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| The Poco F7 debuted months after the Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra. |
In a surprising break from tradition, Xiaomi’s performance-focused sub-brand, Poco, launched the Poco F8 Pro and Poco F8 Ultra in November, months ahead of their typical schedule. This early release had fans eagerly awaiting the inevitable, more affordable vanilla Poco F8 in the following months. However, a new and credible leak now suggests that wait may be in vain—the standard Poco F8 might never arrive.
According to a detailed report from the trusted leakers at Xiaomi Time, Xiaomi is poised for a significant restructuring of its Poco lineup. The bombshell claim? The company may have limited the F8 series to just the Pro and Ultra models, effectively phasing out the standard Poco F8 entirely.
This would mark a dramatic shift for one of Poco’s most beloved lineups, whose roots trace back to the legendary Poco F1. The move appears to be part of a broader strategic pivot within Xiaomi’s portfolio.
The Rebadging Game Changes: Enter the Pro Max Models
The report delves deeper into the mechanics behind this potential change. Last year’s Poco F7 was famously a rebadged version of the Redmi Turbo 5 Pro. This year, however, the source claims Xiaomi’s focus has shifted. Instead of a Redmi Turbo 5 Pro for the Poco F series, the company is allegedly developing a Redmi Turbo 5 Pro Max.
This new “Pro Max” model would then reportedly be rebranded not as a Poco F8, but as the Poco X8 Pro Max. You can read the full, in-depth breakdown of this new model strategy and the rising importance of the M-series in their exclusive report: Xiaomi Time Explains the New 2026 Model Strategy.
A Trimmed-Down X8 Series, Too
The consolidation isn’t limited to the F-series. The same source indicates a similar fate for the Poco X8 lineup. While the Poco X8 Pro (a rebadged Redmi Turbo 5) is expected to launch as usual, the regular Poco X8 is also reportedly on the chopping block.
If these leaks hold true, the Poco X8 family would be streamlined to two distinct models: the Poco X8 Pro and the new top-tier Poco X8 Pro Max, leaving no base model in sight.
Can We Trust the Leak?
It’s crucial to approach this information with cautious optimism. As of now, these claims appear to be based primarily on IMEI database registrations for upcoming devices—a common and often reliable source for early model info, but not a formal announcement.
The complete abandonment of the “Poco F8” nameplate seems particularly drastic. The “F” series has built a formidable reputation for delivering flagship-level performance at a mid-range price, creating a loyal fanbase. It would be a bold, and perhaps risky, move for Poco to retire it.
What This Means for Buyers
If the strategy is accurate, it signals Poco’s intent to move slightly upmarket, focusing on more feature-packed “Pro” and “Ultra” devices with higher price points, while potentially ceding the absolute budget segment to other models in Xiaomi’s vast empire, like the Redmi Note series.
For consumers eyeing the previous generation’s value champion, the Poco F7 remains an excellent buy for pure performance and can still be found. Check the current price for the Poco F7 on Amazon here.
Bottom Line: The classic Poco formula of a single, knockout performance phone for the masses may be evolving. While we await official confirmation from Xiaomi, evidence is mounting that the Poco F8 and X8, as we expected them, might be canceled. The future could instead belong to a more stratified lineup of Pro, Pro Max, and Ultra devices, reshaping the budget performance landscape for 2026.