Poco is gearing up to redefine the mid-range performance segment with the upcoming Poco X8 Pro and the first-ever Poco X8 Pro Max. Following the success of the 2025 X7 series, the new leaks from tipster Paras Guglani and Abhishek Yadav reveal a design that is bold, flat, and surprisingly familiar.
The leaked renders show a shift toward a more industrial, flat-edged aesthetic. Both phones are expected to debut in Black, White, and Turquoise (a signature “Poco Blue” variant is also rumored).
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Design Language: The Flat-Edge Evolution
The most striking change is the camera housing. Gone is the large circular or square island; in its place is a vertical pill-shaped module in the top-left corner with two distinct lens rings.
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The “Pro” Look: Features a clean matte or satin finish with large Poco branding on the lower back.
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The “Max” Look: Almost identical to the Pro, but with slightly larger lens rings and a dual-LED flash (compared to the single LED on the standard Pro).
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The Accent: The signature orange power button remains, acting as a tactile nod to Poco’s enthusiast roots.
Performance: Dimensity 8500 vs. 9500s
Under the hood, Poco is leaning heavily into MediaTek’s 2026 lineup.
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Poco X8 Pro: Tipped to run on the Dimensity 8500 Ultra. Geekbench scores suggest a 7% jump in single-core performance over the X7 Pro.
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Poco X8 Pro Max: This “beefed-up” variant is expected to house the Dimensity 9500s, paired with the Immortalis-G925 MC12 GPU—pushing the phone into flagship territory for gaming.
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Battery & Charging: The 8,500mAh Milestone
In what could be the standout spec of 2026, the X8 Pro Max is rumored to carry a gargantuan 8,500mAh battery. Even the standard X8 Pro is no slouch with a tipped 6,500mAh unit.
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Fast Charging: Both models are expected to support 100W wired fast charging, meaning even that massive 8,500mAh tank could be topped up in under an hour.
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Reverse Charging: A 27W reverse charging feature is also rumored, allowing your phone to act as a high-speed power bank for accessories.
Reality Check
Poco is positioning the X8 Pro Max as a “flagship killer.” Still, the leaked price of ₹59,990 for the Max variant (and ₹43,000 for the Pro) marks a significant departure from Poco’s “affordable” reputation. Therefore, while the 8,500mAh battery is revolutionary, the series is moving into a premium price bracket where it will face stiff competition from the Nothing Phone 4a Pro and the Xiaomi 17 series.
The Loopholes
The X8 Pro series is expected to launch with Android 16-based HyperOS 3. In fact, Android 16 hasn’t been fully released by Google yet. Therefore, the “out-of-the-box” software claim likely refers to Poco’s 2026 roadmap rather than immediate availability. Still, the IP69K rating loophole-closer is major; it’s a standard usually reserved for rugged industrial phones, giving Poco a unique durability edge in the mainstream market.
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What This Means for You
If you are an intensive gamer or a traveler who hates carrying power banks, the X8 Pro Max is currently the most promising phone on the 2026 horizon. First, start planning for a Q2 (April-June) launch; the Max variant has already cleared several certifications, suggesting the India release is imminent. Then, evaluate if you really need the “Max” power; the standard X8 Pro at ₹43k still offers a massive 6,500mAh battery and a high-end 1.5K OLED screen for ₹15,000 less.
Finally, realize that rebranding is likely at play here. The X8 Pro is rumored to be the global version of China’s Redmi Turbo 5. You should check for reviews of the Turbo 5 (once available) to get a “hands-on” preview of the Poco’s performance. Before you buy, verify the ultrasonic vs. optical fingerprint sensor; the Pro Max gets the faster 3D ultrasonic version, which is much better for wet or oily fingers.
What’s Next
Poco is expected to announce the official Global Launch Event by late March 2026. Then, pre-orders will likely go live on Flipkart for the Indian market. Finally, look for the official AnTuTu 3 million+ score reveal, which Poco will likely use as its primary marketing weapon against the new Samsung and OnePlus “mid-range” rivals.
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