Sunday, June 22, 2025

POCO F7 Pro Packs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 120Hz Display—All Under $500

The front view of the Xiaomi Poco F7 Pro was on display and still set to English. Photo by Jayun Koo
The front view of the Xiaomi Poco F7 Pro was on display and still set to English. Photo by Jayun Koo

At the launch event for Xiaomi’s POCO F7 Series held on March 27 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore, a hands-on zone was set up immediately after the presentation, allowing attendees to try out the POCO F7 Pro and POCO F7 Ultra. At first glance, the two models appeared nearly identical in design. However, on closer inspection, the POCO F7 Pro features two rear cameras, while the Ultra model has three.

The Xiaomi Poco F7 Pro is displayed at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Singapore. Photo by Jayun Koo
The Xiaomi Poco F7 Pro is displayed at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Singapore. Photo by Jayun Koo

In terms of color options, the POCO F7 Pro is available in black, silver, and blue, while the Ultra comes in yellow and black. The black versions of both models are so similar that they’re hard to tell apart. The POCO F7 Pro is slightly thinner than the Ultra, though the difference is barely noticeable. While it’s disappointing that the Ultra model won’t be released in South Korea, the recent launch of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in Korea, equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite chipset, makes the decision more understandable.

The POCO F7 Pro, set to launch in South Korea in April, was available for hands-on testing in a separate setting rather than the experience zone after the event. The box features a black background with yellow lettering that reads POCO F7 Pro, looking nearly identical to the recently released POCO X7 Pro packaging in South Korea.

Poco F7 Pro accessories. Photo by Jayun Koo
Poco F7 Pro accessories. Photo by Jayun Koo

Inside the box is a SIM pin, user manual, warranty card, plastic case, 90W charger, and USB-C cable. However, it’s important to note that in South Korea, the 90W charger is not included by default and must be purchased separately.

The POCO F7 Pro features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, making the screen noticeably bright. It also has slim bezels, making it look comparable to many flagship smartphones. The rear camera design may divide opinions among South Korean users, but it appeared clean and well-integrated in person. The camera bump—often criticized in other models—is minimal. Compared to recent rumors about the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro lineup design, the POCO F7 Pro looks significantly more refined.

Xiaomi Poco F7 Pro interface with HyperOS 2. Photo by Jayun Koo
Xiaomi Poco F7 Pro interface with HyperOS 2. Photo by Jayun Koo

Running on HyperOS 2-based Android 15, the interface felt smooth and responsive and supported Google Gemini. Equipped with the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip in the Galaxy S24 series, the POCO F7 Pro is expected to handle most games easily. Overall, the first impression was better than expected.

The key factor will be the Korean launch price. Globally, the POCO F7 Pro is priced at $499 for the 12GB + 256GB model and $549 for the 12GB + 512GB model. If the price is reasonable, it’s expected to offer much better value for money than the Galaxy S24 FE, which comes with the Exynos 2400e and is priced at 946,000 KRW. A detailed review, including performance benchmarks, will be shared later.

The front (left) and back of the Xiaomi Poco F7 Pro. Photo by Jayun Koo
The front (left) and back of the Xiaomi Poco F7 Pro. Photo by Jayun Koo

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