POCO X8 Pro India Launch Tipped for March 26

The mid-range smartphone wars in India are set to heat up further. POCO is gearing up to launch its latest X-series smartphones. And we have reasons to believe that the POCO X8 Pro is set to arrive on March 26.

The Flipkart microsite for the upcoming smartphone is now live and features the tagline “Stay tuned for neXt.” But that’s not all. The tagline also features the letter ‘X’ in yellow. But that’s not the only clue we have about the upcoming POCO smartphone. The URL also features “Coming Soon March 26.” That’s about as close to confirmation as we can get!

POCO has not officially announced the smartphone yet. But teasers and leaks confirm that the POCO X8 Pro series is around the corner. Let’s summarize everything we know about the upcoming smartphone.

POCO X8 Pro India Launch Date (Expected)

The biggest clue comes from Flipkart’s dedicated landing page. The wording “Coming Soon March 26” strongly suggests that March 26 is the official launch date.

POCO has also teased the device on X (formerly Twitter), again emphasizing the “X” in “neXt” clearly signaling the X-series refresh.

Given that the phone has already appeared on:

• BIS certification

• SDPPI certification

• Geekbench benchmarking platform

…the launch preparations seem to be in the final stages.

POCO X8 Pro Design

The design shown in teasers reveals:

• Flat rear panel

• Vertically stacked dual-camera setup

• Pill-shaped camera module

• Slightly raised lenses with metallic rings

• Circular LED flash beside sensors

• POCO logo at the bottom left

Interestingly, this design closely resembles the Redmi Turbo 5, which debuted in China earlier this year alongside the Redmi Turbo 5 Max.

POCO has historically rebranded Redmi hardware for the Indian market with software tweaks and aggressive pricing. If history repeats itself, the POCO X8 Pro could essentially be a refined version of the Turbo 5.

POCO X8 Pro Specifications (Leaked)

Leaked retail box images shared by tipster Paras Guglani reveal some major hardware details.

Processor

MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra (as per retail box leak)

The device has also appeared on Geekbench, reinforcing performance-focused positioning.

There’s also speculation about a POCO X8 Pro Max variant, reportedly featuring:

• Dimensity 9500s chipset

• Higher AnTuTu score (though tested on a different version)

If accurate, this would mirror the Turbo 5 Max strategy.

Display

• 6.59-inch AMOLED panel

• 1.5K resolution

• 120Hz refresh rate

This places it squarely in the performance-centric mid-premium segment.

Camera

• 50MP primary camera

• Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS)

• Dual rear camera setup

POCO appears to be focusing on a balanced setup rather than pushing experimental multi-camera systems.

Battery & Charging

• Massive 6,500mAh battery

• 100W fast charging

On paper, this is one of the biggest highlights. For gamers and heavy users, a 6,500mAh battery paired with 100W charging could be a serious selling point.

Performance Expectations

If the Dimensity 8500 Ultra powers the device, the POCO X8 Pro will directly compete in the ₹30,000 – ₹35,000 segment. Brands like iQOO, Realme and OnePlus are already offering high-refresh AMOLED panels and fast charging in this range.

However, a 6,500mAh battery + 100W charging combo could give POCO an endurance advantage especially among gamers who prioritize:

• Stable performance

• Thermal efficiency

• Long gaming sessions

• Faster recharge times

POCO X8 Pro Max

There’s growing buzz around a potential X8 Pro Max variant.

Tipster Abhishek Yadav previously shared an alleged AnTuTu listing pointing to:

• MediaTek Dimensity 9500s

• Slightly higher benchmark score than the Turbo 5 Max

The device has reportedly surfaced in Indian certification listings as well.

If POCO launches both variants together, it may create a two-tier strategy:

• X8 Pro → Performance + Battery focus

• X8 Pro Max → Higher flagship-level chipset

Pricing Expectations in India

The critical factor will be pricing.

The X-series has traditionally been aggressively priced in India. If POCO keeps the X8 Pro under ₹35,000, it could:

✔ Attract performance-focused users

✔ Appeal to gamers

✔ Offer better battery endurance than rivals

However, if pricing creeps closer to premium territory, it will face strong competition from established alternatives offering similar displays and charging speeds.

POCO C85x 5G Also Teased

Alongside the X8 Pro launch, Flipkart is teasing the POCO C85x 5G.

For context, the POCO C85 5G launched in December 2025 with:

• Dimensity 6300 chipset

• 50MP dual rear camera

• 6,000mAh battery

The C85x 5G is expected to continue targeting the budget segment, likely offering 5G connectivity at an affordable price.

This dual launch strategy allows POCO to cover:

• Budget buyers (C-series)

• Mid-premium performance users (X-series)

The POCO X8 Pro is shaping up to be a very capable mid-range phone. With its design inspired from the Redmi Turbo 5, a rumored Dimensity 8500 Ultra SoC, and a massive 6,500mAh battery with 100W charging support, the POCO X8 Pro seems to have checked many boxes for power users.

It seems POCO is sticking to their pricing strategy. This phone has the potential to shake up the market in the ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 segment once again.

It looks like we should keep an eye on March 26.