Erencan YılmazBreaking news from POCO has completely changed the POCO F8 plans that millions of users have been waiting for! The long-awaited flagship killer POCO F8 appears to be dead. According to a shocking leak that appeared in the GSMA IMEI database, this device, with the model number 2602BPC18G, is now officially listed as the ‘POCO X8 Pro Max’. This shows that POCO has not only completely changed its naming strategy, but also added a new dimension to its competition in the smartphone market by switching to an alleged name like ‘Pro Max’ for the first time in the brand’s history.
POCO F8 is dead: Meet POCO’s first “Pro Max” model, the POCO X8 Pro Max
We recently mentioned the existence of the POCO X8 Pro and even its upcoming “Iron Man” edition. But the real big news has just arrived. For a long time known in tech circles as the POCO F8 and having the model number 2602BPC18G, the device has been listed in the official IMEI database under a surprising name: POCO X8 Pro Max.
This change indicates that POCO has discontinued the POCO F8 naming convention and has adopted a much stronger naming strategy, grouping its top-tier devices under the X series brand. Also, we should mention that the POCO X8 Pro Max will be announced in India too.
- POCO X8 Pro Max (Global): 2602BPC18G
- POCO X8 Pro Max (India): 2602BPC18I
According to the information we obtained, this new POCO X8 Pro Max (previously expected to be the POCO F8) is known in the HyperOS codes by the codename “dash” and has the internal model number “P10U”. This device is expected to inherit POCO’s performance-focused legacy and become the top model of the POCO X series.
A First in POCO History: The “Pro Max” Era Begins
The most striking aspect of this leak is undoubtedly the name change. For the first time in its history, POCO will use the “Pro Max” suffix on one of its phones.
This strategy is actually not a total surprise for Xiaomi and Redmi. As you may recall:
- The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max was announced in the Xiaomi 17 series.
- On the REDMI side, we encountered the REDMI K90 Pro Max naming.
- Also, for those who don’t remember, the “Redmi Note 9 Pro Max” is among them. Xiaomi actually used this “Pro Max” naming for the first time in 2020.
Now, this wave has reached POCO, and the brand aims to give users the message of “biggest and strongest” by positioning its flagship killer segment device as the “X8 Pro Max”.
Naming Discussions: Apple and POCO competition
When we hear the name “Pro Max”, the first brand that comes to mind is undoubtedly Apple. This will inevitably bring discussions in tech forums that “POCO is copying Apple’s naming.” However, looking at the other side of the coin, we know there was heavy criticism in the past that Apple used the iconic design lines of the POCO X5 Pro in its own models.
At this point, rather than discussing “who copied whom,” it is more accurate to focus on the impact of this interaction on the industry. Android manufacturers borrow from iOS, and Apple constantly borrows features or designs from the Android world. The convergence of naming strategies is a natural part of this competition. Ultimately, brands pushing each other to produce more ambitious models (like Pro Max) is to the benefit of the user, who gets access to better devices.
Those waiting for the POCO F8 should not be disappointed; the device has not been canceled. Only the name of the POCO F8 has changed. POCO is preparing to dominate the smartphone market in the coming period with the POCO X8 Pro, POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition, and the new giant of the family, the POCO X8 Pro Max.
