The smartphone market under Rs 10,000 is fiercely competitive, with brands vying to offer the best value for money. POCO, known for its performance-driven devices at affordable prices, has recently launched the POCO M7 5G, priced just under Rs 10,000. Following the release of its elder sibling, the POCO M7 Pro, two months ago, the POCO M7 aims to capture the budget segment with its impressive specifications, large display, and 5G connectivity. But does it live up to the hype? Is the POCO M7 worth your hard-earned money? In this detailed review, we’ll analyze its design, performance, display, battery life, camera, and more to help you decide if this is the right smartphone for you.
This article is for users, particularly those looking for a budget-friendly 5G phone that doesn’t compromise on essentials. Whether you’re a student, a young professional, or someone upgrading from an older device, we’ll break down the POCO M7’s features in a simple and easy-to-understand way.
Design and Build Quality
The POCO M7 immediately catches the eye with its sleek and modern design. For a phone priced under Rs 10,000, it looks surprisingly premium. POCO calls the circular camera module a “stellar ring,” a design element often seen in more expensive smartphones. This gives the M7 a sophisticated appearance that stands out in its segment. The phone is available in attractive color options like Mint Green, which features a dual-tone finish with a glossy upper section and a matte lower half. This not only looks good but also helps reduce fingerprints and smudges.
The phone has flat sides, which make it comfortable to hold despite its large size. At 204.7 grams, it’s slightly heavy, but the weight is well-distributed, so it doesn’t feel cumbersome. The plastic build is expected at this price, but it feels sturdy and durable. During a drop test (as mentioned in the script), the phone survived minor falls without damage, indicating decent build quality. However, there’s no mention of Gorilla Glass protection, so using a case is advisable.
The POCO M7 also comes with an IP52 rating for dust and splash resistance, which is a nice addition for a budget phone. This makes it suitable for everyday use, even in slightly challenging environments. The phone features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB Type-C port, and a dedicated microSD card slot, allowing you to use two SIM cards and expand storage simultaneously. Overall, the design and build quality of the POCO M7 are impressive for its price, making it a stylish and practical choice.
Display: Big and Immersive
One of the standout features of the POCO M7 is its massive 6.88-inch HD+ display, which is the largest in its segment. This makes it ideal for users who love watching videos, playing games, or browsing social media. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations, which is rare in phones under Rs 10,000. Whether you’re swiping through Instagram or playing casual games, the display feels responsive and fluid.
The screen has a peak brightness of 600 nits, which is sufficient for outdoor visibility in most conditions. While it’s not as bright as premium AMOLED panels, it gets the job done for a budget phone. The display also supports TUV Rheinland’s triple eye protection, reducing blue light to minimize eye strain during prolonged use. This is a thoughtful feature for students or anyone who spends hours on their phone.
However, the display has a few limitations. The HD+ resolution (720×1640 pixels) is lower than the Full HD+ found on some competitors, so text and images may not look as sharp. Additionally, the waterdrop notch feels a bit dated compared to punch-hole designs in newer budget phones. Despite these drawbacks, the large screen size and smooth refresh rate make the POCO M7 a great choice for multimedia enthusiasts on a budget.
Performance: Snappy for the Price
Under the hood, the POCO M7 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, built on a 4nm process. This processor is designed for efficiency and delivers solid performance for everyday tasks. Whether you’re browsing the web, using WhatsApp, or streaming YouTube videos, the phone handles everything smoothly. The base variant comes with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, while the higher variant offers 8GB RAM with the same storage. Additionally, the phone supports up to 6GB of virtual RAM, which boosts multitasking capabilities.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 supports both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks, ensuring future-proof connectivity. This is a big plus for users in India, where 5G networks are expanding rapidly. In terms of benchmark scores, the POCO M7 achieves an AnTuTu score of around 440,000 to 450,000, which is impressive for its price range. For comparison, many phones in this segment score lower, making the M7 one of the faster options available.
Gaming performance is decent for casual titles like Subway Surfers or Temple Run. Even heavier games like BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) are playable at low to medium settings, thanks to the large screen and capable processor. However, serious gamers may notice occasional stutters during intense sessions, and the lack of a gyroscope could affect gameplay in titles that rely on motion controls. For most users, though, the POCO M7 offers reliable performance for daily use and light gaming.
Software: HyperOS with Some Bloatware
The POCO M7 runs on HyperOS, based on Android 14, which is a clean and feature-rich interface. HyperOS offers smooth animations, customizable lock screens, and a modern look. However, it’s disappointing that the phone doesn’t ship with Android 15, especially since it’s a new device. POCO promises two years of major OS updates (up to Android 16) and four years of security patches, which is standard for the segment.
One downside is the presence of pre-installed third-party apps, a common issue in budget phones. The good news is that most of these can be uninstalled, so you can clean up the software to suit your needs. Despite the bloatware, HyperOS performs well, with fast app launches and good memory management, even on the 6GB RAM variant. For users who value a smooth and customizable software experience, the POCO M7 delivers, but those sensitive to bloatware may need to spend a few minutes decluttering.
