Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Poco Enters Mid-Range Android Arena with Feature-Rich F7 Pro and F7 Ultra Smartphones
For those tracking the Android phone market, Poco has unveiled two new devices that warrant attention. The Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra have been announced with starting prices of £499 and £649 respectively, presenting specifications that, on paper, surpass comparable offerings from Samsung in terms of internal components and features.
Poco’s Expansion Beyond Gaming
Poco, a sub-brand of the Chinese technology conglomerate Xiaomi, has historically positioned itself as a brand focused on gaming phones. However, the introduction of the F7 Pro and F7 Ultra signals a strategic shift towards incorporating advanced camera capabilities alongside high-performance specifications.
Poco F7 Ultra: Power and Performance at a Competitive Price
The Poco F7 Ultra, priced at £649, integrates the high-end Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This processor is also found in premium smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 (£799), OnePlus 13 (£899), and Honor Magic 7 Pro (£1,099). The F7 Ultra emerges as a more economical option for consumers seeking a device equipped with Qualcomm’s flagship processor.
Key Specifications of the Poco F7 Ultra:
- Display: 6.67-inch 2K resolution 120Hz AMOLED screen
- Cameras:
- Triple rear camera system
- 50MP main lens with optical image stabilisation
- 50MP 2.5x telephoto camera
- Battery: 5,300mAh battery
- Charging: 120W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Durability: IP68 dust and water resistance
- Memory & Storage: 12GB RAM and 256GB storage
Samsung Galaxy S25 Comparison
In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S25, which retails for £150 more, offers a lower resolution 1080p screen, a 10MP 3x telephoto camera, slower 25W wired charging, and 128GB of storage. The Poco F7 Ultra appears to provide enhanced features at a lower price point compared to Samsung‘s offering.
Advanced Camera Features and AI Integration
Poco emphasizes the versatility of the F7 Ultra‘s camera system, asserting its ability to capture portrait shots across four different focal lengths. The telephoto lens also supports macro photography and zoom capabilities. Additionally, a 32MP ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view is included. Poco is leveraging proprietary AI-powered software for image processing, aiming to deliver image quality comparable to Xiaomi’s flagship models.
Poco F7 Pro: High Performance at a Mid-Range Price
The Poco F7 Pro, priced at £499, remains a strong contender, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the previous generation of high-performance chipsets found in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Poco‘s pricing strategy positions these devices as highly competitive within their respective market segments.
Key Specifications of the Poco F7 Pro:
- Main Camera: 50MP main camera with Light Fusion 800 sensor (same as F7 Ultra)
- Ultra-wide Lens: 8MP ultra-wide lens
- Display: 6.67-inch OLED screen
- Battery: 6,000mAh battery
- Charging: 90W wired charging
- Memory & Storage: 12GB RAM and 256GB storage
These specifications surpass those found in Samsung‘s Galaxy A56, which is offered at the same £499 price point.
Optimized for Gaming and Performance
Despite the focus on camera enhancements, Poco continues to cater to mobile gamers with these new devices. Both the F7 Pro and F7 Ultra incorporate LiquidCool Technology 4.0, a cooling system designed to maintain optimal chipset temperatures during demanding gaming sessions, such as playing Call of Duty Mobile.
Challenging the Mid-Range Market
While Poco may still be building brand recognition in certain markets, the Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra present compelling alternatives to established brands like Samsung and Oppo in the mid-range Android market. The F7 Ultra, in particular, offers the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip at a notably affordable price, making both phones strong contenders for consumers seeking value and performance.