Reviews

LG Velvet review: Flagship reimagined

A refreshing take from LG, a much needed option in 2020

Published

November 3, 2020

I’ve reviewed many different phones this year and consistently the theme has been this: Phone prices are rising; and there are no exceptions. A faster display, multiple cameras, 5G — it all adds up. If you don’t need all of these extras on a flagship smartphone, what options are there for you?

Instead of launching a revolutionary new phone meant to blow your socks off, LG sought to fill that void with a new breed of flagship smartphone with just the essential features: the LG Velvet.

An introduction

I’ve closely followed the evolution of LG smartphones for more than six years now. In the second half of 2020, the Korean company is shifting gears — from a new design ID to a new name.

The first phone out of the gate is simply called Velvet, which is a drastic change from their last phone called the LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen.

LG says that starting with Velvet they are moving away from the G and V Series and adopting more expressive names that better fit each smartphone. Instead of offering similarly designed smartphones with marginally better specs, which is basically what everyone else in the industry is doing, they want to create differentiated products with a clear character.

The Velvet isn’t meant to be the successor to last year’s G8; neither is it a midrange version of the V60.

Who then is the Velvet for? What consumer need does it address? And is it your GadgetMatch?

READ: LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen review: 2020’s most underrated phone

Evolved design language

If I were to describe LG phones released over the last few years, several words come to mind: uninspired, unexciting, boring, bland. They looked okay but let’s just say they would never have won a smartphone beauty pageant, so most folks did not pay attention.

With the Velvet, LG set out to focus on its design. Versus last year’s G8 and the V60, immediately you can tell that LG made an effort. From curves on both its front and back, to what they’re calling a raindrop rear camera — with modules that get smaller as they reach downward. I especially appreciate the clear intent to avoid a huge camera bump.

Did they hit the mark? I’m not sure; I’m finding it hard to make an emotional connection with my review device.

After all the rich vibrant phones that have become my daily drivers this year, my LG Velvet is a bland shade of grey. Although, it is available in a host of other colors: Illusion Sunset, Aurora White, Aurora Green, Aurora Silver and something they’re calling New Black.

I am also not sure the curved displays were the best choice and overall it doesn’t necessarily look original.

There is, however, a lot to like about the Velvet. There is a certain subdued sophistication about the phone. I appreciate that it’s not too wide so you can hold it securely with one hand and that it’s light enough so that when you use it with the Dual Screen Case, it doesn’t get significantly heavy.

I also like that the Dual Screen case for the Velvet also comes in matte white. It’s refreshing, and it doesn’t pick up smudges like the mirror finish of the V60’s Dual Screen case.

I love that there are well-designed third party cases available for the Velvet at launch. LG partnered with Korean accessory manufacturer Design Skin. I would go as far as saying that these are some of the best designed cases we’ve seen for any phone.

This case has two card slots, comes in an olive shade and a croc skin finish.

This emerald green one is my favorite. It has an elastic leather strap just like a designer clutch — a stylish way to keep your phone secure when you’re out and about. Hidden underneath is a slot for a card or two.

There are plenty of other case options for the LG Velvet on Amazon ahead of its European and North American debut as well.

A flagship that doesn’t blow your socks off

There are many ways to tackle this next section. It can be about addressing why this phone has a 700-series processor, usually reserved for midrange smartphones, which I feel is the elephant in the room. In the US, the T-Mobile variant is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000C chip. I want to take this opportunity to challenge the status quo and encourage a new way of thinking.

Silicon technology has improved so much over the last few years that it’s gotten to a point where most people don’t necessarily need a phone with a top of the line processor.

This next statement might come off as controversial, but the everyday user does not need a phone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865.

Snapdragon 765, which powers the LG Velvet, is a very capable processor that can handle the needs of the average consumer. If doing so allows a phone company to pass on savings to you the consumer, I’m all for it.

In essence, I believe that is what the LG Velvet is all about: giving users what they need instead of making them pay for high tech extras that prosumers and tech nerds have come to expect.

It’s a well-rounded smartphone and it comes with support for 5G networks. This is despite the lack of a fast display and out of this world telescopic camera.

In the time that I spent with the LG Velvet, I didn’t experience any hiccups in terms of performance. The phone has enough RAM to handle all the apps that I juggle on a daily basis, and the Snapdragon 765 processor handled everything I threw at it.

Of course Pokemon Go and Raid Shadow Legends might not qualify as graphics intensive games, but my buddies Joshua Vergara and Booredatwork also played a lot of Call of Duty and PUBG, respectively, and they didn’t have complaints either.

