Poco M7 Pro 5G Review: Comprehensive Insights
Price
The Poco M7 Pro 5G is priced at approximately $210 USD, making it a competitive option in the budget 5G smartphone market.
Display
The Poco M7 Pro 5G features a stunning 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and an impressive peak brightness of 2100 nits. Like the Redmi Note 14 Series, it offers three distinct color profiles:
- Vivid for vibrant and lively colors.
- Standard for a more neutral tone.
- Saturated for enhanced color intensity.
The display delivers vibrant visuals, though the colors might appear overly exaggerated at times. The dynamic range is decent but not outstanding. Standard mode proved to be the most balanced option during our usage. When viewing in bright sunlight, increasing brightness improved visibility significantly. However, in dimly lit environments, lowering brightness made the screen appear overly dark.
The 120Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth scrolling experience, though most apps still operate at 60Hz. Even when gaming, titles like Call of Duty default to 60Hz despite manual attempts to push the refresh rate higher.
The display also supports HDR, which shines when streaming videos on platforms like YouTube. The 2100 nits of brightness make outdoor visibility excellent, with minimal glare or reflection.
Speakers and Haptics
The Poco M7 Pro 5G is equipped with a dual-speaker setup featuring Dolby Atmos support. The primary speaker is located at the bottom, and the secondary speaker is positioned at the top. While the audio output is loud and immersive, the clarity could be better. At higher volumes, the sound tends to distort, with vocals and instruments blending together.
The inclusion of a headphone jack and Bluetooth connectivity ensures flexibility for wired and wireless audio preferences. Haptics on the device are responsive and accurate, enhancing the overall user experience.
Software
The Poco M7 Pro 5G runs on HyperOS based on Android 14 out of the box. Xiaomi has committed to providing two years of Android updates and three years of security patches. While the user interface remains functional, it is cluttered with bloatware, including pre-installed games, Glance advertisements on the lock screen, and third-party apps like LinkedIn and Snapchat.
The software experience is similar to the Redmi Note 14 Pro, with noticeable room for improvement in terms of decluttering and optimization.
Performance
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset, an upgraded version of the Dimensity 7025, the Poco M7 Pro 5G delivers reliable performance for its price range. Everyday tasks like system navigation, social media scrolling, streaming, and photography run smoothly, with no noticeable lags or overheating.
While not built for intense gaming, the device handles casual gaming with ease. Titles like Call of Duty exhibited occasional frame drops, and achieving high graphics with high frame rates simultaneously is not feasible. Gameplay remains enjoyable at around 30-35 fps.
Benchmark tests further affirm its respectable performance in this segment. For most users, the Poco M7 Pro 5G offers satisfactory processing power for daily use and light gaming.
Cameras
The Poco M7 Pro 5G is equipped with a dual-camera setup on the rear:
- Main Camera: 50MP Sony LYT 600 sensor with OIS and an f/1.5 aperture.
- Secondary Camera: 2MP macro sensor.
- Front Camera: 20MP selfie shooter.
The 50MP primary sensor captures impressive images with vibrant, lifelike colors and good detail, though the dynamic range could be improved. Photos in well-lit conditions are rich in quality, while low-light shots maintain acceptable performance thanks to the Night Mode, which brightens the scene at the cost of some detail.
The 2MP macro sensor delivers decent portrait shots with effective background blur, though detail levels drop upon zooming in. Edge detection and subject focus are satisfactory in good lighting but struggle in dim environments.
The 20MP front camera performs well outdoors but falls short indoors, struggling with detail retention. Skin tones appear natural, but the overall selfie performance is average at best.
Battery Life and Charging
The Poco M7 Pro 5G packs a robust 5100mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging. Xiaomi has included a 45W charger in the box, which charges the device from 0% to 100% in about an hour.
During a week of testing, the phone consistently lasted an entire day with moderate usage, including social media browsing, video streaming, gaming, and photography. The battery life is impressive and should satisfy most users.
Final Verdict
The Poco M7 Pro 5G delivers a well-rounded package for its price of $210 USD, offering a vibrant AMOLED display, decent performance, and solid battery life. While the main camera is impressive for the price, the front camera and software experience leave room for improvement.
For those seeking a budget-friendly 5G smartphone with good overall performance, the Poco M7 Pro 5G is a compelling option, particularly with its solid build, responsive haptics, and reliable battery. However, users might need to overlook the cluttered software and minor compromises in camera quality for an otherwise excellent value-for-money offering.
