Tecno is known for creating low-cost smartphones for emerging markets, and its latest offering, the Tecno Spark 50 5G, borrows design cues from recent flagships while remaining easy on your wallet. I've been testing it for a couple of weeks now, and while I didn't expect much from a smartphone priced under $300, the Tecno Spark 50 5G managed to surprise me in a few ways.

That said, a larger battery and some useful AI features are compelling in a smartphone at this price point, but they unfortunately can't make up for its many other shortcomings. And while budget phones like this are known to make a number of compromises, the Tecno Spark 50 5G doesn't really make a strong case for itself.

A better-looking budget phone

One of the first things I noticed about the Tecno Spark 50 5G is that it's a very good-looking phone. The design is very similar to recent Pixel phones, such as the Pixel 10 series, thanks to the long, metal camera bar. It actually does a good job of hiding the fact that there's only one rear camera, which is a pretty good fakeout if you ask me.

The matte finish all around is a nice touch as well, helping it avoid picking up a ton of fingerprints.

The only sore spot of the design for me is the display, which is a very reflective 6.78-inch LCD panel. The bezels are very large, particularly the chin under the display, which is indicative of its budget pricing, while the panel itself is only 720p. At such a large size, the minimal resolution is very obvious, even with the help of the 120Hz panel.

It's also not a particularly bright display, so outdoor visibility isn't great, and its high reflectivity doesn't help.

On the plus side, the phone is surprisingly light, weighing just more than a Pixel 10, which is quite a bit smaller by comparison. It's also thinner than the Pixel 10 at just 8.2mm. That isn't exactly paper thin, but considering it's powered by a 6,500mAh battery, it's still impressive.

There are also some really nice color options, including the vibrant Fantasy Purple and Mint Green. The Champagne Gold color of my review unit is rather subtle and looks more like silver.

Mostly a struggle, with a few highlights

The Tecno Spark 50 5G may have the looks of a flagship phone, but it definitely doesn't perform like one. The MediaTek Dimensity 6400 seems to struggle with even the simplest of tasks, even when paired with 8GB of RAM. My daily use is fraught with constant stuttering and delays, and doing literally anything takes longer than it should to register with the device.

You might see a performance boost with additional virtual RAM, but don't expect a miracle. That goes for gaming, which somehow isn't as bad as everything else, but you won't be playing games like Honkai: Star Rail on the highest settings. You can probably get away with medium settings at 60 fps, but even then it feels like the phone is reaching its limits, though it only gets noticeably warm around the camera bar.

Speaking of the camera, performance issues extend to the single rear camera, which lags quite a bit when the viewfinder turns on. And don't expect the Tecno Spark 50 5G to capture particularly impressive images; you can get decent shots in good daylight, but photos generally lack detail and are often very noisy or overexposed. It doesn't get any better with low-light photos either.

The bright side is that the camera comes with a neat Vlog feature that lets you create stylized videos via a series of clips. The camera will guide you on which type of clip you should capture for each scene and then stitch them together into a nice video ready for social media.

Fortunately, battery life on the Tecno Spark 50 5G is one area where the phone performs well. I easily manage well over a day with a single charge, and the phone also supports 45W charging and comes with a charger in the box. With it, you can go from 0-100% in roughly an hour, which isn't too bad given the battery's size.

AI for less

Since the Dimensity 6400 isn't a particularly powerful chip, you won't find much in the way of AI on the Tecno Spark 50 5G. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and Tecno manages to squeeze some useful and interesting features into the phone. For instance, the Gallery app still features the AI studio, which houses several AI-based editing features, including a shadow remover, reflection remover, AI eraser, and AI extender.

You shouldn't rely on on-device AI for any of these, so the quality of the features will depend on your network connection. AI eraser is decent, although reflection remover can never seem to find clearly defined reflections in images. Overall, they're pretty hit or miss, but you can always fall back on Google Photos AI editing features if need be.

The camera also has an AIGC Portrait feature that turns photos of people into AI creations, although the results are hardly ever flattering or particularly good.

Aside from the Gallery app, the Ella assistant is the main AI presence on the phone. You can access Ella pretty much the same way you'd trigger Gemini, and you can swap between the assistants if you prefer. In fact, Tecno makes it easy to switch AI models directly in the Ella overlay, including ChatGPT, Copilot, and Meta AI.

It's a useful feature at a time when consumers are using multiple AI models for different reasons, and switching between models even reveals how they respond differently to the same question. Even so, I still prefer Gemini and mainly use that as my default assistant app.

Ella also includes other useful features, like MindHub, which can save screenshots in a special folder alongside an AI summary of the content features in the image, allowing you to recall it later. It's similar to what we've seen in other devices, like recent Nothing Phone models, although the lack of a dedicated AI button means you have to tell Ella to remember the contents of your screen, which feels admittedly awkward.

You can also tell Ella to control aspects of the device. You can say something like "boost the performance" or "raise the brightness of the screen," and it will execute them almost instantly. It even responded with "Brightness goes up!" after increasing the screen brightness, which I found kind of amusing.

And of course, Circle to Search is built-in, so no matter which AI assistant you choose, you can access Gemini with a quick long-press of the home button/bar.

Verdict

Tecno hasn't specified pricing or which markets the Tecno Spark 50 5G is available in, so I recommend checking your local retailers and Tecno's website for more details. In India, for example, the phone is available for roughly under $300, depending on the configuration.

That said, the Tecno Spark 50 5G is a phone for everyone, even if it isn't the phone for everyone. Performance and camera quality leave a lot to be desired, but battery life, capable AI features, and a strong design almost make up for it, so long as you can navigate through some bloatware. However, if you can splurge for something much better, you might wanna consider the Tecno Camon 50 Ultra instead.

What you need to know

• Tecno has announced EllaClaw, a new mobile AI agent based on OpenClaw.
• EllaClaw will include natural-language automation, cross-app data integration, and the ability to surface relevant information when needed.
• Tecno will release more details about EllaClaw and user recruitment for the beta, which is set to release in the coming months.

As Tecno continues to evolve its "Practical AI" approach, the company is introducing its latest evolution with OpenClaw. The new EllaClaw AI agent is powered by OpenClaw, bringing the open-source AI agent platform to smartphones for the first time and aiming to bring more advanced AI functions to emerging markets.

OpenClaw is one of the latest AI platforms to garner significant interest from companies such as Nvidia. Unlike many typical AI chatbots, OpenClaw is focused on automation; completing tasks on behalf of the user and with minimal user input. It's also open-source, so companies can take it and build upon it, which is what Tecno is doing for its smartphones.

EllaClaw takes the Tecno's Ella AI assistant and injects OpenClaw's framework into it. This allows the new EllaClaw to integrate with Tecno phones at the system level, with capabilities tuned to the smartphone and its user. As a result, EllaClaw will be able to handle a few different use cases we've already seen on other smartphones. For example, EllaClaw will be able to handle multi-step actions from just a single sentence, using natural language.

But even more than that, EllaClaw will be able to handle multi-app integration, so a task can be carried over from one app to another while the AI agent performs it. This means managing data across your texts, calendar, notes, or weather apps, where you could, for example, have EllaClaw create an easily digestible schedule by aggregating all the available information.

One popular use of AI is summarizing and prioritizing notifications from messaging apps, something we've seen with the latest Galaxy S26 series. EllaClaw can also accomplish this while taking it a step further by highlighting important messages and those you can probably delete.

Finally, Similar to features like Magic Cue and Now Nudge on the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26, respectively, Tecno is turning Ella into a much more proactive assistant with OpenClaw. EllaClaw will learn about a user's habits over time and surface relevant information when needed, reducing friction for consumers.

Regarding user data, Tecno ensures that EllaClaw has built-in privacy safeguards, with user data isolated and inaccessible to third parties or unauthorized users, which should put Tecno owners at ease.

Tecno tells us that users will be able to beta test EllaClaw "in the coming months," and more details about the beta and registration will come soon.

Android Central's take

After testing Tecno's latest Camon 50 Ultra, which is packed with AI features, it's fascinating to see how quickly the company is moving as it tries to bring more advanced features to more markets, at arguably lower prices than the competition. EllaClaw sounds a lot like what we're getting from two of the largest players in the smartphone business, Google and Samsung, with similar features to boot. However, it'll be interesting to see how the UI evolves throughout the OS.

On the one hand, using OpenClaw is smart, as it allows Tecno to easily create and tailor AI automation for its smartphones with an open-source tool. That said, OpenClaw has received as much scrutiny as it has praise, and even though Tecno ensures user data protection, we will watch this development closely.

Tecno remains a relatively small player in the broader Android ecosystem, but the company continues to push the boundaries of technology in emerging markets while keeping prices well below those of its competitors. It's this expertise that has made the company embrace "practical AI" that can be truly useful for its consumers, and much of this can be seen in the rather excellent Tecno Camon 50 Ultra.

The latest entry in the Camon series has a heavy focus on AI, more than I remember seeing from previous Tecno devices, and while it may seem overwhelming to some, I think the phone does a great job pushing its chipset by providing as many AI features as it can in a package that looks great and performs well at an accessible price.

When you first hold the Camon 50 Ultra, it feels thinner than its gigantic 6,500mAh battery would suggest. Part of that is due to the slight curve of the display and the more prominent curve of the back panel. The effect is actually quite nice, and the phone looks and feels surprisingly premium. It's also light at just 178g, weighing not much more than the Galaxy S25 Edge, which is frankly impressive.

In fact, several people have mistaken the Camon 50 Ultra for the Galaxy S26 Ultra because its rear camera design is strikingly similar to Samsung's.

On the front, the 6.78-inch AMOLED display is gorgeous and bright, with a 1.5K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate that makes everything incredibly fluid. The bezels are fairly minimal as well and appear even smaller due to the slightly curved display. And while curved screens are often pretty troublesome for me, I find I haven't been bothered by any accidental touches.

When you first turn on the Camon 50 Ultra, you're introduced to Ella, Tecno's AI assistant, who guides you through setup, making a usually monotonous task somewhat enjoyable. It's also a precursor to just how AI-focused this phone is, which becomes fairly evident as you go further into the process.

After setting up the phone, I was immediately surprised by how fluid and responsive everything felt. The home screen icons almost float onto the screen, apps stack upwards when sliding up to open the app drawer, and the quick settings menu seems to inflate open.

The UI itself feels like a mix of Samsung's One UI and Apple's iOS. Many UI elements, such as the aforementioned quick settings menu, are visually similar to liquid glass with a very translucent effect. However, the effect isn't quite as in-your-face as Apple's divisive UI, which I quite like. Meanwhile, Tecno's HiOS 16 takes after Samsung's One UI in other ways, such as how notification bubbles stack over each other until tapped to reveal the entire stack.

Even the settings menu resembles Samsung's, with options grouped together, colorful icons, and a persistent search bar at the bottom.

Another way the Camon 50 Ultra reminds me of Samsung is in its approach to making its AI features accessible. When you're typing somewhere, you can easily access AI writing tools by selecting a section of text, which lets you rewrite, proofread, generate text, or summarize. If you press and hold two fingers on the display, you can activate Ella Smart Touch, which is similar to Circle to Search or Samsung's AI Select, and Ella can describe whatever you highlight or extract text from the screen.

The AI Gallery app is also packed with fun AI features. Similar to Samsung's Gallery app, these can be easily accessed by tapping the floating sparkle icon, which will intelligently suggest AI actions based on the image. For instance, if your subject is too far away, it might suggest AI Auto Zoom, or if it notices a glare in the photo, it will surface the AI Flare Remover to make the image clearer.

The full suite of AI editing options is also accessible in the Edit field, including AI Art Studio, a fun way to change the style of your photos to look like Picasso, Van Gogh, or even anime.

The Camon 50 Ultra also integrates many of its AI features into the camera app, and I feel like this is where Tecno takes things a step further than Samsung. Instead of waiting until after I capture an image to add any AI flair, I can enable Auto Zoom directly in the viewfinder or swipe to the AI Art Studio to preview how an image would look in a specific style before I capture it.

FlashSnap is one of the camera features I can see myself using quite often if I had a pet or kids, as it uses a high-speed shutter to capture 15 frames per second and uses AI to select the clearest image of the lot. It's insanely good at capturing fast-moving objects, much better than I've seen from other manufacturers.

But beyond the extra modes and features, the regular camera experience is surprisingly adequate. Photos taken during the day are quite good, and while some AI enhancements occur in the background, it does a good job of cleaning up the images and balancing the lighting. This is also the case at night, where the camera does a decent job reducing noise and retaining quite a bit of detail.

Tecno also highlights the capabilities of the 3x telephoto zoom lens, which supports up to 60x digital zoom. The results aren't too bad at various zoom levels up to 10x, although things can start to look a little muddy at 20x. Still, the AI does a good job of cleaning things up at this level and even makes 60x-zoom images legible, though AI upscaling appears to do quite a bit of heavy lifting, especially when text is involved.

Still, for a phone under $600, I'm quite pleased with the quality of images.

Now, Tecno has squeezed so much AI into this phone that it almost seems overwhelming, but thankfully, there's Zero Screen, a section to the left of the home screen, normally reserved for Google Discover. Here, you get an easily accessible hub of all the AI features you need, from image generation tools to translation and more general tools like problem-solving and document summarization.

This is also where you can talk to Ella, which has received a bit more of a Gemini-like remodel. You can type, talk, and even add files to the conversation. There's also a Gemini Live-like button that lets you start a more seamless conversation with the assistant or practice your English if you're trying to improve.

The Camon 50 Ultra actually takes an interesting approach with its AI, which you'll notice when you start using Ella. Tapping the top of the screen, you're actually able to change which AI model you want to chat with, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, and Grok. You can easily switch between them and even compare how they handle queries, choosing whichever you prefer for any particular instance. It's similar to Motorola's approach of stuffing as many AI models into a phone as possible, and I appreciate the choice here.

This theme of choice extends to the One Tap button, which is essentially an AI button on the side that, when pressed, allows Ella to analyze your screen. You can easily view the results of these in MindHub, which stores select AI interactions and dialogue.

The One Tap button can also be customized, which is my favorite part. It defaults to the Ella Assistant, so you can press and hold it to speak to it, or you can change it to something like Gemini, though the integration isn't as seamless, and it will simply open the app rather than start a conversation.

Still, I love it when an OEM gives us an AI key that we can actually change to our liking (looking at you, Motorola).

Powering all of this is a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate, which doesn't sound all that powerful, but I've yet to really find much of a limit to this chip in day-to-day use beyond gaming. You can get away with playing some heavier games like Honkai: Star Rail or Where Winds Meet, but don't expect a smooth experience on the highest settings. Otherwise, the phone performs exceptionally well, including in terms of battery life.

Furthermore, the massive 6,500mAh battery easily lasts all day and then some. I often go to bed without charging the phone after a full day of use, and I've averaged about 6-8 hours of screen-on time or more.

The only downside of such a big battery is that the 45W charging speed can't quite keep up; it takes about an hour and a half to go from empty to 100% (or just 33 minutes to reach 50%).

Fortunately, I couldn't find many downsides to the Camon 50 Ultra. It's a sleek phone with incredible battery life, great performance, and a solid trio of cameras. It's a phone that's all about choice and making AI accessible to the masses. Instead of spending $1,300 on a Galaxy S26 Ultra, for example, you can spend less than half that on this mid-range doppleganger, and you wouldn't miss a beat.

