Poco F9 Ultra Underwater Photography Test: Our 2026 Score

The Poco F8 Ultra won us over last year on a single argument: value for money. A 1/1.31-inch sensor for under €600, at a time when Samsung and Apple flagships crossed €1,200. The Poco F9 Ultra, launched on September 1, 2026 at the brand's global event, pushes that logic further still: 200 megapixels on the main sensor, a 5x periscope telephoto, and a battery that makes the rest of our comparison look modest by comparison.

The question hasn't changed since last year. Does a smartphone that wins on paper also win underwater, at fifteen meters, in natural light, once sealed inside a housing? That's what this test sets out to establish, on launch day itself.

Overall AquaExposure Score: 3.5/5

Best for: recreational divers who want the best possible sensor on a contained flagship budget, videographers who shoot a lot and want a battery that never lets them down, current Poco F7 or F8 Ultra owners considering an upgrade.

Not ideal for: those who want a ready-made touchscreen housing from day one, buyers who prefer fully documented specs over data partly estimated by analogy with the previous generation.

The Poco F9 Ultra's main sensor jumps to 200 megapixels, with an f/1.7 aperture and optical stabilization. That's a real leap from the F8 Ultra's 50MP, with a 0.5 µm pixel size that suggests a sensor format around 1/1.4 inch, an estimate calculated from public data rather than a value directly published by Xiaomi or Poco.

Confirmed technical data: main sensor 200MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 0.5 µm pixel, PDAF, OIS. Periscope telephoto 50MP, f/3.0, 115mm, 1/2.75-inch sensor, 0.64 µm pixel, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, lossless zoom claimed up to 10x. Ultra-wide 50MP, f/2.4, 18mm, 1/2.88-inch sensor, 0.61 µm pixel, 102-degree field of view. Main sensor size in inches not officially published, estimated in the 1/1.2 to 1/1.4-inch range by inference from pixel size and resolution. Native ISO range, minimum focus distance, burst speed with RAW buffer depth, and shutter lag not documented by the manufacturer as of launch. These four unknowns receive the neutral score of 3.

What changes underwater: the jump to 200MP gives real cropping headroom on RAW files, useful when you can't get closer to a subject without disturbing it. The 5x periscope telephoto, inherited from the same sensor class as the already-tested Poco F8 Ultra, keeps the same documented optical behavior: good sharpness, a minimum focus distance that rules out super-macro at this focal length.

HyperOS 3's native Pro mode generates DNG files without a third-party app, exactly as on the already-tested Poco F8 Ultra. Manual Kelvin white balance remains lockable in Pro video mode, a point we validated on the previous generation and that has no reason to regress on this firmware.

Confirmed technical data: native DNG RAW in Pro mode. Video up to 8K at 30fps and 4K at 60fps, with HDR10+ and gyro-EIS stabilization. MotionCam Pro and Blackmagic Camera for Android compatible with HyperOS 3, as on the F8 Ultra, subject to the Camera2 API's stability on this specific firmware version, worth validating before an important dive. RAW bit depth not re-confirmed specifically for this model, estimated at 10 bits by analogy with the F8 Ultra, scored cautiously. A native video Log profile is not confirmed in the spec sheets we consulted at launch, unlike the F8 Ultra which included one with a Rec.709 preview LUT. Color science: proprietary ISP processing, no known optical brand partnership.

Native HDR10+ and 8K30 give post-production headroom for videographers, even though the lack of confirmation on the Log profile is a real step back compared to the F8 Ultra, which offered one.

The tested model carries 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, with no microSD slot, now a standard configuration in this segment. 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging suggest a fast USB-C port, though the exact generation (USB 3.x or Thunderbolt) isn't specified in the spec sheets available at launch.

Confirmed technical data: 16GB RAM, 512GB UFS 4.1 storage, no microSD slot. 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, 27W wired reverse charging and 22.5W wireless reverse charging. Exact USB-C generation and measured transfer speeds not documented at launch. Scored on an intermediate default assumption given the high charging power, which suggests a connector at least USB 3.x rather than plain USB 2.0.

For a day of three dives shooting RAW plus 4K/8K video, 512GB goes a long way without needing to offload between immersions, unlike the already-tested Pixel 11 Pro XL and its 256GB with no expansion slot.

The chassis pairs an aluminum frame, a Gorilla Glass 7i front, and a glass-fiber reinforced plastic back. This combination conducts less heat than an all-aluminum chassis with a vapor chamber, without reaching the thermal performance of the Galaxy S26 Ultra's titanium. The water resistance rating quoted in spec sheets varies by source: IP68 per GSMArena, IP69 in some pre-launch leaks. We're using IP68 as the more cautiously sourced figure pending official confirmation.

Confirmed technical data: aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 7i front, glass-fiber reinforced plastic back. IP68 per GSMArena (accidental immersion 1.5m, 30 minutes), IP69 claimed by other sources not cross-confirmed. No documented MIL-STD certification. Reminder of this site's rule: an IP rating, whatever it is, never measures resistance to diving depth. It never substitutes for a certified underwater housing for real diving use.

