GSMCritic Take: With its enormous battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, the Poco F9 Ultra delivers flagship performance and two-day battery life at a compelling price, though the lack of LTPO display and the same silicon as last year mean the yearly upgrade feels more cosmetic than mechanical.
Screen:
6.9"
Weight:
235g
Water:
Waterproof
Charging:
100W
Optical Zoom:
5x
Thickness:
8.7mm
Screen covers
91.6% of body
Reviews
Overall rating and the reviews that impact it
89
GSMCritic Score
Very Good
Pros
Camera
200 MP Main Camera + 5× Telephoto: 200 MP main sensor paired with 5× optical telephoto, qualifying as top-tier by Ultra-segment standards.
Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor: Fast and reliable ultrasonic sensor outperforming optical side-sensors under partial moisture or low light.
Performance
Flagship Snapdragon SoC: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor running up to 185fps in gaming sessions, identical silicon to last year's flagship.
Design
IP68 Certification: Full water and dust resistance rating, no longer a mid-range luxury.
Display
Premium AMOLED Display: 6.83" AMOLED panel pushing peak brightness into 3,500+ nits tier with fast response times for gaming.
Battery
Two-Day Battery Life: 5,500 mAh cell paired with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 efficiency delivers two-day battery life under moderate usage, with 100 W charging reducing full cycle to under 30 minutes.
Price
Good Value Pricing: Costs less than mainstream 'Ultra' flagships despite similar spec sheet, well priced for the specs.
Audio
Bose Audio System: Dual-chamber Bose-tuned speakers with dedicated subwoofer delivering dynamic range and bass response beyond standard stereo arrays at this physical size.
Cons
Camera
Ultrawide Lacks Autofocus: Ultrawide camera still missing phase-detect autofocus, limiting close-up sharpness inherited from F8 Ultra.
Cameras Capable But Not Top-Tier: Main sensor is reliable and telephoto is solid, yet overall imaging capability falls short of the very best competing Ultras.
Performance
Same SoC as Last Year: Processor silicon identical to the F8 Ultra, making year-on-year performance gains marginal.
Run Hot Under Prolonged Load: Sustained gaming and recording sessions push the device into heavy thermal throttling.
Design
Somewhat Heavy: The premium aluminum frame, glass back, and dual-cell battery architecture contribute weight that pocket reality cannot fully disguise.
Display
No LTPO Display: Fixed high-refresh panel without adaptive refresh — no sub-10 Hz low-power mode, and power draw during light usage stays at the display baseline.
Price
Price Hike Over F8 Ultra: Costs more than the predecessor out of the gate, stretching the value equation despite the overall spec sheet.
Software
Four Major Updates Only: Software support capped at four major Android updates, which feels short for a device priced above $300.
HyperOS Confusing: The software experience remains confusing for many users, with persistent system ads running on the stock interface.
Availability
Outdated Android 16 Out of the Box: Ships with Android 16 rather than the newer Android 17 release available on competing devices.
Rankings
Where Poco F9 Ultra stands in 2026
Best Phone Of 2026
#6
Highest Optical Zoom
🥈#2
Largest Screen
#5
Smallest Screen
#19
Lightest
#24
Thinnest
#19
Fastest Charging
🥇#1
Highest Screen Ratio
🥉#3
Cheapest
#15