What you need to know

• Tecno unveiled the new Camon 50 series at MWC 2026.
• The Tecno Camon 50 Ultra has the highest-ranked camera of its price class.
• Tecno also unveiled new AI features and upgrades to the AI assistant, Ella.

There was plenty of news coming out of MWC 2026, and while Tecno was busy showing off its very interesting Modular Phone concept, the company also launched its new Camon 50 series, which includes the Camon 50, Camon 50 Pro, and Camon 50 Ultra.

The highlight is, of course, the Camon 50 Ultra, which sports a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Utimate chipset. The phone features a slightly curved 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED display. On the back is a triple camera system headlined by the 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C for better low-light capture, while also featuring a 50MP 3x telephoto lens and up to 60x "SuperZoom."

To further enhance the camera experience, Tecno added some AI tricks like AI Auto Zoom, which can automatically frame and enhance a shot for the best composition. Images are also captures using Tecno's AI RAW 2.0 engine to improve clarity and better handle various lighting situations.

In fact, DXOMARK has declared the Camon 50 Ultra as the top camera for phones under $600.

Tecno is also packing a ton of AI features into this phone, including an AI Art Gallery that aims to recreate and reimagine your photos. For example, and Image-to-Video Generator lets you create short video clips from a still photo to give it more life, and 3D Photo space PhotoSpace gives photos more depth so they really pop on the screen.

The camera itself also comes with some useful AI enhancements, such as the ability to automatically remove flares, glares, and shadows to ensure your images are crisp.

But beyond imaging, Tecno has a whole hub of AI features available at your fingertips, and with the press of a button, you can access the upgraded Ella assistant, which can help with homework, scanning documents, and even learning English. Tecno also includes an AI Health Assistant, which could be an invaluable feature for consumers in areas where medical assistance is not readily available.

Keeping the lights on is a pretty massive 6,500mAh battery, which supports 45W charging. The phone is also built to last, thanks to an IP68/IP69/IP69K water and dust resistance rating.

Tecno has yet to disclose exact pricing and availability, but you can likely expect it to be available in regions across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.

Android Central's take

As far as the Camon 50 Ultra is concerned, it looks like Tecno has stepped it up both in term of design and its AI when compared to the Camon 40 Premier, which I reviewed last year. The suite of features looks quite impressive, and and upgraded Ella sounds like a possible win. The phone itself also looks quite good, with a very Galaxy S26 Ultra-like design that should appeal to plenty of consumers in countries where it will be available.

My only concern is the chipset; going from a Dimensity 8000-series chip to a 7000-series chip feels like a downgrade, but the latter is much newer, so the performance may not be as much of a downgrade.

As MWC 2026 comes to an end, we at Android Central are highlighting the products that stood out the most to us. Several of us were on the ground at the show, testing tons of new products, including those that were entered for a chance at the spotlight in our Best in Show awards, which we held alongside our sister sites TechRadar and Tom's Guide.

So, without further ado, here are the products that were awarded Best in Show at MWC 2026!

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26 Ultra launched ahead of MWC 2026 at a separate Unpacked event, but its presence was still felt at the show. The phone steps things up by featuring the latest Qualcomm chipset, exclusive to Samsung phones, while sporting several notable upgrades that should help this phone stand out.

Aside from a brighter 200MP camera and improved telephoto lens, the new Privacy Display arrives as the first of its kind on a smartphone, allowing you to hide the contents of your screen from onlookers. I’ve tried it myself and the effect is truly, well… effective! Now you don’t have to bother with privacy screen protectors on your phone, although we still recommend picking up a regular Galaxy S26 Ultra screen protector!

Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Xiaomi is no stranger to making terrific camera phones, and the 17 Ultra is a masterstroke. The phone's global debut brings the 1-inch 50MP main camera to a wider audience, and it's clear that Xiaomi has been busy over the last year — its camera and tuning algorithms are noticeably better than the 15 Ultra and its predecessors. This alone makes the Xiaomi 17 Ultra one of the best camera phones.

What's also notable is that the rest of the cameras are just as good, and the new zoom lens is unique in the industry: It handles 3.2x to 4.3x mechanical zoom, and that's just not something you see on a phone. It's evident that Xiaomi is looking to make a statement, and the 17 Ultra is thoroughly deserving of the award.

Xiaomi Watch 5

Xiaomi's Watch 5 doesn't look quite as good as the Pixel Watch 4, but that's okay; its sheer size gives it a decent presence, and its 1.54-inch OLED panel is one of the brightest in its category.

Xiaomi deserves credit for its ability to combine the best of Wear OS with its own unique extras, and this allows the Watch 5 to be a true standout. Another plus point is the battery life; thanks to a bigger silicon-carbon battery, the smartwatch easily lasts over four days between charges, and you just rarely get that with other Wear OS products. Xiaomi's health and fitness monitoring features are among the best around, and the Watch 5 doesn't really miss out on anything else

Tecno Modular Phone concept

Modular phones never quite took off, but the idea was always a cool one, and Tecno is reviving it with its latest concept. It starts with an impossibly thin phone, measuring 4.9mm, which features different zones on the back where you can magnetically attach various accessories. This includes battery backs, a speaker, a microphone, and even a camera grip with a telephoto lens, allowing you to extend your optical range as far as 20x! The best part: You can stack accessories for the ultimate media phone.

Unfortunately, it’s just a concept, but it’s the best example of a modular phone I’ve seen in a long time. It’s no wonder there was such a commotion at Tecno’s MWC booth.

Honor Magic V6

Honor somehow managed to make its svelte foldable even thinner; the Magic V6 is one of the thinnest devices in its category. But what truly stands out is that Honor managed to do this while slotting a bigger battery into the Magic V6. The foldable has great cameras as well, and Honor's software has a few cool new features that bridge the divide to Samsung.

Interestingly, it also gets the same level of ingress protection as the Magic 8 Pro, and that's another achievement in Honor's favor — it's just difficult to build a foldable with IP69 dust and water resistance. The result is that the Magic V6 is doubtless one of the best foldables of 2026.

Honor Robot Phone

The Magic V6 was not the only thing Honor showed off at MWC 2026. After teasing it for months, the company finally showcased the capabilities of its Robot Phone during the event. The device features a 200MP camera mounted on a three-axis gimbal, letting you use the smartphone almost like a DJI Osmo Pocket. The built-in gimbal helps capture smooth and stable videos even when you are moving. Honor also uses AI to power the motorized camera, so it can automatically track subjects and keep them in the frame.

Beyond that, the Robot Phone is quite playful as well. It can nod, respond, and even dance based on its surroundings, giving the device a bit of personality. Honor says the Robot Phone is intended to be a commercial product. It's not available yet, but the company expects it to go on sale sometime in the second half of 2026.

MemoMind One

If Meta Ray-Bans feel less like smart glasses and more like regular glasses with a camera and speakers, the MemoMind One from XGIMI, showcased at MWC 2026, might be closer to what you expect from a true pair of smart glasses. Unlike Meta's approach, the MemoMind One includes a built-in projector that displays information directly in your field of view. Once you put them on, the glasses create a virtual screen that can show the time, phone notifications, news updates, and reminders. They also feature built-in speakers for calls, meeting recordings, and live translation.

The MemoMind One is still in development according to XGIMI, but the company expects the glasses to launch sometime in Q2 2026.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro

The U.S. market is finally getting a TCL NXTPAPER flagship. In a rare move, TCL is bringing the NXTPAPER 70 Pro stateside soon with the brand’s unique NXTPAPER 4.0 display technology and higher-quality specs. The highlight is certainly the 6.9-inch FHD+ display, with a matte finish, e-paper viewing modes, and zero display flicker. There’s also a minimalist smartphone mode that activates a black-and-white e-paper experience to limit distractions and let you focus on your content.

On the inside, you get a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and a 5,200mAh battery. The camera system is capable, too, with a 50MP primary shooter. A slider on the side of the phone lets you switch between one full color viewing mode and three e-paper modes.

While some low-end TCL phones like the 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G made their way to the country last year, getting a premium offering with eye-friendly tech is exciting for U.S. buyers.

Motorola Razr Fold

Motorola's biggest win of MWC 2026 was the announcement that the Razr Fold will be supported for seven full years of Android OS updates. The complete specs reveal for the Razr Fold confirmed Motorola's upcoming foldable will beat the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold in key ways, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor and up to 16GB of RAM, although the highlight is the battery.

The company crammed a silicon-carbon battery inside the Razr Fold with a capacity of 6,000mAh, surpassing every foldable on the U.S. market and falling short only compared to the Honor Magic V6. It will also charge at up to 80W speeds with a cable and 50W wirelessly. We also learned the Razr Fold will sport an 8.1-inch, 2K OLED main screen and an outer 6.6-inch screen with a 165Hz variable refresh rate. Another thing to like is Motorola's Razr Fold design, which has a square camera bump that doesn't rock on a table and silky PANTONE finishes.

All told, it’s a valiant effort for Motorola's big-screen foldable that should prove a real challenge for Samsung and Google in the U.S.

Lenovo ThinkTab X11

Lenovo's line of "Think" products reigns in enterprise spaces, and the company is taking it to another level with the ThinkTab X11. This tablet features a rugged build and comes with a case for even extra protection, ensuring that it can handle even the toughest environments. It features a 10.95-inch 2.5K display, a very capable Snapdragon 7-series chipset, a large 10,200mAh battery, and MIL-STD-810H/IP68 certifications for durability

Even more, the battery is easily removable without the need for screws, and you can use it in a batteryless mode with a compatible adapter, that way there's less concern for battery depredation, especially when the tablet is in constant use.

MWC 2026 is in full force right now, and Tecno is showcasing new phones and devices. However, perhaps the most interesting device at Tecno's booth is one that feels like a bit of a throwback.

The Tecno Modular Phone harkens back to a time when modular phones were all the rage. Companies like Motorola and LG tried it, but it never took off. Google was also playing around with the idea of a modular phone, but it never came to fruition.

Now, Tecno is showing what's what possible in a world filled with MagSafe, though not relying on it to make it work.

The Tecno Modular Phone concept itself is incredibly thin; so thin, in fact, that it would make the iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge reach for the Ozempic. It's 4.9mm thick , which is so thin that it doesn't even have have a USB port. Instead, the phone features eight different "zones" where accessories attach magnetically to the back of the phone via pogo pins. Tecno showcased a whole suite of accessories that can be added to the phone for different purposes.

A telephoto extender, for example, extends the phone's zoom range beyond the sensor's, providing a zoom range from 3.5x to 10x. And if you want to take things much further, you can use the Tecno Telephoto Lens, a camera like camera-like grip that adds 10-20x zoom, using a sensor that itself has optical image stabilization.

Interestingly, you have to connect wirelessly to the Telephoto Lens as it uses the phone's display as a viewfinder. In my use, the viewfinder felt very laggy, but it could have been due to the environment (my Bluetooth earbuds were acting up).

According to Tecno, the phone uses a combination of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mmWave to connect to the modules, which should ensure a low-latency/high-bandwidth connection. That said, it's important to keep in mind that it is a concept, but it was cool to see the camera software adjust to the newly added hardware.

Other modules included things like a mic, a speaker, something that looked like a selfie mirror and light, and even a slick-looking antenna attachment that was said to boost your phone's connection, even when you can't seem to find one (which sounds too good to be true).

My favorite was probably the power bank, a 3,000mAh battery pack that measures just 4.5mm. And the best part is that Tecno's Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology allows multiple modules to be connected so, meaning you can have multiple slim battery packs for a boost in battery life, or you can turn the phone into the ultimate media device.

Tecno also showcased the devices and modules in two distinctive styles and colors, and you'd almost think they were two completely different phones.

What I was surprised to see was that this concept phone actually functioned. The screen turned on, I could scroll through apps, I could test the camera modules, and more. I don't know what chipset is being used to power the Modular Phone Concept, but given the "concept" part of the name, it doesn't matter anyway since there's little chance we'll actually see this hit the market.

It just feels highly impractical to expect consumers to carry around a suite of modules. The telephoto lens module, for example, is quite heavy, and nearly fell completely off and onto a hard surface when I tried to hand the phone to someone.

Modular phones also just haven't done well in the past, with Google canceling Project Ara, LG giving up on its "friends" experiment with the modular G5, and Motorola's admittedly excellent Moto Mods quickly falling into irrelevancy as the company did. The cost seem to outweigh the usefulness, with companies having to continuously invest in maintaining the modular accessories, but also on the consumer side, with buyers needing to justify spending money on a new smartphone and add-ons.

Ultimately, modular phones just aren't what consumers want, despite how cool they look.

Still, it's great to see Tecno trying "new" things, even if the Modular modular phone concept is a bit "been there, done that." I just just which some of Tecno's other concepts would make the light of day, such as the excellent Phantom Ultimate G trifold phone.

Whether we like it or not, 2026 is set to be a big year for AI, with companies like Google, Samsung, Meta, and more aiming to bring as many features to consumers as possible. As showcased with recent launches like the Galaxy S26 series, flashy new AI features are leading the conversation around new phones, and consumers are paying the price for such capabilities.

However, one company is taking a more practical approach to AI, one that it hopes can reach the consumers who really need it. Tecno may not be a company you’ve heard much about, but this relatively small OEM has big plans for its AI, which has helped to shape its product strategy, a beneficial partnership with Google Cloud, and new hardware that it plans to show off at MWC 2026.

Ahead of the big event, I spoke with a technical lead from Tecno's AI team, who shared insights into the growth of Tecno AI and what we can expect from the company this year.

The evolution of practical AI

When Tecno launched its AI vision in 2024, it adopted a very focused approach, aiming to bring useful AI features to the masses, not just those who could afford the most expensive flagship phones. The goal is to ensure that AI has a purpose for consumers in emerging markets, with features and capabilities that offer real value to those who may have only a smartphone as their main source of technology and communication.

This includes Ella, Tecno's AI assistant. "Ella has transformed significantly over the past year — from a voice command tool into a context-aware, proactive AI companion," I was told. It was explained that Ella has become more contextually aware, delivering "smarter suggestions" that are more based on what it knows about you and what's happening around you. For example, Ella could remind you to leave sooner for a flight if it notices upcoming inclement weather that may hinder your travel.

"The phone no longer waits passively for commands. It thinks, it predicts, it cares."

The AI lead explains how the interface has evolved to give users access to the most useful AI features. This includes productivity tools, smart living services, translation features, and more, all in one unified space.

But of course, it's about what the AI can do for the user and how it can make a more meaningful impact on their lives.

One example is the AI Image Eraser, which many people in places like London might use to remove strangers from the background of a photo. However, it could have a more important role elsewhere, such as for business owners in Nigeria.

"For them, AI Image Eraser is not a beautification tool — it is a 'livelihood assistant.' They use it to quickly remove messy backgrounds and distracting elements from product photos. No studio, no professional photography. With one tap, they generate clean, professional-looking product images — attracting more customers and directly driving sales."

"This is what we mean when we say Ella has evolved: she doesn’t just understand words. She understands context, culture, and what truly matters to our users."

Leveraging Google Cloud

Tecno knows that in order to make this happen, it needs a powerful LLM. This is why it partnered with Google Cloud, effectively combining Google's expertise with Tecno's local knowledge to bring truly "personal intelligence" for consumers in emerging markets.

