POCO has confirmed another mid-range device launch in the mid-range budget, named POCO M8 5G, which may be introduced on January 8. Early teasers highlight a slim body and a refreshed design that fits the needs of today’s smartphone consumers.
But beyond the launch excitement and marketing visuals, a more important question remains unanswered: does the POCO M8 5G truly offer good value for Indian consumers, or is it just another design-focused refresh with limited real-world improvements?
Looking at the specifications, the phone is said to come with a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, along with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Reports also say it will feature a 50MP primary camera on the rear, along with other sensors. For the battery, it will have a 5,520mAh capacity with 45W fast charging support.
Design Is Leading the Conversation
According to POCO’s promotional teaser, the phone mainly focuses on its design, while in India, mid-range consumers look for better performance, a good camera, and strong battery life.
Interestingly, the phone gives little attention to real-world and essential factors like software optimization or long-term update support, which are often the key reasons a phone ages well or not.
According to reports, the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset and a battery slightly above 5,500mAh. On closer look, this is not a major improvement, as such features are now common in most smartphones.
The chip architecture includes two clusters, with four cores running at a maximum clock speed of 2.4GHz and another four efficiency cores capped at 1.8GHz. This may not be ideal even for general users, as today most people multitask regularly, from college work to office tasks.
Pricing Will Decide the Narrative
The real test for the POCO M8 5G will be its price. If it is priced aggressively, it could still attract value-focused buyers, as users can capture special moments, play light games in their free time, or watch a web series. If not, consumers might find better overall alternatives in the same range. Until the official price and full specifications are revealed, it’s best to stay cautious.
Why Buyers Should Pay Attention
Today, smartphone launches and sales mostly depend on the hype around features and design, even though users should first check the specifications. If a user needs a good camera, but the phone is launched mainly for its looks or gaming, it won’t be useful for them. Users need to be careful during a smartphone launch and choose a phone that matches their actual needs.
The POCO M8 5G is mostly talked about for its looks and design. However, this doesn’t mean the specs are bad—they are just common in this range. If you already have a well-tested phone with similar specs, it’s better to stick with that instead of a newly launched, untested one. In my personal view, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is fine for taking regular photos, watching videos, listening to music, or playing light games like Candy Crush, but it is not suitable for playing battle royale games.
