The Pros and Cons of POCO F7

The POCO F Series is always a favorite for people who want strong performance at a mid-range price. One of the phones you might consider is POCO F7. Even though it's the regular model in the series, it has the most affordable price and still offers features that are quite similar to the others.

The POCO F7 gives you a flagship-like experience with its strong performance. It's super fast, has a big battery, and a screen that feels great to look at. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons below.

Pros of POCO F7

The POCO F7 starts at around $300. At this price, it’s hard not to be interested in a phone that feels like a flagship.

1. Fast Performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

To deliver fast and smooth performance, POCO F7 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. This chip is more like a follow-up to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 rather than the Snapdragon 8 Elite, because it doesn’t use the Oryon core in its CPU.

Still, this 4 nm chipset performs better than the previous version. POCO says the CPU performance improves by up to 31%, and the GPU performance goes up by 49%. It’s also more power-efficient by up to 39%, so it’s not just about speed.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 has one high-performance Cortex X4 core (3.21 GHz), and seven Cortex A720 cores. These run at different speeds, three at 3 GHz, two at 2.8 GHz, and two at 2.02 GHz. The chip also includes the improved Adreno 825 GPU running at 1150 MHz.

This chip uses an All-Big-Core setup and is paired with fast LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. POCO F7 offers a version with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB of storage, which is already very large for smooth performance. So, the lack of a microSD slot probably won’t be a problem.

POCO also claims the F7 can reach an AnTuTu v10 score of around 2 million (a very high score for a phone in this price range). This score was also confirmed by GSMArena, who tested it and got a similar result. What’s interesting is that the score is close to the POCO F7 Pro, which uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

To help keep the phone cool, it uses a large 3D Dual-Channel IceLoop cooling system. POCO says this system improves heat control by over 20%. But even with this, some reviewers say the phone still feels hot during long gaming sessions, especially with heavy games like Genshin Impact.

2. Comes with HyperOS 2 and Xiaomi’s New HyperAI Features

Just like other phones in the same series, the POCO F7 already uses HyperOS 2 out of the box. This operating system is based on Android 15 that helps the phone run more smoothly with fewer bugs.

Even though it's the new version, HyperOS 2 is not very different from version 1. The main change is that it looks and feels a bit smoother and more flexible.

Since the POCO F7 is a phone released in 2025, it also brings AI-powered features called Xiaomi HyperAI. There are three main ways you can use this AI, for everyday tasks, as a smart assistant, and for creative activities.

First, the AI helps with daily tasks. For example, the AI Writing tool can help you write, check your spelling, or come up with new ideas. There’s also AI Speech Recognition that can tell the difference between voices when transcribing. Other tools include AI Interpreter and AI Search.

Next, there are AI assistant features that work together with Google Gemini. This kind of AI is expected to be available on many phones in 2025. Some of the features are Gemini Overlay, Gemini Live, Image Generation, and Gemini Connected Apps. You’ll also find Circle to Search with Google, which makes it faster and easier to look up information.

Finally, the POCO F7 offers AI tools for creativity, especially for editing images. These include AI Erase Pro to remove unwanted objects, AI Image Enhancement, and AI Image Expansion to improve or adjust your pictures.

3. Big 6500 mAh Battery That Lasts Long and Charges Fast

Even though the POCO F7 is the most affordable model in the series, it comes with the biggest battery, at 6500 mAh. This is slightly more than the POCO F7 Pro, which has a 6000 mAh battery, and much more than the F7 Ultra’s 5300 mAh.

Due to this large battery, the POCO F7 can stay on for a long time. The brand says it can be used for more than 16 hours non-stop, or 20 hours for watching videos, and over 15 hours for listening to music.

This large battery makes the POCO F7 a great choice for busy days or long gaming sessions. What’s also great is that it supports 90W HyperCharge, so charging doesn’t take too long even with the big battery.

According to the company, the phone can reach 80% charge in just 30 minutes. But when tested by GSMArena, it actually reached 90% in the first 30 minutes. To fully charge it to 100%, it only needed another 9 minutes, so it was completely charged in just 39 minutes.

The POCO F7 also supports 22.5W reverse charging, which means it can act as a power bank to charge other devices. However, one downside is that it does not include a Bypass Charging feature, which can help protect the battery during long gaming or charging sessions.

4. Bright and Big AMOLED Display, Easy on the Eyes

Besides the battery, the screen on the POCO F7 is also one of the biggest in its class. It has a 6.83-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 2772 pixels. The bezels are thin on all sides, and the screen covers about 90.2% of the front of the phone.

This phone uses an AMOLED panel, which gives a bright and colorful display. The color quality is excellent with 100% DCI-P3 color range. It's actually good enough for editing photos and videos. It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ that help improve the viewing experience.

The screen feels very smooth because of its 120 Hz refresh rate. However, since it’s not an LTPO panel, it can’t go as low as 1 Hz to save battery. Still, you can choose between 60 Hz, 120 Hz, or Auto mode, depending on what you need.

When playing games that support high refresh rates, the POCO F7 runs at 120 Hz and looks very smooth. It also has Widevine L1 certification, so you can stream in high resolution on apps like Netflix.

The screen is also bright enough for outdoor use, with a peak brightness of up to 3200 nits. And it’s protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, which makes it stronger and better for outdoor activities.

To protect your eyes, the POCO F7 comes with TUV Rheinland certification. It includes low blue light, flicker-free, and circadian-friendly display features. It also uses high-frequency PWM dimming (3840 Hz) to keep your eyes comfortable, no matter the lighting around you.

5. Loud and Clear Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos

POCO F7 has stereo speakers, meaning it has sound coming from both the top and bottom of the phone. One speaker is at the bottom, while the other is built into the earpiece at the top. This design makes the top part of the phone look clean.

