POCO X7 Pro overview: Redefining price range telephones over again

POCO is making a behavior of churning out class-leading price range telephones on a yearly foundation. Last yr’s X6 Pro mixed nice {hardware} with an unbeatable worth, and POCO is doing the identical with the X7 Pro. The cellphone has a brighter AMOLED panel, higher digital camera on the again, and an enormous battery — the Indian mannequin has a 6500mAh unit.

Interestingly, POCO partnered with Marvel to launch the Iron Man version of the X7 Pro, and it seems unbelievable. It’s thrilling to see price range telephones get limited-edition variants, and it provides a degree of exclusivity to the X7 Pro that you do not often see on this class.

POCO is doing all the suitable issues with ingress safety, and the X7 Pro will get IP68 as normal. Like earlier years, worth is an enormous differentiator, and the X7 Pro manages to undercut its rivals as soon as once more. I used the gadget for simply over two weeks, and I’m satisfied this is among the finest price range telephones round.

POCO X7 Pro: Pricing and availability

Xiaomi unveiled the POCO X7 and X7 Pro on January 9, and each telephones are actually out there in choose world areas. The normal X7 has a dual-curved design and is powered by the Dimensity 7300, however it has the identical cameras because the X7 Pro. The essential distinction is a smaller 5110mAh battery (5500mAh in India), and it prices ₹21,999 ($253) for the 8GB/128GB variant. There’s additionally an 8GB/256GB mannequin that prices ₹23,999 ($276) in India and £199 ($247) within the U.Ok. Xiaomi is promoting a 12GB/512GB version of the POCO X7 within the U.Ok., and it’s going for £249 ($310) as of writing.

The POCO X7 Pro, in the meantime, is powered by the Dimensity 8400 platform, and it has a 6000mAh battery. POCO has a devoted variant in India with an enormous 6550mAh battery, and the gadget begins at ₹27,999 ($322) for the 8GB/256GB variant within the nation and £269 ($335) within the U.Ok. There’s additionally a 12GB/256GB mannequin that prices ₹29,999 ($346) in India, and the U.Ok. will get a 12GB/512GB mannequin that is promoting at £309 ($384).

I’m utilizing the Iron Man version of the X7 Pro, and it is available in a single 12GB/512GB configuration. This mannequin is restricted to pick out Southeast Asian nations, the place it prices the equal of $399.

POCO X7 Pro: Design

POCO overhauled the design of the X sequence this yr, and the X7 and X7 Pro look fairly completely different to their predecessors. Interestingly, the usual X7 retains the dual-curved design and finally ends up wanting like the dearer possibility, with the X7 Pro switching to a boxy profile with flat sides.

That mentioned, the X7 Pro has beveled sides, so it is not uncomfortable to carry the gadget. And regardless that it has a sizeable 6000mAh battery, it is available in at an simply manageable 195g. That’s as a result of it contains a polycarbonate mid-frame in addition to a plastic again, however you do not fairly get the sensation that you simply’re utilizing a price range cellphone — POCO did an excellent job with the fundamentals.

On that be aware, the edges have a matte texture, and the coating extends to the again as nicely. The Iron Man version has a customized etched design on the again that highlights Iron Man’s helmet, and it’s fairly distinctive. The common variants simply get a matte texture on the again, and POCO has a yellow mannequin with a leather-based again this time.

The digital camera island seems cleaner this yr as POCO is utilizing simply two cameras on the again, and it does not dominate consideration on the again. It does not jut out significantly from the physique, and whereas there’s a little wobble when utilizing the cellphone, a case mitigates the difficulty.

You get purple accents across the digital camera lenses on the again and the ability button, and it offers the design a little bit added aptitude. Other niceties embrace an IR blaster, and IP68 ingress safety. It’s nice to see POCO delivering the identical normal of mud and water resistance because the Xiaomi 14T and 14 Ultra on price range telephones, and the Indian mannequin even will get IP69 — identical to the Find X8 Pro and Vivo X200 Pro.

There aren’t any issues with usability on the X7 Pro. Xiaomi did an excellent job with the design of the cellphone, and the matte texture mixed with a comparatively mild chassis makes holding and utilizing the cellphone that rather more comfy.

POCO X7 Pro: Display

POCO is utilizing the identical 6.67-inch AMOLED panel as final yr, however it has higher brightness — it now goes as much as 1400 nits in HBM mode and 3200 nits when viewing HDR content material. There is a noticeable distinction when viewing the panel subsequent to the X6 Pro, and it will get brighter in outside use. The panel is roofed by Gorilla Glass 7i, and like all POCO telephones, you get a display screen safety put in out of the field.

It is not the brightest display screen round — the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ will get brighter — however I did not see any points utilizing the gadget outdoor, and it has good coloration rendition and distinction ranges. You get 120Hz refresh, however you will have to enter the settings to allow the mode, and there is Dolby Vision integration. You get a good quantity of customizability in terms of adjusting the colour stability, and a wide variety of always-on types.

The X7 Pro does an excellent job with HDR content material within the likes of Netflix and YouTube, and it holds up nicely throughout gaming. I’d have preferred elevated brightness in common use, however because it stands, that is nonetheless the most effective AMOLED panels round within the price range class. You even get 1920Hz PWM dimming,

POCO X7 Pro: Hardware and battery

POCO is aware of the best way to ship nice {hardware} on a price range, and the X7 Pro continues that development. The gadget is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8400 Ultra, and identical to the Dimensity 9400, it solely has massive cores — you get a Cortex A725 working at 3.25GHz, three Cortex A725 cores at 3.0GHz, and 4 A725 cores going as much as 2.1GHz. Also included is a Mali-G720 GPU with seven cores, and it manages to do a terrific job.

