The POCO M7 Pro 5G and CMF Phone 1 are budget 5G phones from different brands — Xiaomi and Nothing respectively — that target similar buyers but with different strengths. The CMF Phone 1 launched six months earlier, has a faster chip, Wi-Fi 6, and 4K video, along with a distinctive design with an interchangeable rear cover. The POCO M7 Pro 5G offers a brighter display, OIS on its main camera, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, a headphone jack, and an IR blaster. Here is the full breakdown.
What are the general specs and platform differences?
Both phones support dual Nano-SIM with a hybrid slot and full 5G connectivity. The CMF Phone 1 is slightly larger and heavier; the POCO M7 Pro 5G is slimmer and lighter. IP ratings differ — POCO offers IP64 (dust tight, splash resistant); CMF Phone 1 is rated IP52 (limited dust and drip resistance only).
| Feature | POCO M7 Pro 5G | CMF Phone 1 | What this means |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Xiaomi (POCO) | Nothing (CMF) | Different brands and software ecosystems |
| Launch date | 17 December 2024 | 8 July 2024 | CMF Phone 1 launched about 5 months earlier |
| OS | Android 14, HyperOS | Android 14, Nothing OS 2.6 | Both run Android 14; Nothing OS is cleaner and closer to stock |
| SIM | Dual Nano-SIM, hybrid | Dual Nano-SIM, hybrid | Both support microSD in place of the second SIM |
| Network | 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G | 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G | Full network support on both |
| Dimensions | 162.4 × 75.7 × 7.99 mm | 164 × 77 × 8 mm | POCO is marginally slimmer and more compact |
| Weight | 190 g | 197 g | POCO is 7 g lighter |
| Water resistance | IP64 | IP52 | POCO offers better dust and splash protection |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Equal |
How does the display and design compare?
Both phones use 6.67-inch Super AMOLED panels with identical resolution and 120Hz refresh rates. The POCO M7 Pro 5G has confirmed Gorilla Glass 5 protection and higher peak brightness at 2,100 nits; the CMF Phone 1 uses AGC DragonTrail Pro and peaks at 2,000 nits. The CMF Phone 1's interchangeable rear cover is a unique design feature.
| Feature | POCO M7 Pro 5G | CMF Phone 1 | What this means |
|---|
| Screen size | 6.67 inches | 6.67 inches | Equal |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED (LTPS) | Both are vivid AMOLED panels |
| Resolution | 1080 × 2400 pixels | 1080 × 2400 pixels | Equal — FHD+ on both |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | Equal |
| Touch sampling rate | Up to 240 Hz | 240 Hz | Equal |
| Peak brightness | 2,100 nits | 2,000 nits | POCO is marginally brighter — slightly better in sunlight |
| HDR support | HDR10+, Dolby Vision | HDR10+ | POCO adds Dolby Vision for supported streaming content |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | AGC DragonTrail Pro | Both are rated scratch and drop protection glass |
| Water resistance | IP64 | IP52 | POCO is better protected against dust and water splashes |
| Design feature | Standard back panel | Interchangeable rear cover | CMF Phone 1 lets you swap the back cover for different colours |
How does the performance compare?
Despite the Dimensity 7025 Ultra having a higher model number, the CMF Phone 1's Dimensity 7300 is the more capable chip — it uses four Cortex-A78 cores versus the POCO's two, and scores higher on both AnTuTu and Geekbench. The CMF Phone 1 is the faster phone.
