Xiaomi spin-off brand Poco has partnered with Bose to help its new F8 phones stand out in an increasingly crowded market. Both the F8 Pro and F8 Ultra feature stereo speakers designed in collaboration with the audio company, and the Ultra also goes a step further by adding a subwoofer.
Both new F8 phones offer the same dual stereo speakers by Bose, though if you want the benefits of a subwoofer you’ll have to buy the Ultra, which Poco says delivers “deeper, more effective bass.” In addition, two sound profiles have been developed by Bose engineers: a dynamic mode that provides additional bass, and a balanced option that emphasizes the sound and the soundstage even more.
“By combining Bose’s expertise in acoustic engineering with Bose’s innovation in design and technology, the Poco F8 series achieves clarity and depth that redefines what’s possible in mobile sound,” said Nick Smith, president of audio technology and chief strategy officer at Bose.
Both phones are otherwise pretty typical affordable flagships. The F8 Ultra has a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a larger 6.9-inch OLED display, a triple 50-megapixel rear camera, and wireless charging. The F8 Pro uses last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, a smaller 6.59-inch screen, and ditches each of the three rear lenses. Both have an IP68 rating, plus the batteries are larger than 6,000 mAh, which should provide decent longevity.
The F8 Pro starts at $79,579, while the Ultra is available at $29,729, though an early bird discount of $50 is available at launch. Both phones were announced alongside a pair of sub-$400 tablets, the Pad X1 and Pad M1, both of which lean on high-resolution displays and Dolby Atmos speakers to serve as good-value entertainment options.