"Powerful models and context-aware local AI are complementary," I was told. "In fact, we believe the future belongs to those who can combine both."

Tecno's collaboration with Google to leverage Gemini helps it optimize AI for the languages used in its largest market, including Hausa, Swahili, Arabic dialects, and more. However, it's also co-developing a new AI agent framework to enable a more actionable AI assistant, one that can execute cross-app tasks to help streamline processes.

In fact, Tecno is among the first manufacturers planned to integrate into the Google Agent ecosystem, and it hopes to build its own ecosystem that's more tailored to emerging markets.

"For us, powerful models are not about benchmarks. They are about solving local problems at scale."

Privacy matters

The AI lead has assured me that while Tecno continues to advance its AI capabilities, privacy remains a core principle. Where possible, the company will prioritize on-device AI processing, which we're finally starting to see trickle down to mid-range chipsets ideal for emerging markets.

"From daily reminders to contextual suggestions, Ella’s predictive capabilities are designed to run locally by default," I was told. "Cloud resources are only used when necessary and always with appropriate safeguards and user transparency."

The AI lead also notes that Tecno's "Practical AI" also means giving users better control over where their data goes and how it's handled. The company operates in over 70 countries with varying laws on data protection, and Tecno ensures that adhering to them is "not just a compliance obligation."

What we will see at MWC 2026

According to Tecno, AI has been the foundation of Tecno's product strategy, and we'll see that in full force at MWC 2026.

The company has already teased new devices such as the Camon 50 Ultra 5G, which features an AI button (something I love to see) for quick access to AI features like Ella, as well as a dedicated AI processor for improved photography and zoom capabilities.

"On the CAMON 50 Ultra, personal intelligence is brought to life in new and meaningful ways," I was told, as Tecno teased that real-world use cases were to be shared at MWC.

"What I can say is this: it’s not just smarter imaging. It’s AI that genuinely helps, in moments that matter."

But beyond the phone, Tecno is also teasing other AI-first devices, including a tablet, a smartwatch, and open-ear earbuds. Its products will come together using the company's OneLeap ecosystem, which lets users work across multiple devices for a unified experience.

As for Ella, we can expect even more growth for the AI assistant, including deeper multilingual intelligence, offline capabilities, and the ability to remember you across devices. This means you can move from one Tecno product, like AI glasses, to another with ease, allowing your preferences and tasks to move with you.

"We are not chasing benchmarks. We are building AI that adapts to the user’s real environment, real language, and real constraints. That is how we make advanced intelligence accessible, relevant, and truly personal for emerging markets."

It's that time of the year again. CES 2026 is behind us, and now our attention turns to Europe as MWC 2026 Barcelona is just a couple of weeks away. For those unfamiliar, MWC, or Mobile World Congress, is one of the biggest annual events in the mobile industry. It is a trade show similar to CES, where brands from around the world showcase their latest gadgets and innovations.

Like in previous years, the Android Central team will be on the show floor bringing you hands-on coverage and highlighting what truly matters. Several brands, including Honor, Meta, and Tecno, have already confirmed their presence at MWC, and we expect plenty of new product announcements.

With that in mind, here's everything we know will be there and what we anticipate seeing at MWC 2026. In the meantime, if you want a sense of what to expect, you can revisit the best products from our 2025 Best of MWC awards and the coolest things we saw at MWC 2025.

MWC 2026: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? Mobile World Congress, or MWC, is the world's largest consumer and business trade show where brands showcase their latest innovations. Expect new smartphones, wearables, consumer tech, and of course, plenty of AI-focused products on display.
• Who is it for? Tech enthusiasts, industry professionals, telecom experts, analysts, and members of the media who want to see what is next in communications and consumer technology.
• Where is it? MWC 2026 will take place at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain.
• When is it? MWC typically runs in late February or early March. This year, it will take place from March 2 to March 5, 2026.
• What does it cost? Standard exhibition passes start at €989 and can be purchased directly from the official MWC website.

What companies will be there at MWC 2026?

Given the scale of MWC 2026, you can expect just about every major player in mobile tech to have a presence in Barcelona. That said, in recent years, some brands have chosen to host their own standalone events around the same time to grab headlines.

Samsung, for instance, is holding its Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 to launch the Galaxy S26 series, while Nothing has the Phone 4a series event scheduled for March 5. Even so, many brands are expected to be on the show floor. Here are some notable ones we expect to see:

• Google
• TECNO
• Honor
• Nothing
• Xiaomi
• Samsung
• Dell
• RedMagic
• Vivo
• Lenovo and Motorola
• Qualcomm
• MediaTek
• Microsoft
• Arm
• Meta
• TCL
• ZTE
• Adobe
• Huawei

What to expect from MWC 2026?

Unlike the past few years, not many brands have officially confirmed their presence at MWC 2026 just yet. That could change soon, though, since the main show is still a couple of weeks away and announcements typically ramp up closer to the event.

Even so, we already have confirmation from a few companies. Here are the brands that have confirmed so far, along with those we expect to see at MWC 2026, although this is by no means an exhaustive list.

Google

Google typically has a big presence at MWC with a sizeable booth on the show floor, but it usually reserves its biggest software announcements for Google I/O, which is now confirmed for May 19, 2026. So if you're hoping for major Android 17 news, this probably isn't the event for it.

The Pixel 10a launched recently, so we could see it showcased on the show floor. That said, you can still expect some AI and Android-related updates from Google during MWC. It's also worth noting that Android 16 QPR3 is scheduled for March, so the company could officially roll it out around the event with a few new features.

Honor

Honor is one of the brands riding high right now. The company has posted strong growth recently and also impressed us with the Magic 8 Pro. It's also one of the few major names that has officially confirmed its presence at MWC 2026. While Honor hasn't revealed the exact date and time of its keynote yet, we're expecting at least two big hardware launches from the brand.

There's a good chance we'll see a new foldable as a follow-up to last year's Magic V5. In addition, Honor's microsite hints that its anticipated Robot Phone will be on the show floor. We still don't know exactly what the Robot Phone will offer, but it appears to be a smartphone paired with a gimbal-style camera setup and AI features on top.

Samsung

Samsung usually has a big presence at MWC, but this year it's hosting its Galaxy Unpacked event just days before the show, on February 25 in San Francisco. That means the Galaxy S26 series will already be official by the time MWC kicks off.

Even so, MWC could be the first opportunity for both media and the public to go hands-on with the new Galaxy S26 series.

Last year, Samsung also showcased the Galaxy S25 Edge again at MWC after unveiling it at Unpacked, so we are hoping to see a few surprises from the Korean brand this time as well.

Tecno

Alongside Xiaomi and Honor, Tecno has also become a regular at MWC, and the company is hosting another showcase this year. Last year, Tecno grabbed attention with its Spark concept phone, which managed to pack high-end specs and a bigger battery than the Galaxy S25 Edge in a 'slim' form factor.

This year, we're expecting something equally fun. Tecno has already confirmed that it'll unveil the CAMON 50 Series and the POVA 8 Series at the show. And if past years are anything to go by, we won't be surprised to see another bold concept device or a few ecosystem products make an appearance alongside the new phones.

Nothing

Nothing has confirmed that it will host the Phone 4a series launch event in London on March 5, just after MWC 2026 wraps up. That said, the company is known for building hype ahead of its launches, and MWC would be the perfect stage to tease what's coming.

Rumors suggest Nothing will launch two devices as part of the lineup, the Phone 4a and Phone 4a Pro, with updated cameras, a slightly refreshed design, and a new chipset. Nothing has already confirmed that there will be no flagship release from the brand this year, so these could be the only smartphones we see from the company in 2026.

HMD

HMD usually has something interesting to unveil at MWC. Last year, the company showcased earbuds that doubled as a MagSafe power bank, and this year we're once again expecting something creative from the brand.

Xiaomi

For the past few years, Xiaomi has used MWC as its global launchpad for flagship phones, and 2026 should be no different. We're expecting to see the Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra make their international debut in Barcelona. The global variant of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is rumored to feature top-tier specs, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a sizeable 6,000+ mAh battery.

As usual, the real highlight will likely be Xiaomi 17 Ultra's Leica-tuned camera system. Beyond the phones, Xiaomi typically brings along a few ecosystem products as well, so we wouldn't be surprised to see new wearables, tablets, or smart home devices share the stage.

Qualcomm

Qualcomm typically has a large presence at MWC. While we do not expect the company to launch any new consumer hardware on the show floor, it usually showcases a range of demos highlighting its latest SoCs and chip capabilities. This year, however, could be slightly different.

Qualcomm's SVP of Engineering, John Smee, recently revealed in an interview that the company will showcase 6G technologies at MWC 2026 and "not just theoretical innovation but live applications."

MediaTek

MediaTek has confirmed that it will host its 'AI for Life' keynote on March 4 at 10:30 AM CET, which is 4:30 AM ET. The company says the keynote will highlight its newest products and innovations, along with insights into its latest partnerships, so this is one event we will be watching closely.

Beyond the big phone launches, expect plenty of AI gadgets across categories. Smart glasses had a major moment at CES, and I wouldn't be surprised to see even more brands push into that space at MWC. We'll be on the show floor all week, so make sure to check back for all the latest updates from the show floor.

What is Mobile World Congress and when is it?

Mobile World Congress (MWC) is an annual gathering of the biggest companies in the mobile tech world. It's where companies show off their latest devices, software, and everything awesome in-between. Pretty much anything used to keep you connected to the world around you, you'll find here.

The event happens in late February or early March and is always hosted in Barcelona, Spain. This year, it is from March 2 to 5.

Will Android Central be there — and what do we expect to see at MWC 2026?

Yes, Android Central is going this year! Managing Editor Derrek Lee, Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda, and senior contributors Brady Snyder and Sanuj Bhatia will all be present at MWC.

We expect a lot of announcements including some phone launches happening this year.

Here are a few of the companies we expect to be present at the event.

• AMD
• Arm
• AWS
• Meta
• Aurzen
• Clicks
• Fairphone
• Google
• Honor
• Lenovo
• MediaTek
• Nokia
• NVIDIA
• Qualcomm
• Samsung
• Samsung Display
• TCL
• Tecno
• TikTok
• Xiaomi

Keep checking this page, and check out our home page for all the news coming out of MWC 2026.

What is CES and when is it?

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is an annual gathering of the biggest companies in the technology space. It is known as the largest event that brings together companies from all categories to showcase new releases, concept products, and more. The event is hosted by the Consumer Technology Association. It's where companies show off their latest devices, software, and everything awesome in between. Pretty much anything used to keep you connected to the world around you, you'll find here.

The event happens every year during the first week of January in Las Vegas. This year, it will be held from January 6 to 8.

Will Android Central be there — and what do we expect to see at CES 2026?

Yes, Android Central is going this year! Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda will be present at CES and will be looking at all the cool technology companies intend to reveal.

We expect a lot of announcements, including some phone launches and potentially a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold.

Here are a few of the companies we expect to be present at the event.

• Major Confirmed Attendees
  • Google
  • Samsung
  • Qualcomm
  • Arm
  • MediaTek
  • Motorola
  • Meta
  • TCL
  • Rokid
  • Magic Leap
  • Pico
  • Viture
  • Xreal
  • LG Innotek
• Very Likely Attendees
  • Xiaomi
  • Honor
• Possibly Attending (but not confirmed publicly yet)
  • Nothing
  • OPPO
  • ZTE / RedMagic
  • Huawei
  • TECNO

Keep checking this page, and check out our home page for all the news coming out of CES 2026.

What you need to know

• TECNO held its annual Future Lens event, where it unveils its latest imaging innovations.
• The company has shown off a smaller Dual-Mirror Reflect Telephoto module developed with Samsung.
• TECNO's Freeform Continuum Telephoto module allows for continuous optical zoom from 1x to 9x.

A good camera can make or break a phone, and TECNO knows this. It's become the focus of the company's Future Lens event, which it holds annually, and this year, TECNO is showing off some interesting advancements it's making in telephoto lenses.

The first is a collaboration with Samsung and Largan, a manufacturer of optical lenses, to create a compact telephoto camera module. The Dual-Mirror Reflect Telephoto module incorporates a coaxial optical design that folds the optical path of the image by reflecting light between lenses, enabling a smaller overall design (see the video below for a visual breakdown of how it works).

According to TECNO, this results in a 50% smaller telephoto camera module that still retains image quality and produces a donut bokeh effect.

As we start seeing thinner smartphones like the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air (or even TECNO's own Spark Slim), having a slim telephoto lens such as this could address one of the main shortcomings of these types of devices, which often ditch the telephoto lens to retain a design that's as slim as possible.

TECNO also showed off a rather interesting telephoto module that can achieve continuous zoom up to 9x. This differs from how zoom works on most smartphones, which use digital zoom to fill in the gaps between optical lenses, such as moving from the primary sensor (1x) to a 3x telephoto camera. This can result in noticeable "focal jumps" when moving between sensors.

TECNO's method uses an Alvarez optical architecture to achieve a smaller module than would typically be needed for a method such as this. The result is the ability to move freely between 1x and 9x zoom without the "focal jumps."

This isn't the first time we've seen continuous zoom in a smartphone, but it remains pretty rare, likely due to size constraints. TECNO's solution also appears to offer a wider zoom range, which could potentially eliminate the need for a dedicated telephoto camera, or at least fewer than would be needed on a device like the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

TECNO hasn't stated when we can expect to see these technologies in its smartphones, but we hope it's sooner rather than later. The company has been on a crusade to improve image quality on its smartphones, addressing other camera pain points such as accurate skin tones, fast focus, and "tap anywhere" zoom.

During the Future Lens 2025 event, TECNO also showcased its fully automated imaging laboratory, a collaboration with DXOMARK to help advance imaging capabilities in real-world scenarios.

What you need to know

• TECNO fully unveiled its Phantom Ultimate G Fold concept today (July 17), detailing several key points.
• The G Fold sports a "G-style" inward folding design with two hinges, which is designed to protect its inner displays from damage.
• TECNO states the phone's thickness is "comparable" to a regular book-style phone (think Z Fold 7), but its opened state measures 3.49mm thin.
• The device is expected to be showcased during MWC 2026 and will pack a high-performance chip and a battery over 5,000mAh.

After swiping a little of Samsung's Unpacked spotlight, TECNO is finally revealing its "G Fold" concept in full.

Today (July 17), in a press release, TECNO fully unveiled its planned "Phantom Ultimate G Fold" device, which aims to be the "thinnest tri-fold" phone. After many teasers and prototypes, TECNO states its G Fold concept achieves a thickness of 11.49mm. A size that's "comparable" to many dual-folding (book-style) foldables on the market. However, when fully opened, TECNO states its G Fold's "ultra-slim" profile measures out to 3.49mm.

TECNO credits its development process for fine-tuning the phone's display, materials, and hinges to achieve such a thin measurement, despite its form factor.

The Phantom Ultimate G Fold's hinge is a shining highlight for TECNO. The post states the device's concept receives an "innovative G-style design" for its hinges. The G Fold offers two hinges, one for each inward folding display. These hinges aren't created equally, as TECNO states the right side boasts a smaller waterdrop hinge, while the left side is a "larger primary" hinge.

