POCO X8 Pro Night Shots - BETTER than expected
POCO has officially rolled out the X8 Pro Series in the Philippines, delivering incredible value and shaking up the local mid-range smartphone scene.
 |
| POCO X8 Pro in the dark, yes, it can deliver |
These are performance-focused smartphones with best-in-class processors, fast memory options, and some of the biggest batteries around.
If there's a compromise with these phones, it lies in the cameras—especially in low-light conditions—as POCO devices at this price point aren't typically known for photography.
But that might not be the case. Here's why.
The unit I have is the POCO X8 Pro with similar camera specs to the higher-end POCO X8 Pro Max.
Note: The POCO X8 Pro is equipped with a 50MP f/1.5 OIS Sony IMX882 sensor, while the X8 Pro Max carries the 50MP OIS f/1.5 Light Fusion 600. Both are identical—Sony simply rebranded the IMX882 under its new Light Fusion naming scheme. But the image processing from X8 Pro Max's higher-end processor might be a little better.
POCO X8 Pro Night Shots - BETTER than expected
 |
| 1x, 0.6 ultra-wide |
The good news, this can take pretty good nightscapes. It handles light decently, colors remain intact, and details are crisp. Artifacts are barely noticeable, unless you pixel peep.
The surprise? Even the 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera can shoot well in the dark. There is just a slight blue-violet hue in the sky instead of a darker tone from its main camera, but that's minor for me, considering the overall value this phone gives.
 |
| 1x, 2x zoom |
Even when zooming up to 2x, the quality in the dark remains almost the same—a good sign for those who need to shoot things from afar. Even at 4x, the quality is decent.
 |
| 1x, 2x zoom |
Focusing on close-up shots is where it struggled a little with focusing. Shots are a little soft even if you zoom. BUT, this is still better than expected. Colors are intact and grain is minimal.
Here are more night shots.
 |
| 1x, ultra-wide |
 |
| 1x, ultra-wide |
 |
| 1x, ultra-wide |
Yes, colors are a bit warmer than usual and sometimes, exposure is a little aggressive. But, these images proved that the POCO X8 Pro si capable of delivering images that you won't be shy to share on social media.
 |
| 26mm 1x Portrait selfie, 21mm 0.8x Portrait selfie |
Even for selfies, its 20MP cameras are not bad. Grain is a bit visible, but more than tolerable. Most will be okay with these results, particularly with its color science. Its HDR is also good enough to handle the lighting from post lamps, and the edge detection of its Portrait bokeh effect is above average for the price.
Except for pitch-black conditions, most users won't have many issues with the low-light capabilities of this phone.
Except for pitch-black conditions, most users won't have many issues with the low-light capabilities of this phone.
Quick thoughts
The POCO X8 Pro proved me wrong. Low-light photography is not the weakness of this device.
For the price, all of its cameras can deliver crisp nightscapes, vibrant colors, and surprisingly clean enough zoom shots, even up to 4x. Despite using lower-end sensors, the ultra-wide and selfie cameras surprisingly held their own.
Even the shooting and processing speed are quick for a mid-ranger.
At this level, the ability to capture share-worthy night shots is a genuine advantage, making the X8 Pro not just a performance powerhouse but also a capable all-rounder for users who also want respectable shooting capabilities without spending flagship money.
In the Philippines, the POCO X8 Pro starts at PHP 18,999 with a PHP 15,499 starting early bird price until March 26.
Post a Comment