Many reviewers say the sound is loud and well-balanced, so watching movies or playing games is more fun. The speakers also support Dolby Atmos to deliver clearer and more surround sound.

The sound is improved by a new AI feature called AI Super Cinema. This feature helps make the sound feel more real and lively. You’ll notice this when turning on Theatre Mode, which works with apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video, and the phone’s own video player.

One downside is that the POCO F7 does not have a 3.5 mm headphone jack. So, if you want to use wired earphones, you’ll need to use a converter. But if you prefer wireless, it’s easy to connect Bluetooth earphones or TWS, since the phone already supports Bluetooth 6.0.

6. Full Connectivity and Sensors, Now with WiFi 7

As a phone in the upper mid-range class, the POCO F7 comes with complete and strong connectivity features. One of the highlights is WiFi 7! It gives smoother internet and less delay, even in public places with many users.

This phone also supports NFC and has an infrared blaster. The infrared feature lets the phone work as a remote control for other electronic devices like TVs, air conditioners, or projectors. NFC helps you make digital payments or check card balances more easily.

One thing that some people might find disappointing is the USB Type-C port. The POCO F7 still uses version 2.0, just like the Ultra model. Because of this, you can’t connect the phone to an external monitor to display the screen.

As for sensors, the POCO F7 has many of them. It includes an under-display fingerprint sensor, made possible by the AMOLED screen. Other sensors include a hardware gyro (great for gaming), an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass.

7. Complete Camera Setup with Good Quality

Even though the POCO F7 focuses on performance, it also has a well-rounded camera setup. Its camera features are quite similar to the POCO F7 Pro. For example, both phones have a 50 MP main camera with an f/1.5 aperture, using the Sony IMX882 sensor (size 1/1.55 inches).

This main camera also supports OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). This helps reduce shaking while taking photos or videos, so the results look sharper. The phone also has an 8 MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 20 MP front camera for selfies.

For video, the rear camera can record up to 4K at 60 frames per second. It also has a gyro-EIS feature to reduce shaking when recording in 1080p. The front camera can record at up to 1080p at 60 FPS, which is still good, although not as high as the back camera.

8. Eye-Catching Design with Nice Details and IP68 Protection

The POCO F7 has a unique design that makes it stand out from other models. One special part is the shaped-pill camera modul split in two by a diagonal line, with green accents on each side.

The Silver version looks the most detailed. The top part of the phone has a transparent-like look, especially near the camera area. You can also see some unique patterns like the 50 MP OIS label, the Snapdragon logo, and other cool details.

If you prefer something simpler, the Black and White versions are also available. These have a clean dual-tone design with a diagonal line in the middle. The back body has a smooth matte finish, which feels nice in the hand and doesn’t easily show fingerprint marks.

The phone is also quite comfortable to hold. It’s only 8.2 mm thick and weighs about 215 grams. That’s still slim, especially for a phone with a 6500 mAh battery. It may feel a bit heavy, though, since it’s over 200 grams.

The POCO F7 also comes with IP68 certification, which is a strong level of protection in this price range. It means the phone is dustproof and waterproof, even in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. So, you won’t need to worry if your phone gets wet in the rain or falls into a pool.

Cons of POCO F7

Even though the POCO F7 is a well-rounded phone, there are still a few things that could be better. However, these downsides may not be a big problem for everyone. Let's have a look!

1. No Bypass Charging Feature for Long Gaming Sessions

POCO F7 has strong performance that is great for gaming! It also has a large battery, so you can play games for a long time. But sadly, it doesn’t have a Bypass Charging feature.

This feature is often found in phones made for gaming. It’s not only in high-end phones, some cheaper phones already have it too.

Bypass Charging helps you charge the phone while playing games without heating up the battery. It sends the power straight to the phone’s system, not through the battery. This keeps the battery safe and helps reduce heat. It’s too bad that the POCO F7 doesn’t include this feature.

2. Comes with a Lot of Bloatware, but Can Be Removed

Another downside of the POCO F7 is in its software. Even though it already uses Android 15 with HyperOS 2, it still comes with a lot of pre-installed apps, also known as bloatware.

This is common for many phone brands, but the number of built-in apps is different. Some phones come with just 5 to 10 apps. The POCO F7, however, comes with about 26 apps already installed when you first turn it on. This feels like too many, even though you can remove most of them manually.

As for ads, some reviewers say the POCO F7 shows fewer ads compared to other Xiaomi phones. This is a good improvement. And if you still see ads, you can turn them off in the settings so they don’t bother you.

3. Can Get Quite Hot During Heavy Gaming

POCO F7 is known as a fast phone, and many people have praised its performance. But there is one issue that often comes up in reviews. When used for intensive gaming, especially with heavy games, the temperature can get quite high. Some tests even showed the phone reaching 52 degrees Celsius.

A phone heating up during gaming is actually normal, since it means the processor is working hard. But if the heat becomes too much and the phone feels too hot to touch, that’s something to be careful about. This shows that the cooling system may not be working as well as it should.

Conclusion

The POCO F7 is the most affordable model in the series, but it still offers better features than some of the more expensive ones. For example, it has a massive 6500 mAh battery that's good for long daily use.

One thing that’s missing is the Bypass Charging feature, which could help with even longer gaming sessions. Still, it charges quickly, so you won’t have to wait too long to use it again.

Its strong performance and large memory make it good for gaming, while other features like the ultrawide camera, IP68 rating, and Dolby Atmos sound make it a solid all-around phone.

The POCO F7 also pays attention to design and small details, making it feel like a more expensive phone. But there are still a few things to improve, such as the heat during gaming and the amount of bloatware.

So, what do you think? Is the POCO F7 the right phone for you?