Update 1 (09/02/2020 @ 05:12 AM ET): POCO has begun teasing the launch of the POCO M2 for September 8, 2020. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on June 25, 2020, is preserved below.
POCO has evolved into an independent brand in markets like India, but it continues to share resources with Xiaomi across several key sectors like Product R&D. This is the reason why devices launched after POCO's rebirth have been rebranded Xiaomi/Redmi devices. For instance, the POCO X2 (phoenixin) launched in India is a rebranded Redmi K30 4G (phoenix). Similarly, the POCO F2 Pro (lmi) launched internationally is a rebranded Redmi K30 Pro 5G (lmi). The story is set to continue forward, as information at hand suggests that the Xiaomi Redmi 9 could launch under the POCO brand in some markets.
A TUV Rheinland certification filing suggests that a new POCO device is coming with the model number M2004J19PI.
From previous certification filings at Bluetooth SIG and Wi-Fi Alliance, we know that the model number M2004J19__ belongs to the Redmi 9 family of phones. This indicates that one of the upcoming POCO devices will likely be a rebranded Xiaomi Redmi 9. The Xiaomi Redmi 9 has already been launched in Spain, and more recently in China. There has been no indication from Xiaomi on which markets will receive the Redmi 9 or the POCO-branded phone. Seeing how successful the Redmi number series has been in markets like India, it would not make a lot of sense for Xiaomi to abandon the built-up goodwill and take a fresh bet on a rebranded lineup.
Xiaomi Redmi 9
If the Redmi 9 does come to India as a POCO-branded smartphone, it will likely be released alongside the POCO M2 Pro, which is known to have a model numbering M2003J6CI. We already know that a new POCO phone is launching in India in July, so we speculate that there is a possibility that Xiaomi lets POCO launch the Redmi 9 as the POCO M2.
On the topic of the POCO M2 Pro, a TUV Rheinland certification hints that this phone could be a variant of the Redmi Note 9S/Redmi Note 9 Pro, with the model number M2003J6CI, codename "gram", and the Snapdragon 720G SoC. XDA Senior Member kacskrz, who has been reliable with their tips in the past, has found evidence that the M2003J6CI will only be available in India, which aligns with what POCO GM Mr. C. Manmohan had mentioned in a recent interview, that the new POCO device will be an India-first launch.
We await further information from reliable sources on both, the POCO M2 (if it exists) and the POCO M2 Pro.
Update: POCO begins teasers for the POCO M2 launch
This article was first published back in June 2020. Since then, POCO has gone on to launch the POCO M2 Pro. We hadn't heard any further information about the POCO M2, though we did hear about other smartphones like the POCO X3 and the POCO C3. Now, the company has begun teasing the launch of the POCO M2 as well, launching on September 8, 2020, on Flipkart.
The teaser only features a silhouette of the phone. This isn't conclusive proof that the POCO M2 is indeed a rebranded Redmi 9, but we're inclined to believe it is based on previous findings.
Meanwhile, Xiaomi themselves rebranded the global Redmi 9 into the Redmi 9 Prime in India, and the global Redmi 9C into the Redmi 9 in India. The POCO M2 is an extension of the global Redmi 9 family, and not the Indian Redmi 9 family (which itself is an extension of the global Redmi 9C family).