Its P-OLED display is bright and vibrant and was a pleasure to consume content on. Like the V60, it has a tear drop notch on the top center of the screen.

Dual Screen, dual fun

Cementing the company’s commitment to this form factor, the Velvet is compatible with its own Dual Screen case. Depending on where you live, it either comes bundled or is a separate purchase.

In our exhaustive review of the LG V60, we explored all the things you can do with this form factor and why it makes sense as an accessory. If you want an in-depth guide on how you can maximize the dual screen experience, read that review here, or watch it here. My thoughts there apply to the Velvet’s Dual Screen experience as well.

I love being able to use it as a controller to level up my game play, tickling my retro bones using Drastic DS to emulate my favorite Nintendo games from my childhood, and using it as an e-book reader using Librera, which is closer to the experience of reading an actual printed book than.

Of course there’s multitasking: having two documents open at the same time, or a web browser in one and Google Docs in the other. Having that second display for a chat app, a video, or my twitter feed is great and makes a lot of sense for someone like me. You can also save shortcuts for apps that you frequently open together: Spotify and Google Maps when you’re driving for example.

One of my favorite use cases, pun unintended, is flipping the case all the way around and using it as a monitor when photographing others. I also love that I can easily prop the phone up when watching videos or even when I’m on a video call.

Stylus support

Just like the V60, there’s support for any Wacom AES pen on the Velvet. If you’re the type who likes being able to jot down notes the old school way, you can purchase a stylus like Wacom’s Bamboo Ink and use it to take notes, sign documents, or draw on your Velvet.

Some will argue that the Galaxy Note comes with a bundled pen and that you can store it in the phone, but old-school note-taking isn’t for everyone. The experience also isn’t as close to pen and paper as the Apple Pencil and the iPad.

What I like about the Velvet, just like the Dual Screen case, is that the extra cost is your choice to make depending on your needs.

Exceptional audio lineage

When it comes to audio the LG V60 is the best phone I’ve reviewed this year. Given its lineage I was curious to see how well the Velvet performed in this department.

The phone comes with stereo speakers, LG’s 3D sound engine, and a headphone jack. The only thing it doesn’t have is Quad DAC support which both the G and V series had been known for. Even in this more affordable segment, LG is still the gold standard when it comes to phone audio.

When reviewing the Velvet, I did my usual blind test by listening to songs I know by heart. Its speakers aren’t as loud as the V60 but they are tuned very well. They sound leaps and bounds better than last year’s G8X. It’s also much louder and richer compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20+.

For even better sound you can toggle ON LG’s 3D Sound Engine via the quick settings panel.

Acceptable camera performance

The LG Velvet has three cameras: a standard 48MP wide angle lens, an 8MP ultra-wide angle with a 120 degree field of view, and a 5MP camera dedicated for measuring depth.

This is an important category so I spent a lot of time putting the Velvet’s camera through its paces. Take a look at these sample shots I took around Brooklyn.

With the sun shining overhead, against the light, or even when the sun started to set, the Velvet’s main camera does the job of capturing good photos.

Night Mode also does a decent job when it got dark.

Its ultra-wide angle camera doesn’t perform as well. It was alright during the day, but poor as the sun started to set. Details become fuzzy when there’s not enough light.

The third camera dedicated to creating background blur does a good job cutting subjects out. Phones usually struggle to separate Chay’s hair from the background but the Velvet managed to do it pretty well.

Camera comparison

It’s important to manage our expectations based on how much the Velvet costs. I compared it to the similarly priced OnePlus 8, and the pricier Samsung Galaxy S20+.

During the day when the sun is out, the sky blue, and the model straight off the Paris Fashion Week runway, you’d be hard pressed to pick one photo over the other. All phones did great, captured details well, and produced similar colors.

I’d say the same about this ultra wide angle shot. The only difference is that the S20+ has a wider field of view.

It’s a similar case with these photos taken with 2x zoom. Both the OnePlus and Velvet use digital zoom as they do not have dedicated telephoto cameras.

This ultra-wide angle shot is interesting — a test of how all three phones handle backlit subjects. The S20+ and the Velvet handled the harsh lighting conditions very similarly. The OnePlus 8 did the best job at managing highlights. In some cases, it just boils down to camera software, like in this example.

We spent a lot of time comparing the phones after dark. First, this artsy photo of the Manhattan Bridge shot through some fencing.

