Tecno Phantom V Fold Vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
The Tecno Phantom V Fold came out of nowhere and caused quite a stir among foldable phone enthusiasts. Despite being a major player in the African and Asian markets, the brand is still relatively unknown in the UK and US.
Now it has released a flagship foldable device that rivals the market leaders in terms of specs, and at a significantly lower price point. So it's easy to see why people are interested.
If you're looking for a foldable tablet phone, you might be wondering whether you can save the money and go for the Phantom V Fold or stick with the popular Galaxy Z Fold 4.
In this article, we're going to compare all aspects of these devices to make that decision a little easier for you.
Techno Phantom V Fold
We're very impressed with the Phantom V Fold, which not only works well and looks great, but it's also one of the most affordable tablet-style folds on the market today.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
More sophistication than reinvention Compared to last year's Z Fold 3, the latest foldable has improved dramatically in several key areas.
price and availability
- Tecno Phantom V Fold: 12+256GB $1099 / 12+512GB $1222
- It was originally launched alongside other markets in India
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. 12+256GB $1799 / 12+512GB $1920 / 12GB+1TB $2160
The first hurdle can be very big depending on where you live. The Phantom V Fold will be launched in India first and we don't know exactly which regions it will be available in long term.
When you get your hands on it, it's excellent value for money, with the base model costing $700 less than the equivalent Galaxy Z Fold. There's also an early bird offer that drops an additional $120 off the asking price.
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is available in all major markets, so getting hold of it shouldn't be too difficult. However, this is definitely an expensive device so be prepared to part with a significant amount of cash.
design
- Tecno Phantom V Fold: 299 grams
- Folded: 159.4 x 71.95 x 14.15mm
- Folded: 159.4 x 140.4 x 6.9mm
- Colours: black and white versions, recycled plastic
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. 263 grams
- Folded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2mm
- Folded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3mm
- Colours: grey, phantom black, beige and bordeaux
Both devices share the same form factor, which works like a regular smartphone when folded and converts into a tablet when unfolded. The Tecno is slightly larger and heavier than the Samsung, but that means the outer screen has a more traditional design and the inner screen is larger too.
© Lint pocket by Tecno Phantom V Fold (22)That said, the Z Fold 4 is already a heavy device, so you'll really feel the big Tecno in your pocket. Whether the larger screens are worth the money is up to you.
Aesthetically, both devices look great with similar aluminum frames. The Z Fold 4 offers more color options with four shades to choose from, and all variants use frosted glass. The Phantom V Fold is available in white or black, with both colors featuring a textured back made from recycled plastic.
We love the unique look and feel of the Phantom's plastic back, which looks like thin kraft paper and is sturdy and fingerprint-resistant. However, we imagine others won't be as thrilled, and there's something to be said for the luxurious feel of Samsung's frosted glass back.
© Lint pocket by Tecno Phantom V Fold (2)Both devices have fingerprint readers located on the power button on the right side of the phone. Both work well, but the Phantom V Fold is more prone to random activation, which can be annoying. On the contrary, Z Fold 4 surprised us with its precision.
The Z Fold 4 has an IPX8 water resistance rating, while the Tecno Phantom V Fold has no such rating. Some waterproofing is still present, but caution is advised in inclement weather.
display and speakers
- Techno Phantom V Fold.
- external 6.42 inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED 1080 x 2550
- Internal: 7.85 inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED 2296 x 2000
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
- external 6.2 inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED 904 x 2316
- Internal: 7.6 inch 120Hz 1812 x 2176 LTPO AMOLED panel
As we mentioned in the last part, the Phantom V Fold wins in terms of physical dimensions by using larger internal and external screens. It also has a slightly higher resolution on both panels, but in practice this is unlikely to make a significant difference to your user experience.
© Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Plush Case Photo 3The Galaxy Z Fold has a slight edge in terms of brightness, hitting 1200 nits compared to the Phantom's 1100 nits. It's still such a small difference that you'll hardly notice it in everyday use.
