POCO M7 Pro 5G Review: The Best Value Mid-Range Smartphone in 2024?
The smartphone market is flooded with choices, and as consumers, we’re constantly on the lookout for a device that offers the best balance of performance, design, camera quality, and battery life without breaking the bank. The POCO M7 Pro 5G aims to cater to this exact need, positioning itself as a powerhouse in the mid-range segment. Packed with cutting-edge features, including an AMOLED display, Sony’s LYT600 camera, and a robust 5110mAh battery, the POCO M7 Pro 5G promises to deliver a premium experience at an affordable price. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive deep into its features, performance, and overall value proposition.
Unboxing the POCO M7 Pro 5G
Before we get into the specifics, let’s take a look at what comes in the box. The POCO M7 Pro 5G comes neatly packed with all the essentials, including:
- A soft TPU clear case, offering basic protection without compromising on the sleek design.
- Documentation and a SIM ejection tool to get you started.
- The 45W charger that POCO bundles with the device, ensuring fast charging.
- A Type-C to Type-A cable, though many might have expected a Type-C to Type-C cable for faster data transfers.
While the unboxing experience may not be as extravagant as what flagship devices offer, it’s still well-equipped for a phone in this category, especially considering POCO’s emphasis on practicality and value.
Design and Build Quality: A Unique Dual-Tone Aesthetic
The design of the POCO M7 Pro 5G is one of its standout features. Unlike the conventional glass backs of many smartphones in this price range, POCO has opted for a dual-tone design that adds a touch of uniqueness to the device. The back of the phone combines a matte glass-like finish with textured accents that give it a distinctive look and feel. The lavender color variant is particularly appealing, offering a fresh take on smartphone design.
One of the first things you’ll notice about the POCO M7 Pro is how comfortable it feels in the hand. Despite its large 6.67-inch display, the phone has a flat design that makes it easy to grip and use with one hand. The slightly curved edges help improve the overall ergonomics, making it feel less bulky than other devices in the same segment.
The phone features Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both the front and back, ensuring durability against scratches and drops. It also holds an IP64 rating, meaning it’s resistant to splashes and dust. While not fully water-resistant, the IP64 rating adds peace of mind in everyday situations.
Display: The Brightest AMOLED Panel in Its Class
When it comes to the display, the POCO M7 Pro 5G delivers an impressive 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it stand out in the mid-range category. The Full HD+ resolution ensures sharp visuals, whether you’re watching your favorite movies, gaming, or browsing social media. The standout feature, however, is its 2100 nits peak brightness, making it the brightest AMOLED display in its price range.
This display is not only bright but also incredibly vibrant, offering deep blacks, rich colors, and excellent contrast. Thanks to the AMOLED technology, it also consumes less power than traditional LCD displays, which helps in extending battery life. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations, making the overall user experience feel premium, especially for casual gaming or browsing.
Performance: Powering Through Tasks with MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra
Under the hood, the POCO M7 Pro 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra processor, a capable chipset that falls squarely in the mid-range category. While it may not compete with the top-tier processors like the Snapdragon 8-series or Apple’s A-series chips, it provides ample performance for most daily tasks, from social media to media consumption and light gaming.
With 6GB of RAM and the ability to extend this by an additional 6GB of virtual RAM, the POCO M7 Pro 5G ensures smooth multitasking and app switching. For users who require extra memory, the extended RAM feature is a welcome addition, enhancing the device’s ability to handle multiple apps simultaneously without slowing down.
In real-world usage, the device performs well, whether you’re streaming content, browsing the web, or switching between apps. The phone also delivers decent performance in gaming, handling popular titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile at medium to high settings without any major hiccups.
Benchmark scores are also respectable for the price, with the POCO M7 Pro 5G scoring well in both Antutu and Geekbench tests. The Antutu score showcases the device’s capabilities, while the Geekbench score demonstrates its processing power in single-core and multi-core performance.
Software Experience: MIUI Meets Android 14
The POCO M7 Pro 5G runs on Xiaomi’s Hyper OS, which is based on Android 14. This skin is familiar to anyone who has used Xiaomi or POCO phones before, with a number of custom features and optimizations. It comes with a clean and intuitive user interface, with options to customize the look and feel according to your preferences.
Hyper OS offers a host of features, including app lock, screen recorder, game turbo mode, and more. One notable feature is adaptive brightness, which adjusts the screen’s brightness based on your environment and usage habits. This, along with the 120Hz refresh rate, makes for a fluid and responsive software experience.
In terms of updates, the POCO M7 Pro is already running the latest Android 14, which means users can expect timely security patches and some future updates as well. This is a crucial factor when considering the long-term usability of the device, and POCO’s track record with updates is solid, which adds to its credibility.
Camera Performance: 50MP Sony LYT600 for Stunning Shots
The POCO M7 Pro 5G’s camera setup is one of its most intriguing features. The phone is equipped with a 50MP primary camera featuring the Sony LYT600 sensor, which delivers impressive results in good lighting conditions. This sensor comes with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a feature typically found in higher-end phones, ensuring sharp and clear images, even in low-light scenarios or while capturing fast-moving objects.
In addition to the primary 50MP camera, the POCO M7 Pro 5G also features a secondary camera, which adds versatility for different types of shots, including portrait and macro photography. The 20MP front camera is more than capable of capturing sharp selfies and comes with a range of beautification modes to enhance your photos.
In terms of video recording, the POCO M7 Pro 5G supports 1080p video at 30fps for both the front and rear cameras. While 4K recording or 60fps video would have been a welcome addition, the 1080p 30fps performance is still solid for everyday use.
Audio: Immersive Dolby Atmos Stereo Speakers
For a mid-range phone, the POCO M7 Pro 5G packs an impressive audio setup. The device features Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, offering immersive and clear sound whether you’re watching movies, playing games, or listening to music. The loudness and clarity of the speakers make it ideal for media consumption, and the sound quality is a step above what you typically get in this price range.
This feature is particularly useful when watching high-definition content on the AMOLED display, as the sound complements the rich visuals, delivering an all-around premium media experience.
Battery Life: A 5110mAh Powerhouse
The POCO M7 Pro 5G boasts a massive 5110mAh battery, ensuring that you can go through the day without worrying about charging. During our testing, with moderate usage, including browsing, social media, and video streaming, the phone comfortably lasted 1 to 1.5 days on a single charge.
The phone also supports 45W fast charging, and the charger is conveniently bundled in the box. With this fast charging support, the POCO M7 Pro 5G can be juiced up in no time, ensuring you won’t be waiting long to get back to using your device.
Final Thoughts: Should You Buy the POCO M7 Pro 5G?
In conclusion, the POCO M7 Pro 5G is an impressive mid-range smartphone that punches well above its weight. With its stunning AMOLED display, powerful 50MP Sony LYT600 camera, smooth performance, and massive battery, it offers great value for money. The unique dual-tone design and solid build quality further elevate the device’s appeal.
While it may not compete with flagship smartphones in terms of raw power or advanced features, the POCO M7 Pro 5G delivers a well-rounded experience that should satisfy most users looking for a reliable and affordable device. Its performance in gaming, media consumption, and day-to-day tasks is commendable, and the device is a top contender in the mid-range market.
If you’re in the market for a phone that offers premium features at an affordable price, the POCO M7 Pro 5G should definitely be on your radar.