The POCO F7 Pro is one of the highly anticipated phones this season. Just like all of the F-series phones before it, the model is striking the perfect balance between high-end performance and affordability. With a flagship-level chipset, a robust gaming software, and a sub Php 28K price, the phone is shaping up to be an ideal alternative for most of the expensive flagship device.
This also makes the smartphone an ideal choice for users who want flagship-level specs without breaking the bank. In this review, I have tested the phone's capabilities and key selling points. Of course, I performed various performance tasks, and I'm here to share my experience. Most importantly, let's determine who this phone is for.
Review Summary:
Pros
- Best value in its segment
- Impressive main camera
- Massive battery
- Flagship-grade performance
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Ultrawide camera could be improved
Design
The POCO F7 Pro features a candy bar design reminiscent of the flagship phones this year. Measuring 160.3 x 75 x 8.1 mm and weighing 206 grams, the phone feels substantial yet sleek in hand. The device boasts an IP68 rating, making it dust-tight and water-resistant, able to withstand immersion up to 2.5 meters for 30 minutes.
The rear panel of the POCO F7 Pro showcases an edgy dual-tone finish. The glossy upper section houses the camera module. This contrasts beautifully with the matte lower section which avoids fingerprints. We have a glass back here which gives off a premium look to the whole phone aesthetics.
The standout circular camera module is a visual highlight; it features an adjacent unique slit design that frames the LED flash. The glossy finish, however, is prone to smudges. Good thing the back panel is reinforced with a metal frame to ensure sturdiness and secure grip.
Meanwhile, we still have the same set of ports and buttons in their no nonsense placement. The power button and volume rocker placed on the right side, while the bottom houses the SIM tray, microphone, USB Type-C port, and speaker. There are also antenna bands on all sides, further improving network connectivity.
On the flip-side, the ultra-slim bezels and 6.67-inch punch-hole design take center stage. This sleek setup maximizes screen space, while the punch-hole camera ensures an unobstructed view. I liked the thin and uniform bezels, sealing the premium design of this handset.
Display
The POCO F7 Pro’s 6.67-inch AMOLED display is quite good for its price. With support for 68 billion colors, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, the screen offers vibrant visuals. This is perfect when gaming, watching videos, or browsing content. The panel has a 3200 x 1440 pixels (WQHD+) resolution; and it delivers sharp pictures, vivid clarity, and 526 PPI pixel density. The dynamic 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and gameplay; and with touch sampling at 480Hz, it’s highly responsive to even the smallest of touches.
The smartphone also boasts a peak brightness of 3200 nits. Using it outdoors is such a breeze. The display offers excellent clarity even under direct sunlight. Not only does it support vibrant colors, but it also incorporates Circular Polarization Technology, which enhances eye comfort by mimicking natural light. I am not expecting the display to be on par with more expensive flagships, but I think POCO F7 Pro's panel could hold up on its own.
Of course, the phone is certified with TÜV Rheinland for low blue light, flicker-free display, and circadian-friendly features that ensure pleasant viewing experience. These features do not appeal to me in real-time testing but it's a good gem to have, especially if you use your phone longer than the average time.
What impresses me is the Corning Gorilla Glass 7i which adds an extra layer of protection. There are also a number of AI-powered display adjustments that ensures the phone responds smoothly to wet fingers, oil, or gloves. The display also supports the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor which is quite quick and efficient in detecting my fingerprints. Additionally, I also find the "Reading Mode" feature very pleasant to use; it adjusts colors and textures to minimize eye strain in my extended reading sessions.
Performance
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), the POCO F7 Pro delivers a significant leap in performance with a 32% boost in CPU, 34% in GPU, and an astounding 98% improvement in AI performance compared to its predecessors. It’s paired with an Adreno 750 GPU which is quite powerful in ensuring that graphics-intensive tasks, such as gaming, run smoothly. The phone tallied 1,794,450 in our AnTuTu benchmark test and fairly high in our Geekbench 6.
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| Geekbench 6 benchmarks |
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| Antutu Benchmark |
In terms of memory, our review unit features 12GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. To me this is quite enough in giving plenty of space and speed for multitasking and handling large apps. There's also a 256GB version should you feel like being modest in your storage.
I had an extended gaming session with the POCO F7 Pro. Most of the time, I played Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, but to test the handset's capabilities, I also threw in Wuthering Waves and Genshin Impact in the mix.
I noticed a slight heat build up when I activated the Game Turbo's Wild Boost in Wuthering Waves and Genshin Impact. It's worth-noting that, simultaneously, I had also activated Performance Settings, which included Enhanced Visuals and Super Resolution modes on the WQHD+ display. However, this is not something that I'd be worried about. Other than that, the whole gaming experience was quite splendid. The F7 Pro also integrates LiquidCool Technology 4.0, which uses a 3D Dual-channel IceLoop system to efficiently dissipate heat.
The POCO F7 Pro’s Smart Frame Rate optimization ensures smooth gameplay, with up to 120FPS support. And the stereo dual speakers, combined with 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio, deliver immersive sound for your gaming or media experience.
