POCO X7 Pro Review: Performance powerhouse with a few quirks

POCO X7 Pro Review: Performance powerhouse with a few quirks
Digit Rating 7.4
Digit AI-Q Score
7.4
Build and Design
7.7
Features and Specifications
8.1
Performance and Camera
6.8
Value for Money
7.4
PROS:
  • Powerful performance capabilities
  • Vibrant AMOLED display
  • IP68 durable build
  • Numerous AI features
CONS:
  • Inconsistent camera performance
  • Software bloatware issues
VERDICT:

The POCO X7 Pro is a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone segment, offering an excellent mix of performance, build quality, and display prowess. It caters to gamers and those who prioritize a vibrant display and a modern design. Its vegan leather finish, IP68 certification, and high-brightness AMOLED display are commendable. However, the cameras, while decent, leave room for improvement, especially in low-light scenarios. Additionally, the software could use refinement, with fewer pre-installed apps to enhance the overall user experience. The battery life is also disappointing given this phone is largely marketed towards gamers who would expect longer endurance. However, fast charging does redeem it a bit in this regard.


The POCO X7 Pro marks yet another bold step in POCO’s journey of redefining the mid-range smartphone market. As a successor to the popular X6 Pro, this device builds on its strengths while introducing several noteworthy upgrades to enhance the user experience. Priced competitively under ₹30,000, the POCO X7 Pro offers a tempting package for tech enthusiasts, casual users, and gamers alike. It stands out with a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra chipset, an ultra-bright AMOLED display, and a massive silicon-carbon battery.

POCO X7 Pro Review

In a market crowded with feature-rich smartphones, POCO has managed to carve a niche by delivering performance-focused devices. The POCO X7 Pro not only impresses with its raw power but also brings in thoughtful design elements like a vegan leather finish and a highly responsive 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. However, as with most mid-range smartphones, it has its share of shortcomings. It also competes with stellar devices like the Realme GT 6T (review), iQOO Z9S, and OnePlus Nord 4 (review). Let’s dive deeper into what makes the POCO X7 Pro stand out—or fall short—in this competitive segment.

POCO X7 Pro Review: Build and Design – Refined and durable

The POCO X7 Pro is a device that catches your attention the moment you hold it. Its premium feel stems from the vegan leather back panel on the Signature Yellow colour variant. We got the Nebula Green variant for review which sports a plastic rear panel, but its dual-tone aesthetics stand out as well. The leather and plastic finishes are smudge-resistant, and the leather one adds an extra layer of grip, ensuring the phone doesn’t easily slip.

POCO X7 Pro Review

The pill-shaped camera module is a distinctive element of its design, giving the phone a polished, futuristic look. With flat edges and a slim profile, it feels modern and ergonomic. Despite its 195 g weight, the device is well-balanced and comfortable to use for extended periods. POCO also upped its game with durability, offering IP68 dust and water resistance, which adds peace of mind for accidental spills or use in rough conditions.

POCO X7 Pro Review

Overall, the X7 Pro excels in its design language, blending aesthetics with practicality. However, while the build quality is commendable, the flat edges may not appeal to users accustomed to curved-edge designs. That said, this phone manages to balance durability and style quite effectively.

POCO X7 Pro Review

POCO X7 Pro Review: Display – Spectacular AMOLED display

The display on the POCO X7 Pro is one of its standout features, offering a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with a sharp 1.5K resolution. With a peak brightness of 3,200 nits, this screen is a treat for multimedia enthusiasts, as it remains easily visible even under harsh sunlight. In our tests, the screen touched 1,011 nits on High Brightness Mode, which is pretty impressive. Its 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ensures a smooth and fluid experience, whether you’re scrolling through social media or gaming.

POCO X7 Pro Review

Colour reproduction is vibrant, with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision—a rarity at this price. It adds more depth to compatible streaming content. Watching movies or playing games feels immersive, thanks to the display’s excellent contrast ratios and sharp detail. Additionally, POCO has included a TUV Rheinland certification to reduce blue light emission, making the display comfortable for prolonged use.

POCO X7 Pro Review

The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i. While this is not top-notch, it ensures scratches are kept to a minimum, however, I still recommend using the phone with a case.

