Poco is wasting no time kicking off its 2026 calendar. The brand confirmed on Tuesday that its next budget contender, the Poco M8 5G, will officially launch in India on January 8. As usual for the M-series, the phone will be sold online via Flipkart, with the event scheduled for 12:00 PM IST.
Ditching the Bulk
Budget phones are often thick and heavy, but Poco is trying to change that reputation. The company revealed that the M8 5G measures just 7.35mm thick, making it one of the slimmest handsets in its class. Despite the thin profile, it has a decent heft to it, weighing in at 178g.
The back of the phone is getting a makeover, too. Teasers show a dual-tone finish that mixes a matte texture with “vegan leather”—a fancy term for premium-feeling textured plastic. It also sports a new “squircle” camera module, moving away from the wide rectangular bar design used on older models.
Cameras and Power
Confirmed specs include a 50-megapixel AI primary camera, which should handle most daily shooting needs. Under the hood, leaks suggest the phone will run on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset. If true, this is a solid upgrade that balances speed with battery life.
Speaking of battery, the rumors point to a massive 5,520mAh cell. Fitting a battery that large into a phone this thin is an impressive feat of engineering. Users can also expect a crisp 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which would make scrolling and gaming feel much smoother.
Market Impact & Context
The sub-₹15,000 market in India is fiercely competitive, but it has become a bit stale lately. Most phones in this bracket look the same and offer similar specs.
By focusing on a premium “leather” look and a super-slim body, Poco is trying to separate the M8 5G from the plastic slabs offered by Samsung and Realme. Industry insiders believe this phone might be a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 15 5G. If that is the case, Poco is likely leveraging Xiaomi’s supply chain to bring higher-end features—like that AMOLED screen—down to a much more affordable price point.
What to Expect
Pricing is the final puzzle piece. The previous M7 started at just under ₹10,000, so expect the M8 5G to target the budget-conscious crowd when prices are revealed next week.
