for selfies.

So what does this really mean when you think about it

The 50 MP sensor is really good at taking photos in daylight. You can expect to see a lot of detail in these photos when the lighting’s good. The AI processing and HDR are important too. Poco and Xiaomi like to make the colors in the photos really strong. The details very sharp. Some people really, like this. Others think it looks fake. The Poco and Xiaomi way of doing things is just to make the photos look more exciting. It is not always natural.

When it comes to taking pictures in light a camera with two lenses that does not have a bigger telephoto lens or a special sensor for night time will have to use computer programs to help it out. The Night Mode feature will make night shots look better. The quality of the pictures will not be as good, as the ones taken with a really expensive and high end phone. Low-light performance is just not the same.

2 times in-sensor zoom is not that great. If the sensor is big enough using the in-sensor zoom is okay.. It is not the same as having a real optical telephoto lens. You can expect it to be good for zooming in a bit but it will not be as clear as optical systems. The picture will have some loss of detail. The in-sensor zoom is fine for range but that is, about it.

The thing 4K video is that it is really useful for people who create content.. What really matters is how steady the phone can keep the video when you are holding it in your hand. This is where the phones stabilization comes in which can be either EIS or OIS. For the M8 phone some people say it has OIS. Others do not agree. So it is possible that the M8 phone only has EIS for stabilization which’s not as good as having both EIS and OIS for 4K video. This means that 4K video, on the M8 phone might not be as handy when you are holding the phone in your hand.

The main thing to know is that the M8s camera is pretty good for a phone like this. It takes pictures in the daytime and the selfie camera is fine too. You can also record video with it which is useful.. The M8s camera is not as good as the cameras on the really expensive phones. If taking pictures is the most important thing, to you you should look at some real pictures taken with the M8 when it comes out to see what you think.

6. Battery life and charging — a heavyweight in endurance

Poco’s teasers and the spec pages repeatedly point to a large battery (~5,520 mAh) — enough to comfortably last a full day or more for average users, and two days for light users. Combined with the energy efficiency of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and adaptive refresh, the M8 should deliver strong endurance.

For charging, multiple outlets report 45 W wired fast charging for the M8 (the Pro sibling is where 100 W rumors crop up). 45 W is fast enough to get you from 0→~50–60% in a reasonable time (estimates often vary: in real tests this typically means ~30–50 minutes to reach 50–70%, and around an hour to 80–90%, depending on battery capacity and charging curve).

Poco phones usually come with a charger. This charger is not super powerful. It is not weak either. When you buy a Poco phone you should check what is inside the box. You want to know if the phone comes with a 45 W adapter or if you have to buy it. Poco phones are different, in countries so you have to check the box when you get your new Poco phone.

7. Software, updates and long-term support

The Poco company is selling the M8 5G phone. It comes with the HyperOS 2 which is based on the Android 15. They are saying that the Poco M8 5G phone will get updates for a time. The Poco company has shown some information before the Poco M8 5G phone was launched. It says that the Poco M8 5G phone will get Android updates for many years and security patches for several years. This means the Poco M8 5G phone is a choice because the Poco company will keep making it better, for a long time if they do what they say they will do.

This is important because many people who buy phones at this price point think it is very important that the software lasts a time. The reason is that the more updates the phone gets the longer it will stay secure and get features. This means that the phone will be useful for a time, which makes it a better value. When the phone is released you should check what Poco promises about updates on their website specifically for the Indian market. You should look for how Android versions they will support and how many years they will provide security patches. It is worth noting that Pocos update promise can be different, in markets.

8. Durability, extra features and connectivity

Poco has teased MIL-STD (SGS) drop certification and an IP66 rating for water and dust resistance on the M8 — both are relatively rare in budget phones and give the M8 an edge if true. Real-world resistance and durability must be verified by independent testers, but marketing suggests Poco is aiming for a tougher-than-average build.

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Other practical features mentioned in previews:

The phone has stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. This is really great for listening to music or watching videos. The stereo speakers also have a big volume boost, which the company says is 300 percent louder. This means the phone is perfect for using because you can hear the music or video really clearly. The stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support make the phone good, for media consumption like watching videos or listening to music.

People usually want a fingerprint sensor on the side of their phone or under the screen on AMOLED devices. They also want to be able to unlock their phone with their face. These are the things that people expect from a phone, like this. We will know all the details when the phone is launched. The fingerprint sensor and face unlock are what people normally look for in this type of phone.

Connectivity: 5G support (sub-6 GHz bands typical for India), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth modern versions, NFC availability varies by region/model — check Indian spec sheet at launch.

9. Price and availability in India — what to expect

Poco and retailers haven’t officially confirmed the final India price in all listings, but credible leaks and Indian tech portals consistently point to a sub-₹15,000 price bracket for the base variants — many outlets list expected starting prices in the ₹11,999–₹14,999 range for an 8GB/128GB configuration, with higher-tier storage variants above that. Flipkart will likely be the primary online seller at launch (as per the microsite).

A quick note on pricing strategy:

Launch prices for Poco phones are usually competitive and sometimes undercut rivals with launch-only bank discounts or coupon deals on Flipkart. Early-bird prices (flash sale pricing) can be lower for limited windows or stock.

If you do not mind waiting retailers usually lower the prices of the phone. Have more deals after the first sale period. This means you can think about whether you want the phone away or if you want to wait and get a better deal, on the phone later. You have to balance wanting the phone versus getting a cheaper phone later.

Availability: The M8 5G is expected to go on sale via Flipkart and Poco’s online channels; offline retail availability usually follows soon after. Keep an eye on Flipkart for launch offers and bundled discounts.