Next is of the Brooklyn Bridge. I did a poll on Twitter and most of you picked the S20+’s photo, with the Velvet coming in second and the OnePlus 8 third. It’s a tough call and really depends on what people are judging for. Some voted for presumed color accuracy, some for detail, some voted based on which one fits their aesthetic best.

When you switch to the ultra-wide angle camera, this is where the Velvet suffers. Just like in our daytime photos, the Velvet didn’t capture enough detail for it to be usable.

We took more comparisons this time without night mode. For the most part the results were pretty similar across the board.

In this last comparison photo, we didn’t use night mode as well. All three phones handled this back lit shot differently, but I think all of them are post worthy.

Overall it’s no surprise that people chose the S20+’s photo in my Twitter poll. It does after all have the best camera hardware of the trio, but the Velvet’s main camera held its own. It produced accurate colors in low light while being the cheapest phone in this shootout.

Its ultra-wide camera is just a let down, especially considering LG was pioneered this feature on smartphones many years back. Maybe they shouldn’t have included it, that might have brought down the price even further.

All-day battery

The LG Velvet comes with a 4300 mAh battery. It lasts me a full day of average use with a little bit left over for the next day. It’s not as long lasting as the V60 but overall its battery life is great.

Charging speeds are also respectable considering its battery capacity. Using the bundled fast charger, I got to 10% after 10 minutes and 70% after an hour. A full charge took just one hour and 52 minutes.

The Velvet also supports wireless charging, and it works even with the Dual Screen case on.

If you get the Dual Screen case, it comes with a USB-C adapter that magnetically latches into place. I think is a great idea. Once you plug it into the bundled USB-C cable, you’re not going to lose it. In case you do, you can buy a replacement online.

Pricing and availability

The LG Velvet was announced in South Korea earlier this year with a KRW 899,800 (US$ 700) launch price. In Europe, pricing vary per country: In Italy, it was going for EUR 650 (US$ 757), bundled with the Dual Screen case and LG’s Tone Free wireless earbuds.

In the US, it starts at US$588 if you get it from T-Mobile, US$599 from AT&T, and US$699.99. Just note that the T-Mobile model has slightly different specs than the unit we reviewed.

Is the LG Velvet your GadgetMatch?

Despite not offering the coolest features smartphone nerds rave about, there’s something interesting about the LG Velvet. It’s a much needed class of device for right now. 2020 is the year when brands known for making flagship killers have all but abandoned that calling.

Prosumers who need more computing power, better cameras, and a faster display should definitely look elsewhere.

The LG Velvet is a solid phone. It’s built well, performs great, and most importantly it comes with a price tag that doesn’t break the bank. For that we give it the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

Philippines

The HONOR X8d is serviceable

Steady but slow?

Published

March 19, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Some smartphones aim to stand out. Others just aim to work. The HONOR X8d falls squarely into the second category.

In day-to-day use, it presents itself as a device that focuses on the essentials. It’s functional, predictable, and easy to understand—but also a reminder of how noticeable the gap can be once performance and responsiveness start to lag behind.

A design-first approach

The HONOR X8d makes a decent first impression. It’s slim, relatively lightweight, and easy to hold despite packing a large battery. The flat sides and smooth back give it a clean, modern look, while the camera module adds a bit of visual identity.

It’s available in Light Blue, Velvet Black, and Velvet Grey—options that lean into its youthful positioning. The device also feels sturdy in hand, backed by SGS certification for drop and crush resistance, along with IP65-level protection against dust and splashes.

For a device in this category, the HONOR X8d delivers a build that feels dependable enough for daily use.

Display and media: Bright and usable

Miss All Sunday makes everything look good

Up front, the HONOR X8d features a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3000 nits peak brightness. Colors are vibrant, and the panel supports 100% DCI-P3, which helps content look lively.

For casual viewing, the experience is serviceable. Watching shows or videos feels comfortable, and the high brightness ensures visibility even under harsh lighting. Features like 3840Hz PWM dimming and E-Book mode also help reduce eye strain during extended use.

Now Playing: One Piece Season 2

I skimmed through a few episodes of the One Piece Season 2 live action on Netflix and again it was… alright. Nothing here will blow you away but it serves its purpose.

I also listened to “Attitude” by aespa on YouTube music and it just echoes the general feeling of the phone – serviceable.

That said, the overall experience remains straightforward. It delivers what you need for day-to-day media consumption without going much further.

