Poco F7 Ultra Review: Is It Worth Buying?

Poco, a Xiaomi subsidiary known for its budget smartphones, has launched its first "Ultra" flagship. The term "Ultra" is used quite loosely these days, and the Poco F7 Ultra is no exception.

This smartphone boasts impressive specs at a starting price of €699.90. But does it live up to its name? How does it compare to other Xiaomi models like the Xiaomi 15 and Redmi series? Let’s find out.

Design & Display

Poco F7 Ultra retains the brand’s signature bold style with a striking yellow-and-black color scheme. A new design feature is the circular camera module, slightly offset to the left, giving the phone a fresh look.

The body is made of glass and metal, with a matte-finish Shield Glass back that has glossy accents. The device is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance.

The front is flat with uniform bezels and a punch-hole selfie camera. Despite its 6.7-inch display, it feels compact. However, at 212g, it’s quite hefty, though well-balanced.

The package includes a 120W fast charger, USB-C cable, and a silicone case.

As for the display, it features a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels (526 PPI), a 120Hz refresh rate, 12-bit color support, and Dolby Vision. The advertised peak brightness is 3200 nits, though real-world tests place it slightly below the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 15.

An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner sits under the display, working just as fast and accurately as Xiaomi’s flagship models.

Cameras

The Poco F7 Ultra sports a triple-camera setup:

• Main: 50MP Light Fusion 800 (1/1.55", f/1.6, 24mm)
• Telephoto: 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN5 (2.5x optical zoom, 60mm)
• Ultrawide: 32MP (f/2.2, 15mm, fixed focus)

The main camera captures detailed shots with good dynamic range, though colors can be slightly oversaturated. The 2.5x telephoto lens is great for portraits and close-ups. The ultrawide camera is decent but not as strong as the other two.

Video recording goes up to 8K@24fps, but the more practical 4K@30fps mode offers excellent stabilization and seamless zoom transitions.

Performance & Software

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Poco F7 Ultra comes in 12/256GB and 16/512GB configurations. It performs on par with other Snapdragon 8 Elite flagships in benchmark tests.

It runs Android 15 with HyperOS 2, the same as the Xiaomi 15. There’s some pre-installed bloatware, but it can be removed. AI features include Xiaomi’s HyperAI suite and Google Gemini.

Software support includes 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches-less than competitors like Samsung, Google, and Honor.

Battery & Charging

The Poco F7 Ultra houses a 5300mAh silicon-carbon battery. Battery performance:

• 16 hours of browsing,
• 12 hours of video playback,
• 11 hours of gaming.

A full charge takes just 30 minutes with the 120W charger. It also supports 50W wireless charging, reaching 100% in 1 hour 15 minutes.

Audio & Haptics

The stereo speakers provide decent, but not outstanding, sound. High frequencies can be harsh at max volume. The haptic feedback is precise but slightly weak. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack.

Verdict: should you buy it?

The Poco F7 Ultra is a well-rounded flagship with a top-tier display, the latest Qualcomm processor, a versatile camera setup, and ultra-fast charging.

However, at €699, it competes with popular models like the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25, which, while slightly pricier, are more widely available and reliable.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to the Xiaomi 15, the Poco F7 Ultra is a strong contender, offering nearly identical performance for €300 less. But if you want a true "Ultra" experience, the competition makes the choice less clear-cut.