A GSMA IMEI leak shows the rumored POCO F8 is actually the POCO X8 Pro Max, signaling a shift to the X series. Global and India variants set to launch soon.
© A. Krivonosov
Rumors swirled around the upcoming POCO F8, with many expecting it to be the next flagship killer. Then came a sharp plot twist: a leak from the GSMA IMEI database shows that the device with model number 2602BPC18G — previously assumed to be the POCO F8 — is officially registered as the POCO X8 Pro Max. That shift points to POCO rethinking its playbook and effectively retiring the F-series branding in favor of a more muscular X line.
Using the Pro Max suffix is noteworthy. It’s a first for POCO and, more importantly, a signal that the brand wants its most performance-focused devices to sit within the X series. Xiaomi and Redmi have followed similar playbooks with models like the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max and Redmi K90 Pro Max. Now POCO steps onto the same stage. The POCO X8 Pro Max is set to debut both globally and in India: 2602BPC18G is the global variant, while 2602BPC18I is the Indian version.
Inside HyperOS, the phone carries the codename dash and the model tag P10U. Taken together, these details underline that the device is positioned to be the most powerful member of the POCO X lineup. Crucially, nothing has been canceled: the long-anticipated flagship killer has simply been given a new name and a bigger role in the brand’s strategy. Alongside it, POCO is preparing the X8 Pro and a special X8 Pro Iron Man Edition.
The Pro Max label will inevitably invite comparisons with Apple, but the move reflects a broader industry pattern. Brands regularly borrow from one another’s marketing toolkits, and such cross-pollination has become the norm. In the end, this kind of competition tends to work in users’ favor.