POCO launches F9 Ultra in Australia for AUD $1,499

POCO has launched the POCO F9 Ultra in Australia, priced at AUD $1,499.

The latest model in POCO's premium F Ultra line targets buyers seeking a high-spec smartphone with a focus on gaming, battery life, imaging and audio. POCO operates as an independent brand within the Xiaomi group and now sells in 98 markets.

The F9 Ultra features a 6.9-inch AMOLED display, an 8,050mAh battery, 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and a separate VisionBoost D8 chipset, designed to support demanding mobile games and high frame rates.

POCO says the phone supports gaming at up to 185 frames per second in selected titles, including PUBG Mobile, Delta Force, Call of Duty: Mobile and League of Legends: Wild Rift.

Gaming is central to the launch. The handset includes a 4,800Hz instant touch sampling rate, a 480Hz 10-point touch sampling rate and a 200Hz gyro sampling rate, alongside what POCO describes as a 3D IceLoop cooling system to help maintain stable performance during long sessions.

Audio focus

The launch also expands POCO's work with Bose. The F9 Ultra includes Bose-tuned audio, symmetrical dual speakers and a dedicated subwoofer in what is described as a 2.1-channel system.

According to the device specifications, the phone also introduces a dedicated game audio mode designed to make directional sounds easier to distinguish. Bose-tuned listening profiles called Dynamic and Balanced are included as part of the audio setup.

In imaging, POCO is introducing a 200MP main camera with optical image stabilisation, the first time the brand has used a 200MP camera system in one of its phones. The rear array also includes a 5x periscope telephoto camera, 10x lossless zoom and 20x AI Ultra Zoom, while the front camera is 32MP.

Video is another area of emphasis. The F9 Ultra supports 4K ultra HD capture and includes automated focal transitions and lens shifts aimed at cinematic shooting.

Battery and support

Battery size is one of the launch's most prominent hardware features. At 8,050mAh, it is the largest battery used in the F Series to date. The phone also supports 27W wired reverse charging and 22.5W wireless reverse charging for other devices.

The display uses what POCO calls HyperRGB technology and has a stated peak brightness of 4,500 nits in some scenarios and 10,000 nits for HDR content. The company also says the device has TÜV Rheinland Quadruple Eye Care certification as part of a broader eye comfort system.

Software support is a notable part of the package in a market where buyers increasingly weigh longevity alongside hardware. POCO says the F9 Ultra will receive four Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

The Australian model will be sold in a single 16GB and 512GB configuration and comes in Dark Cherry and Black. Promotional offers tied to the launch include an introductory discount and bundled accessories, though the headline list price remains AUD $1,499.

POCO traces its origins to 2018 and has built its identity around offering stripped-back, high-spec devices for younger buyers and mobile enthusiasts. The F9 Ultra continues that strategy by focusing on headline hardware features that resonate with gamers and users who want long battery life without stepping into the highest-priced end of the flagship market.

Competition in that segment has intensified as smartphone makers look for ways to stand out beyond routine processor and camera updates. In Australia, where premium handsets from Apple, Samsung and Google dominate consumer attention, challenger brands have increasingly leaned on niche strengths such as gaming, charging speeds and battery size to carve out share.

For POCO, the F9 Ultra appears to be an effort to push further into the upper tier while retaining the value-led identity that helped establish the brand. Its combination of a large battery, fast charging, high-refresh display, advanced camera hardware and Bose-branded audio suggests an effort to broaden appeal beyond core gaming users.

"Everything you need, nothing you don't," said POCO.