Xiaomi is gearing up to unveil the Redmi K90 lineup in China before the end of the year, and if history repeats, the phones should head overseas next year under the Poco F8 banner. A fresh leak now points to some meaningful upgrades for the top-tier model, setting the stage for one of the most compelling performance-and-battery combos in its class.
The headline upgrade is under the hood. The Redmi K90 Pro is rumored to ship with Qualcomm’s next flagship platform, widely expected to be named Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (final branding still to be confirmed). That alone suggests big gains in CPU, GPU, and AI performance. Just as notable is a massive battery boost: the Pro model is said to jump from the Redmi K80 Pro’s 6,000 mAh pack to a 7,000 mAh unit, which could translate into standout longevity even with a high-refresh display and 5G.
Imaging could see a significant shift, too. The K90 Pro is tipped to add a periscope telephoto lens—historically reserved for premium flagships—potentially making it the first Redmi device with true long-range optical zoom. That change hints at a stronger focus on versatile photography without abandoning the value-first positioning the series is known for.
Beyond the Pro model, the standard Redmi K90 is expected to retain a 2K OLED display similar to its predecessor, while stepping up everyday usability with fast wired charging, wireless charging, and an ultrasonic fingerprint reader for quicker, more reliable unlocking. Audio hardware is also said to benefit from improvements seen on the Redmi K80 Ultra.
Key rumored upgrades at a glance:
– Next-gen Snapdragon flagship chipset (8 Elite Gen 5 branding likely)
– 7,000 mAh battery on the K90 Pro (up from 6,000 mAh on the previous Pro model)
– Periscope zoom camera on the K90 Pro
– 2K OLED display on the K90
– 120W fast charging, plus wireless charging
– Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
– Enhanced speakers and audio tuning
Timing lines up with an October debut for the Redmi K90 Pro in China, followed by a global rollout next year with the familiar rebranding: think Poco F8 Pro and Poco F8 Ultra. Considering the Poco F7 Ultra was a rebadge of the Redmi K80 Pro, the pattern looks set to continue.
If these leaks hold, the Poco F8 Ultra could launch globally with a bigger battery, stronger camera reach, and next-gen speed—an attractive formula for power users and gamers who want all-day endurance without sacrificing performance.
