The most important thing in this comparison is what has not changed: both phones have the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. The F9 Ultra adds an 8,050 mAh battery instead of 6,500 mAh, a 185 Hz display instead of 120 Hz, and a 200 MP main camera. In return, it is heavier, thicker, and more expensive: starting at 3,299 PLN compared to 2,799 PLN for the F8 Ultra.
The short answer: the upgrade is usually not worth it. If you are buying for the first time, the F9 Ultra makes sense primarily if battery life is the most important factor for you. In other cases, the cheaper F8 Ultra offers almost the same.
Below is the full table, point-by-point differences, and the answer to the question of whether the case and charger from the F8 Ultra fit the F9 Ultra. It is worth knowing right away that neither of these phones comes with a charger in the Polish box.
On the left POCO F9 Ultra, on the right POCO F8 Ultra. You can see a completely different layout of the camera island. Photos: Xiaomi.
POCO F9 Ultra vs F8 Ultra: comparison table
| Parameter | POCO F9 Ultra | POCO F8 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Release | September 1, 2026 | November 26, 2025 |
| Price in Poland (Xiaomi, 10.02.2026) | from 3,299 PLN | from 2,799 PLN |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 + VisionBoost D8 chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Memory | 12/256, 16/512, 16 GB/1 TB | 12/256, 16/512 GB |
| Screen | 6.9″ AMOLED, 185 Hz | 6.9″ AMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Peak Brightness (25% of screen) | 4,500 nits | 3,500 nits |
| Screen Glass | Gorilla Glass 7i | POCO Shield Glass |
| Main Camera | 200 MP, OIS | 50 MP Light Fusion 950, OIS |
| Telephoto | 50 MP, 5x periscope, OIS | 50 MP, 5x periscope, OIS |
| Ultrawide / Front | 50 MP / 32 MP | 50 MP / 32 MP |
| Battery | 8,050 mAh | 6,500 mAh |
| Wired / Wireless Charging | 100 W / 50 W | 100 W / 50 W |
| Reverse Charging | 27 W wired, 22.5 W wireless | 22.5 W wired, wireless (power not specified) |
| Dimensions | 163.49 × 77.94 × 8.74 mm | 163.33 × 77.82 × 7.9 mm (black) / 8.3 mm (Denim Blue) |
| Weight | 235 g | 218 g (black) / 220 g (Denim Blue) |
| Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Charger in the box (PL) | ❌ | ❌ |
Data according to the manufacturer’s specifications (F9 Ultra, F8 Ultra) and the Polish Xiaomi store.
Performance: the same Snapdragon, additional gaming chip
Both have Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, manufactured using a 3 nm process, so you won’t feel a difference in everyday use and applications. In the Geekbench 6 benchmark, GSMArena even measured slightly lower scores for the F9 Ultra (3,530 / 10,500 points compared to 3,636 / 10,876 points).
VisionBoost D8 chip and the effect of its work in the game. Photos: Xiaomi.
The F9 Ultra adds a separate VisionBoost D8 chip. According to Xiaomi, it is responsible for frame interpolation up to 185 fps, which is supported by over 20 games. The improvement of image details (AI Super Resolution) currently works only in five titles, including PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact.
There is also a new variant of 16 GB/1 TB. If you keep a lot of 8K movies on your phone, that’s a point. For most people, 256 GB or 512 GB is sufficient.
Display: 185 Hz and higher brightness
Both displays are 6.9 inches and have the same resolution of 2608 × 1200. The differences are:
- refresh rate of 185 Hz compared to 120 Hz in F8 Ultra,
- peak brightness of 4,500 nits compared to 3,500 nits (both at 25% screen area); in GSMArena’s measurements, it’s 4,333 versus 3,509 nits,
- Gorilla Glass 7i instead of POCO Shield Glass.
However, 185 Hz only works in supported games. According to GSMArena, in the system and apps, F9 Ultra operates at 120 Hz, just like F8 Ultra, so you won’t notice a difference while scrolling.
Cameras: 200 MP, but smaller sensor
Camera island of POCO F9 Ultra. Photo: Xiaomi.