Performance is where compromises show

The HONOR X8d runs on the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 paired with 8GB of RAM. On paper, it’s positioned for everyday tasks, but in practice, performance leans on the modest side.

Basic interactions like switching between apps or scrolling through feeds can feel slower than expected. There’s a noticeable delay at times, even during simple tasks, which affects the overall flow of the experience.

This extends to camera usage as well, where responsiveness can occasionally feel a step behind. The device remains usable, but the pacing may feel dragging depending on what you’re used to.

Cameras are reliable in good light

The HONOR X8d is equipped with a 108MP main camera alongside a 5MP wide camera, with a 16MP shooter up front.

In good lighting conditions, the phone produces decent images. Shots are clear enough, with acceptable detail and color for social media sharing. The camera system also benefits from a suite of AI tools such as AI Eraser, AI Cutout, and AI Upscale, which add flexibility when editing photos.

Zoom options at 1x, 2x, and 3x remain usable, though results are best when lighting is favorable. Overall, the camera system is dependable for casual snaps.

Software and AI: familiar, feature-filled

Running on MagicOS 10 based on Android 16, the HONOR X8d comes with a feature-rich software experience. It includes tools like AI Translate, AI Writing, AI Notes, and AI Recorder, alongside features such as Magic Portal and Circle to Search.

Like many Android skins today, MagicOS follows a design approach that will feel immediately familiar. The layout, navigation, and overall structure borrow heavily from the iOS-inspired blueprint that most brands have adopted. It’s easy to get into, even for less experienced users.

Typical of entry-level smartphones, the device also includes app recommendations out of the box. Thankfully, these aren’t overly intrusive, and many of the suggested apps are ones users would likely install anyway.

The software helps add depth to the overall package, even if the hardware limits how smooth everything feels in actual use.

Battery and everyday use is a clear strength

One of the standout features of the HONOR X8d is its 7000mAh battery. It’s designed to last through extended use, whether for streaming, browsing, or everyday communication.

Paired with 45W HONOR SuperCharge, topping up the device remains relatively quick. For users who prioritize longevity over speed, this is easily one of the more reliable aspects of the phone.

Is the HONOR X8d your GadgetMatch?

When HONOR Philippines was first teasing the phone it was positioned as something for students. But if I were a parent, I’m pretty sure I’d like my kid to have some kind of advantage and not have to deal with a device that might not be able to keep up with them.

After learning that it’s priced at PhP 15,999 my verdict just became much clearer. This is a Swipe Left.

Add a few more to that price and you can get an excellent smartphone at its early bird price.

The HONOR X8d focuses on delivering the basics—design that works, a large battery, and a feature-filled software experience.

However, the overall experience depends heavily on what you prioritize. For users who simply need a phone that can get through daily tasks, the X8d does enough to hold its ground. For those who value speed and responsiveness, it may feel a step behind.

Whether it fits your needs ultimately comes down to how much you’re willing to trade performance for battery life and features.

Reviews

POCO X8 Pro Max review: A new beast from the far east

That “Pro Max” naming superlative is more than justified

Published

March 17, 2026

Vincenz

Just when I thought POCO was done for the first quarter of 2026, I was instantly humbled.

Two months after the M8 Pro I’ve held, POCO is back with another beast, packing an even more powerful punch.

Here’s my extensive experience with the all-new POCO X8 Pro Max.

Nothing flashy, yet still fancy

First time with the POCO X8 Pro Max, it’s honestly nothing too fancy.

While it does not dare to rival the likes of the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, Infinix’s NOTE 60 Ultra, or TECNO’s POVA Curve 2 5G, the POCO X8 Pro Max still shines in its own way.

The back is clean and minimal with only the ever-so-slightly-protruding camera bump and POCO branding in sight. Upon closer inspection though, those subtle set of lines appears when hit by faint light.

And while we’re at it, that camera bump houses an RGB light deco around the camera duo. It’s customizable with eight (8) colors alongside brightness level adjustments.

Not only does it add flair, but it’s functional too as it glows up to notify you of alerts, to indicate battery charge, to flash for a camera timer, or to light up even when just playing music or games.

The White colorway that I have adds more to that fanciness. I don’t know if it’s the same thing with the Black and Blue shades, though.

Sandwiched by that sturdy metal frame is a back cover made of fiberglass, something that is lightweight and durable at the same time.

Speaking of, the X8 Pro Max boasts quintessential quad IP ratings: IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K. It can withstand not just all the fine dust, beach sand, or even fresh water (but not sea water). It’s also able to resist hot jet water streams, just in case you’re stuck in such situations.

