TECNO Phantom V Fold Handson Impressions: Showing Spirit
TECNO has a long history as an economic player in emerging markets, localizing a range of low- and mid-range phones. Thanks to devices like the Phantom series, the Chinese brand has been trying to break into the mainstream in recent years. Now the TECNO Phantom V Fold has the pinnacle of its flagship efforts. But does TECNO have what it takes to deliver a premium foldable phone? It's time to meet the practical Phantom V Fold.
Classic but popular
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Phantom V Fold is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. In fact, one of my interviewees at MWC 2023 thought it was that phone.
This is due to the same screen size and shiny and cool metal frame. Flip the phone over and the V Fold TECNO has introduced a 50-megapixel primary camera and a circular camera with a glossy paper-like back cover. We've got a pretty nice design here too, at least compared to Samsung's sleeker foldable phones. That's at least in part due to the company's "aerospace-grade" hinges, which help ensure a near-vacuum folding mechanism.
We asked TECNO if the phone is water resistant, but they brushed the question aside, admitting that they don't have an official rating yet. In light of these new slim bands, as well as those on the HONOR Magic Vs, it's no surprise that they don't support water resistance, but it's still interesting.
All on screens
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Of course, it wouldn't be a foldable phone without a foldable display. TECNO Phantom V Fold has an impressive 7.85-inch main display (2296 x 2000, LTPO, 120Hz). The TECNO Fold screen is as wide as my finger, but deeper than the Galaxy Z Fold 4's notch. This foldable display brings ultra-thin glass (UTG) to the table for greater durability.
However, the display has all the usual foldable displays. On the one hand, it is highly reflective compared to conventional screens. TECNO also has a warning list. This includes warnings not to open the device in temperatures below 15ºC, not to press the center of the screen while bent, and not to use your fingernails on the panel.
TECNO Phantom V Fold offers a beautiful foldable display with shallow folds and ultra-thin glass.
Perhaps the biggest flaw of the TECNO Phantom V Fold is that the new fold isn't a stand-alone type. Instead, it's a spring-loaded hinge that doesn't want to stay permanently locked in any position other than fully closed or fully opened. Shame on those who want to watch video or use their phone as a tripod for their camera. Surprisingly, when you try to partially tilt the phone, several apps like the camera app, YouTube, etc. try to switch to a Flex Mode style interface.
6.42-inch 2550 x 1080 OLED panel equipped with Phantom V Fold Close and Gorilla Glass Victus. It's a LTPO panel similar to the main screen, which can go down to 10Hz. I also really like the subtle curve on the right side of this screen, which is especially nice when using the reverse lane.
Reasonable performance
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TECNO Phantom V Fold OPPO Find N2 Flip is a foldable phone powered by a MediaTek chipset, specifically the 2022 Dimensity 9000 Plus processor. However, it's still a powerful piece of silicon, especially when paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. Storage performance was strong in my experience. Navigating between home screens, switching between portable and foldable screens, and launching apps was generally easy.
However, the phone software brings the best hardware. TECNO and sister company Infinix tend to be at the back of the pack when it comes to third-party Android, and while what's here is a huge improvement over previous devices I've tried, there's still a lot of work to be done. : The best Android skins.
TECNO's software remains the company's Achilles heel, mainly due to bloatware.
The Phantom V Fold comes with HiOS based on Android 13, where you can expect some foldable improvements. This includes a convenient shortcut to run two programs side-by-side, a program pairing feature to run two custom programs side-by-side, windowing support, and more. includes. TECNO's coverage is extensive in other areas as well, offering PC integration, dual app functionality, RAM expansion support, and the ability to draw letters on the lock screen to quickly launch apps.
However, there are some issues with the software. First, you can't pin Google Discover to the home screen on the left (although you can pull the shelf-like display out of the box). The flexible app bar isn't permanent like the Galaxy Z Fold bar, but it only appears on home screens.
Apart from first-party apps (like Gallery, Ella Voice Assistant, Hi Translate), the phone also comes with third-party bloatware apps. I have never heard of some of these programs. What is CarlCare? who is carl Some proprietary apps also look sketchy like the TECNO Spot app. It looks like an official platform app, but it's not uncommon for slightly NSFW images to appear in the first release. Finally, it should be noted that system performance is not always an easy endeavor. There were occasional delays when opening the notification shade, and there was also a noticeable delay when switching between cameras. Speaking of photography…
Bad cameras.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Unfortunately, the TECNO Phantom V Fold really falters when it comes to the camera experience. The hardware specs look very strong with a 50MP primary camera, a 50MP 2x telephoto camera and a 13MP ultra-wide lens. On paper, it should match the best camera phones. However, some of the images we captured in our early tests looked like they came from entry-level or low-end smartphones.
Pictures from the main camera have a high level of detail, but sometimes appear too contrasty and too sharp. Trying to beautify TECNO themes by default doesn't help (thankfully you can disable this option). Meanwhile, the 2x telephoto camera offers more detail, but struggles even in comfortable conditions with highlights and a richer color profile. The close-up camera gives softer angles and less detail overall than the 1x shot, but at least it has autofocus for macro shots.
We have a 32-megapixel selfie camera on the outer screen and a 16-megapixel punch hole on the inner folding screen. Our initial tests show that the foldable screen camera delivers the same results as the first generation sub-screen cameras. So expect a clear face in backlit scenes. Like Samsung's foldable devices, you can take quality selfies with the main camera.
TECNO Phantom V Foldable Hands-on concepts. off the spectrum.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TECNO's first foldable phone draws attention in terms of hardware. Between the foldable display's minimal bezels and ultra-thin glass, bright and sharp exterior display, and healthy power levels, there's a lot to like here.
Tecno Phantom V Fold. hot or not
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Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the software experience and camera quality. With unnoticeable budget phone bloatware and picture quality, TECNO pulls away from the latest offerings from Samsung, OPPO and HONOR.
Also, the phone's attractive starting price of just $79,999/$979 (12GB/256GB) goes a long way to offset some of these complaints. Even at the regular price of Rs 89,999/$1,099, you're looking at the most affordable foldable device on the market. The TECNO Phantom V Fold will arrive in India first, with other countries to be announced later.
