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The word “Power” means something different on the Poco M8 Power. Instead of chasing benchmark scores or adding high-end hardware, Poco has taken a simpler route: put an 8,000mAh battery inside the phone and build the rest of the experience around it. That gives the M8 Power one of the biggest batteries you can get in this segment, along with a large 6.99-inch AMOLED display and a surprisingly long software support commitment.

The trade-offs become apparent elsewhere. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 is firmly an entry-level chipset, charging is not particularly fast for a battery this large, the cameras are merely adequate, and there is only a single speaker. After spending time with the Blaze Orange version, the M8 Power comes across as a phone that knows exactly what it wants to be — but whether that makes it a good buy depends heavily on your priorities.

2The AMOLED display is arguably the M8 Power’s second-biggest strength

Poco M8 Power

The 6.99-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel is one of the more appealing parts of the M8 Power. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and everyday navigation feel smooth, while the AMOLED panel delivers deep blacks and punchy colors.

The display can reach up to 1,800 nits of peak brightness, and outdoor visibility is generally good. The 120Hz mode can switch between 60Hz, 90Hz and 120Hz, while touch sampling reaches 240Hz normally and can go as high as 2,160Hz in Game Turbo mode.

Poco also includes 960Hz PWM dimming, eye-care certification, DCI-P3 coverage, Wet Touch 2.0 and Sunlight Display. One useful inclusion is the option for DC dimming, particularly for users who are sensitive to PWM flicker.

Poco M8 Power

There are some obvious limitations. HDR playback isn’t supported, and the chipset also limits video playback to below 4K. For regular streaming, however, Widevine L1 certification means services such as Netflix and Prime Video can still be enjoyed in Full HD.

The biggest disappointment for multimedia is the audio. The phone has only a single bottom-firing speaker. It gets sufficiently loud, but the lack of stereo separation is noticeable when watching videos or playing games.

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Anvinraj Valiyathara is a seasoned tech journalist with a decade-long journey. Since 2010, he's been a driving force in insightful tech news coverage. With nearly 13,000+ posts on GizmoChina and contributions to Pricebaba, Free Press Journal, The Tech Outlook, and Playfuldroid, his expertise extends to comprehensive reviews of smartphones, tablets, wearables, and more. Beyond tech, Anvinraj engages actively on Twitter, is an avid Formula 1 enthusiast, participates in church activities, and nurtures a love for travel.