Seeing how it fared, there’s no doubt in our mind that this year’s POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition will sell like hotcakes.
So, without further ado, let’s unbox the new POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition and give you our first impressions.
Inside the POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition
For this year’s Iron Man Edition, POCO went a different route than last year’s POCO X7 Pro, with the box now resembling the suitcase that Tony Stark used when he faced off with Whiplash during the Monaco Grand Prix in the second movie.
But if you aren’t familiar with the scene, then the Iron Man logo and the Marvel Avengers logos all around the box should give you an idea of what to expect.
But before we move on to the contents, I’d just like to say what an experience unboxing the POCO X8 Pro was. I mean everything, from the fit and finish of the box to the way the contents are presented, every element pays homage to the Iron Man series which fans like me definitely appreciate.
And the experience doesn’t stop there. Like last year’s, the box is one piece, meaning it opens like a suitcase instead of the usual two piece wherein you lift the top part to reveal the contents.
Nestled in the top part of the box is a red box with a logo of what seems to be the arc reactor. Inside it you’ll find the included case and some documentation. On the other side of that arc reactor is the gold SIM ejector tool with the Marvel logo on it.
Beneath that box is an inscription that says “My Name is Tony Stark. Iron Man. Kinda Sorta Famous Where I’m From.” Then beneath that you’ll find an art card that has a blueprint of the Iron Man suit on one side and a monochromatic illustration of Iron Man, giving it a poster feel.
Once you lift that card up, you’ll now see the POCO X8 Pro itself with only a red USB-A to Type-C charging cable underneath it, no charging bricks here… unfortunately.
A Collector Worthy Design
The differences in design between this year and last year’s X7 Pro are very minimal. The few key differences include a more circular LED flash, a smaller footprint, one solid color instead of the two tone colorway of the X7 Pro, and no more raised pill shaped camera island, with the camera cutouts being the only thing sticking out. Sure, it’s also a bit smaller in footprint but you really can’t tell the difference.
The POCO X8 Pro’s protection has also been beefed up with a quad IP rating (IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K) for dust and water resistance, meaning this thing is protected for every weather you can think of in the Philippines. Although screen protection still uses the Corning Gorilla Glass 7i found in the POCO X7 Pro.
It’s available in three colors (four if you include the Iron Man Edition): Black, White, and Mint. Speaking of the Iron Man Edition, POCO really elevated their game with this year’s design. Instead of just the helmet, the X8 Pro now features the whole suit in this iridescent copper color. It’s like Iron Man with the enchantment of Doctor Strange.
Button wise, the left side remains clear because all the buttons are found on the right side for much easier access. At the top you’ll find an IR blaster and a microphone pinhole while at the bottom you’ll find the SIM card tray, Type-C port, and one of the speaker grilles.
Built for Entertainment
Like I’ve previously mentioned, the POCO X8 Pro did get a bit smaller on paper, 6.59 inch compared to the X7 Pro’s 6.67 inch. It’s still an AMOLED panel but it’s now better, brighter, and more responsive.
Of course, the POCO X8 Pro still supports WideVine L1 and a host of HDR certifications that make content streaming a delight. Even more so with the stereo speakers that are certified with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res and Hi-Res Audio Wireless.
Eye care has also been a priority for the X8 Pro which we’ll go into detail about in our full review, making long binging sessions or long gaming sessions safe for the viewer.
If there’s one thing I think would be an area of improvement, it is the refresh rate. While similar smartphones already feature 144Hz, the POCO X8 Pro still uses a 120Hz refresh rate. But I don’t think that it’s much of a dealbreaker, given that not many games utilize the 120Hz refresh rate, let alone 144Hz.
Performance First, As Always
We’ve reached the POCO X Series’ bread and butter, performance. This year’s POCO X8 Pro rocks the latest MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra, coupled with up to 12GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage.
If you’re looking to nitpick the POCO X8 Pro then I’m sorry to say that you won’t find any in this department because POCO’s got that part all locked down.
It runs HyperOS 3 on top of Android 16. However, we have yet to receive information on how long POCO will support the X8 Pro. But if we’re going by the X7 Pro’s software support then we’re looking at up to 3 major Android updates and up to 4 years of security patches.
Bigger Battery, Faster Charging
Another aspect that saw an upgrade is the battery and charging. It gained an additional 500 mAh from the X7 Pro and 100W HyperCharge fast charging as opposed to last year’s 90W HyperCharge. Although you’ll have to buy that 100W HyperCharge charging brick separately because it doesn’t come included in the box, Iron Man Edition or not.
We’ll be testing how long the POCO X8 Pro lasts and how it compares to last year’s X7 Pro in our full review so be sure to stay tuned.
Cameras That Gets the Job Done
In a smartphone that offers amazing performance for less than the price of similarly spec’d devices, costs are bound to be cut somewhere, and the camera is one of those areas. That’s not to say that the POCO X8 Pro’s cameras are bad, it’s just that if you’re looking for a smartphone specifically for its cameras then I think you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
The POCO X8 Pro features a 50 MP Sony IMX882 main camera with OIS and an unspecified 8 MP ultra wide camera, plus you have a 20 MP OmniVision OV20B for the front camera. It’s a carryover from last year’s X7 Pro which is a bit of a letdown, but it could be that POCO focused instead on the image processing side to make the photos better. We’ll definitely know more in our full review.
Initial Thoughts
After spending a bit of time with the POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition, it’s clear that POCO is slowly but surely refining the things that worked well with the X Series. Of course, with a heavy emphasis on performance. We’ve only scratched the surface of what the POCO X8 Pro can offer, we’ll know more once we get an in-depth hands on so be sure to watch out for when that comes out.
On the other hand, the Iron Man Edition shows that POCO is willing to go the extra mile for fans and collectors. From the suitcase inspired packaging to the detailed design on the device itself, the entire unboxing experience feels more special than your typical unboxings.
Of course, in order to maintain the affordability of the X8 Pro, some areas remain largely unchanged like the camera sensors and the 120Hz refresh rate. Still, considering the overall package that the X8 Pro offers, those compromises may not matter as much for users looking for raw performance and reliability.
Be sure to watch out for our full review of the POCO X8 Pro which we’ll be dropping soon. To stay updated, follow us on our socials:
🌐: Unbox Diaries – Vince Domingo
🌐: Unbox Diaries
📷: instagram.com/unboxdiariesyt
📹: youtube.com/@UnboxDiaries
♪: tiktok.com/@unboxdiaries
Price and Availability
Now that the curtain has been raised, Filipinos can now buy the new POCO X8 Pro and X8 Pro Max at a mind-boggling price of ₱15,499 and ₱18,999 for early bird buyers. Which is bonkers if you think about it, especially with all the fuzz regarding the RAM shortage. Even without the discounts, the two phones are priced ridiculously competitive for the package it offers.
Here’s the complete price list of the POCO X8 Pro:
| Model | SRP | Early Bird Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8 + 256GB | PHP 18,999 | PHP 15,499 |
| 8 + 512GB | PHP 19,999 | PHP 16,599 |
| 12 + 512GB | PHP 21,999 | PHP 17,499 |
| 12 + 512GB (Iron Man Edition) | PHP 22,999 | PHP 18,999 |
Take note that early bird prices only run from March 17-26, 2026, so I were you, I’d rush to POCO’s official online store on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop. The same can be said for the Iron Man Edition which sells like hotcakes.