It’s great to see that these stronger IP ratings have become a staple, not just in flagships, but in most midrange offerings.

Marvelous and monstrous

Last year, POCO had only the vanilla X7 and X7 Pro (plus a special Iron Man Edition) in its X-rsenal. This year, POCO have changed things quite a bit by bringing in a newcomer with the familiar “Pro Max” naming.

And, they weren’t playing when they said “Pro Max” as this is equipped with the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9500s 3nm SoC. To be fair, this is a slightly under-clocked version of the Dimensity 9500 found on modern-day flagships, such as the vivo X300 Pro I rock daily.

Still, that doesn’t mean an underpowered performance.

First and foremost, the ever-popular Zenless Zone Zero by HoYoverse runs in High graphics settings by default. Genshin Impact has the same default setting.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 found on the POCO M8 Pro, however, goes only for the lowest setting.

Another favorite hardcore game of mine: Racing Master based on Nvidia’s PhysX physics engine.

As expected, this racing game can run in Ultra-High + 60fps configuration. The M8 Pro stutters and throttles a lot during the first gameplay.

This further proves that it’s not always Snapdragon that’s winning over Dimensity.

POCO’s 3D IceLoop Cooling System also prevented those unwanted hiccups. To be precise, it features a large 5800mm² liquid cooling area where the vapor and liquid are separated for an even highly-efficient heat dissipation.

With those examples in mind, it already gives you the idea that this beast of a smartphone can handle most (if not all) of the graphics-intensive titles you can think of.

POCO further proves that this is, indeed, a Pro Max smartphone. With a speedy 12GB LPDDR5X memory and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, it’s honestly an overkill for a midranger.

Most phones in the range are stuck with the LPDDR4X and UFS 3.1 combo. It’s more evident now that the global RAM (and components) shortage affects everyone — smartphone makers not exempted.

My gaming sessions would not be as easy-breezy without that buttery-smooth 120Hz display alongside that 480Hz/2560Hz touch sampling rates.

Now Playing: Even If This Love Disappears Tonight

With display already in the way, it’s high time to talk deeply about it.

One fine flight, I was bored and cannot sleep. I then just tried to watch something I added in my Netflix list — Even If This Love Disappears Tonight / 오늘 밤, 세계에서 이 사랑이 사라진다 해도 (Oneul bam, segye-eseo i sarangi sarajinda haedo).

Although I am not the type who favors cast over synopsis, Shin Si-ah being the lead honestly enticed me to click this over its gut-wrenching story.

The longer I watch it, the more I get mesmerized — both visuals and overall chemistry of her (as Seoyoon) and Choo Young-woo (as Jaewon).

With its massive 6.83-inch AMOLED 1.5K display with up to 3500 nits of peak brightness, it’s as bright and crystal clear as this beach in Pohang, South Korea.

Spoiler alert ‼️ Much like Jaewon’s disappearance in Seoyoon’s memory, the same can be said on the X8 Pro Max. Once you are already immersed, it makes you think the display bezels have also disappeared into thin air because of how thin they are.

Seoyoon’s heartfelt emotions on-screen can be seen more especially that this display supports all the imaginable pro-grade standards in a modern-day smartphone: 12-bit color depth, 68 Billion Colors, DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut, HDR10+, Dolby Vision.

You have been warned, though. This film is not for the faint-hearted.

But in case you faint on the ground, Corning’s Gorilla Glass 7i protects that precious display from unwanted scathes and scratches. While not as “pro” as Gorilla Glass Victus 2 or Xiaomi’s very own Dragon Crystal Glass 3, that’s still better than having no protection at all 😜

You know what’s “pro”? The inclusion of an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner.

It’s honestly a dealbreaker whenever you’re in a hurry. Being able to unlock the phone in a split-second compared to conventional optical sensors in most midrangers adds up to the “Pro Max” definition of this phone.

On Queue: IVE, H1-KEY, GIRLSET

To immerse myself more, I also tried playing IVE’s futuristic BLACKHOLE music video.

Whether it’s the darkest of blacks or the whitest of whites in Liz’s scenes, or just a pop of color like Jang Wonyoung, this vibrant display is more than enough to satisfy your eyes.

But what’s a pro-grade display without a “Pro Max” audio? Well, the POCO X8 Pro Max doesn’t want to stop just yet.