The right side folds in first and then the left. TECNO states both inward folding displays offer a "gapless and secure" experience, to ensure the screens—especially the center—remain safe.

When fully unfolded, TECNO says the G Fold delivers a 9.94-inch display "with minimal creasing." Additionally, the company highlights the G Fold's multi-angle hovering, thanks to its "dual-cam" design. The post teases that the concept allows for users to utilize the phone in a partially folded state to get quick bouts of work done before moving on.

The Phantom Ultimate G Fold is still a concept, but TECNO teases its specifications, which claim to not compromise on the flagship experience. The G Fold is expected to be powered by a high-performance chip with a triple camera array and a battery that's over 5,000mAh.

TECNO is expected to fully showcase the Phantom Ultimate G Fold during MWC 2026.

Concept Revealed

TECNO has been gearing up for a complete reveal of its G Fold concept for a while now. Earlier this month saw the company tease the device right before Samsung's Unpacked event for its foldables. Samsung is also reportedly developing its own tri-fold, and it seems TECNO is already seeking competition with them—and Huawei's Mate XT.

The company's original teaser a couple of weeks ago echoed what we've seen fully explained today. TECNO stated its decision to go with an inward folding design was to shield its inner displays when "not in use." Moreover, the G-Style, snake-like folding design should further protect these delicate screens from "scratches and impacts."

Now, all we have to look forward to is MWC 2026 to see TECNO's latest G Fold concept in full (and in real life).

What you need to know

• TECNO teases its newest tri-fold concept, the Phantom Ultimate G Fold, which sports an inward-folding mechanism to protect its displays.
• The company states the phone will support "smooth, multi-angle hovering" capabilities, to give users some hands-free use opportunities.
• A leaked set of hands-on images showed off TECNO's tri-fold device and its new horizontal triple camera array.
• TECNO showed off its tri-fold phone last year, originally called the Phantom Ultimate 2, and, at the time, said its folded state would measure 11mm.

TECNO is just about ready to show off its latest tri-fold phone concept, but something's come up that might've given us a solid look at the device.

Earlier today (July 7), in a press release, TECNO announced a few key details about its foldable concept, the Phantom Ultimate G Fold. This device is meant to be a tri-fold phone, like the Huawei Mate XT; however, TECNO says its version will be the "thinnest of its kind." A major highlight of the Ultimate G Fold is TECNO's decision to go with an inward-folding design.

The post says its inner displays fold inward "twice," to "shield the screens when not in use." TECNO remains confident that this inward-folding method will keep your displays protected from "scratches and impacts."

Internally, the Ultimate G Fold concept features a dual-hinge, as expected. TECNO states users can unfold the phone and lay it completely flat. Moreover, despite rocking the internal mechanisms designed for a phone with three screens, the post adds that the Ultimate G Fold is as thin as a dual-screen (book-style) phone. We'll have to see just how thin TECNO can go, and if it comes anywhere near Honor's Magic V5.

TECNO teases the G Fold's "smooth, multi-angle hovering" capabilities for hands-free uses, which mirrors a laptop and gives users another way to enjoy content. The company plans to fully unveil its Ultimate G Fold concept in mid-July, but we might've gotten an early (alleged) look.

Still just a concept

Early this morning (July 7), prominent tipster Ice Universe posted a few snapshots of the alleged Ultimate G Fold concept from TECNO on X. In one image, the person holding the supposed phone shows just how TECNO plans for its inward-folding method to work. The two screens that fold appear quite tightly pressed against one another, and the center display, when closed.

When unfolded, the phone appears quite thin, but it's difficult to ascertain just how thin just from photos.

Additionally, it seems TECNO is preparing a horizontal triple camera array on the back of the Ultimate G Fold. This is a notable difference from the company's other concept shown off in 2024.

Speaking of 2024, TECNO gave us a solid look at its tri-fold concept, which was previously called the Phantom Ultimate 2. A clear difference between what's been alleged on social media and the 2024 concept art is its camera array. TECNO started with a vertical triple array, but has seemingly switched to a horizontal look. It's also worth mentioning that TECNO states its tri-fold can achieve an 11mm measurement when folded.

At the time, that was slightly slimmer than Samsung's Z Fold 6 (12.1mm). We'll have to see how far TECNO has come with its folded and unfolded measurements.

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What you need to know

• A recent report by CounterPoint Research indicated that Google's latest foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, seems to be pushing sales for the company in Europe by 265%.
• Samsung still takes first place; however, it saw a 24% dip in sales, while Motorola overtook Honor to become the second-largest smartphone vendor in Europe.
• The overall foldable market in Europe grew by only 4% in Q1, accounting for 1.5% of the total smartphone sales in the region.
• Google, TECNO, and Xiaomi saw growth in this segment following the launch of their new devices.

Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold has pushed the tech giant to become one of Europe's fastest-growing foldables, according to a new report by CounterPoint Research. The firm released a comprehensive report discussing the region's foldable scene.

It stated that the overall foldable market experienced only a 4% growth this quarter, accounting for 1.5% of total smartphone sales in Europe. CounterPoint Research's associate director, Jan Stryjak, said that this could be a worrying sign, as foldables are still very expensive and may hinder increased adoption.

"Despite all the attention new foldable devices receive, they are still too expensive for mass-market appeal. Further, most consumers are still not sure what a foldable phone is for, and many still have concerns about the durability and longevity of the devices," Stryjak added.

Breaking things down, CounterPoint Research noted that despite Samsung leading the table, it saw a 24% drop in sales in Q1 this year. This decrease in sales can be attributed to waning interest in Samsung's phones, which have failed to compete with other popular models on the market.

Meanwhile, Motorola overtook Honor for second place and saw a 58% increase in sales this quarter, thanks to the Motorola Razr 2024 series.

The firm notes that Google, TECNO, and Xiaomi all "saw robust growth over the year following the launches of some impressive devices, some also at more attractive price points."

TECNO and Google became the fastest-growing foldable OEMs, with 336% and 265% growth, respectively, contributing 8% to the overall foldable market. While Google's growth was attributed to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, TECNO saw a boost thanks to its relatively affordable Phantom V Fold 2.

On the other end, OPPO saw the highest percentage (63%) of decline in sales, and accounted for only 4% of overall sales in the segment.

The firm also suggested that Samsung needs to get more innovative if it wants to appeal to consumers in this specific segment. It states that "Samsung has taken note, teasing the launch of an Ultra variant of its upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 series. This will hopefully give the segment the shot in the arm it needs," Stryjak added.

Samsung is expected to launch the next line of foldables sometime in July this year, and recent rumors indicate that the next Unpacked event will be held in New York.

For more news and information on Samsung’s upcoming foldables, check out our Ultimate Guide.

The TECNO Camon 40 Premier is one of the latest phones from a company you may not have heard of. It's the result of the company's relentless pursuit to bring high-end experiences to lower price points and markets, and it seems to hit the mark.

The phone uses a newer MediaTek chip primed for AI performance, which is smart because the Camon 40 Premier comes with a host of AI features to take advantage of. Beyond the software, the phone has a very capable camera system that incorporates the company's latest imaging advancements, and the battery life and charging specs far surpass those of many flagship phones in North America.

The TECNO Camon 40 Premier 5G feels like a full package despite some shortcomings and questionable (yet understandable) decisions.

TECNO Camon 40 Premier: Price, availability, and specs

The TECNO Camon 40 Premier was announced alongside the rest of the Camon 40 series during MWC 2025 on March 4, 2025.

The phone features a single configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It also comes in black and green colorways.

As for pricing and availability, TECNO hasn't revealed too much at the moment, but the phone is not sold in North America. However, it will be available in other regions, including Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

The Camon 30 Premier started at a price of around ₹29,499, which is just under $350, so it stands to reason the Camon 40 Premier could cost somewhere in the same ballpark and maybe a bit more.

TECNO Camon 40 Premier: What I like

For a phone that costs less than $600, the TECNO Camon 40 Premier has a lot going for it. It sits in a weird but compelling space of phones that come with flagship features and performance but sub-flagship prices. This is a space occupied by phones like the Pixel 9 and OnePlus 13R, and the Camon 40 Premier emulates this fairly well.

The hardware is a big part of what makes this a great phone. The display is a 6.67-inch AMOLED that looks great, although it doesn't blow me away. It's plenty bright, the color profile is nicely tuned so that it's not oversaturated, and the 144Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations smooth as butter.

Part of this has to do with the MediaTek Dimensity 8530 chip powering the phone. While it's an upper-midrange chipset, I have no complaints about performance. Nearly everything you do on this phone is executed quickly and effortlessly, which should come as no surprise for a chip that falls just under the flagship 9000-series chips.

This extends to gaming as well. One of my favorite games to play Honkai: Star Rail, which can be pretty taxing on a phone when played at the higher settings. Usually a phone will default to the settings it thinks it can handle, and the Camon 40 Premier was already set to "High" when I started up the game.

I decided that wasn't enough, so I turned things up to the highest graphics settings and at 60fps instead of the default 30fps. Surprisingly (or not), the phone is able to keep up just fine, and I did not notice much in the way of stuttering or massive frame rate drops.

The software experience overall is pretty solid, even if HiOS isn't my favorite Android skin. It runs Android 15 out of the box, and you'll get some of the more common Android flourishes that we see in phones these days, such as the separated notification shade and quick panel.

The smart panel is great for multitasking, while the Dynamic Port gives you a Dynamic Island-like (albeit fairly limited) experience.

However, I can't really talk about a new phone in 2025 without mentioning AI, especially as it's a big focus for this phone. TECNO recently announced its grand plans for TECNO AI, its suite of features that it's bringing to its smartphone portfolio to help bridge the gap between the $1000 phones of the world and the more affordable and accessible phones. What's great is that TECNO makes its AI very present for people who want to use it.

When you first turn on the Camon 40 Premier, you're taken through the setup process via TECNO's AI assistant, Ella. It's an early introduction to the phone's relationship with AI and gets you prepared for what's to come.

Once set up, swiping to the left of the home screen will unveil an AI hub of sorts called Zero Screen, where you can access a suite of TECNO AI features. Up top is Ella Briefing. Not to be confused with Samsung's Now Brief (although at least part of the idea is similar), it's a helpful "brief" up top to summarize and remind you of calendar events, notifications, and more.

There's also quite an abundance of AI tools you have access to, and while you'll easily find a lot of them throughout the UI, like AI Studio in the Gallery app, the Zero Screen puts them all pretty much at your fingertips and makes it easy for you to find use cases for them.

This includes creating AI-generated art using texts or drawings, translating from images or while in a conversation, summarizing documents or creating them from photos, and more.

For the most part, these features are pretty well-baked, and TECNO's AI feels like a pretty mature offering. Accessing the settings for TECNO AI feels very comparable to Galaxy AI on a Samsung phone, and many features are quite similar.

Going back to the idea of easy access, TECNO has implemented an Action Button of sorts called the One-Tap Button. Interestingly, tapping it once doesn't actually do anything, but you can customize the double-tap to open any app or perform certain functions like muting the ringer.

A long press of the button will evoke the Ella assistant, which is a nice alternative to using the power button, something that other Android OEMs (looking at you, Samsung) have defaulted to. I love the added functionality of the button, and I hope to see something more like this on other Android phones.

AI also makes its way into the camera, and the 50MP triple camera system is surprisingly good. TECNO has tuned the camera so that it can take better images in low-light conditions and also better reproduce more skin tones. In my experience, I've been able to take plenty of respectable photos. It's not the best, but it's quite good for this price range, and I doubt anyone would be disappointed in the camera.

I love that the Camon 40 Premier has a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, something I feel is still pretty uncommon at this price point. It does well during the day, with photos taken at 6x coming out pretty crisp, although the sensor struggles a bit at night.

You can also take images at a moment's notice with FlashSnap, which can capture photos with a very high shutter speed while keeping the image crisp with reduced noise. So not only can it keep you from missing a moment, but it can also capture moments automatically based on the scene, which is pretty useful.

Finally, you'll be happy to know that battery life is superb. The 5,100mAh battery keeps the phone going all day, and I've been able to average about 7 hours or more of screen-on time. The 70W charging can also top up the phone in no time at all, with the phone going from 1-100% in just over 30 minutes. Take that, Samsung!

TECNO Camon 40 Premier: What I don't like

The TECNO Camon 40 Premier is a pretty solid phone, thanks to its IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance ratings. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel as solid as it is. The back panel, which has a fairly uninspired design despite the brightly colored green, feels pretty cheap in hand. I often just stick to the included case, which is much grippier and still features the same color.

I also found myself a bit put off by the amount of bloatware on the phone after setting it up. You'll likely spend quite a bit of time uninstalling various apps you may or may not have heard of or just don't want on your phone.

And speaking of things you may not want on your phone, TECNO's AI is mostly pretty well-rounded, but Ella feels like a lesser version of Gemini. Don't get me wrong, I think it's commendable that Ella even exists, as one of the biggest benefits of using Ella over other assistants is that it uses more local languages for better accessibility among developing and developed regions.

That said, despite Ella being integrated with Gemini, it just feels slower and doesn't display information in the same coherent way I would get with Gemini. For example, I asked Ella and Gemini about measles symptoms and if I should be concerned about contracting it due to the recent outbreak. Ella slowly spat out the information at me while Gemini relayed the information in a very clean manner, even creating clear lists within the app.

Also, TECNO has decided to integrate DeepSeek R1 into Ella, which is a curious decision. As a Chinese-based company, it makes sense to use the newest AI model, especially after it recently went pretty viral. However, given the privacy concerns, anyone outside of China may want to refrain from using it.

Fortunately, TECNO lets you choose when to use DeepSeek R1. When opening Ella, there's a very prominent DeepSeek R1 button that you can press to toggle the model on or off. It's nice that the option is there, even if I don't plan to use it.

Even better, you still have the option to use Gemini instead of Ella if you prefer. Unfortunately, that doesn't apply to the Ella One-Tap Button shortcut, but you can still set Gemini as the double-tap option to open the app (although it doesn't automatically enable voice input).

A more minor issue I have with the TECNO Camon 40 Premier is the lack of wireless charging. It's not a particularly big deal, as wireless charging is still not commonly found on midrange phones. Plus, the 70W charging more than makes up for its absence, but it is always nice to have the option.

Lastly, the in-display fingerprint sensor works quickly, but like the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 and Honor 200 Pro it's just way too low on the display, making it a bit awkward to use unless you're holding the phone in a specific way. Not a deal breaker, but definitely an annoyance.

TECNO Camon 40 Premier: Competition

For a phone at this price point, there are a number of similarly-priced cheap Android phones. The Pixel 9a is still very much new and only $499 despite its flagship-level Tensor G4 chipset. It is capable of many of the same AI features as the flagship Pixel 9 series, just at a fraction of the cost. That said, its hardware specs aren't nearly as robust, with slower charging, less RAM, and a lower refresh rate display. Plus, as of writing, the phone isn't on store shelves yet after it was delayed.

The Moto G Power 2025 is another contender in a similar price bracket as the Camon 40 Premier. It offers great value for the price and is a beautifully designed phone that features a vegan leather finish, great battery life, wireless charging, and an IP68/69 rating for protection. However, it has a less impressive MediaTek chip and is lacking int he AI department, making this a much less exciting phone than the Camon.

TECNO Camon 40 Premier: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if...

