Poco X7 Review: High Spec, Budget Price

For just a few years now, the smartphone market has been stale. The place innovation has arrived, it has finished so in little bursts – a barely higher digital camera, a touch improved show – however it has generally additionally introduced downgrades, as producers penny pinch to spice up earnings.

To resolve this, disruption is the antidote, a top quality within the DNA of Poco, the Chinese language model behind one of the vital well-known “Flagship killers” ever, 2018’s Pocophone F1. With its new lineup consisting of the X7 and X7 Professional, we see an organization working in a unique context, with much more intense competitors, however with the identical mission, to distinguish on value however not on high quality.

These are telephones constructed to impress, at the very least on paper, with a seize bag of options which bely their value factors. For some, that alone will likely be sufficient. However as confirmed with the F1, a profitable smartphone isn’t only a hodgepodge of off-the-shelf options rammed collectively, it’s an expertise.

The Poco X7 has an arguably more durable job on this respect than its extra premium sibling. The place the X7 Professional can afford to be a bit fancier, the plain X7 has to settle with being extra plain by advantage of its existence within the lineup. However generally a give attention to the fundamentals pays dividends.

So what’s the expertise of utilizing the Poco X7? Does it do sufficient to earn a spot in your pocket? Learn on to search out out.

Design & Construct

• 185g, 8.4mm thick
• All plastic construct
• IP68 rated

At first look, the Poco X7 is a little bit bizarre. From the rear, every thing seems to be regular, there’s a big ‘POCO’ blazon, 4 ‘digital camera’ cutouts (internet hosting three precise cameras) and a shiny plastic end. The entrance is the place issues begin to turn out to be a little bit uncommon for a finances cellphone, by which I imply you encounter the curved sides.

It was nearly a decade in the past that the primary smartphone with curved sides, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, was launched. Again then (2015), they felt cool and futuristic, now, not a lot. Within the intervening interval, the faults of curved sides have been laid naked for all to see. Though they give the impression of being fairly, they’re an obstacle to usability, and to sturdiness. 

I used to be grateful that the X7 got here with a factory-fitted display protector, time spent in a pocket with keys meant small scratches to the curved edges, which might fortunately be eliminated with the protector.

One other anachronism is the usage of shiny plastics within the design. The rail is meant to appear like steel, and the again glass, in use it’s very obvious that each are plastic. Shiny may {photograph} higher, however it additionally signifies that scratches and scuffs are crystal clear from each angle. In case you prefer to hold your cellphone ‘bare’, the X7 will certainly look worse for put on after just a few months, it is a system which wants a case.

Sean Cameron / Foundry

Fortunately there’s one included within the field, even when it’s a flimsy TPU affair. From an total construct perspective, the X7 is on a much more strong footing. At 185g it’s heavy, however no extra so than different units that are the identical measurement, and at 8.4mm it’s thick sufficient to really feel substantial with out additionally coming throughout as pudgy.

Three colourways are supplied: Black, Inexperienced and Silver, with our overview unit coming within the latter. None of them will set the world alight and are 1,000,000 miles from Motorola and its partnership with Pantone for the Edge sequence.

One other very retro inclusion is the sequence of 4 digital camera warts on the rear, of which there are 4, with one housing the flash. They’re an unattractive inclusion, particularly for what isn’t a camera-first system. At the least the X7 is IP68 mud and water resistant, removed from a given within the finances phase, as is the inclusion of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for additional sturdiness.

Taken as an entire, the X7 comes as one thing of a hodgepodge from a design perspective, a sequence of outdated components and concepts that don’t fairly gel. It’s a solidly constructed smartphone that feels competent, however which doesn’t set the heartbeat racing.

Display screen & Audio system

• 6.67 inch, 1.5K AMOLED show
• 120Hz refresh fee
• Stereo audio system

The display is usually the place smartphone entrepreneurs go to city, and with the X7, Poco has pulled out all of the stops. With a 6.67-inch ‘CrystalRes 1.5K Stream AMOLED curved show’, 68 Billion colors (not a single color much less or extra), a 2560Hz ‘Instantaneous contact’ sampling fee and extra, you’ll be mistaken for pondering this was a flagship panel.

It decidedly isn’t, nonetheless that isn’t to detract from its efficiency, simply from some barely over-eager advertising and marketing. 

The 1.5K decision (round 25% greater than a typical 1080p panel) affords crip content material, whether or not textual content or photos. The AMOLED tech signifies that colors pop and the technically infinite distinction leaves blacks good and inky.

Sean Cameron / Foundry

Whether or not you possibly can rely all 68 Billion colors is as much as you, nonetheless, the dynamic vary of the panel is respectable. Viewing angles on the curved edges will be a difficulty generally.

With a 120Hz refresh fee, largely something you are able to do on the X7 feels quick and easy, although the 2560Hz sampling fee was unimaginable to measure. For sure, the cellphone registered my contact shortly, even when my shaky hobbit-like mitts couldn’t push it to theoretical extremes.