10. Competitors. Where the Poco M8 5G fits in the market. The Poco M8 5G has a lot of phones to compete with. These are the competitors of the Poco M8 5G. We need to see how the Poco M8 5G is different, from the phones. The Poco M8 5G has to be better than the phones to sell well. Let us look at the competitors of the Poco M8 5G and see what they have to offer. The Poco M8 5G is a phone but it has to compete with other good phones.

The M8 5G will have to compete with a lot of good phones in India when it comes out. These phones are really good. People like them. The M8 5G is going to cost around ₹12 to ₹15 thousand. At this price the M8 5G will have to be really good to stand out from the phones that cost the same. The M8 5G has to compete with the phones, in this price range.

Redmi/Realme devices with similar hardware (6.7–6.8-inch AMOLED or IPS 120 Hz screens, 5,000+ mAh batteries, MediaTek or Snapdragon mid-range chips).

The Samsung Galaxy A-series is a choice, especially the lower end models like the A5x. These phones are about the Samsung brand. They have good cameras that work well. They also have software that is easy to use. The only thing is that they can be a bit more expensive than some phones.. They might not have all the features that you want. You have to decide what is important to you. The Samsung Galaxy A-series is an option if you want a reliable phone, from a brand you know.

The iQOO and OnePlus Nord CE Lite have some rivals that focus on performance or charging at times. These rivals of the iQOO and OnePlus Nord CE Lite try to do things a little. They think that performance or charging is really important. So they make sure the iQOO and OnePlus Nord CE Lite have some competition, from them.

What Poco brings to this group: a curved AMOLED 120 Hz panel (a premium trait), MIL-STD/IP rating teasers, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (modern mid-range SoC), and a 50MP main camera — combined that’s a strong value proposition if the price is kept under ₹15k.

11. Real-world expectations — strengths and likely weaknesses

Strengths (based on specs and teasers)

Premium-looking display (3D curved AMOLED + 120 Hz) that stands out at this price.

Good battery life with fast 45 W charging — solid endurance for heavy users.

Balanced performance from Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 for everyday tasks and casual gaming.

Value-packed features: IP66, MIL-STD, stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos — uncommon extras in this segment.

Possible weaknesses / watch-outs

Cameras: The 50 MP sensor sounds really good. Taking pictures in low light and keeping them steady will depend a lot, on the software and if the phone has something called OIS. The first looks we got of the phone do not always say it has OIS.

Real brightness claims: Peak nit numbers (3,200 nits) can be marketing figures for tiny HDR areas rather than sustained full-screen brightness; real-world outdoor reading might be lower.

I have used the HyperOS software. It has a lot of features but it can be a bit bossy. For example it comes with some apps installed and it can be very strict about managing tasks. The company that makes the Poco phone says it will keep updating the software for a while which sounds good.. I want to know for sure if they will really upgrade the Android version for people in India. I need to confirm what they are promising. The HyperOS software is what I am talking about and I want to know more about the updates for the Android version on the Poco phone, in India.

12. Who should buy the Poco M8 5G phone? The Poco M8 5G is a choice for people who want the Poco M8 5G. If you like the Poco M8 5G you should consider buying the Poco M8 5G. The Poco M8 5G is great, for people who need a Poco M8 5G phone.

Buy it if:

You want a premium-feeling display (curved AMOLED + 120 Hz) without paying flagship prices.

You value long battery life and reasonably fast charging (45 W).

You are looking for a phone that works well every day. This phone has a good processor the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. It is also important that the software gets updated regularly so the phone keeps working. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is a choice, for a phone that you want to use every day.

I really like it when a budget phone has things that make it last longer and sound better like being able to withstand rough handling and having good speakers. I am looking for a budget phone with durability and media features, such as IP ratings and MIL ratings and stereo speakers in a budget phone. This is important to me because I want a budget phone that can play music with sound and I also want a budget phone that can withstand rough handling so extra durability and media features like stereo speakers in a budget phone are a must, for me.

Don’t buy it (or wait for reviews) if:

If the camera is the important thing, to you especially when it comes to taking pictures or videos in low light or when you want a stable video you should wait until you see some pictures taken with the camera and read what other people think of it.

If you want the performance from your graphics card for playing games competitively you need to get the top of the line graphics card. The best graphics cards are still a lot faster, than the others. For gaming you want the absolute highest GPU performance. This is where the top graphics cards come in they are the flagship-class silicon. They are significantly faster.

13. Bottom line — value proposition and verdict

Poco appears to be positioning the M8 5G as a high-value mid-range phone that borrows premium cues (curved AMOLED, MIL-STD/IP, big battery + fast charging) while keeping the price competitive — reportedly below ₹15,000 in India. If the final pricing is in the leaked/expected range and Poco’s build quality and real-world camera performance hold up, the M8 could become the “best value” pick for buyers who want a premium-looking phone without flagship money.

However, a couple of caveats: marketing brightness and benchmark claims are often optimistic; camera and sustained performance should be validated by hands-on reviews. So if you want to be sure, look at post-launch reviews (real photos, battery-charge speed tests, and display measurements) and compare launch offers on Flipkart.

14. Quick checklist for launch-day buying

Confirm the final MRP and launch discount on Flipkart at 12:00 PM IST.

You should look for bank offers and credit card offers. Also check out exchange deals. Sometimes they have bird sale prices that are really low. This is something that can help you save money on bank offers and credit card offers.

Check the in-box charger (is a 45 W adapter included?).

Scan early hands-on reviews for camera samples, display brightness, and battery real-world tests.

Verify Poco’s official update policy for India (how many Android upgrades and years of security patches).