Poco M7 Pro Review: Pro Value Practical Performance

December saw the arrival of the Poco M7 Pro in India, a contender in the fiercely competitive budget arena. We snagged one for a test drive, and frankly, the value packed into modern smartphones at these price points is staggering. We’re talking aboutunderRs. 15,000.

For that pocket change, the M7 Pro serves up a vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display – visuals that pop. Powering your binge-watching and gaming sessions is a hefty 5,110mAh battery, so you can leave the charger at home. Under the hood, a capable mid-range chipset keeps things humming, and around back, a dual-camera system headlined by a 50MP sensor aims to capture your memories in detail. Is this the new budget king? We’ll find out.

Poco dominates the budget and mid-range battlefield, occasionally unleashing beasts like the X7 Pro. The M7 Pro appears to continue this trend of exceptional value, but specs on paper rarely tell the whole story. Can it survive the daily grind? Dive in to discover the truth behind the hype.

You get a 45W charger in the box alongside a case and the usual paperwork

Dive into seamless performance with the base model, boasting 6GB of RAM and a spacious 128GB of storage, all for just Rs. 14,999. Craving even more power? The upgraded version, featuring a robust 8GB of RAM and a massive 256GB of storage, is available for Rs. 16,999. Choose your speed, choose your space, choose your experience!

Poco M7 Pro Design

The Poco M7 Pro arrives cloaked in a trio of captivating shades: Lavender Frost, Lunar Dust, and Olive Twilight. Our review unit, the Lunar Dust edition (a generous 8GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration), is a guaranteed head-turner. Forget predictable phone designs; the M7 Pro boasts a mesmerizing dual-tone rear. Imagine a windswept moonscape, a delicate sandwave pattern etched across half the surface. This textural wonder is juxtaposed against a smooth, matte finish on the remaining portion. It’s a striking contrast, a visual dance of light and shadow. Coupled with the modern, squared-off camera module, the M7 Pro transcends the ordinary, delivering a surprisingly premium aesthetic.

The phone gets a dual-speaker setup

The phone’s rear whispers “Poco” near the camera lens, punctuated by a subtle “5G” emblem. The camera bump plays it cool, barely protesting its presence with gently rounded edges. A velvety matte finish graces both the plastic back and frame, offering a muted tactile experience.

It has an IP64 rating

Svelte and ready for action, this phone tips the scales at a mere 190 grams and boasts a razor-thin profile of just 7.99mm. Dust and splashes? No problem, thanks to its upgraded IP64 rating, leaving the M6 Pro’s IP52 in the dust. On the right side, find the responsive volume rocker and power button, perfectly placed for easy access. The bottom edge is a hub of connectivity: a USB Type-C port, microphone, robust loudspeaker, and the SIM tray slot. Up top, it’s a nostalgia trip with a 3.5mm headphone jack, flanked by a microphone, a second speaker, and the handy IR blaster – control your world from your pocket.

The phone features a 3.5mm headphone jack as well as an IR blaster

The front of the device is dominated by a vibrant 6.67-inch AMOLED display, framed by impossibly thin bezels on three sides. While the bottom bezel is a touch more substantial, Poco boasts an impressive 92% screen-to-body ratio, immersing you in the content.

The bezels on the display are minimal

Prepare to be dazzled. This display explodes with 2,100 nits of peak brightness, painting vivid visuals that dance across its full-HD+ resolution. A buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate ensures every swipe and scroll is pure bliss. And because life happens, it’s shielded by the battle-tested Gorilla Glass 5, ready to shrug off everyday scrapes and bumps.

Poco M7 Pro Performance

Dive into a visual feast with the Poco M7 Pro’s vibrant display! Whether you’re binging your favorite shows or conquering virtual worlds, prepare for stunning clarity and vivid colors. Fine-tune your viewing experience with three distinct color profiles, and immerse yourself in the brilliance of Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. Choose between a silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a battery-saving 60Hz, or let the adaptive mode intelligently optimize performance. And with a staggering 2,100 nits of peak brightness, sunlight glare becomes a thing of the past. Enjoy crystal-clear visibility, indoors or out, no squinting required.

