Xiaomi Poco M8 Pro: Balancing Value and Cost for Exceptional Performance

The Poco M8 Pro, also known as the Redmi Note 15+ Pro, is a budget-friendly smartphone priced at £299. It offers great value for money with features like a large display, big battery, and fast charging. However, it does come with some drawbacks such as outdated software and bloatware.

Pros of the Poco M8 Pro include its excellent display, big battery, and fast charging capabilities. On the other hand, cons include outdated software, bloatware, and an average camera experience. Despite its flaws, the Poco M8 Pro is a good choice for those looking for an affordable smartphone option.

Xiaomi’s sub-brands, Redmi and Poco, cater to different segments of the market. Poco is known for offering good value for money, especially for gamers and tech enthusiasts. The Poco M8 Pro shares similarities with the Redmi Note 15+ Pro but comes at a lower price point of £299.

Design-wise, the Poco M8 Pro features a unique and eye-catching design, especially in the “Green” color variant. It has a plastic build with a large camera housing on the back. The phone is slightly heavy at 205.9g but offers a comfortable grip due to its curved frame.

The smartphone boasts a 6.83-inch AMOLED display that is bright, vibrant, and capable. It supports up to 120Hz refresh rates and offers high brightness levels, making it ideal for HDR content. The stereo speakers on the Poco M8 Pro deliver good sound quality but can be a bit shrill at higher volumes.

In terms of performance, the Poco M8 Pro features mid-range hardware with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset. While it may not rival flagship phones in terms of power, it offers solid performance for daily tasks and gaming. The phone supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards.

The camera setup on the Poco M8 Pro includes a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 32MP selfie camera. The main camera performs well in bright conditions but struggles in low light. The ultrawide camera has a different color tone compared to the main camera.

One of the standout features of the Poco M8 Pro is its massive 6500mAh battery, which outperforms many flagship phones. The phone offers fast 100W wired charging, allowing it to charge quickly. However, it does not support wireless charging.

On the software front, the Poco M8 Pro runs on HyperOS 2 based on Android 15. The software experience is where the phone falls short, with bloatware and a cluttered user interface. While the phone offers customization options, the overall experience is slower and less refined compared to other devices.

In conclusion, the Poco M8 Pro is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers impressive hardware and performance for its price. Despite its software issues, the phone delivers great value with its display, battery life, and charging capabilities. It is a solid choice for those looking for an affordable smartphone option with decent features.