Poco F7 5G Long-Term Review: A Gaming Beast with Unmatched Battery Life

Introduction: Poco’s Flagship Killer Strikes Again
Poco’s F-series has long been a go-to for users seeking flagship-grade performance at a mid-range price, especially gamers. With the launch of the Poco F7 5G, the brand once again brings a compelling package featuring the powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, a massive 7,550mAh battery, and a bold, gamer-centric design—all starting at just ₹31,999. I’ve spent a few weeks using the Poco F7 as my primary phone. Here’s the long-term verdict.

Design: Flashy, Futuristic, and a Bit High Maintenance
The Cyber Silver Edition I reviewed immediately stands out with its dual-tone black and silver finish, green diagonal lines, and Snapdragon branding—all giving off serious gamer vibes. While it looks futuristic and unique, it’s also a smudge magnet, so a case or cleaning cloth is recommended. Despite its large battery, the weight distribution is excellent. It’s comfortable to hold during long gaming sessions, though at 222g, it is on the heavier side.

Display: Bright, Smooth, and HDR-Ready
The 6.83-inch pOLED display is fantastic. It delivers vibrant colours, deep blacks, and customizable profiles (Original Colour Pro, Vivid, and Custom). The 120Hz refresh rate ensures fluid animations, while Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support makes content on Netflix or YouTube pop. While 3,200 nits of brightness isn’t industry-leading, it’s more than sufficient even under harsh sunlight.

Software: Smooth, AI-Enhanced—but Bloatware Exists
HyperOS V2 brings noticeable fluidity and AI-powered features like AI Gallery Editor for image enhancement, AI Interpretation Tools for live call translation, and AI Speech Recognition for transcription and summarization. However, the downside is bloatware—around 60 pre-installed apps, some of which cannot be removed. This clutters the experience a bit.

Performance: Pure Powerhouse for Gamers
The Poco F7 delivers top-tier performance in its class. Whether it’s BGMI at 120FPS or Genshin Impact on high settings, this phone doesn’t break a sweat. Benchmark scores easily beat other phones in its range, including the OnePlus Nord 5 and Nothing Phone 3a Pro. The 6,000mm² vapour chamber cooling system helps control heat, though during heavy gaming, the device does get warm.

Camera: Good Enough, But Not the Star
The Poco F7 features a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. Selfies are handled by a 20MP front-facing camera. In daylight, images have natural colours and good detail, though contrast and highlight handling could be better. The ultra-wide lens lacks sharpness and struggles in low light. Selfies are fine in good lighting but average in dim conditions. Video quality is solid for the price.

Battery Life: Exceptional Endurance with Fast Charging
The 7,550mAh Silicon Carbon battery delivers up to two days of moderate usage and charges from 0–100% in about 85 minutes using the 90W fast charger included in the box. Despite its size, Poco kept the phone under 8mm thick and weight at 222g—an impressive feat.

Verdict: Should You Buy the Poco F7 5G?
The Poco F7 5G is a performance-driven, gaming-first smartphone with excellent battery life, a vibrant display, and a bold design. The average cameras and bloatware are compromises, but the overall value is hard to ignore.

Buy It If:
You want the best gaming performance under ₹35,000
You need 2-day battery life
You prefer a futuristic, edgy design
You want long-term software support

Consider Alternatives If:
Camera performance is a top priority
You prefer a clean, bloat-free UI

Top Alternatives: iQOO Neo 10, OnePlus Nord 5, Oppo K13x