POCO F7 Ultra and F7 Pro Hands-on Review: Flagship Features at Competitive Prices

• The POCO F7 Ultra, a rebranded Redmi K80 Pro, offers flagship features like a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, IP68 rating, wireless charging, and a telephoto camera for a recommended price of $649 ($599 early bird).

• While the Snapdragon 8 Elite performs well in daily use, it runs hotter than competitors under extreme stress tests, though this didn’t impact gaming experiences with titles like GRID Legends and Genshin Impact.

• The device features a 5,300mAh battery (smaller than the K80 Pro’s 6,000mAh) with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging, promising a full charge in 34 minutes and a lifespan of approximately four years.

• Camera highlights include a 50MP main camera, a versatile 50MP 2.5x telephoto camera capable of 5x lossless zoom (though with occasional oversaturation), and a 32MP ultrawide lens that performs best in daylight.

• The POCO F7 Ultra boasts a 6.67-inch QHD+ OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 3,200 nits peak brightness, an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, and POCO Shield Glass protection (likely rebranded Xiaomi Shield Glass).

• Software-wise, it runs Hyper OS 2 based on Android 15, offering four years of OS upgrades and six years of security patches, along with features like an IR blaster, dual stereo speakers, Bluetooth 6.0, and Wi-Fi 7; however, eSIM support is absent.

• The more affordable POCO F7 Pro ($499/$449 early bird) features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a 6,000mAh battery with 90W wired charging, and lacks wireless charging and a telephoto lens but still offers a good overall experience.

The POCO F7 Ultra boasts a compelling feature set, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, wireless charging capability, IP68 rating, and a high-quality telephoto camera.

POCO is not typically recognized for flagship phones; its most successful models are generally in the upper-mid-range segment.  However, the company has recently unveiled the POCO F7 series, which includes its first Ultra model.

The POCO F7 Ultra is essentially a rebranded version of the Redmi K80 Pro, exclusive to the Chinese market.  Alternatively, it can be viewed as a larger-scale Xiaomi 15, offering numerous flagship-level capabilities.

This new device notably includes an IP68 rating, a still uncommon feature in POCO phones.  The aesthetically pleasing two-tone rear design, incorporating a glossy panel around the circular camera module and matte glass elsewhere, is also noteworthy.  This design bears a subtle resemblance to early Pixel phones.

A key advantage is the inclusion of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.  Initial benchmark results from GeekBench 6 indicate a conservative CPU configuration, resulting in lower scores compared to similar devices. This approach, however, may prioritize battery life through a performance profile optimized for power efficiency.

All GPU stress tests were successfully completed, exceeding the performance of the Xiaomi 15.  These tests yielded a respectable stability rate of approximately 70%, placing it below the Xiaomi 15 Ultra but significantly above the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.  However, this sustained performance was accompanied by considerably high peak temperatures, ranging from 48.1 to 50.8 degrees Celsius. This exceeds the peak temperatures observed in both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Real-world performance proved satisfactory.  GRID Legends and Genshin Impact ran smoothly without noticeable heating.  System tasks, including multitasking, application launches, and camera use, were executed flawlessly.

The POCO handset features a 5,300mAh battery, in contrast to the K80 Pro’s 6,000mAh capacity.  While still substantial, this aligns the POCO device’s battery size with the smaller Xiaomi 15.  Furthermore, it supports 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, with POCO claiming a full charge in 34 minutes via wired charging.  The battery is projected to maintain 80% of its effective capacity for approximately 1,600 charge cycles (roughly four years).

What additional information is pertinent regarding the POCO F7 Ultra?

The F7 Ultra distinguishes itself from other recent POCO phones by incorporating a telephoto camera, potentially being the sole POCO device with this feature.  It features a 50MP 2.5x telephoto camera (f/2.2, OIS), complemented by a 50MP 1/1.55-inch main camera (f/1.6, OIS), and a 32MP ultrawide lens.

While lacking the premium features of Xiaomi’s flagship line, such as Leica branding and associated color profiles, Master Cinema mode, and bokeh styles, it retains 8K video recording, AI Zoom for enhanced long-range capture, long-exposure modes, and motion capture for dynamic subjects.