The display offers 2,100nits of peak brightness

The phone ships with Android 14 cloaked in Xiaomi’s HyperOS. Prepare for app overload right out of the box, but thankfully, most of the pre-installed clutter can be banished. Poco commits to two OS upgrades, capping support at Android 16. The silver lining? Four years of security patches. Throughout my time with it, the software felt surprisingly slick. UI animations flowed, scrolling was fluid, and everyday tasks were handled without a hint of lag.

You get Android 14-based HyperOS out of the box

The Poco M7 Pro doesn’t just perform, it flows. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra, backed by up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, this phone tackles daily tasks with surprising agility. Don’t expect flagship-level power, but prepare to be impressed by its smooth multitasking and even respectable gaming performance. Curious about the numbers? Dive into the benchmark results below.

Gaming on this phone? Surprisingly smooth. I jumped into BGMI and Asphalt 9, and while I kept things at medium settings, both titles played without a hiccup. No lag, no stutters, just pure, unadulterated mobile gaming fun. The touch response was sharp and accurate, making for a truly immersive experience. Honestly, I couldn’t find anything to gripe about.

The M7 Pro boasts a dual-speaker setup that delivers a respectable audio experience. Crank up the volume – it gets surprisingly loud without a hint of distortion. While the sound lacks a certain “oomph,” clarity remains consistent. Call quality is reliable; conversations are clear, and dropped calls are nonexistent. Both microphone and earpiece performed admirably, ensuring seamless communication.

The phone features a 20-megapixel selfie camera placed inside a hole-punch cutout

The Poco’s camera setup packs a punch with its 50MP Sony LYT-600 main sensor, complete with OIS and a bright f/1.7 aperture. It’s paired with a 2MP depth sensor and a sharp 20MP selfie camera for your social media needs.

But how does itreallyperform? In broad daylight, the main camera shines. Expect crisp details, colours that pop without being artificial, and a dynamic range that handles tricky lighting with ease. White balance is also on point, delivering true-to-life results.

Even when the sun dips, the Poco holds its own. While low-light shots do introduce some noise, the camera impressively manages to retain details. It’s a valiant effort that captures the essence of the scene.

Top to bottom: Samples from Main rear camera (2), 2x zoom (2) [Tap to expand]

The 2x zoom and portrait mode deliver respectable results, nailing skin tones and cleanly separating subjects from their backgrounds. Selfies shine in daylight, capturing ample detail and natural-looking complexions. However, their brilliance fades as the sun dips. Low-light performance is adequate, producing usable shots when light is on your side.

Lowlight samples: Top (primary camera), bottom (2x zoom) [Tap to expand]

The phone’s video capabilities max out at 1080p 30fps, front and back. The main camera captures surprisingly vibrant colors and crisp details in video mode. Just be mindful of your movements; things get a little shaky with rapid panning or action shots. The selfie camera also shines in good light, delivering usable footage for your vlogs and social media stories.

Selfies come out well in daylight conditions

Fueling the Poco M7 Pro is a robust 5,100mAh battery, ready to power you through your day and beyond. When you finally run it down, the 45W fast charging springs into action, juicing you back up in no time – and the charger is even included! In our relentless HD video loop test, the phone persevered for an impressive 18 hours. From zero to full, expect a complete recharge in just around 70 minutes.

Poco M7 Pro Verdict

The Poco M7 Pro isn’t just good value; it’s a steal. Forget incremental updates; this phone leaps ahead of the competition. Imagine a vibrant AMOLED display, scrolling at a silky smooth 120Hz – visuals that pop and responsiveness that spoils. The main camera captures sharp, shareable shots, punching above its weight class. Performance is snappy, tackling daily tasks and even some gaming with ease. Sure, the software can be a bit quirky, and low light photography isn’t its forte. But overlook those minor stumbles, and you’ll discover a budget mid-ranger that delivers serious bang for your buck. The M7 Pro redefines what you can expect without breaking the bank.

Looking for alternatives? The Motorola G64 steals the show with a performance boost and a cleaner software experience. Or, if raw power is your priority, the iQOO Z9x won’t disappoint. Finally, the Redmi Note 14 5G boasts a stunning 108MP camera plus an ultrawide lens for photography enthusiasts – just be prepared to spend a bit more.

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