POCO M7 Plus: A Big Leap for Budget Phones

It’s rare for a phone in the budget segment to spark genuine curiosity, but this one does. From the moment you lift the lid off its bright yellow box, you can tell the POCO M7 Plus isn’t trying to play it safe. It doesn’t follow the standard design template most budget phones stick to. Instead, it tries to stand out and it does, quite literally, because it’s huge.

This phone feels like a statement. The kind of device you don’t just slide into your pocket and forget. The first thing that hits you is its size and weight. At 216.2 grams, it’s hefty. And the second thing? Its sheer ambition. It’s clear that this phone wants to be noticed.

First Impressions

Inside the box, you get the basics: an opaque case, a 33W fast charger, and a USB Type-A to Type-C cable. The case itself is decent in quality, snug-fitting and protective, though not see-through. Right under that sits the phone, wrapped in protective film, and the moment you pick it up, you know this isn’t going to be an ordinary budget phone experience.

The device is unapologetically large. It’s thick, broad, and surprisingly solid for a budget phone. The flat front panel gives it a modern feel, and while the bezels are slightly chunkier than midrange phones, they don’t look out of place considering its price bracket.

And then comes the design twist of blue side edges, a red top panel, and thin silver lines across the rear plate. It’s bold, and honestly, it’s refreshing to see a brand taking risks in this category. Phones under 150 EURO rarely experiment with looks, but this one does, and it works.

Build & Durability

Despite packing a massive silicon carbon battery, this phone still feels well balanced in the hand. It’s heavy, yes, but the weight distribution doesn’t make it awkward to hold. The brand claims it can handle accidental drops thanks to its sturdy build, and a few light drop tests proved it barely flinches.

The frame is solid, the buttons feel tactile, and the rear doesn’t flex under pressure. It might be big, but it’s built to last and that’s reassuring at this price point.

Ports, Buttons, and Everyday Usability

On the bottom, you’ll find a USB Type-C port, microphone, and speaker grille. The right side houses the power button with an integrated side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and just above that is the volume rocker. The top side has an IR blaster handy if you like controlling appliances while the SIM tray sits on the left.

The SIM tray is hybrid, allowing you to choose between two SIMs or one SIM plus a microSD card. It’s practical, especially if you’re looking for expandable storage.

Display

This phone is all about its display, and it’s massive a 6.9-inch IPS LCD panel with support for up to 144Hz refresh rate in games and 120Hz in daily use. The resolution is Full HD+, and it gets bright enough at 850 nits in high brightness mode.

The colors are vibrant, viewing angles are decent, and despite the large screen size, touch response remains accurate. The central punch-hole camera looks clean, and while the bezels aren’t razor thin, they don’t distract from the overall experience. Watching videos, scrolling through social media, or just browsing feels spacious and smooth.

Performance and Battery Life

Under the hood, it runs on the new Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset with either 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. It isn’t designed to be a gaming powerhouse, but it handles everyday tasks well, switching between apps, scrolling, and general use are fluid.

Its AnTuTu score lands around 450,000, which is decent for its class. It can manage casual games without heating issues, and even heavier games can run on lower settings. It’s not about peak performance here, it’s about reliability, and that’s what it delivers.

What really sets it apart, though, is its 7000mAh silicon carbon battery. This is rare in this price range. It comfortably lasts one and a half to two days depending on usage, and charges at 33W. The brand claims it retains 80% of its capacity even after 1600 full charge cycles, which could translate to about five years of daily use. It even supports reverse wired charging, so you can use it like a mini power bank for your accessories.

Software and User Interface

The device runs on HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15. The UI feels clean, fast, and responsive. There are some pre-installed third-party apps like Bubble Blast and Tetris, but they can be uninstalled easily. You get both Google Play Store and Indus Appstore, giving you options for downloading apps.

POCO promises two years of major OS updates and four years of security patches, which is good to see at this price. Storage-wise, the 128GB variant leaves you with about 102–103GB of usable space after system files.

The phone also includes POCO’s own dialer app with native call recording and no beep notification, something many users appreciate. It supports all 5G bands, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.1. There’s no NFC and no gyroscope, but you do get a reliable side fingerprint reader and face unlock.

Multimedia Experience

The large screen makes watching content enjoyable. It supports Widevine L1 for HD playback on streaming platforms like Netflix. The mono speaker is decently loud, though not as immersive as a stereo setup, but it can be amplified to 200% volume via software.

It also has certifications like Flicker Free, Low Blue Light, and Circadian Rhythm, which reduce eye strain during long sessions. Wet Touch Tech 2.0 ensures touch response works even with damp fingers handy during workouts or rainy days.

Camera Performance

On the back, you get a 50MP primary sensor paired with a depth sensor, while the front has an 8MP selfie camera. The primary camera captures sharp and colorful images, with natural skin tones and solid detail. It also offers modes like Portrait, Night, Timelapse, Ultra HD, and some AI-based editing tools like sky replacement and dynamic shot.

Video recording maxes out at 1080p 30fps on both front and rear. There’s no 4K option, but for a budget phone, the footage is stable and clear. You can also take 2x zoomed portraits thanks to the high-res main sensor.

There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack or FM radio, and no notification LED, but SAR values are well within safety limits. The phone carries IP54 and IP64 certifications for dust and splash resistance, which is rare in this category.

Thermals and Long-Term Use

Inside, a large 9178mm² graphite sheet helps with heat management. There’s no vapor chamber cooling, but it stays comfortable even under load. The combination of energy-efficient silicon carbon battery and optimized chip ensures it doesn’t overheat easily.

It comes in three colors Chrome Silver, Carbon Black, and Aqua Blue each with the same eye-catching accents.

Final Thoughts

The POCO M7 Plus isn’t trying to be a flagship killer. It doesn’t pretend to be the fastest or the sleekest. Instead, it’s about offering something bold, practical, and reliable in the budget segment. You get a massive display, a battery that can outlast just about anything else at this price, decent performance, and a design that dares to be different.

For under 150 EUR, it’s a compelling package. It’s not for those who want ultra-light phones or flagship-level gaming performance. But if you value endurance, screen real estate, and a refreshing change in design, this phone makes a strong case for itself. It’s the kind of device you buy not to show off benchmark scores, but to simply get things done and keep doing them for years.

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