The POCO F7 Ultra stands out from other POCO phones thanks to its telephoto camera.

My brief experience indicates the phone’s camera produces pleasing images.  The primary camera’s performance is comparable to the Xiaomi 15, representing a negligible downgrade.  The 2.5x camera, specifically, delivers flagship-quality images closely matching the main camera’s output, exhibiting ample detail, appropriate sharpness (generally), and a consistent color profile.

The 5x zoom, offering lossless resolution, performs admirably even in suboptimal conditions.  However, occasional color saturation and blotchiness may occur at this magnification.  The telephoto camera’s macro capabilities, at 10 centimeters, sometimes result in over-sharpened or blotchy close-ups.  The ultrawide camera is the least effective sensor, producing images lacking detail and exhibiting a watercolor-like effect in varied lighting.  Therefore, its use is recommended for daytime landscape/cityscape photography.

The device incorporates a 32MP front-facing camera suitable for selfies and video calls. While the image quality is commendable, the maximum video capture resolution is limited to 1080p/60fps, a notable drawback compared to the 4K selfie video capabilities of recent Xiaomi flagship models.

The smartphone features a 6.67-inch flat QHD+ OLED display (LTPO, 120Hz) with peak brightness reaching 3,200 nits and 1,800 nits in high-brightness mode.  The inclusion of an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, which proved exceptionally fast and accurate in testing, is a positive aspect.

The device utilizes POCO Shield Glass display protection, likely a rebranded version of Xiaomi’s first-generation Shield Glass.  The absence of specified rear panel protection suggests the use of standard tempered glass, necessitating the use of a protective case.

The device runs Hyper OS 2 based on Android 15, with a reduced level of pre-installed applications. However, persistent system notifications and app recommendations remain an issue.  The manufacturer commits to four years of OS upgrades and six years of security updates, a competitive but not industry-leading support policy.

Additional features include an infrared blaster, dual stereo speakers, Bluetooth 6.0, and Wi-Fi 7.

Poco F7 Pro

The POCO Pro model is a highly competitive device.  It boasts an IP68 rating, a distinctive two-tone glass back, and an aluminum frame.  The device also incorporates Gorilla Glass 7i protection, presumably on the front panel.

The POCO F7 Pro utilizes the robust Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, offering excellent performance for most applications and games. This processor powers a 6.67-inch QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, LTPO technology, and a peak brightness of 3,200 nits (1,800 nits in high-brightness mode).

This POCO model features a substantial 6,000mAh battery, exceeding the capacity of the Ultra model.  It supports 90W wired charging; however, wireless charging is not available.

The rear camera system consists of a 50MP main camera (1/1.55-inch, f/1.6) and an 8MP ultrawide camera. A 20MP selfie camera is integrated into a punch-hole cutout.  Advanced zoom capabilities and superior ultrawide image quality are not expected.

Additional noteworthy features include Bluetooth 5.4, dual stereo speakers, an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, and Wi-Fi 7.  The device is also supported by four major OS upgrades and six years of security patches.

Is the POCO F7 Ultra worth buying?

The F7 Ultra meets numerous flagship specifications, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a versatile 2.5x 50MP telephoto camera, IP68 rating, wireless charging, and a robust update policy.  Its compelling value proposition is a recommended price of $649 for the 12GB/256GB variant (early bird price: $599), making it a strong contender in the premium smartphone market without excessive cost.  The 12GB/512GB option starts at $699, with an early bird price of $649.

However, certain limitations exist.  The device exhibits elevated temperatures under strenuous use, a common characteristic of Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered devices.  The absence of eSIM support is also noteworthy, particularly for international travelers.  Furthermore, a reduction in battery capacity compared to its predecessor is observed, although the 5,300mAh battery remains substantial.  The lack of explicit information regarding back glass protection raises concerns about long-term durability.

For consumers less interested in the Ultra, the POCO F7 Pro offers a starting price of $499 for the 12GB/256GB model, with a promotional price of $449.  This model omits premium features such as wireless charging, a telephoto camera, and the most current chipset.