POCO X8s launched at $399 with Snapdragon 7 Gen 4: about Rs 110,000 before PTA tax

The POCO X8s is out globally from $399 for 8GB RAM and 256GB storage and $499 for 12GB and 512GB, FoneArena reported on Monday, making it one of the most searched phones in Pakistan today. At the 26 October rate of Rs 276.82 to the dollar, that is about Rs 110,450 and Rs 138,130 before PTA tax and any importer margin.

Xiaomi has not announced a Pakistan launch or a local price for the POCO X8s, so treat those rupee figures as a guide, not a shop price.

POCO X8s specifications

• Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4nm, up to 2.8GHz) with Adreno 722 graphics
• Display: 1.5K (2656 x 1220) AMOLED, 1 to 120Hz LTPO, up to 3,500 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision
• Memory: 8GB + 256GB or 12GB + 512GB (UFS 2.2)
• Rear cameras: 50MP main with OIS (Light Fusion 800, 1/1.55 inch), 50MP telephoto, 8MP ultra-wide; 4K video
• Front camera: 20MP
• Battery: 6,330mAh silicon-carbon cell, 100W wired charging, 22.5W reverse wired charging
• Software: HyperOS 3 on Android 16
• Build: IP68, aluminium frame, 8.06mm thick, 187g
• Extras: 5G, nano SIM plus nano SIM or eSIM, NFC, IR blaster, ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers
• Colours: white, blue, black

Launch coverage gives two figures for some specs, including screen size and the telephoto zoom, so wait for POCO's own spec sheet before buying on those details.

What it would cost in Pakistan

A phone brought in on a passport or by an importer pays PTA registration tax on top of its price, and on a $399 phone that tax is a large share of the bill. Work out the exact amount for your case with our PTA mobile tax calculator, since it depends on the phone's value and whether you register on passport or CNIC.

For comparison, POCO phones sold officially in Pakistan are listed with today's prices on our mobile prices page, where Xiaomi and Redmi models sit alongside Infinix, Tecno and Samsung in the same price band.

Early reviews

Notebookcheck's first look praised the phone overall but found the camera fell short of the best in its class, a point worth weighing if photos matter most to you.

Should you wait?

If you want an X8s with a warranty, wait for Xiaomi Pakistan to confirm a launch and price; an official model needs no PTA payment at the counter. Phone prices in Pakistan have been climbing this month, as we reported in smartphone prices up Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000.