On top of the immersive sound, the F7 Pro supports Dolby Vision along with HDR10+ and HDR10. I have successfully streamed HDR content on YouTube and Netflix, with the app confirming HDR10 and Dolby Vision compatibility. Its Widevine L1 certification also guarantees high-resolution playback for DRM-protected content. Consuming content is one of the things I love about this phone.
Camera
The POCO F7 Pro features a 50MP primary camera with an f/1.6 aperture and a 6P lens. This camera is powered by the Light Fusion 800 sensor and supports Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The phone also comes with an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 20MP front-facing shooter. In terms of camera improvements, it does not differ much from last year's offering.
In good lighting conditions, photos coming from the main camera looks vibrant and has good color accuracy. Details are rendered beautifully, with colors registering as natural-looking. The white balance is on point, as well as the dynamic range. Even photos taken with the 2x zoom maintain impressive detail and color accuracy, with no noticeable noise or loss of detail compared to the 1x shots. Portrait shots are also quite decent, though they feature softer details.
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| Sample Photo 1x Zoom |
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| Sample Photo 2x Zoom |
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| Sample Photo: 1x Zoom |
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| Sample Photo: 1x Zoom |
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| Sample Photo: 2x Zoom |
The ultra-wide camera adds versatility to the phone's photography capabilities, though I feel it could benefit from some improvements. However, at this price point, it's hard to complain—it's a welcome feature for capturing expansive landscapes or group shots with ease.
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| Sample Photo: 1x vs 0.6x (ultrawide) |
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| Sample Photo: 0.6x Zoom |
In low-light, I'm quite surprised how the F7 Pro's main camera outshines some of its more expensive competitors. Shots come with great detail, and the dynamic range is also wide enough to flatter me. The color saturation and white balance are pretty nice too. The 2x zoom shots lose detail in night environments, but it is still capable of capturing great photos. Meanwhile, I am not expecting much with the ultrawide sensor, but it still surprised me with acceptable photos with decent dynamic range.
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| Sample Photo: Low-light 1x Zoom |
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| Sample Photo: Low-light 2x Zoom |
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| POCO F7 Pro Sample Photo: Low-light 1x Zoom and 0.6x (ultrawide) |
On the front, the 20MP selfie camera captures sharp and clear self-portraits, and can record 1080p video at 30/60fps. Selfies turn out flattering, and if you're someone who loves taking selfies with beautification effects, you can take advantage of the POCO F7 Pro's front camera.
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| POCO F7 Pro Sample Selfie: 1x Zoom vs 1x Portrait |
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| Sample Selfie: 0.8x Zoom (wide) |
The phone also comes with great video capabilities. In fact, it is capable of 8K video recording at 24fps and 4K at 24/30/60fps. With features like HDR, panorama, and OIS, videos will have smooth stabilization and rich details.
Battery
The POCO F7 Pro houses a massive 6000mAh battery, the largest ever in a POCO flagship. The phone lasted for a day and a half in our moderate usage. According to POCO, you can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just 37 minutes. However, our charging test gave us about 40 minutes to fully charge our POCO F7 Pro.
Either way, this is still fast, which ensures that I'm ready to go in just a few minutes of downtime. I am not surprised that the phone does not support wireless charging, given its modest price. The device also comes with several battery-saving features, including a 5G battery saver to optimize power consumption during 5G use. Additionally, you can limit fast charging or enable smart charging wherein the device stops charging once it reached 80% battery.
Software
On the software front, the POCO F7 Pro runs on HyperOS 2, based on Android 15, bringing an array of smart features, including AI-driven image enhancement tools, AI-powered personal assistant (Gemini), and seamless interconnectivity with other Xiaomi devices. POCO F7 Pro will receive up to 4 years of Android generational update and up to 6 years of security updates.
There are some gems that I frequently use in the phone's software, such as its extensive customization options which allows me to personalize the lock screen, wallpapers, and more. The whole user interface is quite familiar, since I have used HyperOS in other Xiaomi devices before.
The Notification Shade and the Control Center have their respective screens, which is in contrast to other Android phone's joint screen. You'll also have a choice to use the app drawer or place every app in the home screen upon installation.
Of course, my favorite is the WildBoost Optimization 4.0. Together with Xiaomi HyperCore and HyperAI, it ensures smooth system performance and enhanced efficiency. This is great in multitasking, gaming, or using resource-heavy apps. Overall, the POCO F7 Pro delivers a fluid experience that’s perfect for power users.
Verdict: A Perfect Fit for Tech Enthusiasts and Budget-Conscious Users
The POCO F7 Pro proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy flagship-level features. With a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a vibrant WQHD+ AMOLED display with Dolby Vision, and a versatile 50MP camera with OIS, it delivers a premium experience at a fraction of the cost of high-end flagships.
Add to that a massive 6000mAh battery with 120W fast charging, advanced cooling technology, and a sleek, durable design, and you have a device that rivals top-tier smartphones without breaking the bank. It is generally fit for gamers, content creators, and anyone who's looking for great value in their hard-earned cash. With that being said, POCO F7 Pro is an easy recommendation for those looking for cutting-edge specs at a more accessible price.
