POCO M7 Pro Review: Strong Performance, Mixed Software Feel

The POCO M7 Pro has been launched as the successor to the highly popular M6 Pro (review), which made its mark in the mid-range smartphone segment. Building on the success of its predecessor is no easy task, as it comes with the challenge of meeting the heightened expectations of customers. To address this, POCO has introduced several notable upgrades to the M7 Pro, including a 120Hz AMOLED display, a more powerful processor, improved durability, an expanded battery capacity, and other enhancements.

But does the POCO M7 Pro live up to the legacy of the M6 Pro, or does it fall short of expectations? After spending about two weeks with the device, I’m ready to share my detailed impressions.

The POCO M7 Pro stands as a commendable successor to the M6 Pro, bringing enhancements across all key aspects. It boasts a distinctive design, solid build quality, a reliable primary camera, a vivid display, impressive battery life, and a capable processor. These features make it a well-rounded choice suitable for a wide range of users. However, the camera performance in low-light conditions leaves room for improvement. Additionally, the user interface could have been more refined, and the device could benefit from fewer pre-installed apps. Despite these minor shortcomings, the POCO M7 Pro hits the mark as a strong contender in its segment.

POCO M7 Pro Features,Price

POCO M7 Pro Review: Stylish Design, Superior Display Performance

The POCO M7 Pro stands out with its unique design featuring a desert sand pattern on the back. Unlike many smartphones in this range, the camera bump integrates seamlessly with the design, giving the phone an elegant and sophisticated appearance. While I personally find large camera rings distracting, the dual sensors on this phone, though slightly intrusive, are not overly obtrusive. Overall, the device's design is appealing and stylish.

One standout feature in this price range is the inclusion of a metal frame. This design choice adds a premium feel and durability to the phone, making it sturdy and comfortable to hold. The in-hand feel is excellent, offering both elegance and practicality.

The button placement is also well thought out, with the volume rocker and power button located on the right side of the device. These buttons are ergonomically placed and easily accessible, even when using the phone one-handed. Thanks to its lightweight and sleek design, the POCO M7 Pro is easy to carry and use for extended periods without causing fatigue.

The POCO M7 Pro takes a significant leap forward with its 6.67-inch AMOLED display, a welcome upgrade from the LCD panel of its predecessor. This display offers a peak brightness of 2,100 nits, making it suitable for use even in direct sunlight. The hole-punch design, combined with thin bezels, achieves an impressive screen-to-body ratio of over 92%, delivering an immersive viewing experience.

Being an AMOLED panel, the display offers deeper blacks and vibrant colors, elevating the overall visual quality. What's particularly impressive is the inclusion of three color profiles: Vivid, Saturated, and Standard. Surprisingly, the Vivid setting provides a more balanced color representation compared to the oversaturated look commonly associated with such profiles. If you prefer rich, punchy visuals, the Saturated mode delivers just that, while the Standard profile offers a more natural and subtle color tone. Personally, I found the Standard mode to be the most pleasing for prolonged use.

The shift from a 90Hz refresh rate in the M6 Pro to a 120Hz panel in the M7 Pro is another significant improvement. This enhancement provides smoother gameplay and a more fluid experience when navigating through the user interface. The higher refresh rate is a noticeable upgrade, particularly for gaming enthusiasts and users who value seamless scrolling.

POCO M7 Pro Review: Strong Performance, Mixed Software Feel

Performance

The POCO M7 Pro is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset, making it a competitor in the mid-range market. The base model, featuring 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, is priced at Rs. 14,999, while the top variant with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage costs Rs. 16,999. This places it in competition with devices like the iQOO Z9x (powered by Snapdragon 6 Gen 1) and Moto G64 (powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7025).

When tested against these competitors using various benchmark tools, the results revealed an interesting story. The Moto G64 outperformed the M7 Pro on the AnTuTu benchmark, despite using the same chipset in its standard form. Meanwhile, the iQOO Z9x delivered the highest scores in this comparison. Benchmarks like AnTuTu evaluate performance holistically, considering CPU, GPU, and memory performance, as well as other factors.

