POCO is taking its F Series further into flagship territory with the new POCO F9 Ultra and POCO F9 Pro. Both phones arrive in Malaysia with 185Hz AMOLED displays, a dedicated VisionBoost D8 visual chipset, 200MP main cameras and audio tuned with Bose.
The two models are not simply different storage configurations of the same phone. The F9 Ultra is the larger, heavier and more ambitious option, with an 8,050mAh battery, a 5x periscope camera and a true 2.1-channel speaker setup. The F9 Pro keeps most of the headline experience in a more compact 206g body and starts at a lower price.
POCO F9 Ultra vs F9 Pro: the key differences
| POCO F9 Ultra | POCO F9 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, V Series |
| Visual chipset | VisionBoost D8 | VisionBoost D8 |
| Display | 6.9-inch, 2608 × 1200, 185Hz HyperRGB AMOLED | 6.59-inch, 2510 × 1156, 185Hz HyperRGB AMOLED |
| Battery | 8,050mAh | 6,330mAh |
| Charging | 100W wired, 50W wireless | 100W wired, 50W wireless |
| Main camera | 200MP with OIS | 200MP with OIS |
| Telephoto | 50MP 5x periscope with OIS | 50MP 2.5x floating telephoto with OIS |
| Ultra-wide | 50MP | 8MP |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers plus independent subwoofer | Dual symmetrical stereo speakers |
| Size and weight | 163.49 × 77.94 × 8.74mm; 235g | 157.49 × 75.25 × 8.79mm; 206g |
| Memory and storage | Up to 16GB + 1TB | Up to 12GB + 512GB |
| Colours | Dark Cherry, Black | Aurora Green, White, Black |
185Hz on the screen, up to 185FPS in selected games
Both phones use POCO’s new HyperRGB AMOLED display technology with a full RGB subpixel structure. The F9 Ultra stretches it across a 6.9-inch panel, while the F9 Pro uses a more manageable 6.59-inch screen. Both support a refresh rate of up to 185Hz, with POCO quoting 4,500 nits of peak brightness across a 25% display area and up to 10,000 nits for a 1% HDR highlight.
The VisionBoost D8 chip is responsible for the more eye-catching gaming claim: frame-rate enhancement up to 185FPS. POCO says more than 20 games can run natively at 185FPS, while five additional titles can reach that figure using Smart frame rate interpolation. AI Super Resolution and Smart frame rate can also operate together in supported titles.
There is an important caveat. A 185Hz panel does not mean every game will run at 185FPS. Game support varies by title and region, while actual performance depends on graphics settings, software, temperature and other conditions. POCO’s quoted figures come from internal testing.
Touch input is equally aggressive on paper, with up to a 4,800Hz instant touch sampling rate in Game Turbo, a 480Hz ten-point touch sampling rate and a gyro sampling rate of up to 200Hz. POCO’s 3D IceLoop cooling system is tasked with keeping that performance stable during longer sessions.
The Ultra prioritises endurance; the Pro prioritises size
The F9 Ultra carries the largest battery yet fitted to a POCO F Series phone: 8,050mAh with 16% silicon-carbon content. POCO claims this can provide two days of mixed use, though that figure is based on a simulated internal test and will vary with individual usage.
The F9 Pro’s 6,330mAh battery is smaller but still substantial for a phone measuring 157.49mm tall and weighing 206g. POCO says its 100W wired charging can take the Pro from 1% to 50% in 19 minutes under its test conditions; 50W wireless charging is quoted at 35 minutes to 50% with Xiaomi’s compatible charging stand.
Both phones support 100W wired and 50W wireless HyperCharge, plus reverse charging at up to 27W over a cable or 22.5W wirelessly. Wireless chargers are sold separately.
A 200MP camera on both, but different supporting lenses
The shared 200MP main camera includes optical image stabilisation and a dedicated full-resolution mode. The bigger difference lies in the secondary cameras.
The F9 Ultra has the more complete setup: a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto with OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. POCO also advertises 10x lossless zoom and 20x AI Ultra Zoom. This gives the Ultra a wider range for distant subjects and more room for cropping.
