Welcome to my detailed review of the POCO M7 Pro 5G after using it for a week. In this post, I’ll cover everything from the unboxing experience to the overall performance, camera quality, battery life, and much more. If you’re considering this phone, I aim to give you all the insights you need to make an informed decision.
Unboxing the POCO M7 Pro 5G
Let’s kick things off with the unboxing. The packaging is pretty standard, but it includes all the essentials you would expect. Inside the box, you get the phone itself, a charger, a USB cable, and a screen protector pre-installed. It’s nice to see that they thought about protecting the display right out of the box.
Build Quality of the POCO M7 Pro 5G
Moving on to the build quality, the POCO M7 Pro 5G feels solid in hand. The front is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, which does a good job against minor scratches. The back and sides are made of plastic, featuring a matte finish that not only looks good but also resists scratches quite well. The IP64 rating means it can handle some splashes, which is a plus.
However, one aspect that stands out as a drawback is the haptics. The vibration feedback while typing feels quite poor, which can detract from the typing experience. Overall, the build quality is decent, but the haptic feedback could use some improvement.
Design Aesthetics
In terms of design, the POCO M7 Pro 5G is available in three colour options, and the lavender variant we have looks quite appealing. The design is divided into two parts: one side is plain, while the other features a pattern. It’s a comfortable phone to hold, and while I found the design to be alright, it didn’t particularly wow me.
Display Performance
Now, let’s talk about the display, which is arguably the best feature of this phone. It boasts a Full HD+ AMOLED display with minimal bezels. The colour reproduction is excellent, with deep blacks and vibrant colours. I tested it on YouTube at 1440p, and the brightness levels were impressive, with no flickering observed even at lower brightness settings.
Additionally, the display houses an in-display fingerprint scanner that works reliably every time. If you’re in the market for a phone with a good display for multimedia consumption, this one is definitely worth considering.
Sound Quality
When it comes to sound quality, the phone features dual speakers—one at the bottom and one at the top—along with a headphone jack. It also supports Dolby Atmos. However, while the quality is decent, the loudness could be better. Even with the volume boost feature, the sound quality tends to degrade, which is a letdown for media lovers.
Software Experience
The POCO M7 Pro 5G runs on Android 14, which is based on MIUI. While you do get two major updates and security updates for four years, the experience feels somewhat lacking. The animations are not smooth, and the overall optimization doesn’t feel as polished as some other devices in the same range. There are features like app lock and dual apps, which are handy, but the overall software experience could use some refinement.
Performance Overview
Under the hood, the phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7250 Ultra processor, coupled with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.1 storage. While it performs adequately for normal tasks, there are moments when it feels a bit sluggish, especially when opening apps for the first time. However, once the apps are in the background, they open quickly on subsequent tries.
In terms of gaming, it supports 60fps but lacks the consistency offered by some competitors that can hit 90fps or even 120fps. If you’re a serious gamer, you might want to look elsewhere, as this phone isn’t particularly designed for heavy gaming.
Heating Issues
Regarding heating, the phone generally stays cool even during extended use. However, under heavy loads, you may notice some throttling, which is common in many budget devices. It’s not a deal-breaker but something to keep in mind if you plan on using it for intensive tasks.
Camera Performance
The camera setup includes a 50MP primary sensor. During the day, it captures decent details, but it tends to overexpose images, resulting in washed-out backgrounds. The portrait mode shows a noticeable difference, but the overall performance in low light could improve as it often lacks detail.
Video recording is limited to 1080p, which is a bit disappointing. Stability is decent, but I’ve seen better performance in other budget devices that offer 4K recording. The selfie camera is 20MP, and similar issues arise with skin tones being overly brightened.
Battery Life
Battery-wise, the POCO M7 Pro 5G is equipped with a 5100mAh battery and comes with a 45W charger. The battery life is average, providing around 5 hours of screen time on 5G. Interestingly, I noticed the battery drains a bit faster than expected, dropping significantly overnight. Charging takes about an hour and ten minutes, which is decent but not the fastest out there.
Network Performance
On the connectivity front, the network performance is quite impressive, with stable 5G connectivity. The dual SIM setup allows for either two SIMs or one SIM and one microSD card, which is a nice touch. The call quality is reliable, and the addition of an IR blaster allows you to use the phone as a remote control for various devices.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Buying?
So, after spending seven days with the POCO M7 Pro 5G, is it worth your money? I’ve laid out the positives and negatives clearly. The display is a major highlight, but apart from that, there are several shortcomings like software optimization, camera performance, and sound quality.
At a price point of around ₹15,000, I feel there are better options available that offer a more balanced experience. In conclusion, while the POCO M7 Pro 5G has its merits, I would recommend considering other devices launched in the last six to seven months that might provide better value for money.