Both phones have a 120Hz refresh rate on both panels, as well as LTPO adaptive refresh rate technology. The two secondary screens are covered with Gorilla Glass Victus, but the Samsung device uses the upgraded Gorilla Glass Victus+. It should be scratch resistant.
The display in both devices is at an impressive level, but is a little less noticeable on the Phantom. Tecno's phone is nearly waterproof when folded, and the Z-Fold still has a noticeable gap.
© Pocket strap by Tecno Phantom V Fold (21)However, the advantage of Samsung is that it can be placed at different angles, which allows the Z Fold to be used as a small laptop. Tecno can only be used open or closed, the hinge mechanism ensures smooth sliding.
The Z Fold 4 has an excellent internal screen thanks to the use of the selfie camera on the bottom. Instead, the Tecno has a punch-hole selfie camera, and while that's not the biggest issue, the corner placement made us a little nervous because of the 16:9 full-screen content.
performance and software
- Techno Phantom V Fold.
- Size 9000+
- 12GB RAM - 256/512GB storage
- HiOS 13 Fold (based on Android 13)
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- 12GB RAM - 256/512GB / 1TB storage
- Android 12L / One UI 4.1.1 – Upgradable to Android 13 / One UI 5.1
Both devices are powered by state-of-the-art 2022 chips, and while neither are the latest and greatest, both are very powerful devices capable of high-quality multitasking and gaming.
© Pocket-lint Z Fold 4 Image 12 provided byBoth phones have 12GB of RAM and at least 256GB of storage, with the Tecno up to 512GB and the Samsung up to 1TB being a very popular option.
The Z Fold 4 has been around for a long time and was originally released with the Android 12L based operating system, but it can now be upgraded to One UI 5.1 based on Android 13. The Phantom V Fold also runs on an Android 13-based skin. on Android 13. It's called HiOS 13 Fold.
Both versions come with tweaks and versatile features designed specifically for foldable devices. However, we think Samsung's contribution is a bit more sophisticated.
© Pocket-lint Z Fold 4 presented by pic 2That's expected with the fourth-gen foldable device, and it's very likely that Tecno's OS will improve over time, but for now it's still a mystery.
Samsung also offers S Pen support, so you can write or take notes with the Z Fold 4, unlike the Tecno. There's also a flexible mode that can be used when the device is partially folded, opening up a world of possibilities. So it's safe to say that Samsung is winning in the software space.
cameras
- Techno Phantom V Fold.
- rear 50 MP main camera, 50 MP 2x telephoto, 13 MP ultra wide
- Front camera: 32 MP front camera, 16 MP internal camera
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
- Rear: 50 MP primary, 10 MP 3x telephoto, 12 MP ultra wide
- Front camera: 10 MP front camera, 4 MP internal UPC camera
On paper, the Phantom V Fold has superior cameras, so you might think it's the better choice. However, there is more to practice than history.
© Pocket Lint by Tecno Phantom V-Fold (24)The Tecno's cameras are capable and we were particularly impressed with night shots, but it lacks the feature set compared to the Samsung. Tecno's image processing also leaves something to be desired.
Samsung has established itself as one of the best brands in mobile photography, so it's no surprise that the Z Fold 4 produces stunning images like no other smartphone. While the Tecno often has more megapixels at its disposal, it's less efficient at image processing, and you often end up with dull colors and washed-out HDR images.
However, one area where the tech clearly wins is the internal selfie camera. Samsung uses a 4-megapixel camera on the bottom, which allows for smooth viewing but at the expense of image quality. Tecno's more traditional internal selfie camera is the weakest of the bunch, but still significantly better than the UPC.
judgement
So which one should you buy? As always, it depends on your needs and budget.
In our opinion, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a superior device thanks to its excellent image processing, more advanced software, S-Pen support and variable hinge angles.
However, the Tecno Phantom V Fold comes surprisingly close to delivering the same experience at almost half the price, making it excellent value for money.
It wins in some areas too, the outer screen has a more traditional shape which makes using the fold feel more natural, and the inner screen is larger and has a higher resolution.
Whichever phone you choose, we believe you'll have a great experience. In our opinion, these are two of the most attractive foldable phones on the market today.
