POCO has launched the Poco X8s globally, a compact phone with a 6.35-inch display and early-bird prices starting at $399. The 8GB + 256GB model costs $399, and the 12GB + 512GB model costs $499.
POCO Global announced the phone on X on October 25, and Xiaomi’s global product page now carries the full spec sheet. The launch post closed with a simple pitch:
Available now, starting at just $399!
The X8s joins the Poco X8, which went global at €399.99. It runs a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chip and packs a 6,330mAh battery into a 187g body.
Poco X8s Price and Availability
Both prices are early-bird offers. POCO’s fine print says early-bird pricing varies by platform and region, and that VAT and local taxes can change the final price.
POCO hasn’t published the regular price that applies after the early-bird window closes. Buyers should treat $399 as a launch offer that may not last.
- 8GB + 256GB: $399 (early-bird)
- 12GB + 512GB: $499 (early-bird)
- Colors: White, Blue, Black
POCO hasn’t listed which countries get the phone first. Notebookcheck reported Vietnam pre-orders on Xiaomi’s Shopee store, with shipping between November 6 and 9. POCO hasn’t announced India availability as of October 26.
The Memory and Storage Tradeoff
The spec sheet has one catch at this price. Xiaomi’s spec page lists LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage on both models. Both are older-generation standards than LPDDR5X memory and UFS 3.1 or 4.x storage.
UFS 2.2 has lower rated transfer speeds than newer UFS versions. That can show up in app installs and large file copies. Pairing a $499, 512GB top tier with UFS 2.2 storage is an odd choice that buyers should weigh carefully.
POCO hasn’t explained the choice. We can’t say whether the ongoing memory shortage behind this year’s price rises played a part.
The phone ships on Xiaomi HyperOS 3. Our guide to HyperOS 4 rollout dates covers which Xiaomi and Redmi phones get the next version first. POCO’s product page doesn’t list how many OS updates the X8s will get.
Battery and Charging
The X8s uses a 6,330mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is large for a phone this size. It supports 100W wired charging and 22.5W wired reverse charging. Wireless charging isn’t listed.
POCO claims the battery keeps at least 80% of its health after 1,600 charge cycles. That figure comes from POCO’s own lab testing.
The spec page lists a charger, cable and case in the box, but notes that contents may differ by region. Check with your local seller before assuming the 100W adapter is included.
Display, Cameras and Durability
The 6.35-inch AMOLED panel runs at 2656 x 1220 with a 1-120Hz LTPO refresh rate. POCO quotes up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness, a figure from its own testing.
On the back, a 50MP main camera with OIS sits alongside a 50MP telephoto with 2.5x optical zoom and an 8MP ultra-wide. Rear video tops out at 4K 30fps.
The phone carries an IP68 rating, but POCO’s footnote narrows it. The rating covers 2m of fresh water for 30 minutes, and POCO advises against beach or pool use. Liquid damage beyond those test conditions isn’t covered by warranty.
Poco X8s Specifications
Here are the specs that matter most when comparing the X8s with other phones around $400.
- Display: 6.35-inch AMOLED, 2656 x 1220, 1-120Hz LTPO, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision
- Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4nm), up to 2.8GHz
- Memory: 8GB or 12GB LPDDR4X RAM, 256GB or 512GB UFS 2.2 storage
- Rear cameras: 50MP main (1/1.55-inch, f/1.77, OIS), 50MP 2.5x telephoto, 8MP ultra-wide
- Front camera: 20MP
- Battery: 6,330mAh silicon-carbon, 100W wired, 22.5W wired reverse charging
- Software: Xiaomi HyperOS 3
- Build: 151.1 x 71.8 x 8.06mm, 187g, aluminum frame, glass back, IP68
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC (varies by market), dual eSIM support
- Extras: ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, IR blaster
Sources: POCO Global, Xiaomi Global, Xiaomi Global specs, Notebookcheck
