Poco has kicked off 2026 with an interesting proposition—the Poco M8, their first budget smartphone of the year. While we're expecting the X and F series later, Poco is starting with their M lineup, and honestly, it's a smart move. This phone looks eerily familiar to another recent launch (drop your guesses in the comments!), but it brings something unexpected to the budget segment: a 3D curved display.
Pricing That Makes You Think Twice
With an effective price of ₹15,999 (sales start January 13th), the Poco M8 positions itself in a crowded segment. But can a curved display and decent specs justify the price tag in today's competitive market? Let's find out.
Unboxing: The Essentials Are Here
Inside the box, you'll find:
- The Poco M8 smartphone
- 45W USB Type-A charger
- USB Type-A to Type-C cable
- Clear protective case (opaque design—seems to be the trend in 2026)
- SIM ejector tool
- Documentation and stickers (seriously, what do people do with these?)
The inclusion of a 45W charger at this price point deserves appreciation. Too many brands are skimping on in-box accessories lately.
Design: Surprisingly Premium for the Price
The first thing you'll notice is how slim and light this phone feels. At just 175.8 grams with a 5,520mAh battery, Poco has managed impressive weight distribution.
The back features an interesting two-tone finish—shiny sections combined with a matte-like center strip. It's not revolutionary, but it adds visual interest. The curved display edges make it feel more expensive than it actually is.
Durability That Surprised Me
I was skeptical about build quality at this price, but the Poco M8 comes with Military Standard 810H certification. We put it through our standard drop tests (pocket height onto a hard floor), and I'll admit—I was impressed. No cracks, no major damage. The reinforced glass and plastic back held up better than expected.
The phone features:
- Hybrid SIM tray (dual nano SIM or one SIM + microSD)
- IP65/IP66 splash resistance
- All essential ports and buttons in expected locations
- IR blaster (always appreciated)
- Stereo speakers (nice touch for the segment)
Display: The Real Headliner
This is where the Poco M8 truly stands out in its price range. The 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with 3D curved edges looks absolutely stunning.
Display highlights:
- Full HD+ resolution
- 3D curved design with incredibly thin bezels
- 1,000 nits peak brightness (HBM mode)
- TUV triple certification for low-light viewing
- Minimal chin and bezels all around
For multimedia consumption, this display is fantastic. The combination of vibrant AMOLED colors, good brightness, and stereo speakers makes binge-watching genuinely enjoyable. Outdoor visibility is solid thanks to that 1,000-nit peak brightness, and the TUV certification means your eyes won't strain during late-night scrolling sessions.
The curved edges might not appeal to hardcore gamers (accidental touches are a thing), but for everyday use and media consumption, it adds a premium feel that's rare in this segment.
Performance: Realistic Expectations
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor powers the M8, delivering AnTuTu scores around 825,000 (version 11). That's about 650,000+ on version 10, for reference.
Available variants:
- 6GB + 128GB
- 8GB + 128GB
- 8GB + 256GB (likely)
With LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, you're getting entry-level specifications that match the price. Daily tasks, social media, and light multitasking work fine. Gaming is possible at medium settings for popular titles, though don't expect flagship-level frame rates.
The performance is "at par" for this segment—nothing extraordinary, but nothing disappointing either.
Software: Modern But With Caveats
HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15 comes out of the box. Ideally, Android 16 would've been better, but you'll likely get that update within a couple of months.
Update promise:
- 4 years of major OS updates (Android 16, 17, 18, 19)
- 6 years of security updates
That's genuinely impressive for a budget phone. However, bloatware is present—games like Bubble Blast and other third-party apps come pre-installed. The good news? They're uninstallable, unlike some competitors who force unwanted apps on users.
All the modern AI features you'd expect are here: Google Gemini integration, Circle to Search, and standard Android 15 goodies. The system runs smoothly without noticeable stuttering during normal use.
Battery Life: Solid All-Day Performance
The 5,520mAh battery should comfortably last a full day of moderate use. The 45W fast charging (with charger included) should get you fully charged in under an hour.
A pleasant surprise: 18W reverse wired charging support. Need to charge your TWS earbuds on the go? Just connect them to your phone. It's a small feature that adds real utility.
Camera: Daylight Decent, Low-Light Struggles
Let's be realistic about camera expectations at this price:
Camera setup:
- 50MP primary sensor (Light Fusion 400)
- 2MP secondary sensor (likely depth)
- 20MP front camera
In good daylight conditions, photos from the primary sensor are actually quite decent. Colors are accurate, skin tones look natural, and there's acceptable detail. I took a selfie during testing, and honestly, the output was better than expected—you can see individual hair strands, and skin tones aren't overly processed.
Video capabilities:
- Rear: 4K at 30fps
- Front: Full HD at 30fps
However—and this is important—low-light photography is where the M8 struggles. That's the trade-off at this price point. The sensor does its best, but noise and detail loss are noticeable in challenging lighting.
Camera app features:
- Ultra HD mode
- Video
- Photo
- Portrait
- Pro mode
- Document scanner
- Slow motion
- Time lapse
- Panorama
Basic modes are covered, which is all most users need. Check the Google Drive link in the description for full-resolution sample photos to judge for yourself.
Connectivity: The Essentials
- All 5G bands supported
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6 would've been nice, but not expected at this price)
- Bluetooth 5.1
- IR blaster
- No NFC
- USB 2.0
- In-display optical fingerprint sensor (positioned slightly low)
- Face unlock
The fingerprint sensor could be positioned higher for easier reach, but it works reliably. Widevine L1 support ensures HD streaming from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other platforms.
Who Should Buy the Poco M8?
The Poco M8 makes sense if you:
✅ Have a tight budget around ₹15,000-16,000
✅ Prioritize display quality and design
✅ Want that "premium" curved display aesthetic
✅ Need good battery life with fast charging
✅ Use your phone primarily for media consumption and social media
✅ Want long-term software support
Skip it if you:
❌ Need flagship-level performance
❌ Are a serious mobile gamer
❌ Require excellent low-light photography
❌ Hate bloatware (even if it's removable)
❌ Prefer flat displays (curved edges aren't for everyone)
Final Verdict: A 360° Upgrade From Poco M7 Pro
Compared to its predecessor, the Poco M7 Pro, the M8 is genuinely a complete upgrade. The curved display alone elevates the entire experience, making this phone feel more expensive than it actually is.
Is it perfect? No. The processor is entry-level, low-light photography needs work, and bloatware is annoying (though removable). But for someone looking for a modern-looking phone with a great display under ₹16,000, the Poco M8 deserves serious consideration.
The durability impressed me during drop tests, the display genuinely looks premium, and the long-term update commitment from Poco adds value. If you're shopping in this segment and display quality matters to you, definitely check this one out when sales begin on January 13th.
Poco M8 Rating: 7.5/10
Strengths:
- Gorgeous 3D curved AMOLED display
- Light and comfortable to hold
- Good stereo speakers
- Decent daylight camera
- Long software support (4+6 years)
- IP65/IP66 rating
- 45W fast charging with charger included
Weaknesses:
- Entry-level processor
- Poor low-light camera performance
- Bloatware present
- No NFC
- Curved display may cause accidental touches
What do you think about curved displays in budget phones? Gimmick or genuinely useful feature? Let me know in the comments!
Disclosure: This review was created in collaboration with Poco, but all opinions and observations are based on genuine hands-on testing. Sales begin January 13th with an effective price of ₹15,999.