The most expensive Android phones from the likes of Samsung, Honor and Google can command upwards of £1,100, but you don’t need to take out a loan to get your hands on a much cheaper, very capable handset. The UK is rife with Android options at many price points, and the latest addition for your consideration is a £229 phone from Xiaomi’s sub-brand Poco.

The Poco M8 5G and M8 Pro 5G bring svelte good looks, large batteries with very fast charging and capable camera specs to a price point that shouldn’t make you scoff.

For just £229 (with an introductory offer of £199) the Poco M8 has a 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip and a 50MP main camera. It also has a large 5,520mAh battery with support for 45W charging, though Poco confirmed to me that neither phone ships with a charger in the box in the UK, so you’ll have to pay extra to get top speeds.

It’s an annoyance that applies to the majority of new smartphones bought on these shores in 2026.

The M8 is a slim phone at just 7.35mm and lightweight at 178g. Many phones these days tip the scales at 200g, and when you’re dealing with small amounts like this, more than 20g of weight less will definitely be noticeable in hand and pocket.

Xiaomi has often positioned Poco for gamers, and this is where you may want to consider stepping up to the £299 Poco M8 Pro (on offer right now for £259). Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 will churn through high-end 3D games better than its sibling, plus you’re getting an enormous 6,500mAh battery with 100W charging for less than £300. That bigger battery makes the phone thicker though at 8.31mm and 205.9g.

Add to that a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED screen, 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and full IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance, this is, on paper, a very capable device for the price.

Specs such as the 100W fast charging far outstrip any Samsung phone at this price, and even the £1,249 Galaxy S25 Ultra can only muster 45W speeds. Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi are really pushing the envelope by putting superior specs in mid-range Android phones, putting firms like Samsung and Google to shame, especially when it comes to charging speeds and battery sizes.

At these prices, the Poco phones outstrip Samsung in terms of screen and battery specs, with camera chops that easily go toe to toe.

The M8 Pro even includes, for the first time in a Poco M series phone, a liquid cooling system that helps keep the phone chillier when you’re really pushing it during games.

Both these phones are a cheaper way of getting your hands on Xiaomi’s much-improved HyperOS Android software. I’ve used many Xiaomi and Poco phones in my decade as a phone reviewer, and the software formerly known as MIUI left a lot to be desired. Now HyperOS, it’s a much more user-friendly and thoughtful software, and vastly improves the feel of budget and mid-range phones.

This was evident when I tested the superb Xiaomi 15T Pro earlier this year. I predict the improvements will help no end with the Poco M8 and M8 Pro despite their cheaper price points.

The introductory offers that’ll save you money on both Poco phones run until January 14.