Basically, the X7 Pro is the most effective price range cellphone round on this regard, and in the event you want a gaming-focused gadget that does not value a whole lot of money, that is the one to get. The cellphone blazes via mundane duties, and it manages to carry its personal in demanding titles as nicely; whilst you do not fairly get the identical secure framerates as high-end units, it does a greater job than most different price range telephones out there in the present day.

I did not discover any lag or stutter both, and the gadget has been a delight to make use of. There aren’t any points with connectivity both, and whereas the vibration motor does not have granular suggestions, it’s first rate sufficient. You get AptX HD codecs and NFC as nicely, and that may be a good bonus.

Coming to the battery aspect of issues, I bought nicely over a day’s price of use with the X7 Pro. I’m utilizing the mannequin with the 6000mAh battery, and customers in India ought to get even higher battery life due to the outsized 6500mAh unit within the area. The battery does not final so long as different telephones with 6000mAh cells just like the X200 Pro, however I nonetheless bought a day’s price of use persistently, and there was by no means any battery nervousness.

Charging the battery takes 46 minutes utilizing the bundled 90W charger, and annoyingly, POCO does not embrace the charger in all nations. My gadget got here with the charger included within the package deal, however that is not the case within the U.Ok. and different western markets.

POCO X7 Pro: Cameras

POCO’s telephones haven’t got the most effective cameras, and the X7 Pro is aiming to do higher on that entrance. The gadget will get a 50MP essential digital camera with Sony’s IMX882 imaging module, and it is joined by an 8MP wide-angle lens. There’s no 2MP lens on the again, and that is an excellent factor — it was one of the vital pointless sensors ever fitted to a cellphone.

The digital camera interface is equivalent to final yr, so that you get the identical taking pictures modes, identical results and filters, and the identical toggles across the viewfinder. You lastly get the power to shoot 4K60 video by way of the rear digital camera, and it is a much-needed inclusion. It is restricted to the primary lens — the wide-angle solely goes as much as 1080p — however it’s an excellent addition nonetheless.

Image 1 of 5

The cellphone takes first rate pictures in daylight circumstances, producing photographs with good dynamic vary and colours. It does an excellent job in low-light eventualities as nicely, and whereas you aren’t getting fairly as a lot element, there is not a lot in the best way of noise. The wide-angle lens is common, and whereas it takes satisfactory photographs in good lighting conditions, it does not handle to ship the identical caliber of pictures at evening.

The digital camera is best than earlier years, however it nonetheless is not the most effective on this class. The Nord 4 takes higher photographs in nearly any state of affairs, so in the event you want an excellent set of cameras on the again, you need to choose up that gadget as an alternative. If you are okay with common cameras and wish a cellphone with highly effective {hardware}, the X7 Pro will get my suggestion.

POCO X7 Pro: Software

Software continues to be an space the place POCO’s units have a particular edge over their Redmi siblings; the X7 Pro runs Android 15 out of the field, and it comes with the same old slate of AI-assisted options. The software program interface might be acquainted in the event you’ve used a Xiaomi or POCO cellphone lately, and whereas there are not any visible adjustments, you get higher fluidity.

I nonetheless consider that Xiaomi is in want of a visible overhaul, and it must do one thing in regards to the bloatware on its units. Other than that, I haven’t got any negatives on the software program entrance; the Iron Man version has a couple of customized extras — together with icons and backgrounds — however it has the identical feature-set as the usual X7 Pro.

Xiaomi tends to be overly aggressive with reminiscence administration, and there have been situations the place I had points receiving push notifications. This is a matter on most Xiaomi telephones I take advantage of, and I get round it by disabling any battery-related tweaks.

The X7 Pro will get three assured Android updates alongside 4 years of safety updates, and that’s first rate sufficient on this class. That mentioned, Xiaomi does not do an excellent job delivering updates on time, so when updates will truly make their method to the gadget is an unknown — Android 16 is unlikely to be rolled out anytime earlier than the tip of the yr.

POCO X7 Pro: The competitors

I actually just like the OnePlus Nord 4, and the gadget continues to be a sensible choice in 2025. It has comparable caliber of {hardware}, and holds up extremely nicely throughout gaming. The design is cleaner, however you get a smaller 5500mAh battery. Coming in at ₹28,999 ($335), it’s costlier than the X7 Pro, however it’s a strong various.

POCO’s F6 can also be an excellent suggestion in the event you want a gaming-focused gadget. It outmatches the X7 Pro on this regard, and because it has been round for the higher a part of a yr, it is down to simply ₹26,999 ($312), making it a terrific cut price. It has higher cameras than the X7 Pro as nicely, however it has a comparatively smaller 5000mAh battery.

POCO X7 Pro: Should you purchase it?

You should purchase this if:

• You want a price range cellphone that feels nice to carry and use
• You need a battery that simply lasts a day
• You want good efficiency
• You need dependable ingress safety

You should not purchase this if:

• You want a price range cellphone with nice cameras

POCO did not change the basics an excessive amount of with the X7 Pro, and that is an excellent factor. The cellphone continues to be one of many quickest within the price range class, and also you get a vibrant AMOLED panel, standout battery life, and quick charging. The cameras aren’t the most effective round, however the primary digital camera does a good job in its personal proper.

There’s lots to love with the software program, and the truth that you get Android 15 out of the field offers the X7 Pro a definite benefit over the Redmi Note 14 Pro+. The solely damaging is that the mannequin bought within the U.Ok. and different western markets is not nearly as good because the Indian variant, however outdoors of that, the X7 Pro is a terrific price range cellphone. As an general package deal, there are few units that handle to return shut.