• You're looking for an affordable phone.
• You want a phone with fast charging.
• You want a good camera that can quickly capture moments.

You shouldn't buy this if...

• You live in North America.
• You need wireless charging.
• You don't want to deal with bloatware.

The Camon 40 Premier 5G is feels like it's TECNO's version of a Pixel. It's a fantastic midrange phone that has all the makings of a good flagship. The MediaTek chip is more than enough for what the phone is trying to accomplish, and the AI suite feels very comprehensive, even if some of its implementation could be improved.

Despite the lack of wireless charging and questionable choices with fingerprint sensor placement and selection of AI models, battery life and great camera quality make up for any shortcomings the phone may have, of which there are few. And while it's not sold in North America, the TECNO Camon 40 Premier 5G is a phone you should consider buying if it's in your market.

TECNO had quite the showing at MWC 2025. The company launched its new Camon 40 series with a ton of new AI features, unveiled new AI glasses set to take on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and even has a new lightweight Snapdragon-powered PC. However, the company also has a number of concepts to show off that make our current phones look outright boring by comparison.

Of course, the most interesting concepts we saw from TECNO are devices like the multi-fold Phantom Ultimate 2 and the ultra-thin Spark Slim. These aren't what I'm referring to, although they do give us a good idea of where TECNO wants to go. It's the other concepts that got me excited about what our phones could look and feel like in the near future.

Alternative materials

On display were several dummy models made using various materials, with the idea being to use sustainable or renewable options for phone designs. Among them was a model with a back made using coconut core. This is the outer shell of a coconut that is usually used to make various products like floor mats, mattresses, and other things. It won't smell like coconut, but it's a firm alternative to glass that looks very clean and feels great in hand.

On the opposite end, TECNO had a model made with used coffee grounds. This actually makes sense because Transsion, TECNO's parent company, has a coffee business in China, and what better way to bring the two together?

Design-wise, it's perhaps not as attractive as the coconut coir, but it does look quite unique and could appeal to anyone who likes the more raw look. Furthermore, it actually smells quite good, and that's coming from someone who doesn't like coffee. Imagine how nice it would be to get a bit of a pick-me-up from a quick whiff of your phone!

In addition, TECNO had a phone made with an industry-first multi-colored glass fiber. For this, TECNO used a Jacquard weaving technique, with the end result being a phone that looks like it's studded out in diamonds. In fact, the company used what looks like a jewel in place of the red indicator light next to the cameras and the "o" in "Camon." It's a rather stunning design that can make any phone look premium.

Switching things up

TECNO's concepts aren't only about using alternative materials. The company also wants to give us the freedom to change the look of our phones. These proofs-of-concept were probably my favorite of the bunch, as they added a bit of a dynamic nature to the designs.

Among these devices were a series of phones that use photochromic cellulose acetate, which allows the back cover to change color when exposed to UV light. The company had three phones set up, all of which appeared fairly normal at first glance. But when a representative shined a UV light onto them, they all changed color: one blue, one pink, and one green.

While I wouldn't expect anyone to carry a UV light around, I can only imagine how cool it could be to have my phone change color whenever I walked outside.

Even more interesting is the concept that uses Display Electronic Slurry (DES) technology, as seen above. It essentially turns a phone's back panel into a video player with a high DPI and refresh rate, although it reminded me a lot of an E Ink display. Still, it was pretty cool seeing the phones flash with different images, and I imagine you could deck out your phone with whatever designs you want, switching things up to match your mood, outfit, and more.

And, of course, I can't forget about TECNO's Starry Optical Fiber. The company unveiled this at CES and integrated it into the Phantom V Flip 2, embedding ultra-fine optical fibers and LED lights in a smartphone back cover. The result is a very out-of-this-world effect that can change between four different modes, and TECNO claims it doesn't impede battery life.

What's next for phones?

Smartphone design has become pretty boring lately, with the best Android phones launching as variations of glass and aluminum slabs, and the only way to stand out is with a unique color selection or an outlandish camera design. Look no further than any Samsung phone if you want an indication of how some of the most popular phones have thrown in the design towel.

Fortunately, we are starting to see more companies switching things up with materials like vegan leather and ceramic. The TECNO Spark Slim has a stainless steel back that looks like it came out of a Nubian starship from Star Wars, with a camera bar that brings the entire package home with LED lights that run between the dual cameras on either side.

Unlike the days of dumb phones where companies like Nokia could launch the most ridiculous designs (Lipstick phone, anyone?), the modern smartphone era doesn't have the luxury of particularly unique designs. Seeing how far TECNO is going to give our slab phones a new lease on life gives me hope that smartphone design can one day be exciting again.

What you need to know

• TENCO posted a gallery of teaser images for the “world’s slimmest” smartphone, the upcoming SPARK Slim.
• The Chinese OEM says the device is 5.57mm thick with a 5,200mAh “plus” battery and a 6.7-inch 3D Curved AMOLED display.
• A recent TECNO press release confirmed that its MWC 2025 presence will show off skin tone recognition advancements and a new device prototype.

TECNO is firing up the teaser engine once again — and this time the company's showcasing an upcoming razor-thin smartphone.

The company teased the device on X, showcasing what’s coming up at MWC 2025: TECNO’s SPARK Slim. The OEM posted a trio of photos, showing off just how thin the device is. The SPARK Slim is vastly thinner than a pencil or a CD case; TECNO confirms the phone measures only 5.57mm thick. It remains unclear if this factors in its camera bump, which could take things up a bit.

Regardless, TECNO continues by highlighting the phone’s “futuristic design.” The silvery phone features rounded corners and relatively flat sides, given how thin the device is said to be. Additionally, TECNO draws attention to its camera housing, which appears to be a dual camera configuration in a pill-shaped bar. It seems very Pixel-esque, especially when you consider the look/feel of the Pixel 9 series’ bar.

TECNO states the SPARK Slim’s dual camera bar will consist of two 50MP lenses. The teaser didn’t expand on what cameras we could see, but perhaps we’re looking at a primary and ultrawide situation.

Elsewhere, the SPARK Slim is confirmed to have a 6.7-inch 3D Curved AMOLED display. To help you surge through the day will be a 5,200mAh “plus” battery.

As previously stated, this is a teaser to get consumers riled up for TECNO’s MWC 2025 appearance in Barcelona at Booth 6B11.

The Chinese OEM is preparing to showcase quite a few things as it recently revealed plans for more AI and a device prototype. Part of its latest wave of photo “advancements,” TECNO said it is looking to enhance the skin tone recognition of its mobile imaging software. A press release detailed TECNO’s work at expanding its Skin Tone Database to accomplish the goal of “true-to-life representation” for a wealth of tones. TECNO is backing its Multi Skin Tone Card with the skin tone restoration engine to ensure all skin tones are “precise” and vibrant, even in challenging photography scenarios.

The major device prototype we’re waiting on is confirmed to be the Phantom Ultimate 2 tri-fold. TECNO claims the foldable is “ultra-thin” and features a Starry Optical Fiber material. MWC 2025 attendees may have a chance to see this slim foldable on the floor around TECNO’s area.

Interestingly, TECNO originally teased a super thin Phantom Ultimate 2 tri-fold back in 2024 during that year’s MWC. Consumers didn’t get a chance to see the device up close or behind glass as TECNO only highlighted it in teaser imagery and videos. The original concept material teased a phone with a 6.48-inch cover display and a 10-inch 3K OLED internal screen.

MWC 2025 is gearing up to run from March 3 through March 6.

What you need to know

• TECNO teased what users can expect from its MWC 2025 presence, like its latest "advancements" in skin tone recognition for its mobile imaging software.
• The Chinese OEM also highlighted its work to develop "practical AI," as well as a stating a prototype of its tri-fold, the Phantom Ultimate 2, could be at the event.
• TECNO revealed its development of a tri-fold in 2024; however, users didn't see it as the phone floated about in videos and concept art.

MWC 2025 is coming up fast and TECNO is highlighting what users can expect from its software and smartphones.

To start, the company's press release states that TECNO had taken strides to "advance" how the multitude of human skin tones appear on its cameras/photos. Achieving this pushed TECNO to expand its "Skin Tone Database" to accomplish "true-to-life representation." Its devices will utilize a new, expanded Multi Skin Tone Color Card, packed full with over 372 color patches.

These patches facilitate "inclusivity" as they reportedly reflect skin tones in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. TECNO has also taken steps to create a "region-specific" 186-patch color card for people in Saudi Arabia.

These color cards are step one of TECNO's goal of displaying skin tones appropriately. Backing this up is the company's "skin tone restoration engine." Packaged within its Universal Tone engine, TECNO says its software will ensure human skin tones are "precise" through "color calibrations." Regarding exposure, TECNO states it will ensure the appropriate adjustments are made to keep everyone's skin vibrant and consistent, even in "challenging scenarios," such as your background.

TECNO teases attendees will see a demo of its enhanced color card for mobile imaging during MWC 2025.

The other side of its MWC 2025 announcement is a teaser for new TECNO AI systems. The company states it is preparing to unveil a new AI-powered intelligent product ecosystem. TECNO is reportedly interested in developing and producing more "practical AI" as it looks to tackle the interest of global markets. To achieve this, TECNO has teased a new product launch for its CAMON series of smartphones.

The press release adds that TECNO is also "likely" preparing to debut a pair of AI glasses and a new laptop, which could join its MEGABOOK series.

The Chinese OEM teases the possibility of MWC Barcelona attendees witnessing the prototype for its upcoming "ultra-thin" Phantom Ultimate 2 tri-fold. At the moment, nothing is definite; however, TECNO states there's a chance it could have the tri-fold prototype available on the floor for people to see for themselves.

Another early reveal could involve TECNO's Starry Optical Fiber material. Details state this material incorporates "ultra-fine optical fibers" with mini-LEDs to create a sparkling effect.

MWC 2025 will happen in Barcelona, Spain from March 3 to March 6.

The idea of a more "practical AI' from TECNO was discussed last year when it was present at IFA 2024. The company launched its AI assistant, Ella, which had been upgraded with new capabilities thanks to Google's Gemini. Ella can conduct an AI search, deliver real-time analysis, and more. However, during an interview with Android Central, TECNO stated Ella has over 600 system-wide functions to aid users.

The OEM also touts Ella's ability to help bridge the language gap as it features more local languages, aiding its usage in more countries.

What's more, TECNO originally teased the Phantom Ultimate 2 tri-fold in 2024, but users didn't get to see it up close. The concept was highlighted in videos and imagery, stating it would feature a 6.48-inch cover display and a 10-inch 3K OLED panel internally. The company also showcased the phone's ability to be used in a unique 1/3 setup, meaning one portion of its three screens can remain on a table as a keyboard.

What you need to know

• TECNO recently held its Future Lens 2024 event in China.
• The company unveiled new Image Matrix that will use AI to enhance images using a multi-layered process.
• TECNO also revealed features that will enhance telephoto images and photos of fast-moving subjects.
• These features are expected to appear in a new TECNO smartphone in 2025.

TECNO unveiled its latest AI efforts during its Future Lens 2024 event in China, which aim to enhance mobile photography and overcome major pain points for users when taking photos.

At the helm of these is TECNO's new Image Matrix, which will be the backbone of a new imaging process. The Image Matrix will take a multi-layered approach to imaging, working to enhance a photo at each step. This, of course, starts at the hardware level, utilizing the camera hardware, display, chipset, and sensor to capture the image. The image is then deconstructed using as many as 10 different algorithms, focusing on various aspects of the image, such as noise reduction, focus, tone adjustment, detection, and more.

The Image Matrix takes that information and reconstructs the image using the TECNO Algorithm Process Stack (TAPS), which powers several different image processing engines to enhance speed, low-light performance, skin tone, and more. The final layer is the application layer, where the final output is available for use with TECNO's other imaging features for further enhancement.

TECNO is also introducing some unique methods that aim to improve high-speed image capture and zooming. The first, dubbed EVS Dynamic Snapshot, tracks and records the motion of a subject at a high frequency, then combines static and motion image data to ensure that the resulting image remains sharp at the pixel level. This feature is ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects such as athletes or vehicles in motion, promising a clearer image than you would get using traditional methods with some other premium Android phones.

Finally, TECNO's Tap Any Zoom feature utilizes a dual prism telephoto design to better frame subjects when zooming in. According to TECNO, a user can double-tap a subject, and the camera will select the appropriate zoom level to keep it in the frame. Additionally, the lens-shift optical image stabilization will let you zoom into virtually any particular section of the frame, keeping the subject in focus with minimal camera shake, even at high magnification levels, to ensure your subject remains in the frame.

And with telephoto sweep, users can stitch together multiple telephoto images for a high-quality ultrawide-angle image with out the distortion often found in traditional wide-angle cameras. This also makes it possible to easily recompose a shot while retaining a high-quality image.

In the image below, you can see how the photo utilizes both EVS and Tap Any Zoom by automatically framing the biker in the shot while keeping the fast-moving subject in focus. The result is a stark contrast from the image without these features enabled.

Coming soon

Earlier this year, TECNO announced a suite of features that it's bringing to its smartphones as part of its efforts to bring "practical AI" to consumers. This means focusing on features that will make it easy to summarize, translate, and create content for users. These new camera-focused features are the latest approach to using AI to further enhance its devices, which can help bridge the gap between high-end and low-end smartphones.

TECNO is well-versed in emerging markets by launching impressive budget Android phones in regions where consumers may not be able to spend exorbitant amounts of money on tech. The Phantom V Flip 2 and Phantom V Fold 2 are just two examples of great phones that undercut the competition by a significant margin, with the latter in particular impressing us with its imaging capabilities. By utilizing AI to enhance camera quality, the company is basically saying you don't need to spend a ton of money to capture a good image. Furthermore, the company hinted that we could see more AI imaging capabilities down the road, although for now, it is focused on bringing these features to market.

Fortunately, we may not have to wait too long to see these features in action. TECNO says these features will arrive sometime in 2025 on an upcoming smartphone.

What you need to know

• The Phantom V Flip 2 comes with a massive cover screen with interactive pets, and card-style operations.
• The Phantom V Fold 2 has two giant screens, draws power from a large 5750mAh battery, and supports stylus use.
• Both will be available in multiple regions and not in the U.S.

TECNO offers a variety of smartphones worldwide, including foldables that come at a lower price than the popular Galaxy foldables. Today (September 13), the company dropped two new foldables that are faster and more affordable, aiming to compete with Samsung's lineup.

TECNO has announced its second set of foldables: the Phantom V Flip 2 and the Phantom V Fold 2. Both promise to be stylish and are packed with AI-powered features. The Phantom V Flip 2 packs a massive cover screen when compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and is comparable with the Motorola Razr 50 and the Razr 50 Ultra.

The V Flip 2's cover screen is 3.64 inches and has the dual primary cameras built-in. TECNO says you can use over 2000 apps on it, so you won't have to unfold as much. And with the bigger screen, card-style stuff will be super easy.

The cover screen is super customizable and has interactive pets and mini-games like the 2048 Landmark Edition. Inside, you'll find a 6.9-inch foldable screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, FullHD+ resolution, and 2160Hz high-level PWM dimming controls.

