Poco X8 Pro Max Spotted on BIS: India Launch, Specs, Battery & Redmi Rebrand Explained

Poco is back in the headlines and this time the noise feels justified. The Poco X8 Pro Max has been spotted on India’s BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification website, a move that usually signals one thing: a launch is getting closer. The device appeared with the model number 2602BPC18I, approved on January 13, 2026 and it’s officially registered under the Poco brand.

On paper, this is just another certification listing. In reality, it’s a strong hint that Poco is preparing something far more ambitious than a routine mid-range refresh.

Poco X8 Pro Max BIS listing 

The BIS listing itself is minimal. No marketing name. No specs. No launch date. But that is standard. What matters is that BIS approval is mandatory for any smartphone launching in India and Poco has now crossed that hurdle.

Interestingly, the model number closely matches 2602BRT18C, a device earlier spotted on China’s 3C certification and Geekbench. The only difference? The last letter. “C” for China, “I” for India. This pattern strongly suggests we’re looking at the same hardware tuned for different markets.

From a reporting standpoint, this is where things get exciting.

Poco X8 Pro Max looks like a Redmi Turbo 5 Max rebrand

Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi has already confirmed the upcoming Redmi Turbo 5 Max in China. Leaks, benchmarks and certification data now point to the Poco X8 Pro Max being a rebranded version of that very phone.

Earlier, the same model number was mistakenly linked to a “Turbo 5 Max Pro.” That confusion ended once Redmi officially revealed the Turbo 5 Max specs. The dots now connect cleanly.

This rebranding strategy isn’t new for Poco, but the scale of upgrades here feels different. If the leaks are accurate, Poco is no longer playing safe.

Poco X8 Pro Max performance leaks 

According to Geekbench listings, the Poco X8 Pro Max could be powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500s chipset, built on a cutting-edge 3nm process. If confirmed, this would make it one of the first smartphones in the world to use this chip.

Early benchmark sightings suggest:

• Flagship-level CPU performance
• Better thermal efficiency
• Lower power consumption despite higher speeds

Paired with up to 16GB RAM and Android 16, this phone doesn’t sound “mid-range” at all. It sounds like Poco is aiming straight at premium territory, without the premium price tag.

Poco X8 Pro Max battery rumors 

Let’s talk about the feature grabbing the most attention: the battery.

Leaks point to a 9,000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100W fast charging. Even if the final unit ships with a slightly smaller cell (some listings mention 8,000mAh), it’s still massive by today’s standards.

For context:

• Most flagship phones stop at 5,000mAh
• Silicon-carbon tech allows higher capacity without bulky design
• 100W charging means hours of power in minutes

As a journalist who reviews phones daily, I’ll say this bluntly: if Poco delivers even 80% of these claims, battery anxiety could become a thing of the past.

Poco X8 Pro Max display and design details 

The rumored display is a 6.83-inch 1.5K OLED panel with up to a 144Hz refresh rate. That’s flagship territory again. Smooth scrolling, punchy colors and a screen built for gaming and media consumption.

Design-wise, Poco seems to be moving away from loud, oversized camera modules. Leaks suggest a cleaner, oval-shaped camera island, giving the phone a more mature and premium look. 

Poco X8 Pro Max global launch 

Here’s the twist. While the regular Poco X8 Pro has already appeared on EEC (Europe) and SDPPI (Indonesia) certifications, the Poco X8 Pro Max hasn’t shown up globally yet.

That strongly hints at an India-first launch, with other markets possibly following later or not at all. Poco has done this before and India remains its strongest battleground.

Poco X8 Pro Max could reset expectations

Right now, the Poco X8 Pro Max is still surrounded by “ifs” and “maybes.” But BIS certification doesn’t lie. Something big is coming.

If Poco manages to launch this phone in the ₹25,000-₹30,000 range, competitors should be nervous. Massive battery, next-gen chipset, fast charging and a premium display, all in one package, sounds almost unfair.

Until official confirmation arrives, cautious optimism is the right approach. But one thing is clear: Poco isn’t chasing the budget crown anymore. It wants a seat at the flagship table.

Read more: Oppo A6s 5G Spotted on China Telecom, China Launch Likely on January 23