POCO X7 Pro Review: Performance and Software – Performance beast with bloatware gallore

Under the hood, the POCO X7 Pro packs the new MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra chipset, a performance beast in its class. This octa-core processor, featuring Cortex-A725 cores clocked at up to 3.25GHz, ensures seamless multitasking and lag-free gaming. Coupled with the Mali-G720 GPU, the X7 Pro delivers an outstanding gaming experience, easily handling graphically demanding titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact on high settings.

POCO X7 Pro Review

Benchmarks reflect its prowess, with the phone scoring higher than several competitors in the same price bracket. However, the Realme GT 6T does inch ahead in some benchmark tests. Thermal management is another area where the X7 Pro excels, thanks to POCO’s LiquidCool 2.0 technology, which prevents overheating during intense gaming sessions. Additionally, with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, app switching is smooth, and file transfers are lightning-fast.

The X7 Pro runs POCO’s HyperOS 2, based on Android 15, offering an intuitive user experience. However, it isn’t free from bloatware. The pre-installed apps can be annoying, especially for users who prefer a cleaner interface. On the brighter side, HyperOS introduces useful customisations, including enhanced gestures and gaming-centric features. POCO promises three years of Android updates and four years of security patches, ensuring the device remains relevant for years to come.

POCO X7 Pro Review

Whether you’re a gamer, a heavy multitasker, or someone who just needs a phone that doesn’t lag during everyday tasks, the X7 Pro performs admirably across the board. However, the software experience, while functional, could benefit from fewer pre-loaded apps.

Cameras – A mixed bag

The camera setup on the POCO X7 Pro is a mixed bag. The dual rear camera system includes a 50MP Sony LYT primary sensor with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor.

POCO X7 Pro Review

The main camera performs well in daylight conditions, capturing sharp images with vibrant colours and decent dynamic range. Portrait mode delivers pleasing bokeh effects, although edge detection isn’t always perfect.

The ultra-wide sensor offers a broader perspective but suffers from noticeable distortion and reduced detail at the edges. Low-light photography is serviceable, but the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens limits its versatility in certain scenarios. Even with night mode, photos can appear grainy and lose out on finer details.

On the front, the 20MP selfie camera is capable of producing sharp and bright selfies in good lighting conditions. Overall, while the cameras are decent, they are not the strongest suit of the X7 Pro.

POCO X7 Pro Review: Battery Life -Nothing to write home about

The POCO X7 Pro houses a massive 6,550mAh silicon-carbon battery, attempting to set a new benchmark for smartphones in this segment. However, it falls short in doing so. In the PCMark Work Battery Test, the phone only lasted for 12 hours and 34 minutes, which is lacklustre endurance for a massive 6,550 mAh battery. I honestly expected more, and I hope POCO can improve endurance by tweaking the software optimisation in future OTA updates.

POCO X7 Pro Review

The device supports 90W fast charging, which is a game-changer for users with a hectic schedule. In just 48 minutes, the phone charges from 0 to 100%, eliminating the need for extended downtime.

Should you buy it?

The POCO X7 Pro is a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone segment, offering an excellent mix of performance, build quality, and display prowess. It caters to gamers and those who prioritize a vibrant display and a modern design. Its vegan leather finish, IP68 certification, and high-brightness AMOLED display are commendable.

However, the cameras, while decent, leave room for improvement, especially in low-light scenarios. Additionally, the software could use refinement, with fewer pre-installed apps to enhance the overall user experience. The battery life is also disappointing given this phone is largely marketed towards gamers who would expect longer endurance. However, fast charging does redeem it a bit in this regard.

POCO X7 Pro Review

Still, if you’re looking for a reliable, feature-packed phone that excels in performance and battery life, the POCO X7 Pro is worth considering. For camera enthusiasts or those seeking a more polished software experience, alternative options might be more suitable. Nonetheless, the POCO X7 Pro offers excellent value for money, cementing its place as one of the most powerful mid-range smartphones currently available.

POCO X7 Pro 5G Key Specs, Price and Launch Date

POCO X7 Pro 5G (Obsidian Black, 256 GB)(8 GB RAM)
POCO X7 Pro 5G (Obsidian Black, 256 GB)(8 GB RAM)
Rs. 31,999
Rs. 27,999
Flipkart
Release Date: 13 Jan, 2025
Market Status: Launched

Key Specifications

  • Specs

    Storage

    256 GB

  • Specs

    Battery capacity (mAh)

    6000

  • Specs

    Rear Camera Megapixel

    50 + 8

  • Specs

    Screen size (in inches)

    6.67

Dhriti Datta

Dhriti Datta

Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. View Full Profile

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