F9 Ultra has a main camera of 200 MP instead of 50 MP. However, this does not automatically mean better photos. According to GSMArena, the sensor in F8 Ultra is physically larger (1/1.31″ compared to 1/1.56″), and a larger sensor collects more light overall.
In practice, 200 MP will be useful when you want to crop photos heavily or print them in large format. GSMArena describes the new camera more as a sideways change than an upgrade, although it rates the night photos from the F9 Ultra very well.
The rest of the set is almost the same: a 50 MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and OIS, a 50 MP wide-angle, and a 32 MP front camera. The F9 Ultra adds slow motion up to 1920 fps in Full HD.
Battery and Charging: the Biggest Difference
8,050 mAh is 1,550 mAh more than the 6,500 mAh in the F8 Ultra, which is almost a quarter more. This is the strongest argument for the new model, especially if you play games or record a lot.
The charging power is the same: 100 W wired, 50 W wireless. Since the F9 Ultra’s battery is larger, it takes longer to charge. In GSMArena’s test with the original Xiaomi charger, the F9 Ultra had 61% after 30 minutes and a full battery in just under an hour. The F8 Ultra charged to full in 39 minutes in GSMArena’s test with the original Xiaomi charger.
Wired reverse charging on the POCO F9 Ultra. Photo: Xiaomi.
The reverse charging is also stronger: 27 W wired on the F9 Ultra compared to 22.5 W on the F8 Ultra. You can charge headphones, a watch, or even another phone with a cable.
Games and temperature: does the F9 Ultra overheat?
POCO F9 Ultra in a game. Photo: Xiaomi.
The F9 Ultra is marketed as a gaming phone, but GSMArena’s test shows the other side of the coin. According to reviewers, the phone heats up significantly under load, and the cooling system does not handle heat dissipation well. During long sessions, performance drops.
The 185 Hz display and frame interpolation work only in supported games. If you play other titles, the F9 Ultra will behave practically like the F8 Ultra, just with a larger battery.
Tip: for gaming, choose a thin case. A thick armored case makes heat dissipation difficult, and with a heating phone, this is a noticeable difference.
Dimensions and weight: the F9 Ultra is heavier
A larger battery also means greater weight. The F9 Ultra weighs 235 g and is 8.74 mm thick. The F8 Ultra weighs 218–220 g and is 7.9–8.3 mm thick, depending on the color. The difference of 15–17 g is noticeable when holding the phone in one hand for a long time. Both models have IP68 resistance.
Does the case from POCO F8 Ultra fit the F9 Ultra?
No. The dimensions of the front are almost identical, but the F9 Ultra is thicker and, most importantly, has a completely different camera island layout. This is visible in the manufacturer’s photos above. Judging by them, the camera cutout in the F8 Ultra case will not align with the lenses of the F9 Ultra.
No accessory manufacturer in our offer labels the case as common for both models. You need a new case and new glass for the F9 Ultra.
Bizon Case Angelo for POCO F9 Ultra: smoky back and black frame.
Bizon Case MatteO for POCO F9 Ultra with a magnetic ring.
3mk FlexibleGlass for the screen and GrizzGlass for the camera.
In the store for F9 Ultra you will find, among others:
- Bizon Case Angelo: smoky back with a black frame,
- Bizon Case MatteO: with a magnetic ring for holders and magnetic chargers,
- 3mk FlexibleGlass: hybrid glass for the screen,
- GrizzGlass HybridGlass Camera: glass for the camera.
[hs_products category=”2678″ limit=”6″ sort=”sales”]
You can find the full offer in the category accessories for POCO F9 Ultra. If you are sticking with F8 Ultra, check out the category accessories for POCO F8 Ultra.
Tip: in the box of both phones, there is a simple protective case from Xiaomi. It’s enough to start with, but there is no glass or camera cover.
Charger: it is not included in the box in Poland
On the Polish Xiaomi website, the contents of the box for both models include a phone, a USB-C cable, a case, and a SIM card ejector. There is no charger, although the global specification for the F9 Ultra lists a power adapter. If you already have a Xiaomi 100 W charger for the F8 Ultra, you can use it with the F9 Ultra as well. Both models achieve the full 100 W only with the Xiaomi charger.