The X7 does include HDR10 functionality and is Widevine L1 licensed, that means it will possibly play HDR content material on Netflix and the like. Brightness is quoted as as much as 1200 nits on excessive brightness mode, and it was definitely sufficient to beat the brittle winter sunshine within the UK. Minimal brightness wasn’t the most effective, nonetheless, blasting my face in the dead of night, in the event you prefer to learn in mattress this could be a difficulty.

There’s an under-display fingerprint sensor, and as you’ll anticipate in 2025, it labored flawlessly. Stereo audio system additionally make an entrance, with loads of punch and quantity even when they lack element in comparison with even low-cost Bluetooth choices.

Specs & Efficiency

• Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Extremely processor
• 8/12GB of RAM
• 256/512GB storage

Usually, if there’s one space during which Poco telephones by no means disappoints, it’s with the core specs, and just like the Poco X6, the X7 is not any exception. 

To begin, there’s a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Extremely underneath the hood, which is a contemporary 4nm octa-core chip working at as much as 2.5GHz, which is paired with a minimal of 8GB of RAM. Storage by default is 256GB, though for a little bit extra you will note 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, lots by anybody’s estimation. There’s no MicroSD card enlargement, so make your selection properly.

Sean Cameron / Foundry

As could be anticipated, there’s nothing in your day-to-day life which is more likely to section the X7, although that’s functionally the case for almost each smartphone within the finances value bracket. Nonetheless, the X7 flies via the interface and almost each gentle job with ease.

The Dimensity 7300 Extremely powered via most video games with out subject, together with PUBG at excessive settings. Over time it grew to become a little bit toasty, although not overly so. Particularly in the event you use a controller grip, the surplus warmth gained’t show to be a difficulty. Even throughout longer periods, there was solely minimal throttling evident, showcasing some largely efficient thermal administration.

This isn’t a tool meant to problem the easiest and strongest available in the market, however what it does do is supply commendable gaming efficiency at a compelling value level, which for a lot of will likely be cause sufficient to concentrate.

Poco X7 benchmarks

Cameras

• 50Mp important digital camera with OIS
• 8Mp ultrawide
• 2Mp macro
• 20Mp selfie digital camera

It’s been mentioned already that the X7 isn’t a camera-first system, nonetheless, that isn’t to say that it doesn’t have a digital camera system worthy of observe.

Current and proper is a 50Mp IMX882 important sensor with optical picture stabilisation and an f/1.5 aperture, an 8Mp f2.2 ultra-wide digital camera and a 2Mp macro cam on the rear, whereas the entrance sensor is 20Mp, with no additional data supplied.

The principle sensor is shared with the X7’s extra premium sibling, the X7 Professional, and can also be used within the Poco F6. And for essentially the most half, it does an affordable job.

Sean Cameron / Foundry

Stills are captured at 12.5Mp and supply nice colors, offered you don’t activate the ‘AI digital camera’ mode, which hates each shade of inexperienced wanting nuclear astroturf. Zooming in, there are points with over-sharpening, which destroys the definition of foliage specifically, however for many city settings you gained’t have a difficulty. Dynamic vary, usually, was good, with the X7 working effectively to appropriate overblown skies specifically.

Pores and skin tones are pleasantly captured for essentially the most half, however with reference to portraits, you’ll instantly want to disable the built-in ‘enhancements’ supplied by the selfie digital camera. Crank these to eleven and also you’ll appear like an additional from ET.

Shifting to low-light, the problems with element don’t enhance, nonetheless color stays a spotlight. The in-built night time mode does a superb job of enhancing brightness whereas sustaining saturation. This could’t be mentioned of the ultra-wide digital camera, which isn’t at its greatest when the lights go down.

Efficiency from the ultra-wide on the entire echoes that of the primary sensor, which is to say good color, and iffy element, although these points are each compounded right here. It’s a nice-to-have, one thing usable in a pinch, however it isn’t among the finest choices on the market, even on the value level.

As could be anticipated, the macro cam is an actual stinker. To get shut sufficient to make use of it, the cellphone casts a big shadow over the topic, eliminating the purpose of macro images. Tele-macros are an possibility which is rising in recognition, and for good cause.

Fortunately, images from the front-facing digital camera are good for essentially the most half, showcasing good element and hues, that’s as soon as the ‘enhancements’ have been deactivated.

Shifting via Xiaomi’s varied modes, the Portrait mode specifically did a commendable job with cutouts and altering lighting to make it extra flattering, and as such was a welcome inclusion. Others, such because the ‘50Mp’ mode, supply nothing of worth in any respect.

Lastly, ‘Director’ mode was an fascinating inclusion, which supplies you an approximation of full guide video management, having access to color temperature, shutter pace, ISO and the power to manually focus. Coupled with the teleprompter characteristic, it makes for a theoretical video monster, however for one small subject – the front-facing sensor can solely document video at as much as 1080p/30fps, which simply isn’t aggressive.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5110mAh battery
• 45W quick charging

With a capacious 5110mAh battery and a contemporary processor, the Poco X7 has the mandatory components to realize glorious battery life, and so coming into this overview that’s what I used to be anticipating to search out.

Throughout the course of a comparatively heavy day, with calls, e-mail, social media, watching movies and an hour of GPS, I discovered by the top of the day I had round 31% remaining within the tank on common.