With its symmetrical stereo speakers alongside that 400% volume boost feature, it instantly filled the room when I was in my banging streaming sessions in the shivering shower.

POCO promises that those speakers are certified for Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos.

My curiosities led me to streaming H1-KEY’s full LOVECHAPTER EP in Lossless format via Apple Music.

Right off the bat, I can already hear the great separation of treble, mid, and bass in their latest comeback track, To. My First Love. Hwiseo’s adlibs truly astounded me — and so did their harmony in every chorus.

As I listen further, it made me realize it’s a great K-Pop song that brings back that good ol’ 2nd-gen K-Pop vibes. Moreover, it also fits well as an anime opening.

Not Like A Movie is also one of K-Pop’s underrated songs of 2026 that I’ve been playing ever since its release last January 2026. The whole LOVECHAPTER EP honestly deserves more praises much like this phone’s superb sound output.

Additionally, GIRLSET’s TWEAK truly made me weak with how soothing their vocals are. Mind you, I listened both in English and in Spanish (just because I suddenly miss Barcelona).

If that’s not enough, I have also tried listening to the acappella version and I felt like I’m listening to the Gods in heaven with how pure their vocals alongside their soulful harmonization.

Satisfying snapper

Let’s be real: Cameras are the mostly forgotten aspects among phones in this segment.

On paper, none of its cameras have Sony’s LYT / IMX or Samsung’s ISOCELL sensors. Instead, you’ll get a 50MP f/1.5 main rear camera based on LightHunter Fusion 600’s 1/1.95-inch sensor.

Meanwhile, its ultra-wide shooter is nothing special at 8MP f/2.2. For selfies, it’s a 20MP front snapper.

But, as we always say here, specs aren’t everything. Looking solely at the filling of the cake, the POCO X8 Pro Max can still deliver satisfying snaps.

With the right angle, framing, and even lighting, it can deliver quality shots regardless of the camera hardware it possesses.

Portraits are surprisingly decent, too.

They are social media-ready and post-worthy as well.

If you’re not a professional shooter, that shutter responsiveness is enough for those picture-perfect portraits.

Cutouts aren’t flawless, though. But, what should we even expect in a conventional camera combo like this?

: Portrait OFF

: Portrait ON

The absence of a dedicated zoom camera is evident when you try to capture anything past the 3x range.

Meanwhile, dimly-lit shots can be either a hit or miss.

In a scene where there’s the least amount of natural light, it will rely heavily on sharpening and brightening the image.

Nevertheless, food shots will still look appetizing enough, regardless of lighting condition.

Battery behemoth

Last but certainly not the least, the POCO X8 Pro Max packs a mighty tank inside — an 8500mAh Si/C battery, to be exact. This is currently POCO’s biggest battery offering in their current line of smartphones.

I would be lying though if I didn’t say I am envious that the China variant (REDMI Turbo 5 MAX) has a bigger 9000mAh capacity.

Still, for day-to-day basis, it’s hard to fully drain the phone in one sitting. If you’re chronically online, the POCO X8 Pro Max will surely handle all your social media-ddiction.

As we speak, gaming is pretty much the baseline for being able to tell how power hungry this beast is.

For instance, the moment I set up and installed all the necessary games I can think of, that 5-hour installation of three games only took up about 20% of charge from its 68% battery state — fresh from the factory.

During a mix of 2.5-hour gameplay, the battery depleted from 48% down to 31%.

Even consuming entertainment shouldn’t be much of a battery hog. Binging K-Pop music videos and live performances on YouTube plus Netflix titles for around three hours ears only a measly 10%.

Heck, even with just 1% remaining in the tank, I was still able to play H1-KEY’s latest comeback song in Apple Music for another ten minutes before the phone fully died.

Now, this is where Xiaomi’s 100W HyperCharge capability comes in.

Although the review unit I have doesn’t have one, I was still able to hook it in with an existing 100W HyperCharge adapter from my stash.

However, most users won’t even have one. Thankfully, the POCO X8 Pro Max is compatible with the PPS charging protocol which enables third-party chargers to fully-utilize that 100W charging speeds, and the results aren’t far off.

My GadgetMatch Charge Test further proves that.