Here's the most striking figure on the spec sheet: 8,050 mAh, the largest capacity in our entire smartphone comparison to date, far ahead of the Pixel 11 Pro XL's 5,115 mAh or the Galaxy S26 FE's 4,900 mAh. 100W wired charging lets you top up fully during a short surface interval.

Confirmed technical data: 8,050 mAh, 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging. Cell chemistry and cycle count before 20% capacity loss not officially documented at launch. A capacity this high in a standard smartphone form factor strongly suggests silicon-carbon chemistry, consistent with the broader 2026 market trend, but this hypothesis isn't confirmed by Poco at this stage.

For a day of three dives shooting RAW and video, this battery simply isn't a source of concern, unlike other devices in this comparison where battery life demands careful management.

Autofocus combines PDAF with AI scene recognition, continuing what the Poco F8 Ultra already offered. Nothing in the spec sheets we consulted suggests a technological leap over the previous generation, nor the addition of native Focus Peaking.

Confirmed technical data: multi-zone PDAF with AI scene-recognition processing, consistent with the HyperOS 3 ecosystem already documented on the F8 Ultra. Native Focus Peaking not confirmed, available instead through MotionCam Pro as on the previous generation. Behavior in murky water or on fast-moving subjects not tested to date.

This is the acknowledged weak point of a review published on launch day itself. No dedicated DiveVolk housing is confirmed for the Poco F9 Ultra. The already-tested F8 Ultra relied on a 3D-printed adapter for the SeaTouch 4 Max, an unofficial community solution. Nothing suggests an equivalent solution already exists for the F9 Ultra.

The universal route remains verifiable by the numbers: the official dimensions of 163.5 x 78 x 8.5 mm fit comfortably within the Kraken KRH08 V2's window (174.4 x 81.3 x 8.8 mm), the same route we recommend for the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Galaxy S26 FE while waiting for their dedicated adapters.

Confirmed technical data: no official DiveVolk housing known for the Poco F9 Ultra. Dimensional compatibility confirmed with the Kraken KRH08 V2, a universal button-operated housing, 85 meters. A 3D-printed adapter for the SeaTouch 4 Max, similar to the one documented for the F8 Ultra, is plausible given how close the two generations' dimensions are, but isn't confirmed by any source as of this test.

Available housings. No official DiveVolk housing confirmed at launch. Kraken KRH08 V2, 85 meters, physical Bluetooth buttons, approximately $399, compatible by dimensions. A community 3D-printed adapter for the SeaTouch 4 Max, like the one used for the F8 Ultra, is likely but unconfirmed at this time.

Field workflow. 512GB with no expansion slot and an 8,050 mAh battery eliminate the two constraints that weigh most heavily on other devices in this comparison. This is the least worrying device in our current lineup for an intensive day of diving.

Points to watch. Several technical data points (exact sensor size, battery chemistry, USB-C generation, video Log profile) aren't confirmed at launch and will need this test to be updated once independent reviews are published. The IP68 versus IP69 discrepancy between sources deserves clarification before purchase if accidental water resistance matters to you, keeping in mind that no IP rating substitutes for a dive housing.

Pricing. Trade press estimates put it around €999 for the European market, not officially confirmed by Poco as of writing. For comparison, the Poco F8 Ultra launched at roughly €830, which would mark a notable increase if this figure holds.

Used market. Far too early, the device was just announced. The Poco F8 Ultra we tested remains a solid, significantly cheaper used option, with an AquaExposure score of 3.8/5 and an already-documented housing.

The Poco F9 Ultra confirms the brand has found its formula: a sensor that no longer has anything to envy in €1,200 flagships, a battery that becomes a non-issue, at a price that, despite the announced increase, still undercuts direct competitors.

But I'm publishing this review on launch day, and it shows in the score sheet. Too much data remains estimated rather than confirmed, and above all, the housing doesn't officially exist yet. If you're already diving with an F8 Ultra and a working 3D adapter, wait until an equivalent is documented for the F9 Ultra before switching. If you're starting from scratch, a used F8 Ultra remains the safest choice in the Poco lineup for diving today.

Is the Poco F9 Ultra worth it for underwater photography? With a score of 3.5/5, it confirms the F8 Ultra's trajectory on sensor and battery, but the housing remains the real limitation on launch day.

What underwater housing works with the Poco F9 Ultra? No dedicated DiveVolk housing confirmed at launch. Dimensions fit within the universal Kraken KRH08 V2.

Does the Poco F9 Ultra shoot RAW while diving? Yes, through HyperOS 3's native Pro mode in DNG, with MotionCam Pro and Blackmagic Camera compatible as on the F8 Ultra.

How does the Poco F9 Ultra compare to the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 FE? On hardware, it wins by a wide margin. On the complete system, housing included, the Pixel 11 and S26 FE remain better documented today.

What's the battery life for a day of 3 dives? The 8,050 mAh battery is the most generous in our comparison and poses no issue over an intensive day.

Choosing a camera is one thing, knowing how to frame an encounter in natural light without scaring the animal is another. That's what we teach in our AquaExposure training program.

Torn between several devices? Use our dive camera comparator to compare the Poco F9 Ultra with the other models we've tested.