What’s New and What’s Not in the Poco F9 Ultra
The Poco F9 Ultra lands as a performance-first phone with a familiar Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset—the same one found in flagship models like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and OnePlus 15. Instead of hardware leaps in the processor, Poco focuses its upgrades on the display, camera, and battery. This generation debuts the VisionBoost D8 chip, supporting refresh rates up to 185Hz for smoother gaming in supported titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile. There’s also a substantial battery jump to 8,050mAh, and the camera system centers on a 200MP main lens—improving image clarity, especially in well-lit settings.
Why Did Poco Hold Off on a Chipset Upgrade?
Underlying Poco’s decision are rising memory costs, which drive up the overall price if the absolute latest chipset is included. The company’s view: current high-end chipsets already deliver more performance than most users need for gaming, everyday tasks, or future-proofing. Upgrading to Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship processor would have spiked costs further—likely pushing the F9 Ultra closer in price to the Xiaomi 18 Ultra, a phone expected to go well above $1,000. For buyers, this means paying less for a phone that’s still at the top of its game, even if the internal chip stays the same as last year’s model.
How Does the F9 Ultra Compare to Rivals and Its Predecessor?
The F9 Ultra’s price tag starts at $799 / £899, up from the F8 Ultra’s $729 / £749 launch. For this, you get a better display and battery, but the processing leap is absent. In practical use, this chipset already ensures top-tier speed for demanding apps, multitasking, and immersive games—the kind of use cases usually felt by power users and enthusiasts. Long-term support should be a priority consideration; expect at least three years of major Android updates in line with recent Poco commitments.
Competition in this price bracket includes phones like the OnePlus 15 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra, both of which use the same Snapdragon chip. If you want truly bleeding-edge silicon and don’t mind paying much more, waiting for the next Xiaomi Ultra or a similar flagship makes sense. For most users—including gamers, content creators, and anyone seeking day-to-day reliability—the F9 Ultra remains highly competitive on real-world performance and overall feature set.
Is the Poco F9 Ultra Worth Buying?
The Poco F9 Ultra is best suited for users who want flagship-grade speed and features—especially if gaming, battery life, or camera quality matter more than chasing the very latest chip. If you already own last year’s F8 Ultra (or an equivalent device with the same chipset), the upgrade case isn’t strong unless the improved battery or display are dealmakers for you. On the other hand, anyone coming from older Poco models or mid-range Androids will find a meaningful leap in display smoothness, endurance, and camera capabilities.
Users strictly focused on future-proofing or those wanting the newest possible Qualcomm silicon should consider waiting—or be prepared to pay flagships prices elsewhere. But for those seeking a balanced, top-performing phone that skips unnecessary cost increases, the Poco F9 Ultra stays smartly competitive in 2026’s market.