Poco M7 Pro 5G: In the under 10000 budget segment, brands always attempt to find a sweet spot between performance, features, and pricing.
Poco appears to have cracked that formula once again with the Poco M7 Pro 5G, which is touted as a budget 5G offering that doesn’t compromise with the basics and caters to those who demand speed, style, and stamina, all without spending a bomb.
So what can we expect from the Poco M7 Pro 5G when looking across its hardware and design through to real-life usability?
Sleek Design That Stands Out
Design For the price, the Poco M7 Pro 5G looks great. It comes with a flat frame design and has a dual-tone rear panel with a hump to house a big camera module like what you find in flagships.
Finish-wise, it feels smooth in the hand, and though the build is, naturally, all plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap. It’s also IP53 rated, so it can withstand light splashes and dust, which is a small perk at this price.
The M7 Pro comes in bold finishes like Power Black and Forest Green, and doesn’t shy away from looking good. It’s light and easy to hold — great for one-handed use.
Display: Immersive and Smooth
The device includes a 6.67-inch Full HD+ LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate for a smooth scrolling and clear visuals.
It isn’t AMOLED, but the screen serves well indoors and is bright enough for the outdoors. It has a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protected screen as well, to boot.
For streaming video or casual gaming, colors are bright and the increased refresh rate made its everyday performance feel snappy.
Performance: Dimensity in the Driver’s Seat
Under the hood, the Poco M7 Pro 5G gets the power from the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chip, along with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage.
This configuration is good enough for browsing, social media or light gaming – it handles multitasking without any fuss.
It’s not meant for hardcore gameplay, but even games like BGMI and Asphalt 9 run fairly smoothly at medium settings.
As of this writing, MIUI 14 for Poco running on top of Android 13 feels lighter than the previous versions, bringing less bloatware and more streamlined animations.
The Camera: Remarkably Decent, Given the Cost
Its 50MP primary camera is one of the M7 Pro’s standout features, taking detailed and sharp photos in daylight.
It has solid dynamic range and color accuracy for the segment. The second camera is a depth sensor — nothing exciting, but it does aid in portraits.
You’ll be fine with low-light shots if you manage your expectations. There’s a little bit of noise, but the Night Mode sharpens everything up quite a bit. Selfies take just fine with 8MP detail and accurate skin tone.
Battery Life: Stays All Day Long
And at 5000mAh, the M7 Pro 5G is more than capable for moderate to heavy use in a full day. With 5G turned on and brightness set to the max, you’ll still get enough juice to make it last all day without constantly looking at the battery.
18W fast charging is also supported, and a 22.5W charger is supplied in the box which is a welcome touch. It charges from zero to 100% in a little over 90 minutes.
Connectivity and Extras
Dual 5G support
Also has a side-positioned fingerprint sensor
IR blaster (a Poco staple)
Decent sounding stereo speakers
MicroSD card slot for expandable storage
It’s these extra things that really push it over the top in terms of value.
Pros:
Features elegant plus an IP53 rating
Budget price Tag with a 120Hz display
Reliable everyday performance
Good main camera for stills recordings
Excellent battery life
5G support with dual SIM
Handy stereo speakers and IR blaster
Cons:
LCD display instead of AMOLED
No ultra-wide or macro lens
The charge time doesn’t seem as fast as it could be
Average low-light photography
There are still some ads/bloatware with the software
Poco M7 Pro 5G Final Verdict: Budget 5G That Gets It Right
The Poco M7 Pro 5G is among the most well-rounded budget 5G phones in its price range. It nails the basics — well-designed, reliable performance, great battery life and that all-important 5G support — and then adds a few tweaks to make it feel more premium, like stereo speakers and a high refresh rate screen.
If you’re looking for a cheap smartphone that packs a punch (or two), but don’t want to break the bank, this one should be front and centre on your list.