Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra vs. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra arrives as a disruptor, boasting cutting-edge Qualcomm silicon and blistering charging speeds, directly challenging Apple’s established dominance with the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two flagship titans, focusing on performance, display quality, battery endurance, and overall user experience.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the power user prioritizing raw performance and charging speed, the Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 100W charging offer a compelling advantage. However, the iPhone 14 Pro Max retains its crown for ecosystem integration, refined software, and consistently excellent camera performance.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2894, A2896
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2025, November 262022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, November 26Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
BuildGlass front (Poco Shield Glass), aluminum alloy frame, fiber-reinforced plastic back or silicone polymer backGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions163.3 x 77.8 x 7.9 mm or 8.3 mm160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight218 g or 220 g (7.69 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionPoco Shield GlassCeramic Shield glass
Resolution1200 x 2608 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 116.6 cm2 (~91.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 68B colors, 2560Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3500 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 840Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 16, HyperOS 3iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/3.0, 115mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF (30cm - ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.4, 18mm, 102˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), 1/3.44", 0.64µm12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos)Yes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 5.0, ASHA, MIHC5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, Display Port, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS, 100% in 38 mins 50W wireless, 50% in 31 mins 22.5W reverse wirelessWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Type6500 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Denim BlueSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
Models25102PCBEGA2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
Price£ 549.00 / € 659.46€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Potentially higher sustained performance due to 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
  • Likely more affordable price point
  • Reverse wireless charging capability

  • Lower display brightness compared to iPhone
  • Less refined software experience (Android vs. iOS)
  • Battery endurance significantly lower than iPhone

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Superior display brightness and contrast
  • Highly optimized iOS ecosystem and software
  • Exceptional camera performance and video recording
  • Industry-leading battery endurance

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Higher price point
  • Less customization options compared to Android

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display at 1760 nits, exceeding the Poco F8 Ultra’s 1077 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize advanced display technology, the iPhone’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The Poco F8 Ultra’s display specifications don’t mention refresh rate or panel type, but given its positioning, a high refresh rate LTPO panel is expected, though it doesn’t match the iPhone’s peak brightness. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz, optimizing for both smoothness and power efficiency.

Camera Comparison

The context data for both devices is limited regarding camera specifics. However, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is known for its exceptional computational photography and video recording capabilities, leveraging Apple’s advanced image signal processor. The Poco F8 Ultra, while likely equipped with a high-resolution sensor, will rely heavily on software optimization to compete. The iPhone’s cinematic mode and ProRes video recording are significant advantages for content creators. Without detailed sensor size and aperture information for the Poco F8 Ultra, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance relative to the iPhone.

Performance

The core of the battle lies in the chipsets. The Poco F8 Ultra’s Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) features an octa-core configuration with a split design – 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores for peak performance and 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M cores for efficiency. This contrasts with the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s hexa-core Apple A16 Bionic (4nm) with 2x3.46 GHz Everest cores and 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth cores. While core count isn’t everything, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s newer 3nm process should offer improved thermal efficiency and potentially higher sustained performance. However, Apple’s A16 Bionic is renowned for its exceptional single-core performance and optimized software integration, which often translates to a smoother user experience despite the lower clock speeds. The Poco F8 Ultra likely benefits from faster LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing its multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts an endurance rating of 121 hours, a testament to Apple’s efficient hardware and software optimization. The Poco F8 Ultra, with an active use score of 18:52h, falls significantly behind in endurance. However, the Poco F8 Ultra compensates with its revolutionary charging capabilities. 100W wired charging delivers a full charge in just 38 minutes, while 50W wireless charging reaches 50% in 31 minutes. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s charging is comparatively slow, taking 30 minutes for a 50% charge with wired PD2.0. The Poco F8 Ultra also offers 22.5W reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the iPhone.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, coupled with the convenience of incredibly fast wired and wireless charging. Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max if you prioritize a seamless user experience, a mature and optimized software ecosystem, and a consistently reliable camera system, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed and raw CPU benchmarks.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Poco F8 Ultra overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is designed to improve thermal efficiency. However, sustained peak performance will inevitably generate heat. The Poco F8 Ultra likely incorporates advanced cooling solutions (vapor chamber, graphite sheets) to mitigate throttling, but real-world performance will depend on ambient temperature and game settings. Benchmarks and user reviews will provide more definitive answers.
❓ Is the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 20W charging speed still acceptable in 2024, given the advancements in fast charging technology?
While 20W charging is considerably slower than the Poco F8 Ultra’s 100W charging, Apple prioritizes battery health and long-term battery lifespan over rapid charging speeds. The slower charging rate minimizes heat generation and reduces stress on the battery cells. However, users accustomed to the convenience of ultra-fast charging may find the iPhone’s charging speed frustrating.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Poco F8 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
The Poco F8 Ultra runs on Android, offering extensive customization options and a more open ecosystem. The iPhone 14 Pro Max runs on iOS, known for its simplicity, intuitive interface, and tight integration with Apple’s hardware and services. iOS receives consistent and timely software updates, while Android updates can vary depending on the manufacturer.
❓ What is the impact of the A16 Bionic’s 4nm process on real-world performance compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s 3nm process?
While the 3nm process theoretically offers greater efficiency, Apple’s A16 Bionic benefits from years of software optimization specifically tailored to its architecture. This tight integration often results in smoother performance and better power management, even with a slightly larger process node. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will likely excel in raw processing power, but the A16 Bionic’s overall user experience may feel more refined.