POCO X7 Pro. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

MANILA – The POCO X7 Pro is probably one of the best deals for a midrange phone right now for aspiring video content creators on a budget. While it has a lot of interesting features, its standout spec is its ability to record 4K video at 60 frames per second.

Poco is one of the brands under tech giant Xiaomi. Since the brand’s launch years ago, it has always strived to push the boundaries on the features that a midrange device should have while targeting a younger “more fun” demographic. The X7 Pro continues that tradition–there’s even a limited-release Iron Man edition which looks really slick.

Poco X7 Pro. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

Poco X7 Pro. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

POCO X7 Pro Colorways. Handout

The other colorways are just as eye-catching–I reckon that they could have named the yellow-black colorway Wolverine, but that would have required forking extra cash into the already hefty dollar pile of Marvel. Our review unit came in the two-tone black colorway, which is probably the most normal-looking of the lot, but I’ve always liked darker phones anyway.  

In terms of design, the X7 Pro is pretty standard for a device at this price level. It’s got two cameras at the back, a punch-hole camera in front, and a  6.67-inch screen. I like that the display is flat instead of curving to the sides like other phones--I know a flat screen makes the side bezels look thicker, but I just prefer the more solid feel of holding a flat side. 

It also looks good, even when placed alongside pricier flagships.

Our review unit came with 12GB of memory and 512 GB of storage. If you want to shoot a lot of pics and videos, you will love the X7 Pro’s generous storage. The ample memory meanwhile means your apps won’t stutter. But the phone also comes in an 8GB and 256GB variant that’s also more affordable.

I was also surprised at how snappy the phone felt. Mediatek really deserves more love from phone-makers as its Dimensity 8400 Ultra chipset performs quite fast for something meant to be on a budget phone. Opening apps, transitions, and even casual games felt quick, almost like on more premium midrangers and even flagships.

The AMOLED screen has a 2712 x 1220 (1.5K) resolution and a 120-Hz refresh rate. It can get reasonably bright at around 700 nits, with a 1,400 nit maximum and peak brightness up to 3,200 nits for HDR highlights. 

A screen that can go up to at least 1,000 nits would have been preferable, but compromises have to be made at this price point. But it’s still a great screen with smooth transitions and good colors, especially when you reset the color scheme to saturated.

It also comes with a massive 6,000 mAh battery, which means it has more than enough juice to last a typical day, even with some light gaming. Charging it was also pretty quick thanks to its fast 90-watt charging feature.

As a bonus, it is also dust and water-resistant. With an IP68 rating, it can survive getting drenched in the rain and exposed to the ever-present dust on Manila’s roads. This is good news for motorcycle riders and bicyclists.

When it comes to cameras, the X7 Pro’s specs may seem underwhelming- it only has 2 cameras at the back, with a main camera that maxes out at 50MP paired with an 8-megapixel ultrawide shooter. This doesn't seem impressive compared to other midrangers already featuring 108MP or even 200MP cameras.

But we all know it’s not all about the megapixels. The X7 Pro can hold its own in terms of picture quality. Its main camera can produce photos with good details and dynamic range, even with the 2X zoom. 

SAMPLE SHOTS FROM THE POCO X7 PRO

I sometimes feel that the colors could use more saturation, but perhaps that’s just me getting used to the super-saturated ‘estetik’ of my daily driver Korean phone.

Night shots and low-light shots come out decent. However, the ultrawide angle camera's lower MP spec shows, with many details lost in low light.

The X7 Pro has optical image stabilization (OIS) and does a nice job of stabilizing shots in most environments, even in low-light situations as long as you use the dedicated night mode. As I've said, its main camera can even record video at up to 4K at 60 frames per second. It has Director mode, Video pro mode, ShootSteady, Slow motion and Time-lapse features.

SAMPLE VIDEO FROM THE POCO X7 PRO

The video quality is serviceable–it may not be flagship-level but a lot of other midrange phones can only do 4K at 30fps. 

Selfie duties meanwhile are handled by a 20MP shooter which is par with other midrange phones. While this camera system is not the best, the Poco X7 Pro is more than good enough to satisfy most users at this price level.

All in all, the X7 Pro is a solid contender in the midrange market. Our review unit with the 12GB + 512GB configuration sells for P18,499 in the official online stores, while the 8GB + 256GB variant sells for P15,499.  The phones are available on Shopee.