POCO just dropped the M8x 5G in India, and it's sitting in an interesting spot. It lands below the M8 and M8 Power in the lineup, but it packs some seriously impressive hardware for the price. We've spent time with it, and there's a lot to unpack here about whether this phone actually lives up to the hype.
The display is genuinely one of the standouts. You get a massive 6.9-inch HD+ LCD screen with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate that can dial down to 60Hz or 90Hz depending on what you're doing. It hits 825 nits of brightness and even carries TÜV Rheinland certifications for blue light reduction and flicker-free output. The Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection is solid too. That said, there's no HDR support, which is a legitimate limitation at this price point. The tiny punch-hole camera barely bothers you while watching videos, and the overall design is clean with a flat plastic frame that actually feels good in hand.
Here's where things get really interesting. That 7900mAh battery is genuinely massive, yet POCO managed to keep the phone just 8.8mm thick and 232 grams. It comes in Leather Green with a vegan finish, plus Cobalt Blue and Black with matte plastic backs. The phone also rocks IP64 dust and splash resistance, which gives you some real-world protection without being waterproof.
The camera setup pairs a 50MP main shooter with an 8MP front camera. The main sensor does decent work in daylight thanks to pixel binning that outputs 12MP images with good dynamic range. Low light performance is okay but not spectacular, and the lack of OIS hurts video stabilisation even though 1080p recording is fine quality-wise. The software side brings HyperOS 3 with 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches, which is genuinely generous for the M series.
So here's the real question: is the M8x 5G worth it? The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 processor keeps things running smoothly with that 120Hz display, and the battery life potential is absolutely there. But if you're a video enthusiast or low-light photographer, you'll notice the compromises. For pure value though, especially if you prioritise screen smoothness and all-day battery, this phone's hard to ignore.