POCO built its reputation by offering flagship-level hardware at prices that undercut the competition. But the company’s latest Ultra model shows just how much the premium smartphone market has changed.
The POCO F9 Ultra is no longer playing entirely in the traditional “budget flagship” territory. With the top-end configuration pushing beyond the €1,000 mark, POCO has crossed a psychological price barrier that would have been difficult to imagine for the brand a few years ago.
That does not mean the phone lacks value. Quite the opposite. The F9 Ultra comes loaded with specifications that look closer to a full-fledged premium flagship, including Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon processor, a massive 8,050mAh battery, a 200MP primary camera, 5x optical zoom, wireless charging and an ultra-high-refresh-rate AMOLED display.
However, the price increase is difficult to ignore.
POCO F9 Ultra Price: The Budget Flagship Era Is Changing
POCO’s Ultra models have gradually moved further into premium territory, but the F9 Ultra makes that transition particularly obvious.
For comparison, the previous-generation POCO F8 Ultra launched at around €829 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration. The F9 Ultra takes things considerably higher, particularly at the top end.
Promotional offers, launch discounts and early-bird deals could reduce the effective price for some buyers, but the official positioning still signals a significant shift.
In other words, POCO is now asking consumers to consider its Ultra series alongside smartphones from much more established premium brands.
A Huge 6.9-Inch AMOLED Display
The POCO F9 Ultra comes with a massive 6.9-inch AMOLED display, making it one of the larger smartphones in its class.
The panel supports an impressive 185Hz refresh rate, which should make animations, scrolling and supported gaming experiences extremely smooth. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid and BT.2020.
The display has a resolution of 1200 x 2608 pixels, resulting in around 416 pixels per inch.
Another eye-catching specification is the claimed 10,000-nit peak brightness. While peak brightness figures generally apply only under specific conditions rather than across the entire display, the specification suggests that the F9 Ultra is designed to remain highly visible even in demanding lighting conditions.
For movie watching and gaming, the combination of a huge AMOLED panel, HDR support and an extremely high refresh rate makes the display one of the phone’s biggest attractions.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Powers the F9 Ultra
Under the hood, the POCO F9 Ultra gets Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, built using a 3nm process.
This is clearly flagship-grade silicon and represents a major step beyond the processors traditionally associated with affordable performance smartphones.
The F9 Ultra is available with several memory and storage configurations:
- 12GB RAM + 256GB storage
- 16GB RAM + 512GB storage
- 16GB RAM + 1TB storage
The phone uses UFS 4.1 storage, offering fast data access and application loading.
On the software side, the device runs Android 16 with HyperOS 3 and is promised up to four major Android OS updates.
That combination should make the phone particularly attractive to users who want high-end gaming performance and enough memory for heavy multitasking.
200MP Main Camera With 5x Optical Zoom
Photography is another area where POCO is making a serious push.
The F9 Ultra features a 200MP primary camera with an f/1.7 aperture, PDAF and optical image stabilization.
The main sensor is joined by a 50MP telephoto camera with a 120mm equivalent focal length and 5x optical zoom. The telephoto camera also includes PDAF and OIS, which should help maintain stability when shooting distant subjects.
A third 50MP ultrawide camera provides a 102-degree field of view, making it useful for landscapes, architecture and group photography.
The camera setup therefore covers a wide range of shooting scenarios, from standard photos to distant subjects and expansive scenes.
8K Video Recording
The F9 Ultra is not limited to high-resolution still photography.
Its rear cameras can record video at up to 8K resolution at 30fps. It also supports 4K recording at 30fps and 60fps, while slow-motion options extend to much higher frame rates.
The phone supports gyro-EIS and HDR10+ video recording, potentially improving stabilization and dynamic range.
The front-facing 32MP camera can record up to 4K video at 30fps, which should be more than enough for video calls, selfies and social-media content.
Massive 8,050mAh Battery With 100W Charging
Battery capacity is arguably one of the most impressive specifications on the POCO F9 Ultra.
The smartphone packs a huge 8,050mAh battery, significantly larger than what is found in many conventional flagship phones.
Even with its large 6.9-inch display and powerful processor, the enormous battery capacity should provide plenty of endurance for demanding users.
Charging is equally impressive.
The F9 Ultra supports 100W wired charging, along with 50W wireless charging. It also supports USB Power Delivery 3.0, Quick Charge 3+ and 100W PPS.
There is even support for reverse charging, with 27W reverse wired charging and 22.5W reverse wireless charging.
That means the phone can potentially act as a power source for compatible accessories and other devices.
Premium Protection and Connectivity
Despite its performance-focused positioning, the F9 Ultra does not ignore durability.
The phone features a glass front protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, an aluminum frame and a glass-fiber reinforced plastic rear panel.
It also carries an IP68 rating, offering protection against dust and water immersion under specified conditions.
Connectivity is equally comprehensive. The phone supports 5G, eSIM, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 and NFC.
An infrared port is also included, continuing a feature that has become relatively uncommon on many premium smartphones.
Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner and Stereo Audio
For biometric security, POCO has equipped the F9 Ultra with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner.
Audio is another highlight, with 2.1 stereo speakers featuring a dedicated subwoofer. This should give the phone a more powerful low-end response compared with conventional smartphone speaker systems.
For gaming and multimedia consumption, the combination of the large AMOLED display and enhanced speaker setup could make the F9 Ultra a compelling entertainment device.
POCO F9 Ultra Specifications at a Glance
| Feature | POCO F9 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 185Hz |
| Resolution | 1200 × 2608 pixels |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Process | 3nm |
| RAM | Up to 16GB |
| Storage | Up to 1TB UFS 4.1 |
| Main Camera | 200MP, OIS |
| Telephoto | 50MP, 5x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 50MP |
| Front Camera | 32MP |
| Video | Up to 8K 30fps |
| Battery | 8,050mAh |
| Wired Charging | 100W |
| Wireless Charging | 50W |
| OS | Android 16 / HyperOS 3 |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, eSIM |
| Protection | IP68 |
| Fingerprint | Ultrasonic in-display |
| Speakers | 2.1 stereo with subwoofer |
POCO F9 Ultra: A Flagship Killer at a New Price?
The POCO F9 Ultra represents an interesting turning point for the brand.
The specifications are undeniably high-end. A 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB storage, 200MP camera, 5x optical zoom, 8,050mAh battery, 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging put the phone firmly into flagship territory.
But its move beyond the €1,000 psychological barrier changes the conversation.
POCO’s biggest selling point has traditionally been offering premium specifications without demanding premium-brand pricing. With the F9 Ultra, the hardware has become more ambitious, but so has the price.
The result is a phone that looks less like a traditional budget flagship and more like a premium performance smartphone. Whether buyers consider the higher price justified will ultimately depend on real-world camera quality, sustained performance, battery endurance, software support and launch promotions.
One thing is clear: the POCO F9 Ultra is no longer simply trying to be an affordable alternative. It is stepping directly into the flagship conversation.