This week Xiaomi launched the new Poco X7 series and the pair is already available in the UK. There are two models, vanilla and Pro, which mainly differ in performance and battery.
The Poco X7 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8400 Ultra and has faster UFS 4.0 storage. The displays on both models are essentially the same and both are excellent – flat 6.67” 120Hz OLED panels with 12-bit colors (Dolby Vision, HDR10+) and Gorilla Glass 7i.
These displays have a resolution of 1,220 x 2,712px. The phone is equipped with a large 6,000mAh battery with 90W HyperCharge (100% in 42 minutes).
The vanilla Poco X7 is around £60-70 cheaper, but it drops down to a Dimensity 7300 Ultra (which is based on the older ARMv8 tech, not v9 like the 8400 Ultra) and UFS 2.2 storage. Also, the battery is smaller at 5,110mAh with slower 45W charging (100% in 52 minutes).
Both phones are rated IP68, but this one has Gorilla Glass Victus to protect the screen. They have the same cameras too – 50MP main (1/1.95”, OIS), 8MP ultra-wide (120°) and 20MP selfie cameras. Note that because of the older chipset, the X7 can’t record 4K @ 60fps (it tops out at 4K @ 30fps), but the X7 Pro does have that option.
Let’s have a look at what else is available. The Poco F6 Pro is £90 more than the X7 Pro and that is if we’re comparing the 12/512GB versions as this one lacks a 256GB option. You do get a higher-end chipset, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and a higher resolution 6.67” display (1,440 x 3,200px).
Also, the battery is smaller at 5,000mAh but faster with 120W charging (getting to 100% takes half as long at just 19 minutes). The camera is slightly better (1/1.55” sensor) but not much. The water resistance is notably worse at IP54.
The Xiaomi 14T is just £13 more than the F6 Pro at the same 12/512GB configuration. This one uses the Dimensity 8300 Ultra, which is the predecessor of the X7 Pro chipset.
You do get proper IP68 protection, but the battery is both small and slow (5,000mAh, 45 minutes for a full charge at 67W). In terms of camera, you do get a telephoto module – a 50MP 50mm camera with 2x optical and 4x in-sensor zoom.
Another option is the OnePlus Nord 4, costing £400 but this one for only 256GB storage (and 12GB RAM). The all-metal body is certainly great and the Snapdragon 7+ gen 3 is fast.
The IP65 rating is not so great, however, and neither is the 50+8MP camera. The 5,500mAh battery with 100W charging (28 minutes to full) does compare better with the X7 Pro than some of the others.
Now let’s have a look at alternatives to the Poco X7. The Motorola Edge 50 Neo is pricier at £330 for the same 8/256GB configuration, but you get a comparable 6.4” 1200p+ screen – an LTPO panel to boot – IP68 rating and a vegan leather back.
The chipset is a Dimensity 7300 non-Ultra for all the difference that makes. The battery is on the small side (4,310mAh) but it supports both 68W wired and 15W wireless charging. The camera combines a 50MP main (1/1.55”, OIS) with a 10MP 73mm (3x) telephoto and 13MP ultra-wide, plus a 32MP selfie camera.
For a cheaper option, an 8/256GB OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite goes for £240. However, you will be saddled with the Snapdragon 695 chipset and an IP54 rating. The 6.67” display is a 120Hz OLED with 1080p+ resolution and decent 2,100 nits peak brightness, but is otherwise no match for the Poco.
This one has a microSD slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is nice. The battery has the same capacity (5,110mAh) and the same charge speed despite the different rating (80W, but a 100% charge still takes 50 minutes, only 2 minutes less). The camera is quite basic with only a 50MP on the back, there isn’t even an ultra-wide lens.
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