Poco F8 Ultra Certified Early – Could Be Based on Redmi K90 Pro Max

The Poco F8 Ultra appears to be arriving earlier than anyone expected, shaking up Poco’s usual yearly rhythm. Traditionally, each F-series release – like the Poco F7 Ultra and F7 Pro, which landed in March – followed a consistent annual schedule. But the new certification from Thailand’s NBTC authority suggests that the Poco F8 Ultra might break that pattern entirely.

The listing confirms the device’s model number, 25102PCBEG, hinting that its launch could happen months ahead of the previous cycle.

NBTC certifications usually appear relatively close to an official reveal, though not immediately before it. Seeing the Poco F8 Ultra listed this far in advance implies that Poco is preparing to go on the offensive earlier in 2025, possibly to compete directly with Redmi’s new K90 lineup. This timing strategy could allow Poco to capture attention before rival launches dominate the high-end Android market.

Rumors have circulated that the Poco F8 Ultra will be a rebranded version of the Redmi K90 Pro. However, Redmi’s recent confirmation of an even higher-end K90 Pro Max model complicates things. The K90 Pro Max has been at the center of Redmi’s recent teasers, clearly positioned as the flagship of the series. Given Poco’s track record of adopting top-tier Redmi hardware under its own identity, speculation now leans heavily toward the F8 Ultra being based on the K90 Pro Max rather than the standard K90 Pro.

If that’s true, we could be looking at one of the most powerful Poco devices ever built. The rumored specifications include a 6.9-inch OLED display with full-range DC dimming, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, a massive 1/1.31-inch main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. This setup would firmly place the F8 Ultra in flagship territory, rivaling the most premium Android smartphones in both performance and imaging.

For context, the previous generation – the Poco F7 Ultra – launched at around €519.89 for the 256GB + 12GB RAM model, while the F7 Pro started at roughly €428.78. If Poco follows its usual pricing pattern, the F8 Ultra could undercut its competition despite offering high-end hardware, making it a potential disruptor in the performance-to-price ratio once again. As for availability, its early certification might mean an unveiling well before March, perhaps even as soon as late 2024. Whether it’s branded as a rebadged K90 Pro or the more ambitious K90 Pro Max, one thing is certain: Poco seems ready to make a bold move in the premium segment this cycle.