However, raw numbers don’t always tell the full story. In real-world usage, the POCO M7 Pro proved to be a reliable performer. During my review, the handset handled multitasking with ease, and I experienced no app crashes or performance hiccups. Even gaming was smooth and enjoyable, with no noticeable lag or heating issues. While the benchmarks suggest it might not be the best in its class, the M7 Pro offers a dependable daily performance suitable for most users' needs. For those who value practical performance over numbers, the M7 Pro is a solid choice.

Software

The POCO M7 Pro ships with Android 14-based HyperOS, which promises two major OS updates and four years of security updates. This level of support is one of the phone’s standout features, giving it a competitive edge in the software department compared to its rivals.

HyperOS includes a host of AI-powered features, particularly in the camera software:

• AI AF (Auto Frame): Automatically adjusts the zoom level (up to 0.8x) to fit everyone in a group selfie.
• AI Night Mode: Enhances night photography by tweaking image settings for better results.
• AI Eraser: Removes unwanted objects from photos.
• AI Sky Replacement: Replaces dull skies with visually appealing alternatives for social media-worthy shots.

While these features sound promising, their real-world performance is inconsistent. For instance, AI AF and AI Night Mode work effectively in some scenarios, but there are times when they fail to deliver satisfactory results. Despite this inconsistency, it’s always better to have these tools available for occasional use than not at all.

On the downside, the software experience is slightly marred by the excessive pre-installed apps, which can make the UI feel cluttered initially. Additionally, general settings can’t be accessed directly from the notification shade, which is a deviation from the more user-friendly interfaces seen on competing devices.

That said, the overall UI experience is intuitive and smooth, with HyperOS offering a clean design and user-friendly features once the bloatware is managed.

The POCO M7 Pro is equipped with a 5,110mAh battery, a noticeable upgrade over its predecessor, and supports 45W wired fast charging. Despite housing such a large battery, the device maintains a slim and lightweight profile, making it comfortable to use and carry around.

In real-world usage, the phone demonstrated impressive endurance. Under heavy usage, it comfortably lasted more than a full day on a single charge. For those with lighter or more casual usage patterns, the battery life can easily extend to two full days, reducing the need for frequent charging.

In benchmark testing, the M7 Pro performed admirably, achieving a runtime of 17 hours and 46 minutes on the PCMark battery test, which evaluates devices under simulated real-world conditions. When it comes to charging, the included 45W charger proved efficient, bringing the phone to a full charge in just 53 minutes.

Overall, the POCO M7 Pro delivers excellent battery performance, balancing long-lasting endurance with quick recharge times, making it a reliable choice for both heavy and casual users.

POCO M7 Pro Camera Review: A Step Forward, But Room for Improvement

The POCO M7 Pro stands out in the budget segment, especially in terms of its camera capabilities. Equipped with a 50MP Sony LYT-600 primary camera sensor with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and an f/1.5 aperture, the device offers impressive features for this price range. Complementing the primary sensor is a 2MP macro camera and a 20MP front-facing camera for selfies, marking a substantial upgrade over its predecessor. However, while the primary sensor performs well in many scenarios, there are areas where the phone could do better, particularly in low-light photography.

Daylight Performance

During daylight, the POCO M7 Pro delivers sharp, color-accurate images with good detail retention. The photos exhibited strong dynamic range and balanced colors, surpassing competitors like the iQOO Z9x and Moto G64 in certain aspects. The iQOO Z9x, for instance, produced a warmer tone in images, which didn’t feel as natural as the M7 Pro’s approach. The Moto G64, on the other hand, tended to overboost colors and showed noticeable noise in its images. While the color choices in the G64 were vibrant, they were not as true-to-life as those captured by the M7 Pro.

