POCO F9 Ultra GBAtemp review
POCO’s latest flagship, the POCO F9 Ultra, is here. Boasting a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, a Bose subwoofer and up to 1TB of storage, is it time to go Ultra?
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://www.mi.com/uk/product/poco-f9-ultra/
Xiaomi’s gaming branch, POCO, has released its latest line of smartphones, with the F9 Ultra being the top-of-the-line model. We’ll take a look at it here.
The POCO F9 Ultra starts at €1,099.9 (Early Bird: €829.9) for the 12+256GB model. The unit under review is the 16+1TB one, which is priced at €1,399.9 (Early Bird: €1,199.9). The F9 Ultra package comes with the following items:
POCO F9 Ultra
The POCO F9 Ultra starts at €1,099.9 (Early Bird: €829.9) for the 12+256GB model. The unit under review is the 16+1TB one, which is priced at €1,399.9 (Early Bird: €1,199.9). The F9 Ultra package comes with the following items:
- POCO F9 Ultra Mobile Phone
- USB Type-C Cable
- SIM Eject Tool
- Protective Case
- Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card, Safety Information
Specs of the device are as follows:
A premium gaming phone
Once a more affordable, gaming-focused branch of Xiaomi, POCO has, in recent years, expanded into the premium phone category. The company’s entry-level smartphones are still reasonably priced, but it does have phones with ‘Pro’ and now ‘Ultra’ suffixes attached. The POCO F9 Ultra is the company’s latest entry in the premium flagship smartphone market, and it bears the markings of such a device.
It’s a very sleek-looking device, with a matte finish that adds a classy touch. The build is sturdy and feels premium to the touch - putting on the included bumper feels like an offence to the tactile feedback that the shell has to offer. The rear rectangular camera bump is akin to most common designs, but bears a speaker with the “Powered by Bose” tag.
It’s great that POCO pre-installed a screen protector on the device and included a bumper. However, it continues its streak of not including a charging brick; a shame considering that the F9 Ultra supports Xiaomi’s 100W wired and 50W wireless HyperCharge features. You’ll look at making an extra purchase to make use of these features, and ideally a 100W charger should be included at the device’s price.
At 235g, the F9 Ultra feels on the heavier end of the smartphone spectrum. However, this is due to the innards of the device, which offer a compromise (more on that later).
Overall, the POCO F9 Ultra’s hardware looks and feels like a premium smartphone. You’ll be hard-pressed to identify this as a gaming phone, and its classy design enables it to be easily used as a discreet daily driver.
POCO F9 Ultra performance
With the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip under the hood, the POCO F9 Ultra is a very capable pocket device. GeekBench 7 scores position it among the top-tier smartphones.
It can run virtually any Android games you throw at it. As for emulation, you can expect very decent performance. PS2 games such as Shadow of the Colossus and Ratchet & Clank at 3x resolution run at a smooth 60fps. GameCube games Twilight Princess and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes run at 30fps and 60fps, respectively, at 3x resolution.
The gaming experience is enhanced by the device’s crisp AMOLED display, which boasts up to 185Hz refresh rate for silky smooth images. The F9 Ultra is also noteworthy for its partnership with Bose, integrating stereo speakers with an independent subwoofer. It’s the most cinematic audio experience I’ve had on a smartphone, and this feature adds a layer of immersiveness to the gaming experience.
Further supporting gaming journeys is the beefy 8,050mAh battery. While it contributes to the F9 Ultra’s heft, it provides ample juice for extended gaming sessions.
Of course, the POCO F9 Ultra is well-suited to be your daily driver. The audiovisual experience is excellent, owing to the unique sound system and crisp display. With a 32MP front camera and a rear camera array featuring a 200MP main camera, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera and a 50MP ultra-wide camera, you can take stunning shots by simply pointing the camera and pressing the shutter button. As the device runs on Android 16, you can install your favourite apps, but being a Xiaomi brand, the POCO F9 Ultra comes with the usual load of bloatware. The battery is particularly useful, enabling it to last up to 2 days on a single charge.
All things considered, the POCO F9 Ultra does not disappoint as a premium smartphone. It does come with a corresponding premium price tag, but the gaming performance, audiovisual excellence, extensive battery life and sturdy build are reflective of the pricing.
Verdict
What We Liked ...
- Premium all-rounder
- Immersive audio experience with stereo speakers and an independent subwoofer system
- Beefy battery
- Includes a pre-installed screen protector and bumper
What We Didn't Like ...
- Price tag
- No charging brick included
- Usual Xiaomi bloatware
9
out of 10