Poco F7 Ultra review

Competition

Poco F7 Ultra may be stretching the boundaries of what can be called Ultra, but after spending some time with it, we can see how it is indeed taking the lineup a level up. Priced at €750 for a 12GB/256GB version, it's not necessarily up there with the true big-name flagships, so this Poco is competing with a slightly different crowd than your 'average' Ultra.

For example, a OnePlus 13R can be had for about as much as Poco F7 Ultra. We reckon the Poco is easily the better option for camera enthusiasts overall, though small victories in this area or that might sway some buyers in either direction.

Weighing in the camera pros and cons will be more difficult against the iQOO 13, but in as few words as possible - get iQOO for ultrawide, Poco for closeups. The IQOO 13 has a significant advantage in battery life too.

More camera subtleties need to be explored against an F7 Ultra rival from across the hallway, the Xiaomi 14T Pro. The Xiaomi has a nicer main camera and seemingly the same telephoto as the Poco, but don't be fooled - it's missing the close-focusing. You'd be looking at some savings going for the 14T Pro too since it's been around for 6 months now (almost an "old" model by now with this fast turnover).

OnePlus 13R • vivo iQOO 13 • Xiaomi 14T Pro

Speaking of savings, you could grab a Galaxy S24 FE instead of the Poco. It's nowhere as good of a cameraphone, has a weaker chipset, charges slowly and doesn't last as long. But it's a Galaxy, and it's a relatively affordable one in this context.

Swinging a bit the other way, the Realme GT 7 Pro is probably a bit pricier than the Poco, though paying extra still won't get you a better camera experience in this case. It will get you better longevity and a record-breakingly bright display, though.

In fact, for a truly compelling cameraphone alternative at a similar price, you'd probably have to look at the Xiaomi 14 - last year's model. It's got the close-focusing telephoto, a nicer main camera and a more capable ultrawide than the Poco, so it checks all the imaging boxes. Its compactness can also be a selling point for some.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE • Realme GT 7 Pro • Xiaomi 14

Verdict

As Poco F-series phones go, this one is Ultra alright. It brings a telephoto camera to the lineup and it's a standout performer not just among Pocos (which don't normally have telephotos at all), but among similarly priced competitors. Its cameraphone prowess isn't all-encompassing, like on a 'true flagship', but it's uniquely capable in its context, we think.

You may have to learn to live with only a modest ultrawide, selfies are merely alright like on most other Xiaomis, there's no eSIM support (at least on our unit), and sourcing an adapter that can max out the F7 Ultra's charging speed could prove tricky. But these don't sound like dealbreaking offenses to us - maybe just the eSIM bit, and only to a certain crowd.

Those aside, the F7 Ultra doesn't have any notable shortcomings. It's got a strong game on the fundamentals - the display is top-notch, charging speed potential is among the best in class, speakers are great, the chipset is plenty powerful. This one is looking like an easy recommendation from us.

Pros

• IP68-rated glass-metal body.
• Excellent display - bright, Dolby Vision-compliant.
• Solid battery life.
• Some of the fastest charging this year (30min to full), fast wireless charging too.
• Loud and nice-sounding speakers.
• HyperOS is packed with features; the Snapdragon 8 Elite is excessively powerful.
• Versatile triple camera.
• Class-leading telephoto closeups.

Cons

• The 120W charger is not bundled in some markets.
• Ultrawide camera doesn't suport 4K video.
• Selfies are unremarkable, video is 1080p again.
• No eSIM support.