	*Xiaomi 100W HyperCharge Adapter*	*UGREEN 100W Uno GaN Charger*
*START TIME (From 0%)*	3:18PM	12:34AM
3 minutes	0%	1%
5 minutes	4%	2%
10 minutes	8%	11%
15 minutes	17%	15%
20 minutes	22%	24%
*30 minutes*	34%	37%
45 minutes	55%	57%
*1 hour*	76%	77%
1 hour 15 minutes	94%	95%
*END TIME*	4:48PM 1 hour 30 minutes	2:08AM 1 hour 34 minutes

As an addition, I also made the POCO X8 Pro Max as my personal hotspot. I went out around 8AM with 100% charge left. The moment I got back home by 11 in the evening, there’s still 43% left. Most phones have already drained right after the sun has set by 6PM.

Moreover, not only it’s limited to just a dual physical SIM slot. Another slot can run eSIM, which is always my go-to option when traveling. It’s a huge relief this POCO phone supports it as the M8 Pro doesn’t have one.

Speaking of, this phone can also serve as your power bank! With its 27W reverse wired charging support, it can top-up the dead batteries of your 5000mAh phones 👀

And before I forget, Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3 isn’t the most power-efficient system out there. If you happened to read my POCO M8 Pro and Xiaomi Pad 8 review write-ups, you already get the gist of this.

To be specific, as I breezed through my last battery settings, I’ve noticed that App Vault drained the second highest when your phone is in idle mode. I haven’t even set up the feature as of this writing.

This is another reason why my sentiments against the company’s OS keep getting stronger. I’m just hoping they could fix these worrisome woes that affects a lot of existing and prospective Xiaomi / REDMI / POCO users.

Is the POCO X8 Pro Max your GadgetMatch?

The arrival of the POCO X8 Pro Max blows the rest of the competition out of the water.

Although Xiaomi’s HyperOS is the elephant in the room, that was easily overshadowed by how mighty this smartphone is.

The POCO X8 Pro Max is as straightforward as it can get. From visuals, to core performance, all the way to battery endurance (and even capable cameras), I honestly cannot speak ill about it — especially for a phone in this price point.

Whether you’re just a casual user looking for a pro-grade yet inexpensive smartphone or you’re purely just a spec-savvy nerd, you’ll easily drool with how great the POCO X8 Pro Max is.

And with prices of just PhP 25,999 or PhP 27,999 / US$ 469 or 529 paired with all these powerful hardware, what more can you ask for?

They are even heavily discounted now with early bird offers ranging between PhP 18,499 ~ PhP 20,249 and US$ 429 and 459 respectively.

If it is not evident enough with my high praises, the POCO X8 Pro Max is an ultimate Swipe Right, Super Swipe, and a worthy recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

Reviews

POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition review: Midrange phone in superhero armor

POCO x MK15

Published

March 17, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Strip away the Stark Industries styling and the POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition is still what POCO does best — a capable midrange smartphone with steady performance, solid battery life, and a display that holds up well for everyday use.

The difference this time is the armor it’s wearing.

POCO’s latest collaboration wraps the familiar X-series formula in a design inspired by Iron Man’s Mark XV armor, codenamed “Sneaky.” Unlike the classic red-and-gold suit most fans recognize, this stealth-focused armor features a darker black-and-gold palette and appeared as part of the Iron Legion in Iron Man 3.

It’s a stylish twist on an otherwise familiar smartphone. The real question is whether the superhero aesthetic adds enough to make this midrange device stand out.

Design and feel: Stark-inspired aesthetics

The back design of the bare phone prominently features an image of Iron Man. The styling clearly leans into the Mark XV armor inspiration, with a black-and-gold finish that resembles the torso plating of the stealth suit.

It’s bold without being overly flashy.

Interestingly, the look changes quite a bit once you snap on the included case — which is actually my recommendation. With the case on, the design becomes a bit stealthier while also giving the phone a slightly better feel in the hand.

The overall handfeel of the smartphone reminds me a lot of the iPhone 14 Pro Max with a CASETiFY case on — just a tad less chunky. That’s a configuration I used for the past three years, so the shape and weight felt oddly familiar the moment I picked this up.

It helps that the camera module doesn’t protrude very much. With the case on, the back sits flatter than expected, making the phone feel balanced when placed on a desk.

Overall, the design is easily the most distinctive part of this device. Even if you’re not a hardcore Marvel fan, the black-and-gold styling still looks quite good.

The Iron Man theme also extends to the phone’s software. POCO applies the Stark-inspired “armor” across the system UI, most noticeably on the app icons. Naturally, not every app has a custom icon, so unsupported ones are wrapped in a circular frame that resembles the Arc Reactor on Iron Man’s chest. It’s a small touch, but it helps the theme feel more cohesive across the entire phone.