| Feature | POCO M7 Pro 5G | CMF Phone 1 | What this means |
|---|
| Processor | Dimensity 7025 Ultra (6 nm) | Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) | CMF Phone 1 uses a newer, more efficient 4 nm chip |
| CPU config | 2 × Cortex-A78 + 6 × Cortex-A55 | 4 × Cortex-A78 + 4 × Cortex-A55 | CMF has twice as many high-performance cores |
| GPU | IMG BXM-8-256 | Mali-G615 MC2 | Different GPU architectures; CMF scores higher in GPU benchmarks |
| RAM | 6 GB / 8 GB (LPDDR4X) | 6 GB / 8 GB (LPDDR4X) | Equal |
| AnTuTu (v10) | ~486,435 | ~642,187 | CMF Phone 1 scores ~32% higher — faster in apps and games |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB (UFS 2.2) | 128 GB (UFS 2.2) | POCO offers a 256GB option; CMF does not |
| Expandable storage | Up to 1 TB | Up to 2 TB | CMF supports up to 2 TB via microSD |
| Fingerprint | In-display optical | Under-display optical | Equal unlocking method |
| Speakers | Dual stereo, Dolby Atmos | Mono speaker | POCO is significantly better for media and calls |
➜ *Pro tip: Despite the CMF Phone 1's faster chip, the POCO M7 Pro 5G's dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos make it a noticeably better phone for watching videos and listening to music without headphones.
Which phone has the better cameras?
The POCO M7 Pro 5G has the better rear camera for still photos — its Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS and a wider f/1.5 aperture captures more detail and handles low light better. The CMF Phone 1 uses a Sony IMX882 sensor at f/1.8 without OIS, but supports 4K video recording at 30fps — which the POCO does not.
| Feature | POCO M7 Pro 5G | CMF Phone 1 | What this means |
|---|
| Rear camera setup | 50 MP + 2 MP | 50 MP + 2 MP | Equal in number of lenses |
| Main sensor | Sony LYT-600, f/1.5 | Sony IMX882, f/1.8 | POCO's wider aperture captures more light — better low-light photos |
| OIS | Yes | No | POCO reduces blur in handheld shots — a meaningful advantage |
| Rear video | Up to 1080p@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps | CMF Phone 1 is the only option for 4K video recording |
| Front camera | 20 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP | POCO has a higher-resolution selfie camera |
| Front video | Up to 1080p@30fps | Up to 1080p@60fps | CMF records smoother front-facing video |
| Flash | LED | LED | Equal |
What are the connectivity differences?
The CMF Phone 1 supports Wi-Fi 6 for faster wireless speeds and wider QZSS satellite positioning; the POCO M7 Pro 5G uses Wi-Fi 5. Neither phone has NFC. The POCO M7 Pro 5G includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and an IR blaster; the CMF Phone 1 has neither.
| Feature | POCO M7 Pro 5G | CMF Phone 1 | What this means |
|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (dual-band) | Wi-Fi 6 | CMF Phone 1 supports faster, lower-latency wireless connections |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 | Equal |
| NFC | No | No | Neither phone supports contactless payments |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo, QZSS | CMF adds QZSS for marginally better positioning in urban areas |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No | POCO retains the headphone jack; CMF users need a dongle or wireless earphones |
| IR blaster | Yes | No | POCO can control TVs and ACs; CMF cannot |
| USB | Type-C | Type-C | Equal |
Which phone has the better battery?
The POCO M7 Pro 5G has a slightly larger 5,110 mAh battery and faster 45W charging versus the CMF Phone 1's 5,000 mAh and 33W. In PCMark testing, the POCO also lasts longer. The CMF Phone 1 supports 5W reverse wired charging; the POCO does not.
| Feature | POCO M7 Pro 5G | CMF Phone 1 | What this means |
|---|
| Battery capacity | 5,110 mAh | 5,000 mAh | POCO has a marginally larger cell |
| Wired charging | 45W | 33W | POCO charges faster |
| Wireless charging | Not supported | Not supported | Neither supports wireless charging |
| Reverse charging | Not specified | 5W wired | CMF Phone 1 can charge earbuds or other devices via cable |
| PCMark battery life | ~17h 46m | ~15h 11m | POCO lasts about 2.5 hours longer in standardised testing |
➜ *Pro tip: The CMF Phone 1 does not include a charger in the box — you will need to purchase one separately. The POCO M7 Pro 5G includes a 45W charger.