The F9 Pro uses a 50MP 2.5x floating telephoto camera with OIS. Its minimum focusing distance of 10cm allows it to double as a close-up camera, making it potentially more versatile for food, products and detail shots even though it does not reach as far as the Ultra’s periscope. Its ultra-wide camera is an 8MP unit.
Both phones include a 32MP selfie camera and support POCO’s Live cinematography tools for 4K recording and automated focal transitions. The Ultra can record up to 4K at 60fps according to its product sheet.
Bose-tuned audio comes to the full series
POCO has expanded its Bose partnership across both models. Users can choose between Dynamic and Balanced sound profiles, while an upcoming Game audio mode is designed to emphasise footsteps without masking gunfire, dialogue and other effects. The feature is scheduled to arrive through an OTA update starting in September 2026 and will support selected games.
The hardware differs. The F9 Ultra combines two 1115D stereo speakers with an independent 1620 subwoofer for a 2.1-channel arrangement. The F9 Pro uses two symmetrical 1115F super-linear speakers with a sealed-cavity design, but no separate subwoofer.
Design: bold Ultra or glow-in-the-dark Pro
The F9 Ultra is offered in Dark Cherry and Black, with a metal frame, textured rear finish and a dynamic light built into the camera area.
The F9 Pro comes in Black, White and Aurora Green. The green version is the distinctive one: its rear panel can absorb light and produce an even glow in the dark. POCO notes that the effect depends on the light source, exposure time and viewing conditions. The camera decoration itself is not part of the luminous panel.
Malaysia pricing and launch promotion
The POCO F9 Series is available in Malaysia through mi.com and POCO’s official stores on Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop. Readers interested in buying can check the POCO F9 Ultra Malaysia and POCO F9 Pro Malaysia listings on Shopee.
Affiliate disclosure: The two Shopee links above are affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.
| Model | Configuration | Normal price | Launch price, 1–16 September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| POCO F9 Ultra | 12GB + 256GB | RM3,599 | RM3,299 |
| POCO F9 Ultra | 16GB + 512GB | RM3,999 | RM3,699 |
| POCO F9 Ultra | 16GB + 1TB | RM4,799 | RM4,399 |
| POCO F9 Pro | 12GB + 256GB | RM3,299 | RM2,799 |
| POCO F9 Pro | 12GB + 512GB | RM3,499 | RM3,099 |
During the launch period, the F9 Ultra comes with a POCO Pad C1 (4GB + 64GB), while the F9 Pro comes with a Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro. POCO is also advertising a two-year warranty, screen replacement coverage within six months, three months of Google AI Pro and three months of YouTube Premium. Promotion availability is subject to stock and the retailer’s terms.
Which POCO F9 should you choose?
On paper, the F9 Ultra is the model for buyers who want the longest battery life, the strongest zoom range, the fuller speaker system and up to 1TB of storage. Its trade-offs are equally clear: it is a large 6.9-inch phone that weighs 235g and costs RM500 more than the equivalent launch configuration of the F9 Pro.
The F9 Pro looks like the more balanced option. It retains the 185Hz display, VisionBoost D8 chip, 200MP main camera, 100W wired and 50W wireless charging in a smaller and lighter body. You give up the Ultra’s 5x periscope, 50MP ultra-wide, independent subwoofer and extra battery capacity, but the lower starting price may make it the better fit for more people.
The biggest unknown is how the headline features translate to daily use. The 185FPS gaming mode depends on supported titles, the two-day battery figure is a laboratory estimate, and camera quality cannot be judged from resolution alone. Those are the areas that need hands-on testing before either model earns a full recommendation.
All specifications, prices and promotional details were supplied by POCO Malaysia and were accurate for 1 September 2026. Performance, charging, battery life, brightness and gaming figures are manufacturer claims based on internal testing; actual results may vary.
If battery life and durability matter more than flagship-class performance, the POCO X8 first look explores POCO’s lower-priced endurance-focused alternative.