When it came to portrait shots, the POCO M7 Pro outshone both the iQOO Z9x and Moto G64. The iQOO Z9x struggled significantly with edge detection, leading to messy portraits. The M7 Pro, however, displayed excellent edge detection, more accurate skin tones, and better overall detail. Moto G64 did a decent job with edge detection but again faltered in reproducing natural skin tones. Overall, the POCO M7 Pro produced the most aesthetically pleasing and accurate portrait shots, with better skin tones and natural backgrounds.

Low-Light Performance

Low-light photography can be a challenge for most budget smartphones, and the POCO M7 Pro is no exception. However, the phone performed reasonably well in low-light conditions, offering a relatively cleaner image compared to the Moto G64, which struggled with details and accurate color reproduction. While there was some noise in the M7 Pro’s images, it handled light sources and details better than both competitors. The iQOO Z9x, meanwhile, excelled in controlling light sources but still couldn’t match the M7 Pro in terms of overall detail and noise management.

Night Mode

Night photography often showcases the strengths and weaknesses of a camera system, and POCO M7 Pro’s Night Mode was a bit of a mixed bag. The mode didn’t seem to enhance the image dramatically, with only subtle improvements visible in detail retention. Comparatively, the iQOO Z9x offered sharper images in its Night Mode, but with noticeable grain. While the Moto G64 showed the most noticeable improvements in its night shots, it still fell short when compared to the M7 Pro and Z9x in terms of details and color accuracy.

Selfie Camera

The 20MP front-facing camera on the POCO M7 Pro is a significant upgrade, offering sharp and clear selfies with good detail and dynamic range. The camera performs well in various lighting conditions, but like the rear camera, it struggles in extremely low light. That being said, the selfie camera works great for social media posts and casual use, providing natural-looking skin tones and decent clarity.

Final Thoughts

The POCO M7 Pro is a solid contender in the budget segment with its primary 50MP sensor and AI enhancements, including AI Night Mode and AI AF. In daylight and portrait shots, the phone excels, offering well-balanced, natural images. The macro camera doesn’t add much value, and low-light performance could be better, but still, the M7 Pro offers a more reliable camera experience than many of its competitors in this price bracket.

While the POCO M7 Pro delivers excellent performance during the day and impressive portrait shots, low-light photography could use improvement. However, for the price, the camera system is certainly a highlight of the device.

Final Thoughts and Camera Rating

The POCO M7 Pro is a solid contender in the budget segment with its primary 50MP sensor and AI enhancements, including AI Night Mode and AI AF. In daylight and portrait shots, the phone excels, offering well-balanced, natural images. The macro camera doesn’t add much value, and low-light performance could be better, but still, the M7 Pro offers a more reliable camera experience than many of its competitors in this price bracket.

Final Thought on POCO M7 Pro

The POCO M7 Pro is a compelling upgrade for anyone who enjoyed the M6 Pro. It builds on its predecessor with notable improvements in almost every aspect, making it a solid contender in the budget smartphone segment. The phone’s standout features include a 120Hz AMOLED display, long-lasting battery life, and a capable processor, all of which contribute to its well-rounded performance. For most users, this device would serve as a reliable daily driver.

In terms of cameras, the POCO M7 Pro offers impressive results with its 50MP primary sensor, delivering vibrant and accurate daylight shots. However, it falls short in low-light conditions, where it struggles with noise and details, though it’s still better than some competitors in this price range. The 20MP front-facing camera also does a decent job in well-lit environments, providing good selfie quality.

At a starting price of Rs 14,999, the M7 Pro offers exceptional value. It manages to balance features like an AMOLED display, fast charging, and a durable design while keeping the price competitive. The only real drawback is the pre-installed apps and the Night Mode’s need for improvement. While Motorola G64 may offer a cleaner UI and slightly better Night Mode, POCO’s reputation and familiarity with its interface might still appeal to many users.

Reasons to Buy:

• 120Hz AMOLED display offers a vibrant and smooth experience.
• Premium design and build quality, providing a sturdy feel.
• Long-lasting battery life to get you through a full day of usage.
• Fast charging speeds, minimizing downtime.

Reasons to Not Buy:

• Night mode needs further refinement for better low-light photography.
• Excessive pre-installed apps can clutter the UI.