Of course, underneath all that Stark-inspired styling is still a very familiar POCO midrange smartphone.

Performance: Steady for everyday tasks

Under the hood, the POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition is powered by the Dimensity 8500-Ultra processor paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

In daily use, performance is steady for most casual smartphone tasks.

I spent a lot of time doing the usual things — browsing websites, scrolling through reels, TikToks, and what-have-you. Everything felt smooth and responsive throughout.

Like with anything related to Xiaomi, you do get the usual preinstalled apps and occasional ads within the interface. It’s something longtime users of the ecosystem will already be familiar with, but it’s still worth mentioning.

Gaming performance is also respectable.

I fired up Zenless Zone Zero, and the default graphics configuration was set to Medium. That setup actually worked quite well, ensuring that the action-packed gameplay — complete with plenty of particle effects on screen — stayed smooth.

The lower resolution didn’t feel like much of a compromise either, especially on the phone’s 6.59-inch display.

For a midrange device, the overall experience is stable and dependable, which is exactly what most users in this segment are looking for.

Display and media consumption

The 6.59-inch AMOLED display delivers exactly what you would expect from a midrange device today.

It’s above average and quite serviceable. It’s not going to wow you, but you’re definitely not going to feel shortchanged either.

Colors look vibrant, brightness is more than enough for most situations, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling and animations smooth.

Now Playing: Iron Man 3

To stay on theme, I decided to watch a bit of Iron Man 3 on the phone.

The display does its job well, delivering clean and crisp visuals during playback. Explosions pop nicely on screen, and darker scenes still retain decent clarity.

The stereo speakers are fine for casual viewing, but you’ll probably want to use headphones if you’re looking for a truly satisfying audio experience.

Overall, media consumption falls somewhere in the average to above-average range — which is also a pretty accurate way to describe how the movie itself was received when it first came out in 2013.

Battery and charging

Battery life is one of the stronger aspects of the POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition.

The phone packs a large 6500mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day with moderate usage.

That includes a mix of social media browsing, watching videos, messaging, and the occasional gaming session.

Charging is also impressively fast.

Going from 50% to full takes about an episode and a half of an anime — roughly around 30 to 35 minutes. It’s quick enough that topping up the phone during short breaks becomes very convenient.

For a device in this price range, the combination of a large battery and fast charging makes the phone feel reliable throughout the day.

Cameras: right where you expect them

Camera performance is exactly where you’d expect it to be for a midrange smartphone.

Photos are perfectly fine for casual social media posts, but they’re not going to compete with higher-end flagship devices.

One thing to watch out for is the difference in image output between focal lengths. Switching between the ultrawide (0.6x), 1x, and 2x zoom can produce noticeably different results in terms of color and overall look.

In fact, even using the same lens can sometimes produce varying results depending on lighting conditions.

Images tend to have a slightly warm tone with a bit of extra contrast. Lighting plays a big role in how the final photo turns out, so results can vary quite a bit from shot to shot.

Selfies show similar behavior. Taking photos with and without the beauty filter can sometimes result in different exposure levels, which feels a bit odd.

: Beauty filter ON

: Beauty filter OFF

The best way to approach this camera system is to take multiple shots of the same scene. It may sound tedious, but snapping two or three photos increases the chances of getting one that looks just right.

The easiest way to describe the overall camera experience is inconsistent. If you’re the type who takes several photos before picking the best one to post on social media, you’ll probably be fine. But if you prefer reliable point-and-shoot results, it might take a bit more patience.

A curious collaboration

Iron Man has remained one of the most iconic characters in the Marvel universe ever since his silver screen debut in 2008.

But interestingly, there hasn’t been much happening around the character since the events of Avengers: Endgame.

While Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU as Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, the lack of any current Iron Man storyline makes this collaboration feel a little unexpected.

That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad one, though.

The POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition looks good, the box and packaging are genuinely impressive, and the themed design adds a bit of personality to what is otherwise a very familiar smartphone.

For hardcore Iron Man collectors, the appeal is obvious.

For everyone else, it’s essentially a solid midrange phone dressed in superhero armor. And if it lands somewhere close to the previous Iron Man Edition’s price of around PhP 22,999 (In the Philippines), it will likely hit exactly the audience it’s meant for — fans who don’t mind spending a little extra for a collector-style device.

It may not be the most exciting smartphone in the midrange category, but it’s still a fun collaboration nonetheless.