The hinge is made of aerospace-grade steel, which is promised 400,000 folds. The folding screen can be set at any angle ranging from 30 to 150 degrees. With the foldable design, users can utilize FreeCam, FreeCam Selfie, FreeCam Group Selfie, and FreeCam video modes. 

For optics, the V Flip 2 packs a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 32MP selfie cam under the foldable screen. Powering it all is a 4720mAh battery with 70W super-fast charging, giving you 50% in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 43 minutes.

The V Flip 2 ships with Android 14-based HiOS out of the box. It is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 8020 chip and equipped with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. The device comes in Travertine Green and Moondust Grey colorways. The V Flip 2 goes on sale on September 23 in regions including Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The device is priced at $699; however, it won't be available in the U.S.

Tecno Phantom V Fold 2

The V Fold 2 is TECNO's second-generation book-style foldable. It features two giant screens: a 6.42-inch cover screen and a 7.85-inch foldable screen. Both are 120Hz displays, and the foldable screen has a 2K Plus resolution. The cover screen is slightly curved and has a 21:9 aspect ratio. 

TECNO claims the crease on the foldable screen is under 0.1mm, and the hinge, which folds between 30 to 120 degrees, is lighter than before and rated for 400,000 folds. It also comes with FreeForm to support a variety of apps, just like the V Flip 2.

Like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the V Fold 2 is also offered with a dock bar for a tablet-like experience. This allows users to navigate between apps on the big screen and further drag and drop them when required in split-screen mode.

Keeping the power on both large displays is a 5750mAh battery with 70W fast charging, reaching 50% in under 20 minutes and fully charged in 50, as per TECNO's claims. The V Fold 2 also supports 15W wireless charging.

TECNO's V Fold 2 comes with a stylus, the Phantom V Pen, weighing just 10 grams and featuring two buttons for various functions. It has an 80mAh battery, offering up to two hours of daily use. The foldable also boasts five cameras—three 50MP primary lenses and two 32MP selfie cams, one on the cover screen and one on the foldable screen.

Out of three 50MP sensors, one is a 50MP portrait camera with 2x optical zoom and 20x digital zoom. The other 50MP sensor acts as an ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 50MP primary camera is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor. FreeCam features are also available, like the V Flip 2.

Other highlights of the Phantom V Fold 2 include an out-of-the-box Android 14-based HiOS. The device is promised two Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates.

The Phantom V Fold 2 is priced around $1099, and like the V Flip 2, it will be released in the aforementioned regions. Although it first debuts in Africa on September 23, other regions are expected to receive the device this month and throughout October.

These low-cost alternatives of the the latest Galaxy Z series are also equipped with a host of TECNO AI features that include tools to allow users to summarize, translate, and create. The company has its own AI assistant, Ella, which is now Gemini-based. 

It can perform tasks like enabling power saving mode, toggling Bluetooth on and off, switching the system language, and performing over 400 other system-wide functions. AI-powered online search capabilities are also present.

Lastly, AI-based editing tools include Magic AI eraser and AI Artboard, where scribbled sketches can turn into art, among other features.

TECNO, a veteran in the Android world for more than a decade now, has made a name for itself in the budget smartphone market, especially in emerging regions. The Chinese company has been dipping its toes in the budget phone segment for the last several years, and now it has refreshed its Camon line with a new model.

The TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G might not be the first device you think of when shopping for an affordable Android phone, but it's stepping into the ring regardless. Does it have the chops to challenge the leading budget Android phones? We're about to find out.

TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G: Price and availability

The TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G retails for roughly $350, although price varies by market. The company says it is available to purchase across more than 70 countries, except the Western markets such as the United States. TECNO's markets include Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G: What I like

The TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G's most compelling attribute arguably lies within its camera system. This really shows TECNO's determination to earn the title of "flagship killer."

The phone is packed with a powerful quad-camera system, led by a 50MP Sony IMX890 main sensor. Supporting it are three additional 50MP cameras: a wide-angle lens for stunning landscapes, a macro lens for detailed close-ups, and a portrait lens. For selfies, there's a 50MP front camera with autofocus and eye-tracking capabilities.

TECNO's innovative PolarAce technology powers this impressive setup, featuring the Sony CXD5622G imaging chip. This chip is the first to offer "end-side FP16 floating-point computing with the power of 4.6TFLOPS@FP16."

The technical specs might sound complex, so let's break down what they mean for you. This phone promises sharper videos even in low light, thanks to AI noise reduction and HDR for balanced lighting. However, it's not all roses (more on that later). Regardless, the 4K portrait video feature allowed me to take high-resolution close-ups with a blurred background.

TECNO might be throwing around a lot of technical terms for its camera system, but the key takeaway is this: it uses a powerful dual-chip setup, featuring a Sony imaging chip, to deliver noticeably improved photos.

The Camon 30 Premier 5G's camera tries to balance natural colors with vibrant ones. Most photos, especially landscapes, look great, but I noticed that the AI sometimes oversaturates scenes with lots of blue sky and green grass, making them look a bit unrealistic.

still, the handset's camera versatility shines here. Even without portrait mode, the main sensor achieves a beautiful depth of field. Furthermore, the 3x optical zoom delivers detailed close-ups, and HDR technology ensures balanced exposure in various lighting conditions. This phone's camera is a clear contender in its class.

One area where the Camon 30 Premier 5G punches above its weight is the telephoto lens. Unlike many budget phones, it boasts a dedicated 50MP sensor with 3x optical zoom, capturing crisp close-up shots without sacrificing detail. The ultra-wide camera, while not the absolute widest available, delivers impressive detail and good color fidelity that complements the main sensor.

The front-facing camera doesn't disappoint either. Autofocus, a feature typically found in premium phones, ensures sharp and detailed selfies. Additionally, the camera captures natural-looking skin tones.

TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G sample photos

While the Camon 30 Premier 5G's camera system delivers good results overall, there's room for improvement. A slightly lighter touch with image processing, particularly regarding AI saturation in certain scenarios, could elevate photo quality to even greater heights.

The phone's display is a also feast for the eyes. Sharp resolution and a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate combine to create an immersive viewing experience that is perfect for devouring your favorite content.

The display boasts a fairly impressive 1400 nits of peak brightness, ideal for conquering glare in bright outdoor environments. However, enabling auto-brightness is necessary to access this level, and its reliability wasn't always perfect in my testing.

Thankfully, everyday tasks like social media scrolling, app launching, and web browsing felt smooth, with only occasional hiccups. Even demanding games like Genshin Impact ran decently at medium graphics with 60fps, though I experienced minor stutters in rare instances.

Endurance isn't a concern with the Camon 30 Premier 5G. Packing a generous 5,000mAh battery, it delivered more than eight hours of screen-on time during light use. This translates to ample power for all-day tasks.

The device ups the ante with a speedy 70W charger included in the box. In my tests, it fueled the phone from empty to more than 50% in just 15 minutes, with a full charge taking around 40 minutes. That's impressive for a phone in this price range.

The Camon 30 Premier 5G's design hints at a company pushing boundaries. Unboxing it reveals a phone that aspires to a more premium aesthetic. While its flat-edged metallic frame follows current trends, the phone really shines with its unique "Tech-Art Leather" back. This material, featuring a snowy motif, integrates with the matte plastic texture and silver frame, creating a captivating interplay of textures and visual intrigue.

Its camera module also reminds me of classic cameras. It features a fixed zoom ring around the lenses, adding a nostalgic touch and helping with heat dissipation, according to TECNO. That said, it does not have any practical function at all.

Enhancing the premium feel, the Camon 30 Premier 5G boasts TECNO's strongest aluminum frame yet, housed in a remarkably high-quality case included in the box.

Despite weighing 210g, the Camon 30 Premier 5G feels surprisingly comfortable in hand. This is likely due to its well-thought-out design that ensures balanced weight distribution.

TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G: What I don't like

While the TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G boasts impressive specs for photo capture, video recording is an area for improvement. Despite offering 4K resolution at 30fps or 60fps, stabilization falls short, particularly in low-light conditions. Footage can appear shaky, and even daytime recordings lack the smoothness I expected, even with a gimbal.

However, the biggest downside of the phone is its software. TECNO's HiOS 14 skin, based on Android 14, and the overall software strategy have several shortcomings that I can't overlook.

Although it's smooth and functional, the software is somewhat unattractive and cluttered with unnecessary apps, many of which can't be uninstalled. It's not just the number of apps but also the fact that most users won't recognize names like AHA Games, Ella, and Hi Theme.

Simply put, the old problem of bloatware is still present. You'll find the usual duplicate web browser, a custom voice assistant awkwardly running alongside Google's, and a separate app store.

TECNO's HiOS 14 introduces a mandatory TECNO account sign-up process, which some users might find inconvenient. Additionally, swiping left no longer brings up the familiar Google Discover feed; instead, it displays TECNO's own selection of widgets. These widgets, which include recently used apps and phone usage stats, might not appeal to everyone.

The company's update policy for the Camon 30 Premier 5G is also a concern. The phone is only promised two major OS upgrades, lagging behind competitors like Xiaomi, which offers three, and OnePlus, which offers four. Additionally, TECNO hasn't specified how often these updates will be released.

While the software experience has room for improvement, TECNO does introduce some interesting features. For instance, the built-in dialer app integrates a WhatsApp icon, allowing you to initiate direct messages without saving contacts beforehand.

TECNO pre-installs its Ella GPT AI assistant, too, offering an alternative to Google Assistant. While Ella GPT can handle basic tasks, it may not be suitable for complex instructions or extended conversations. Users seeking a more robust AI experience might prefer established options like Gemini or ChatGPT.

Another feature that caught my eye was the AI-powered wallpaper generator, similar to the one in the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus 5G (this makes sense, given that both brands are owned by the same parent company). While many smartphone manufacturers are adding generative AI features, TECNO's approach is pretty unique, and I hope it becomes more popular.

TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G: The competition

The TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G is a solid choice in its price range. It packs features and performance that can go head-to-head with established models like the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, making it a great value for those watching their budget.

While boasting a slightly higher price point than the TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G, the Samsung Galaxy A55 positions itself as a reliable option. It excels in battery life and display quality, effortlessly handling everyday tasks. However, its camera system might not be the absolute strongest in this price range, and the absence of wireless charging may be a drawback for some users. In the end, the Galaxy A55 focuses on practicality rather than flashy features, appealing to those who want a dependable, no-frills phone.

Xiaomi steps up its mid-range game with the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. The phone exudes a more premium aesthetic with its improved design and exceptional display.  This iteration welcomes back the crowd-pleasing features of rapid charging and a powerful main camera but retains the brand's well-documented software shortcomings. Despite this, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus cements Xiaomi's position in the sub-$400 market, offering a solid option for budget-conscious consumers looking for a well-rounded device.

TECNO Camon 30 Premier: Should you buy it?

You should buy it if...

• You're looking for a complete triple-camera system with a dedicated 50MP 3x telephoto.
• You want sharp visuals from your phone and a top-notch camera system.
• You're after a phone with a binge-worthy battery.
• You want a reliable mobile chipset without breaking the $400 mark.

You should not buy it if...

• You can't stand a cluttered, non-stock user interface.
• You dislike overly vivid screen colors that need toning down.
• You can't stand all the bloatware that comes with your phone.

The traditional flagship smartphone market has been synonymous with exorbitant price tags. The TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G disrupts this norm by delivering a remarkably capable device brimming with innovative features, all at an exceptionally accessible price point. This phone changes the game, allowing budget-conscious consumers to enjoy flagship-level technology without the hefty cost.

However, the Camon 30 Premier 5G has a few drawbacks, like aggressive color processing from the AI and some limitations in low-light photography. However, it's still an impressive option in the sub-$350 price range. The phone strikes a great balance between affordability and performance, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers.

For consumers seeking a well-rounded smartphone without breaking the bank, the TECNO Camon 30 Premier 5G is a standout choice. It offers strong performance, a versatile camera system, and a unique design, all at a very competitive price. While TECNO isn't yet a global household name, the Camon 30 Premier 5G shows promise for the brand's expansion and its potential to shake up the mid-range smartphone market in new regions.

Update (May 31, 4:48 am ET): This article has been updated to clarify that it's the back coating that's made from recycled coffee grounds, not the entire back cover. We regret the confusion.

What you need to know

• TECNO teamed up with German luxury brand Loewe for a unique Camon 30 series edition.
• The standout feature is a back cover coating made from upcycled coffee grounds, over 25% bio-based and eco-friendly.
• These are the same phones as the April launch, featuring a 6.7-inch display, a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate SoC for the Pro and Premier variants, Dimensity 7020 for the 5G model, and Helio G99 for the standard 4G version.

TECNO has teamed up with German luxury brand Loewe to introduce a unique twist to the Camon 30 series. The main highlight is a back cover coating made from upcycled coffee grounds.

In terms of specs, the Camon 30 Series Loewe Design Edition is the same lineup of phones launched in April. You'll still find a 6.7-inch display, the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset in the Pro and Premier models, Dimensity 7020 in the Camon 30 5G, and Helio G99 in the standard 4G version.

TECNO claims in its press release that this is the industry's first back cover made partially from coffee grounds. Over 25% of the material is bio-based, as certified by the USDA. TECNO also highlights that the manufacturing process is eco-friendly, using no organic solvents, no extra water, and is entirely powered by solar energy.

The color features a bold, nature-inspired green, showcasing a commitment to both "sustainable and stylish design."

The gradient design draws inspiration from the life cycle of natural leaves, with colors representing the growth and vitality of a green leaf. TECNO describes this design as a "celebration of nature, technology, and fashion" working together for the benefit of the planet.

TECNO states that each back plate uses about 0.8g of discarded coffee grounds.

Besides the fresh design, the main highlight is the camera system, aiming to rival the best Android camera phones. The Camon 30 series features a powerful 50MP Sony IMX890 main camera.

With AI-powered upgrades, these cameras promise an amazing photography experience. A cool feature to check out is AI Erase, similar to Google's Magic Erase, letting you easily remove unwanted objects from your pics. The Camon 30 series includes Universal Tone, which TECNO says is the most advanced AI tech for capturing diverse skin tones.

TECNO has yet to reveal the prices for these devices. Typically, phones from Transitions brands like TECNO and Infinix vary in price depending on the region.

What you need to know

• TECNO is emphasizing its camera-focused lineup with the launch of the Camon 30 Premier 5G.
• The phone introduces TECNO's proprietary imaging system, promising groundbreaking features like 4K 30fps AI-noise reduction HDR video.
• Beyond photography, the Camon 30 Premier excels in performance, with a large AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate 5G chip, and ample RAM and storage options.

TECNO has finally launched the Camon 30 Premier 5G after showing it off during MWC 2024 in February, marking a big step for the company's camera-focused phone lineup.

For the first time ever, the Camon 30 Premier 5G flaunts TECNO's very own imaging system. It's packing something TECNO claims is a game-changer, thanks to its 4K 30fps full-scene AI-noise reduction HDR video capability.

This means super crisp, detailed videos with true-to-life colors even if you're in dimmer settings, as per TECNO. This imaging setup, dubbed PolarAce, rocks Sony's CXD5622GG imaging chip to make all this happen. TECNO says you can even capture the breathtaking beauty of the auroras up north or the mesmerizing dusk scenes out in the desert.

