Poco looks to end the year on a high with its Poco M7 Pro. The phone features a stunning OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a robust battery, and an eye-catching design. These upgrades are a significant step up from what we saw on the Poco M6 Pro last year. But does it live up to the hype, or are compromises lurking beneath the surface? Let’s explore that in my review.
Poco M7 Pro
Rs 14,999
What Is Good?
- OLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate
- Great audio experience
- Attractive looks
- Good battery life
- Everyday performance is great
- Selfies have good skin tones and details
What Is Bad?
- Inconsistent rear cameras
- Not for gaming
- Bloatware apps with spammy notifications
Pricing and Availability
The Poco M7 Pro is available on Flipkart in two variants.
| Smartphone | Configuration | Price |
| Poco M7 Pro | 6GB + 128GB | Rs 14,999 |
| 8GB + 256GB | Rs 16,999 |
Design and Display
When I first picked up the Poco M7 Pro, its back panel immediately took me back to the Redmi Note 13 Pro. The camera module is practically a doppelgänger, but unlike the Note 13 Pro’s plain design, this one brings a dual-tone finish that feels like the perfect mix of matte and glossy. Honestly, it’s refreshing—plus, no smudge panic every time I touch it.
The Lavender Frost colour is…well, cute. It has this soft, girly vibe that somehow matches my winter sweaters and even works with my dresses.
Now, the phone is tall, and the flat display had me worried. I thought holding it for more than five minutes would be a task, but that slight curve on the back panel is a lifesaver. It’s surprisingly ergonomic, and thanks to that half-matte finish you don’t have to compromise on the grip.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 190 grams |
| Thickness | 8mm |
| Colours | Lavender Frost, Lunar Dust, Olive Twilight |
| IP Rating | IP64 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, USB port, Speaker grille, SIM tray Top: 3.5mm headphone jack, secondary microphone, IR Blaster, speaker grille Right Side: Power and volume buttons |
While it’s not as slim as Vivo phones, it strikes a balance by not being too thick either, so there’s nothing to complain about in this regard. The IP rating has seen an upgrade from its predecessor—the Poco M6 Pro—which is a positive change. This makes it safe to handle minor splashes or even use it near a pool without concern. The M7 Pro also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack for folks who still enjoy the simplicity of wired headphones.
The addition of an in-display fingerprint sensor is a significant improvement, offering a seamless way to unlock the phone without entering a password manually.
What truly impressed me, though, were the ultra-slim bezels. They’re barely noticeable, which is fantastic for a phone at this price. Also, ditching the waterdrop-style notch at this price point is a brilliant decision, especially when pricier options like the Samsung Galaxy A16 still cling to the older design.
| Display | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.67-inch |
| Type | gOLED display |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 2100 nits Tested: 1087 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 09 nits |
I thoroughly enjoyed watching high-definition YouTube videos and Netflix shows such as Squid Game on this phone. The colours were vivid, and the dark tones were perfectly balanced.
The jump to a 120Hz refresh rate, exceptional brightness outdoors, and the inclusion of a gOLED display together make it a worthwhile upgrade.
Hardware and Software
The Poco M7 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra SoC, the same chip found in the Redmi Note 14 — which is essentially its cousin.
In synthetic benchmarks, this phone delivered fairly average results. It fell short of breaking the five lakh mark in the Antutu benchmark.
For day-to-day tasks like calling, texting, browsing Instagram, or streaming videos, the Poco M7 Pro handles everything smoothly. It can even run demanding games like Call of Duty: Mobile, though serious gamers might notice occasional stutter and some heating near the camera module. That said, if you spend most of your time on Subway Surfers and Clash of Clans, you won’t have any major complaints.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra SoC |
| RAM | Up to 8GB |
| Storage | Up to 256GB |
| Storage Test | 482409 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 82 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | Xiaomi HyperOS, based on Android 14 |
| Connectivity Details | Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 |
The Poco M7 Pro is powered by Xiaomi’s HyperOS, based on Android 14. Given that Android 15 is now available, it would have been a much more promising start if it had come with the latest version.
Opening the app drawer was a real letdown for me. The excitement quickly faded into disappointment, as the phone was packed with bloatware. To add insult to injury, these apps also send spammy notifications.
When it comes to the overall software experience, it’s just like any other Xiaomi or Poco device running HyperOS—interactive, with plenty of customisation options.
Cameras
The phone features a dual camera setup on the rear, but I found its performance a bit unpredictable. While it can click good photos, the inconsistencies despite good lighting are a bit worrisome. Hopefully, an update can help fix these.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel wide, f/1.5 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 2-megapixel depth, f/2.4 aperture |
| Selfie Camera | 20-megapixel selfie, f/2.2 aperture |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 2K at 30fps |
What I missed the most was an ultra-wide camera on this phone. It would have been a valuable addition. In bright daylight, the primary camera usually delivers detailed shots with rich colours. However, clicking photos against the light causes the dynamic range to go berserk. This can be seen in the image below with the sun as the light source. Another shot of a flower in the sun captured the flower accurately, but the lighting on the surrounding leaves was off.
The not-so-complicated lighting conditions are captured beautifully, with rich colours and a fairly decent dynamic range. While there is no optical zoom, you get an option to instantly zoom to 2x, which still manages to provide photos with good details. Anything beyond that and you will be greeted with lesser clarity.
Selfies have a good amount of detail and they manage to maintain the skin tones well.
Under low-light scenarios, the camera seems to have a personality crisis. While a few shots were good, others were a chaotic mix of mismatched colours and odd lighting. In some images, my face ended up so ghostly pale that it felt like an artist had gone rogue with white watercolour paint.
Battery and Charging
The Poco M7 Pro comes equipped with a 5,110mAh battery and includes a 45W charger in the box. I charged it from the dead, and it took just over an hour to fully charge. I also tested it with the PCMark battery benchmark, but unfortunately, an error prevented it from completing. I’ll perform this test again and update the article if the phone goes through with it.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery | 5,110mAh |
| Charging Adapter | 45W, charger in the box |
| Charging Time | 1 hour 4 minutes |
| PCMark Battery Test | NA |
That said, with moderate usage, the phone easily lasted me the entire day. Heavy camera use, however, does cause noticeable battery drain—but that’s typical, even with flagship phones.
All things considered, the battery is more than enough for day-to-day use. If you’re into intense gaming, these numbers will drop down further.
Verdict
Using the Poco M7 Pro was an enjoyable experience, especially considering the upgrades it brings.
The OLED display is a highlight, delivering vibrant colours and top-notch video quality, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes everything feel incredibly smooth. It’s also fantastic for gaming, with audio that complements the visuals nicely.
On the negative side, the pre-installed bloatware can be quite annoying. As for software, the phone operates on Android 14 and is promised two years of updates. This means it will only receive updates up to Android 16, which could be a limitation for users hoping to keep the device for the long haul.
The cameras also left me disappointed, as the image quality seemed to vary widely depending on the lighting conditions.
When it comes to performance, while it’s certainly good, it’s not the best in this price range. If you’re looking for something more powerful, the CMF Phone 1 or iQOO Z9x would likely be a better fit.
Overall, this phone marks a significant upgrade from last year. While there are some minor inconsistencies, they’re nothing that can’t be addressed with a software update. If you can look past these issues, this device could be a good and reliable option.