Battery Life: All-Day Power
Battery life is a strong suit of the POCO M7, thanks to its massive 5160mAh battery. This is one of the largest batteries in its price range, ensuring that the phone easily lasts a full day of moderate to heavy use. Whether you’re streaming videos, playing games, or using social media, the M7 won’t let you down. Even with the power-efficient 4nm processor, heavy users can expect at least a day and a half of usage on a single charge.
The phone supports 18W fast charging, and POCO includes a 33W charger in the box, which is a thoughtful addition. While 18W isn’t the fastest, it’s adequate for a budget phone, and a full charge takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. The inclusion of a charger is a big advantage, as some competitors in this segment require you to purchase one separately. Overall, the POCO M7’s battery life is a highlight, making it ideal for users who need a reliable device that doesn’t need constant recharging.
Camera: Decent for Daylight
The POCO M7 features a dual-camera setup on the rear, with a 50MP primary sensor (Sony IMX852) and a 2MP depth sensor. The front has an 8MP selfie camera housed in the waterdrop notch. For a phone under Rs 10,000, the camera performance is satisfactory, especially in daylight conditions.
The 50MP primary sensor captures detailed and vibrant photos in good lighting, with decent contrast and natural colors. Features like portrait mode, night mode, and time-lapse add versatility, and the 50MP native mode allows for high-resolution shots. The phone also supports 2x in-sensor zoom, which is useful for closer shots, though quality drops slightly. In low-light conditions, however, the camera struggles, producing noisy images with reduced detail, even with night mode enabled.
The 8MP selfie camera is average, delivering acceptable shots in daylight but underexposing in low light, which affects facial details. Video recording is limited to Full HD at 30fps, which is standard for the segment. While the camera isn’t the POCO M7’s strongest feature, it’s good enough for casual photography and social media sharing, especially considering the price.
Multimedia and Connectivity
The POCO M7 excels as a multimedia device, thanks to its large 6.88-inch display and loud mono speaker. The screen’s size and 120Hz refresh rate make it great for watching movies and web series. The display supports Widevine L1, allowing HD streaming on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which is a big win for entertainment lovers.
The mono speaker is loud and clear, though it lacks the depth of stereo speakers found in higher-priced phones. For wired audio, the 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome feature, and the phone also supports FM radio. Connectivity options include seven 5G bands, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring fast and reliable connections. The dedicated microSD card slot and IR blaster add to the phone’s practicality.
Specifications Table
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.88-inch HD+ (720×1640), 120Hz refresh rate, 600 nits peak brightness |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4nm) |
| RAM | 6GB or 8GB (plus up to 6GB virtual RAM) |
| Storage | 128GB, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot |
| Rear Camera | 50MP primary (Sony IMX852) + 2MP depth sensor |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 5160mAh, 18W fast charging (33W charger included) |
| Operating System | HyperOS based on Android 14 |
| Connectivity | 5G (7 bands), dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Other Features | IP52 rating, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, IR blaster, Widevine L1, FM radio |
| Weight | 204.7 grams |
| Price | Rs 9,999 (6GB+128GB), Rs 10,999 (8GB+128GB) |
Should You Buy the POCO M7?
The POCO M7 is a compelling option in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment, offering a blend of modern design, solid performance, and excellent battery life. Its large 6.88-inch display, 120Hz refresh rate, and Widevine L1 support make it a great choice for multimedia enthusiasts. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset ensures smooth performance for daily tasks and light gaming, while 5G connectivity future-proofs the device. The 5160mAh battery and included 33W charger are additional perks that add value.
However, the phone has some limitations. The HD+ resolution and waterdrop notch may disappoint users looking for a sharper, more modern display. The camera struggles in low light, and the absence of a gyroscope could be a drawback for gamers. The bloatware in HyperOS, while removable, is another minor annoyance.
Pros
- Stylish design with IP52 rating
- Large 6.88-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Smooth performance with Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
- Excellent battery life with 5160mAh capacity
- Widevine L1 support for HD streaming
- Dedicated microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack
Cons
- HD+ resolution isn’t as sharp as Full HD+
- Waterdrop notch looks dated
- Average low-light camera performance
- No gyroscope for gaming
- Pre-installed bloatware
Verdict
If your budget is tight and you prioritize performance, battery life, and a large screen, the POCO M7 is definitely worth considering. It’s one of the best phones under Rs 10,000, especially for students, casual gamers, and multimedia lovers. However, if low-light photography or a sharper display is a priority, you might want to explore alternatives like the Tecno Spark 30C, which offers better camera performance in low light.
At Rs 9,999 for the 6GB+128GB variant (and Rs 10,999 for the 8GB+128GB model), the POCO M7 delivers excellent value for money. It’s a reliable daily driver that ticks most boxes for budget-conscious buyers. So, is the POCO M7 worth Rs 10,000? Absolutely, if its strengths align with your needs.