On top of that, you've got four 50MP lenses onboard, featuring a Sony IMX890 50MP OIS main camera. Additionally, there's a periscope-style telephoto lens thrown into the mix, giving you 3x optical zoom and 60x digital zoom. Plus, there's a macro lens in there too, promising to keep your subjects sharp even when you're just 2.5cm away.

Up front, the phone packs a punch with a 50MP selfie camera. It even tracks your eyes and focuses in a blink, so you'll always look your best in photos.

But a phone is more than just its camera, and the Camon 30 Premier seems to have all bases covered for reliable performance. It rocks a 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate 5G chip, with a whopping 24GB of RAM (including 12GB of extended memory) and a generous 512GB of flash storage.

While it's not a flagship chipset, it promises to keep things running smooth, even when you're using tons of apps or games. Plus, it's got this 10-layer "gaming-grade" cooling system and a massive 5,000mAh battery.

The battery supports 70W charging, juicing the phone up from 0 to 50% in a mere 16 minutes. TECNO claims this battery can handle a whopping 1,600 charge cycles and will keep at least 80% of its health for a solid four years.

Similar to the Camon 30 series that made its debut earlier this month, the Premier model comes packed with AI-based tricks. One of these, called AI Erase, claims to zap away unwanted stuff from your photos. Also in the mix is a feature called Universal Tone, which supposedly uses AI to nail down accurate skin tones in your snaps, no matter your complexion.

The Camon 30 Premier 5G is hitting store shelves globally starting in May. Pricing will vary by region, and it's not yet confirmed if it will be available in the United States (past TECNO phones haven't been).

What you need to know

• TECNO has unveiled the Camon 30 series, which includes the Camon 30 Pro 5G, Camon 30 5G, and Camon 30, boasting impressive cameras and stylish design.
• The cameras are enhanced with AI features, including Social Turbo for video calling apps, AI Erase for removing unwanted objects from photos, and Universal Tone for multi-skin tone imaging.
• The Camon 30 Pro 5G introduces AIGC Portrait, allowing users to generate various portrait shots tailored to different occasions using AI.

Chinese phone maker TECNO has announced the Camon 30 series, including the Camon 30 Pro 5G, Camon 30 5G, and Camon 30. The latest mid-range models boast crazy good cameras and stunning design, promising to redefine what a phone in this range can do.

The new TECNO Camon 30 series decided to say goodbye to the angular rear panels seen in the older models. Instead, TECNO introduced a fresh look with "industry-first" marble-effect suede Tech-Art Leather finishes, available in various colors like Alps Snowy Silver, Emerald Lake Green, Iceland Basaltic Dark, Sahara Sand Brown, and Uyuni Salt White.

As you probably guessed, the standout feature here is the camera system, which has the leading Android camera phones in its sights. The Camon 30 series boasts a 50MP Sony IMX890 main camera.

With AI-powered enhancements, these cameras promise to provide a top-notch photography experience. On the Pro models, you'll find additional cameras on the back: a 50MP wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro lens, perfect for capturing subjects as close as 2.5cm.

Up front, there's a 50MP selfie snapper with eye-tracking autofocus, supporting 4K60fps video recording. Both the Camon 30 5G and the Camon 30 sport the same front-facing camera hardware, though they don't match the same selfie video performance.

AI capabilities

Of course, no true 2024 Android phone would be complete without some talk of generative AI features. TECNO promises that the Camon 30 lineup will support a range of AI-powered functionalities. One of these is called Social Turbo, designed to enhance third-party video calling apps. Users can expect to be able to change their voice and backgrounds and apply beauty filters for a more fun and personalized experience.

Another cool feature to look out for is the AI Erase, similar to Magic Erase in Google Pixels. This allows you to easily remove unwanted objects from your photos. Additionally, the Camon 30 series supports Universal Tone, which TECNO claims to be the most advanced AI-powered multi-skin tone imaging technology available.

The Camon 30 Pro 5G adds a unique AI feature called AIGC Portrait. This means you can create a wide range of portrait shots tailored to different occasions or social media purposes, all thanks to AI. These shots may not be real photos, but AI-generated content based on your selfies.

Run-of-the-mill specs

In terms of display, the Camon 30 Pro 5G is at the forefront, boasting a massive 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED screen and Dolby Atmos audio for an immersive experience. The series also includes Wet Hand Touch technology and holds an IP54 rating for added durability.

The Camon 30 runs on the Helio G99 chipset, while its 5G version upgrades to the Dimensity 7020 SoC. The 30 Pro takes it even further with the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset. However, the 30 Pro stands out as the only variant equipped with a 50MP OIS Steady Night Portrait main rear camera.

On the Pro models, you can enjoy up to 24GB of RAM (including 12GB of extended memory), along with up to 512GB of flash storage. Plus, there's a 9-layer "gaming-grade" cooling system to keep things running smoothly during intense gaming sessions.

With a massive 5000mAh battery and support for 70W charging, you can go from 0 to 50% in just 16 minutes. Tecno claims the battery is capable of enduring 1,600 charge cycles and will retain over 80% battery health for at least four years.

Limited availability

While these phones will begin shipping to buyers in a few weeks, there's some disappointing news for those who want to get their hands on one of them. The Camon 30 series won't be widely accessible right away. Initially, the three models will be sold in Africa, with plans to expand to more markets later on.

Meanwhile, the Camon 30 Premier 5G is set to debut later this month. These phones will reach over 70 territories in the upcoming months, though the US unfortunately won't be among them.

Nevertheless, the Camon 30 phones bring some exciting additions to this year's array of new Android devices, even if they're not easily accessible to everyone.

No pricing details have been disclosed for any of the four handsets, as they will vary depending on the region. For reference, the Camon 20 Pro 5G was launched at a retail price of $199, so it's likely that its successor will fall within a similar price range.

The sub-$250 smartphone game is getting pretty intense. Big players like Samsung are throwing down with the Galaxy M14, and Redmi's Note series is in the mix too. In this crowded space, a phone needs to do something special to stand out.

Tecno is one of the many Chinese brands that throw some interesting stuff into the mix. I reviewed the Tecno Spark 9 Pro not too long ago, and despite a few hiccups, it's a solid pick for gamers. Now, the Camon 20 Pro and 20 Premier are stepping into the mainstream smartphone scene, facing higher benchmarks and expectations. Curious about what's good and what's not? Dive into my detailed review.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier: Price and availability

The Tecno Camon 20 Pro (4G) is available in India for ₹16,990, or approximately $200. For the price, you get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It's also available in the Middle East for 779 AED.

Meanwhile, the Tecno Camon 20 Premier 5G is priced at ₹24,999 in India, where it packs 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier: Build and design

Talking about the build quality, both these phones have a pretty similar feel. They both rock soft plastic backs, so neither screams luxury when you hold it. The Camon 20 Pro is the least premium, mainly because it's the lighter one of the duo and uses a less powerful chipset.

These models are jumping on the bandwagon of modern Android smartphones, flaunting a puzzle deconstructionist design (as per the brand's official lingo). Taking cues from postmodern architecture, they sport a textured leather back featuring a distinctive pattern and a camera module shaped like a pentagon.

The design doesn't just bring a bit of luxury to the table but also cleverly keeps fingerprints and smudges under wraps. The Camon 20 Premier carries a bit more heft. You'll definitely feel it, especially if you switch to the Pro after using the Premier for a while. The Premier just gives off a more robust and solid vibe in terms of build.

At a sleek 7.8mm, the Camon 20 Premier is impressively slim, boosting its overall charm. Plus, the smart placement of the volume and power buttons on the right side ensures effortless access and comfy handling.

When it comes to ergonomics, both models go for flat edges instead of curves, ensuring a comfortable grip. The main design distinction between these phones boils down to the camera setup. The Premier has sensors, while the Pro only comes with two lenses.

Additionally, the Camon 20 Pro rocks an irregular pentagon area around its camera package. On the other hand, the Premier sports the same pentagonal shape around its camera package, but there's a metal piece surrounding the lenses.

At the end of the day, these are solid mid-range phones, and you can feel it when you get your hands on them.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier: Display

The Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier sport a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, boasting a 1080 x 2400 resolution. These specs are right in line with what you'd expect in this price range. Both models flaunt stunning OLED displays that steal the show. I'm talking images that pop with deliciously vibrant colors. It's easily one of the best things about these phones.

With a high color gamut, these phones guarantee vibrant and lifelike visuals. What's more, the 120Hz refresh rate ensures silky-smooth operation and fluid animations. And here's the cool part — you can tweak the refresh rate on the fly or stick to fixed options like 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. That kind of customization is a bit of a rarity in mid-range smartphones.

When I was flipping between web pages and the home screen on the smartphone, I couldn't ignore a bit of lag on the screen. To tackle this, I stuck with the 120Hz setting as my default. Sure, it took a toll on the battery, but nothing that would throw a wrench in your productivity.

The display here is a stunner, boasting slim bezels, killer viewing angles, and top-notch brightness levels. It's so good that even under direct sunlight, the text remains crystal clear and easy to read.

Tecno's got your eyes covered too – the Camon 20 Premier is TUV Rheinland certified for eye protection. That means you can enjoy a safe and comfy experience even during those marathon device-use sessions.

Regardless of which model you go for, you're in for an absolutely amazing viewing experience.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier: Software

Both these phones ship with the same version of HiOS, specifically version 13, based on Android 13. When it comes to software, there's not a single difference to be found.

Straight out of the box, these smartphones pack some bloatware, including AHA Games, BoomPlay, and Hi Browser. Now, while some apps are there to stay, like Hi Translate, which is Tecno's take on Google Translate, not everything is everyone's cup of tea. Hi Translate does its thing, translating speech to text in various languages, and it's a neat concept. If the speech is on the slower side, it's pretty accurate, but things get a bit tangled up if it's speed-talking.

Tecno has thrown in its own virtual assistant, Ella, to amp up interaction with the device. What caught my eye was the boatload of customization options. It's a playground for tweaking the home screen—you can mess with icon sizes, grid layouts, page animations, notification badges, and a bunch more.

However, unlike many of your favorite Android phones, Tecno is only promising one major software update. So, when Android 14 becomes available for these devices, you can bet your phone will be in line for the upgrade. And that's not all — Tecno's throwing in a two-year guarantee for monthly security patches.

The user experience on the Camon 20 series is a good time, with just a few hiccups. It's a solid choice if you're cool with getting used to a fresh UI. But, if you're all about that conventional look, you might want to give this one a pass.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier: Performance and battery

Ideally, the Camon 20 Premier looks like it should be the clear winner. It packs a beefier processor, the MediaTek Dimensity 8050, while the Pro is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99.

The Premier also comes with 8GB of RAM and a roomy 512GB internal storage. What makes it stand out is the slick integration of Android's latest memory fusion feature, giving it the power to boost available memory by an extra 8GB of RAM.

The Camon 20 Premier is also equipped with a generous 8GB of RAM and a spacious 512GB internal storage, while the Pro is limited to 256GB. Even though the Camon 20 Pro isn't rocking a flagship SoC, it pulls its weight quite nicely, especially considering the wallet-friendly price. I faced no hiccups or slowdowns when handling my go-to communication and navigation apps. Plus, it offers a decent browsing experience.

Talking day-to-day performance, both these phones keep up the pace without hitting the brakes. I put both of them through the wringer, and regardless of the processor, they delivered consistently smooth performance for light tasks. Whether it was video-watching, work tasks, social media scrolling, or snapping photos, these phones just refused to give in.

However, don't expect these phones to handle heavyweight games as gracefully as gaming-specific devices do. Still, they manage to serve up some enjoyable gameplay in popular titles like PUBG Mobile, even if you need to dial down the graphics settings a bit. One setback I noticed during marathon sessions was the phones heating up quite rapidly, which did have a slight impact on overall performance.

These phones ship with a similar battery size. Sporting a 5,000mAh battery each, they're both set to keep you company for about a day and a half on a single charge with moderate to light usage. If you're more of a heavy user, you can still count on getting through a solid day.

When it comes to juicing up the battery, the Premier steals the spotlight. With a 45W charger included in the box, the Camon 20 Premier pulls off the impressive feat of going from zero to fully charged in less than 50 minutes. Now, that's something to cheer for, especially when compared to other phones in the same price range that might take longer to recharge.

In my time with the phone, I noticed it could handle heavy usage like a champ, offering up to six hours of screen-on time. So, even if you're diving deep into power-hungry apps and features non-stop, this phone manages to keep its head above water for a solid stretch before calling it quits and needing a recharge.

Meanwhile, the Pro packs a 33W charger in the box. That translates to a recharge time of around 90 minutes.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier: Camera

The camera department is where these two phones really show their differences. The Camon 20 Premier steals the spotlight with its camera system. Sporting a primary 50MP lens armed with Tecno’s RGBW technology, it shakes things up. This technology swaps out the traditional RGGB color filter's "green" array for a "white" one, allowing the RGBW sensor to snatch up more light. The result? Brighter and more detailed photos that really stand out.

Combine all these features, and you've got a recipe for some fantastic pictures. The camera nails the color tones, staying true to the source, and the images come out sharp with loads of detail.

The 108MP ultrawide shooter pulls its weight, delivering landscapes with crisp detail. On the flip side, the 2MP depth sensor camera stumbles a bit when it comes to portrait shots. The edge detection falters, especially in low light conditions.

Tecno Camon 20 Premier sample shots

However, with a bit of effort, you can still manage to get good shots. The camera app also throws in some special filters for portrait shots. While not as extensive as those on premium smartphones, they do add a creative touch to your photos.

I found myself leaning towards snapping pictures without AI, as the results often looked artificial otherwise. The Camon 20 Pro echoes a similar sentiment. Camera performance hits the mark as long as the AI feature is switched off. Once you enable AI, it tends to go overboard with color saturation, leading to images that feel unnatural, with a noticeable loss of details and dynamic range.

Switching off AI brings a positive change, as the images come out more balanced with sharp details, realistic shades, and well-preserved highlights. When it comes to capturing night videos, the smartphone does face some challenges with noise and light detection, but all things considered, it holds its own, especially considering its price. In indoor or dimly lit settings, details might appear a bit soft, and colors may lean towards slightly pale.

The cameras on both models record videos at 30FPS, which works well for casual shooting and Instagram stories. But if you're a content creator looking for more options, you might want to explore other choices.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro 4G sample shots

The selfie game here is good. The 32MP sensors on both models can capture some decent images, especially when the AI is turned off (again). That said, the AI filter is quite advanced, allowing you to tweak your entire face, from cheeks to jawline.

When the sun's out, the front camera does its job, snapping up decent selfies with good detail and accurate skin tones.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier: The competition

If the Tecno Camon 20 series isn't your vibe, there are other options in the market. Take the Samsung Galaxy A54, for example. Priced a bit higher at $450, it boasts a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a robust Exynos 1380 processor, and a quad-camera setup on the back. This includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 5MP depth sensor. The 32MP front camera also holds its own, and with a 5,000mAh battery, you can breeze through a full day and then some.

On the flip side, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro, coming in at a starting price of $250, stands tall as another formidable competitor to the Camon 20 Premier and 20 Pro. It rocks a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor, and a triple-camera setup on the back. This setup includes a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor.

If a stellar display and a powerful processor are your priorities, the Samsung Galaxy A54 fits the bill. On the other hand, if you're after longer battery life and faster charging, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro might be the better pick.