If you are buying a charger anew, it does not have to be an original Xiaomi. In the GSMArena test, the F8 Ultra charged almost as quickly with a USB Power Delivery 120 W charger and PPS up to 20 V: 76% after 30 minutes compared to 78%. A 100 W charger with PPS only up to 16 V provided 55% after half an hour.
So look for a charger with PPS up to around 20 V, not just one with a high wattage. GSMArena tested the F9 Ultra only with the Xiaomi charger, but it has the same 100 W charging system. We discuss specific models in the guide what is the best charger for POCO F8 Ultra, and the full selection is in the network chargers category.
Wireless charging and magnetic accessories
Both models achieve a full 50 W wirelessly only with the Xiaomi dock. With a regular induction charger, the charging is much slower: in the GSMArena test, the F8 Ultra charged at around 8 W on a Qi2 charger. The F9 Ultra was not tested this way, but it has the same charging system.
None of the models have built-in magnets. To use magnetic car mounts, power banks, or chargers, you need a case with a magnetic ring, e.g., the mentioned Bizon Case MatteO. You can find mounts in the phone mounts category, and chargers in the inductive chargers category.
F9 Ultra can also wirelessly charge other devices with a power of 22.5 W. Just place headphones or a watch on its back. F8 Ultra also has reverse wireless charging, but Xiaomi does not specify its power.
POCO F9 Ultra or F8 Ultra: which one to choose?
| Your situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| You have F8 Ultra and are satisfied with it | Stick with F8 Ultra |
| You have F8 Ultra, but the battery doesn’t last all day of gaming | F9 Ultra |
| You are buying your first POCO phone and counting every penny | F8 Ultra |
| You play titles that support 185 Hz | F9 Ultra (be prepared for heating) |
| You want a lighter phone | F8 Ultra |
| You need 1 TB of storage | F9 Ultra |
If you have an older model, we also compared POCO F8 Ultra with F7 Ultra. Pre-release leaks and the F9 Pro model are described in the article POCO F9 Pro and F9 Ultra: premiere and leaks.
Summary: POCO F9 Ultra vs F8 Ultra
- The same processor. The difference concerns only games that support the VisionBoost D8 chip, and the F9 Ultra heats up more in them.
- Larger battery (8,050 mAh) is the strongest argument for the new model.
- 185 Hz and 200 MP look impressive on paper, but in everyday use, the difference is smaller than the numbers suggest.
- F8 Ultra is cheaper: by 500 PLN, and it is also lighter and still very efficient.
- The case from F8 does not fit, but the Xiaomi charger does. There is no charger included in the Polish box for either of them.
Regardless of your choice, it’s worth securing the new phone right away. Start with the category accessories for POCO F9 Ultra. Shipping is free for orders over 100 PLN.
FAQ
Is it worth switching from POCO F8 Ultra to F9 Ultra? For most people, no. Both have the same processor, so the switch makes sense mainly if you need a larger battery.
Does the case for POCO F8 Ultra fit F9 Ultra? No. The F9 Ultra is thicker and has a different camera island layout, so the cutout in the F8 Ultra case won’t align with the lenses. You need a case designed for the F9 Ultra.
How much does POCO F9 Ultra cost in Poland? On the Xiaomi Poland website, the POCO F9 Ultra costs from 3,299 PLN for the 12/256 GB version. The F8 Ultra is available from 2,799 PLN.
Does the POCO F9 Ultra come with a charger in the box? In Poland, no. According to the Polish Xiaomi website, the box contains the phone, a USB-C cable, a case, and a SIM card ejector. You need to buy the charger separately or use the Xiaomi 100 W charger if you already have it.
Will the charger from the POCO F8 Ultra charge the F9 Ultra? Yes. The Xiaomi 100 W charger will charge the F9 Ultra at full power because both models have the same charging system. For chargers from other manufacturers, look for PPS support up to about 20 V.
Does the POCO F9 Ultra have a better camera than the F8 Ultra? It has a main camera with a higher resolution (200 MP compared to 50 MP), but the F8 Ultra has a physically larger sensor. The 5x telephoto, wide-angle, and front cameras are very similar in both models.
