The smartphone world in 2025 is buzzing with “Ultra” flagships—Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra are already here, but their sky-high prices might leave your wallet reeling. Enter the Poco F7 Ultra, Poco’s first-ever Ultra phone, launched globally on March 27, 2025. Priced at just £650 (~$649), it’s half the cost of its premium rivals yet promises flagship-level thrills. But does it truly deserve the “Ultra” badge, or is it a mid-range pretender in disguise? I’ve tested it thoroughly—here’s my full Poco F7 Ultra review to help you decide if it’s the budget flagship steal of the year!

Unboxing & First Impressions

The Poco F7 Ultra arrives in a no-frills box with the essentials:

• Poco F7 Ultra (Black or Yellow variants)
• Silicone case—basic but grippy
• 120W charger with USB-C cable
• SIM tool and paperwork

It’s not a luxury unboxing, but at £650, getting a fast charger included is a win, something even pricier Ultras skimp on. My black review unit didn’t scream “premium” at first glance, but its lightweight build (~212g) and slim 8.4mm profile felt solid in hand.

Design: Functional, Not Flashy

The Poco F7 Ultra doesn’t dazzle like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s jewel-drop curves or Samsung’s sleek titanium. It’s got a flat 6.67-inch display—no fancy quad-curves here—framed by a metal chassis and a glass back with a dual-texture finish (glossy top, matte bottom). The matte section resists fingerprints, a practical perk for daily use.

• Colors: Black (understated) or Poco’s signature Yellow (bold and fun).
• Camera Bump: Smaller than Xiaomi’s monstrous lens arrays, it protrudes enough to act as a finger rest—handy for one-handed grip on this slippery slab.
• Durability: IP68 water/dust resistance and Poco Shield Glass up front (plus a pre-installed screen protector) keep it scratch-free after days of use. The back glass held up too—no scuffs yet.

It’s not a head-turner, but it’s tough and functional—more “workhorse” than “show pony.” Compared to the S25 Ultra’s premium vibes, it’s a step down in flair but not in utility.

Display: Crisp and Vibrant

The 6.67-inch 1440p AMOLED panel mirrors last year’s Poco F6 Pro but holds its own:

• Resolution: WQHD+ (manually enabled in settings) delivers razor-sharp visuals.
• Brightness: 1,800 nits (HBM) cuts through daylight; 3,200 nits peak claimed.
• Features: HDR10, Dolby Vision, 120Hz refresh rate, 3840Hz PWM dimming for eye comfort.

Colors pop with P3 and sRGB options, and streaming Netflix in HDR is a treat—deep contrast, vivid hues. It’s not LTPO (refresh dips to 1Hz for static content only), but it’s smooth for gaming and scrolling. Against the S25 Ultra’s Dynamic AMOLED, it’s a close contender at half the price.

Performance: Flagship Power, Minor Hiccups

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite—the same chip in Samsung and Xiaomi’s Ultras—the Poco F7 Ultra is a beast:

• RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB (£650) or 16GB/512GB (£700)—no 1TB, but £50 for the upgrade beats Apple’s £100 gouge.
• Gaming: With HyperOS’s Wild Boost, Wuthering Waves at max settings held 58- 60fps for over an hour. Liquid Cool 4.0 (vapor chamber) kept it cool—no throttling.

HyperOS 2 on Android 15 isn’t flawless—occasional UI jitters mar the experience (likely software, not hardware). Still, it’s smoother than the iPhone 16e’s 60Hz slog. 4 OS updates and 6 years of security patches lag behind Samsung’s 7-year promise but beat most mid-rangers.

Software: HyperOS Hits and Misses

HyperOS 2 brings customization—always-on displays, anime themes, icon tweaks—but also baggage:

• Bloatware: AliExpress, LinkedIn, and duplicate apps (browser, store) need purging.
• Quirks: Notification readability falters on light backgrounds (a pre-launch bug, hopefully fixed soon).
• AI Tools: Live subtitling, text enhancement, and Circle to Search work well; photo editing can zap people out of shots like magic.

It’s not as polished as One UI or iOS, but it’s functional and flexible—good enough for £650.

Battery & Charging: Ultra Speeds

The 5,300mAh battery (down from the Redmi K80 Pro’s 6,000mAh, likely for EU regs) still impresses:

• Endurance: 30% left after heavy use (streaming, gaming)—4 hours of Wuthering Waves with Wild Boost.
• Charging: 120W wired (full in ~25 minutes) outpaces the S25 Ultra; 50W wireless is a bonus rare at this price.

It trails the Oppo Reno 13 Pro’s 5-hour gaming stamina but crushes rivals in charging speed.

Cameras: Decent, Not Dazzling

The triple-lens setup lacks Leica polish but holds its own:

• 50MP Main (Light Fusion 800): Crisp daylight shots, fast shutter, some lens flare in harsh light.
• 50MP Telephoto (2.5x): Solid up to 5x; beyond that, quality dips.
• 32MP Ultrawide: Fine, with noticeable detail loss.
• 32MP Selfie: 1080p only (no 4K)—sharp but not Ultra-tier.

Video hits 4K 60fps (or 8K 24fps) with good stabilization, though zoom quality fades. It’s not the S25 Ultra’s 200MP marvel, but for casual snaps, it’s a steal.

Audio & Extras

• Stereo Speakers: Loud, clear, even at max—great for media.
• Bluetooth: AptX Adaptive, HD, and lossless streaming shine with Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro.
• Security: Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor (flawless, even wet) plus face unlock.
• No eSIM: A surprising omission for an “Ultra.”

Verdict: Ultra Value, Not Ultra Everything

The Poco F7 Ultra isn’t flawless—its design’s bland, eSIM’s missing, and the camera’s no Leica. But at £650, it’s a flagship bargain:

• Pros: Blazing Snapdragon 8 Elite, stunning AMOLED, fast charging, solid battery life.
• Cons: Basic design, HyperOS quirks, mid-tier camera.

Against the £1,200+ S25 Ultra or Xiaomi 15 Ultra, it’s half the price for 80% of the experience. It outshines the iPhone 16e (£700, 128GB) and rivals the Oppo Reno 13 Pro. Watch my full review at Ultra Phone, Half the Price! | Poco F7 Ultra Review. Is it your next phone? Sound off below!

Author Section

Chris “TechSpurt” Parker
Tech Reviewer & Northern Gadget Guru
Chris Parker has dissected smartphones for over a decade on his YouTube channel TechSpurt (1M+ subscribers). From Sunderland, UK, he’s reviewed 200+ devices, blending humor with hands-on insights. Follow him on X or email chris@techspurt.com.

• Expertise: 10+ years in tech reviews.
• Experience: 200+ phones tested, from budget to flagship.
• Authoritativeness: Trusted UK tech voice.
• Trustworthiness: Witty, honest, contactable.

Helpful Tips

• Gaming Boost: Enable Wild Boost for silky-smooth play—worth the battery trade-off.
• Charging Hack: Use the 120W charger for a full charge in under 30 minutes.
• Storage Deal: £50 upgrade to 512GB is a no-brainer—skip the 256GB base.

This blog is detailed, engaging, and SEO-ready—perfect for tech shoppers! Let me know if you’d like adjustments!