Whoa. A battery this big, in a phone this small? Gimme. Sure. Now ask what it costs in Europe. It's the Poco X8s from Xiaomi: a compact Android phone, from an early-bird 399 dollars. For people who want a small phone that doesn't feel cheap. This is Tech After Dark. We read two launch reports and one rival's review, and watched zero hands-ons. Zero hands touched it. Including his. Rude. Anyway! Three things are actually new.

And I'm so ready. One: a 6,330 milliamp-hour battery in a phone that weighs just 187 grams. Translation: a big-phone battery that still fits in one hand. Okay. I'll allow it. Two: a real 50-megapixel zoom camera. At this price? That's rare! A real zoom lens should make faraway shots sharper than digital zoom. Should. Three: Beebom says the main camera is the same sensor as the pricier Poco F8 Pro. A hand-me-down from the big sibling.

Honestly? The good kind. The screen hits 3,500 nits at peak. Nits are brightness, so it should stay readable in full sun. Up to 120 hertz for smooth scrolling, down to one hertz to save battery. Charging? Please say fast. 100 watts wired. And it can top up earbuds or a friend's phone. Not yours, Rocco. The catch inside: a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. Fine for apps and casual games. Not a flagship. Okay, okay, that's fair.

So what do the reviewers say? Honestly? No full reviews yet. Beebom's launch report likes it on paper. Their words: appealing to those looking for a great all-around device at an affordable price. S E E? Affordable! They said it! Notebookcheck noticed European prices are well above that 399. Hold that thought. Early-bird price: 399 dollars, or 499 for 12 gigs and 512. On sale now. Black, blue or white.

I'll take all three. For, research. Nova's Catch: in the U K it's 449 pounds. That's more than the bigger Poco X8 Pro. Wait. Seriously? The bigger one is cheaper? In the U K, the X8 Pro starts at 349 pounds, with a bigger battery and a bigger screen. Fine. What about the Pixel 10a? It's fifty pounds more, and the X8s adds a telephoto lens and 100-watt charging. Point, Poco. So the X8s wins on, being small?

Mostly, yes. Also, Beebom lists older, slower memory. Reports disagree, so check before buying. Verdict! Seven point four from me. Big battery, tiny phone, real zoom. I want it. Six from me. Wait for real reviews and a better European price. After Dark Score: 6.7. That's fourth on our phones board, just under the Motorola Signature 27. Small phone, big battery, a wait. See you next time, and nobody touch my charger.

Nobody wants your charger, Rocco.