As can so usually be mentioned now, it is a smartphone which is able to final all day, and right into a second for gentle customers. 

When the time comes for charging, you possibly can prime up at as much as 45W, which isn’t the quickest possibility available on the market however does the job in a pinch. In half-hour, with the included charger, I used to be capable of prime up by 56%, which suggests it’s best to see near a full cost inside an hour.

An fascinating inclusion, which boosts the eco-credentials of the X7, is its acknowledged means to retain 80% battery well being after 1,600 cost cycles, which is a major quantity certainly. Although you may not be more likely to hold it so long as that, it means you could possibly theoretically get at the very least 4 years of use out of the X7, although there’s no acknowledged framework for software program help into the longer term.

As could be anticipated on the value level, there’s no wi-fi charging out there.

Software program & Apps

• Android 14
• Runs Xiaomi HyperOS
• Unknown help

Provided that it is a system with Xiaomi parentage, it’s maybe unsurprising that it comes operating ‘HyperOS’, the Chinese language agency’s explicit flavour of Android.

This does its greatest to ape iOS for essentially the most half. There are bizarre inclusions, comparable to a swipe from the highest proper down bringing a ‘Management Centre’ reasonably than the notification shade. Or there’s the shortcoming to eliminate notifications with a left swipe.

Sean Cameron / Foundry

In case you’ve come from an iPhone you’ll discover loads to love, however if you’re used to a extra pared-back model of Android, you may discover it loads. It’s a disgrace too to say there’s a whole lot of cruft put in, a few of which current themselves as system apps and comprise advertisements. This contains the built-in file supervisor, which seems regular till advertisements for ‘Evony’ seem. 

Past that, there’s a Xiaomi ‘App Mall’ which is a rival app retailer to the Play Retailer however far much less achieved. There’s additionally the Mi Browser, a Calendar app, a Gallery app, a Xiaomi retailer app and extra, all choices which will be forgotten however which for essentially the most half can’t be uninstalled. In 2025, that’s unlucky to see.

Google Gemini is included by default and can’t be uninstalled, persevering with the theme. It leaves you with a tool that feels as if it’s not likely yours, over which you don’t have whole management, and that’s unlucky.

Taken as it’s, HyperOS is easy and gained’t trouble most individuals usually use, however the cracks are there and simple to see. In comparison with the likes of Motorola’s, and even Samsung’s strategy to software program, it feels positively archaic. The shortage of acknowledged software program help shifting into the longer term can also be one thing of a bugbear, because the competitors has moved to a minimal of two years of characteristic updates, usually much more.

Worth & Availability

The Poco X7 is offered for costs beginning at £249 from the official retailer and retailers like Amazon. This can get you the 8/256GB model, whereas the 12/512GB mannequin will set you again £299 placing it within the mid-range sector.

You should purchase it from Amazon US in the event you don’t thoughts an import.

For a similar value, you may get a Samsung Galaxy A25 5G, which affords lots of the similar specs, however with a barely improved digital camera system and a far longer supply of software program help.

Or there’s the CMF Cellphone 1, which sports activities lots of the similar options and a superior software program expertise, for round £40 much less. Lastly, there’s a left-field possibility, the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper, which has a 108Mp digital camera and a display that’s superior to all others within the value bracket in terms of studying.

Take a look at all our greatest finances telephones to see the highest choices proper now.

Do you have to purchase the Poco X7?

The finances vary isn’t what it was, and that’s no unhealthy factor. In recent times it has turn out to be jam-packed with high quality choices, which could make the proposition of selecting a person cellphone tougher, however which additionally conversely means most selections will likely be a secure one.

And that describes the Poco X7, as a secure selection. It has a considerably outdated design that lacks pizzazz, there’s nothing in its spec sheet which actually jumps out, it’s a sequence of wise selections coalesced right into a center of the highway smartphone.

That isn’t to say that the expertise of utilizing it’s unhealthy, and even boring. It flies via most duties, it has good battery life and a nice display, and for many individuals that will likely be sufficient.

It has drawbacks too, as is to be anticipated, with a digital camera suite that leaves a little bit to be desired, and software program that desperately wants a way examine utilized to it. To not point out the unknown size of help which is more and more essential to shoppers.

It’s a superb possibility in some ways however that in all probability isn’t sufficient for most individuals except you occur to be seeing it on some engaging deal. Take a look at the competitors from Samsung, CMF, Motorola and others first.

Specs

• Android 14
• 6.67-inch, 1220 x 2712, OLED, 120Hz
• Below-display fingerprint sensor
• MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Extremely
• 8/12GB RAM
• 256GB / 512GB storage
• Cameras:
• 50Mp important digital camera
• 8Mp ultrawide
• 20Mp selfie digital camera
• 2MP macro sensor
• As much as 4K @ 30fps rear video
• Stereo audio system
• Twin-SIM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be
• Bluetooth 5.4
• 5110mAh battery
• 45W charging
• 160 x 74.42 x 78.4 mm
• IP68 licensed
• 185.5g
• Colors: Black, Inexperienced, Silver