Tecno Camon 20 Pro and Camon 20 Premier: Should you buy them?

You should buy them if...

• You wish to have a stunning smartphone display without going over budget
• Your priority is a phone screen that is sufficiently bright in the sun
• You adore having a phone that you can use regularly for an entire day

You should not buy them if...

• You hate middling ultrawide and macro cameras
• You're looking for a phone that's eligible to receive software updates over the long term
• You take a lot of selfie pictures

The Tecno Camon 20 Premier and Camon 20 Pro check all the boxes for what I seek in a smartphone in this price range. They've got the looks, decent performance, and a camera setup that's sure to please many buyers.

In a fiercely competitive market of budget Android phones, the Tecno Camon 20 Premier grabs attention as an impressive smartphone. Amidst a sea of excellent devices, it stands out with well-rounded features and capabilities. Whether it's the eye-catching aesthetics, dazzling display, reliable battery life, or smooth performance, this phone delivers a comprehensive and satisfying user experience.

However, there are a few drawbacks. The limited market availability makes it quite challenging to recommend. The same goes for the Pro model.

Moreover, the Pro model here misses out on 5G support (although you can opt for the 5G variant at a higher price). This poses a significant tradeoff, especially for the young and tech-savvy user base looking for a new device.

MWC 2024 is like a wonderland for tech nerds, and we can't help but want to point out all the interesting devices we saw at the show. Android Central's Nick Sutrich and Derrek Lee were present at the show, and while we already named the best of MWC 2024, there are some devices that are just so cool but didn't have any space on our list.

So, without further ado, here are some additional cool tech toys that we noticed at MWC 2024 that deserve some recognition.

TECNO Phantom Ultimate

Foldable phones are still taking off, but that's not stopping companies like TECNO from looking into a possible future where rollables dominate. The company showed off its concept Phantom Ultimate at MWC, which extends the display outward with the press of a button, giving it a more tablet-like size (although not exactly).

It doesn't get too big and really only extends about an inch or so, but it has a similar effect to a foldable phone, and it's roughly the size of a smaller foldable. The mechanism is also fairly quick, although I did encounter one unit that was having trouble opening. TECNO told us that if the phone detected any obstructions, it would keep itself from opening to protect the device.

When closed, the back of the phone has a long, vertical window that shows a sliver of the display, which could be ideal for notifications.

Overall, the device is pretty solid, and it feels like we could get a rollable phone on the market sooner rather than later. Of course, the price would likely be a concern, but TECNO is known for launching phones that undercut the competition by quite a bit, so if any company could introduce a fairly affordable rollable, it would be TECNO.

— Derrek Lee

Motorola Rizr

Motorola showed off a rather interesting device at MWC 2024 with its wearable Adaptive Display Concept, but we also got to play with another concept phone, the Motorola Rizr. The phone harkens back to the old 2006 model that slides up to reveal a keypad, except this model rolls up to reveal more display.

We got to see it in person last year, but my hands-on at MWC 2023 really brought home how cool this thing really is, even if it might be a little impractical in its current form.

When the display detracts, the phone is fairly short and stumpy, and the part that rolls into the back of the device can be used for selfies with the rear cameras. When the display is extended, it's about the size of a normal smartphone, but the top half of the display feels a bit vulnerable since there's really nothing behind it to act as support. The phone is also fairly thick, which is understandable since you need to fit so many mechanisms inside a small body.

The Rizr may have its faults, but I like that Motorola is sticking to the idea of foldables and rollables, minimizing our current phones instead of expanding them.

— Derrek Lee

Lenovo ThinkBook Transparent Display Laptop

We've seen transparent TVs before, courtesy of LG and Samsung, but Lenovo wants to take your computing experience to the next level with the Lenovo ThinkBook Transparent Display Laptop.

As the name suggests, this laptop features a completely transparent OLED display and is a fully functioning Windows 11 machine. Any black colors show up fully transparent — remember, OLED pixels turn off when true black is displayed — and it looks pretty trippy to see right through your laptop's display instead of a black screen.

The keyboard is also fully glass for the concept, although Lenovo suggested that it probably wouldn't ship a proper consumer device with this sort of keyboard since it lacks the tactile feel Lenovo keyboards are so lauded for. This keyboard is also transparent and features capacitive touch keys, helping to keep the transparent aesthetics intact.

— Nick Sutrich

 TECNO Dynamic 1

Not to be confused with the Tekno, the Robotic Puppy, the TECNO Dynamic 1 is a robotic dog that seemed to come out of left field. The company had the well-designed robot on display at MWC, showing off its tricks and interacting with passer-byers. Not only does the Dynamic 1 look incredibly cool, but its movements are surprisingly quick and smooth. Watching it prance around, hop toward onlookers, and shake hands with anyone willing to, I couldn't help but be impressed with just how natural it seemed.

Dynamic 1 features a high-powered chipset with a series of sensors to help it detect its surroundings. It can be controlled with a smartphone, controller, or voice commands, and the 15,000mAh battery promises to keep it going for up to 90 minutes at a time. That may not seem like a lot, but considering everything going on here, it's actually fairly impressive, and I hope TECNO considers launching it as a commercial product.

Alright, let me snap out of it before this turns into an episode of "Black Mirror."

— Derrek Lee

OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition

There's fan service, and then there's the OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition. The special edition comes in an elaborate collectible gift box filled to the brim with things fans will love. The phone is stylized after the character Keqing, including a lovely lilac color and enchanting etchings into the back glass that actually sparkle and project her name in the light.

The collectible gift box contains a treasure trove of content, including chibi pins and stickers, acrylic character stands, a special charger and matching cable, a gorgeous matching phone case, and even a special SIM tray eject tool. The phone has a special boot-up animation, custom ringtones and notification tones, special icons, and plenty of other extras that fans will love.

And let's not forget that OnePlus actually tuned the phone specifically for Genshin Impact! The OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition runs Genshin Impact better and even loads warp points faster than some of the best Android phones, showing how console-like optimization can even help smartphones. Plus, it comes with background task enhancements that keep Genshin Impact running in the background along with 5 apps for up to 72 hours, so you can minimize Genshin, look up tutorials on YouTube or chat with your friends, and head back to the game without having to load it up again.

This special edition phone retails for ₹49999/€749/$649, which is hardly any more money than the standard edition of the phone. It's also got the same excellent internal specs and superb display as the standard OnePlus 12R, so you're not getting a lower-specced phone just because it's special-looking.

— Nick Sutrich

Doom (1993) on Husqvarna Automower NERA

It might sound cool to have a display on your fridge, robot lawn mower, or other smart appliance, but the real question is, "Can it run Doom?" This age-old question has been the crown jewel of geekdom for decades now, as fans are always willing to code a special edition of the classic shooter game to work on hardware it was never intended to run on.

The latest iteration of that concept comes from Husqvarna and is an official update for its robot lawnmowers, coming in April to customers who own a Husqvarna Automower NERA robotic lawnmower.

I got to check it out at MWC and was blown away at how well it works. The game fits perfectly on the display on the top of the lawn mower and can be played with the two buttons and rotating dial below the display. Players turn left or right with the dial, move forward with the top button, and shoot by clicking on the dial.

Husqvarna engineers had a great time with this one and even came up with a way to remotely connect lawnmowers, especially for MWC 2024. I played a round of deathmatch with the head engineer in charge of the project at the show and, admittedly, wasn't as good with this controller as he was. As he told me, this won't enhance your lawn mowing experience, but it sure is a great way to kill some time and show off something ridiculously cool to your friends in the process.

— Nick Sutrich

MWC 2024 has come to an end, and there was so much to see, so many things to do, and tons of new tech toys to play with. The annual event gives companies a chance to show off their most recent products, launch and tease new or upcoming devices, or reveal concepts that may never reach store shelves (but are still fun to play with). This year was no different, with impressive showings from our favorite brands, such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus, and more.

Android Central was present at the event to check some of these products out, but there were some that stuck out to us more than others. With that in mind, here's our list for the Best of MWC 2024.

Best phone — Honor Magic 6 Pro

Honor used MWC as the launching platform for its latest global release, the Honor Magic 6 Pro. Aside from some stylish looks and glass that's nearly impervious to scratches, Honor packed the phone with the best smartphone camera we've yet seen, and that's saying a lot, given all the big advancements in camera tech in the past few years.

At the core of the new Magic OS 8.0 experience is onboard AI processing powered by Meta's Llama 2 LLM. This AI model allows for more onboard processing than any other phone currently supports, including offline translation, questions and answers, generative AI, and the best motion capture performance we've seen from any smartphone camera.

It's also got a brilliant display that uses a 4,380Hz pulse rate that's helpful for everyone, especially PWM-sensitive users. It's Honor's best phone in years, and it's now available globally.

Android Central's Harish Jonnalagadda and Nick Sutrich have been using the flagship phone for a few weeks now and have an initial Honor Magic 6 Pro review that covers the basics of what you would expect from Honor's latest and greatest. We'll have a final review in the coming weeks based on the final release software.

Best budget phone — TECNO Pova 6 Pro

TECNO is known for making affordable phones with tons of value, like the Phantom V Flip, and the company is back with a new gaming phone that will barely make a dent in your wallet. The TECNO Pova 6 Pro is a new 5G gaming phone with a rather striking design that's enhanced by the rear MiniLED lights that you can customize with notifications.

Thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 6080, up to 24GB of RAM, and TECNO's Pova SuperCooled System, you'll be able to squeeze out more performance without having to worry about throttling or overheating. The 6,000mAh battery also ensures longer gaming sessions, while the company's first 108MP camera promises better clarity with in-sensor zoom.

The good news is the phone starts at just $229 when it goes on sale. The bad news is that availability will be fairly limited.

Best foldable phone — Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR

Honor has made quite a name for itself over the past couple of years, and the new Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR is the pinnacle of foldable design. The phone is sleek and incredibly thin while offering great performance and a large battery.

In his review of the Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR, Jonnalagadda points out the displays as highlights of the phone, both of which are 120Hz OLED panels that support stylus input. You also get much faster charging speeds than what you'll find on other foldable phones, and the battery can easily last more than a day.

The phone is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is already a year old, but that doesn't seem to slow it down at all. Jonnalagadda says the Honor Magic V2 RSR has "terrific" performance, which is likely aided by the 16GB of onboard storage.

Fortunately, you'll be able to pick the phone up in Europe now that it is available globally, although you'll have to be willing to spend €2,699 to get it. Also, you're probably out of luck if you want to buy one in the United States.

Best flip phone — Nubia Flip 5G

TECNO isn't the only company with a cheap foldable. ZTE has entered the game with the new Nubia Flip 5G, a flip phone that might look a bit familiar, especially if you've seen Huawei's flip phones. Nonetheless, the company shows us just how low it can take the price of a foldable, making the Nubia Flip a very tempting buy.

The phone features a 6.9-inch 120Hz display, a 50MP dual camera system, and a circular cover screen for notifications and selfies. It also has a rather large 4,310mAh battery with 33W charging support, and the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, the same chip powering the Motorola Razr (2023).

Even better, the phone goes on sale for just $599 in global markets, meaning it'll give the Razr a run for its money.

Best concept phone — Motorola Adaptive Display Concept

Motorola's wearable smartphone first made its appearance at Lenovo Tech World in 2023, but the device made another cameo at Mobile World Congress, and we got some hands-on time with it. The idea of a wearable phone may seem outlandish, but the device is actually very cool when you play with it.

For it to work, the user must wear a metal bracelet that the phone's magnets can attach to. The back of the device is a rather soft material with a series of hinges underneath, making the phone look like one of those slap bands from back in the day (although we don't recommend slapping this on).

When you're not wearing it, you can have the phone tented or stand it up by bending the bottom portion, negating the need for a tripod when taking selfies. It seems there are a number of possibilities for a bendable, wearable smartphone, but whether it's actually practical is another story.

Best AI innovation — MediaTek's new generative AI features

MediaTek had quite a presence at MWC this year, showing off the new generative AI capabilities of its latest chips. While some gen-AI features are already present on chips like the Dimensity 9300, MediaTek demoed some pretty impressive features, like SDXL Turbo, a stable diffusion engine that's capable of generating an image on the spot as you type. The image will continue to change as you type to reflect what you might want until you're done typing, and it works incredibly fast, showing how far we've come with generative AI in just a short time.

MediaTek also showed off Video Diffusion Generation, which is basically the same concept but with video. However, the downsides to this feature for now are processing and clarity. The demo takes roughly 50 seconds to complete a three-second video, and the result won't always be legible. Still, with everything processed on-device, it's amazing to see current chipsets capable of such feats.

Best upcoming product — Samsung Galaxy Ring

Samsung first teased the Galaxy Ring at Unpacked earlier this year, and the device was on display at Mobile World Congress. The ring looks more or less the same as it did when it was first shown off, with a relatively concave design, glossy finishes, and visible sensors on the inside. This is, without a doubt, a gorgeous piece of tech that's bound to take advantage of the best Samsung has to offer, which includes Galaxy AI.

We're still waiting for Samsung to fully launch the Galaxy Ring, but the company did divulge more details about its upcoming health wearable. According to Samsung, the Galaxy Ring will have various battery sizes depending on the actual ring size, and it should be able to last somewhere between five to nine days on a single charge. That's roughly in line with the Oura Ring, which lasts about a week on a single charge.

Unfortunately, we couldn't get our hands on it, but we could see the different sizes and finishes, and we can't wait to try it out. We may have to wait a little while, however, as Samsung says it will launch in the second half of 2024.

Best wearable — OnePlus Watch 2

Wear OS is finally taking off, with brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus finally getting on board. The OnePlus Watch 2 is the latest flagship Wear OS smartwatch, featuring the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chipset, multi-day battery life, and a unique hybrid interface to help carry the load with background tasks.

In his OnePlus Watch 2 review, Harish Jonnalagadda was impressed with the watch's design, battery life, and impressive 60Hz OLED display. The phone has surprisingly good performance, and fitness enthusiasts will like that it has dual-band GPS and IP68 water and dust resistance.

The OnePlus Watch 2 goes on sale on March 4 and will be available for $299. That's a lot less than the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which is a more targeted Wear OS smartwatch with somewhat equally impressive battery life.

Best software feature — Motorola Smart Connect

Motorola's Ready For is a great way to connect your phone to external displays to enhance your productivity, but the company is taking things to the next level with Smart Connect. This new feature builds on Ready For by allowing seamless interaction between your phone, laptop, and tablet, all at the same time.

For instance, you can use a single mouse or keyboard between all three devices, share files easily with a connected hub, or copy and paste images from one device to another. You can also start a Spotify session on your phone, then swipe it over to your computer, where it'll open an instance of the app and continue right where you left off.

Motorola also showed off a feature that lets you have two separate instances of your phone, one on the actual phone, and another on your computer. This lets you, for instance, hand your phone to your child to play a game while you continue to do other things like send text messages.

Smart Connect has a lot of promise and is one of the best multi-device solutions we've seen.

Best XR device — Xreal Air 2 Ultra

Smart glasses are rising in popularity, and Xreal is one of the most innovative in the space with its series of spatial computing glasses. While the latest Xreal Air 2 Ultra don't look revolutionary from the outside, they do something no other pair of AR glasses have: 6DoF tracking. In short, that means they can track the space around you like a VR headset, mapping it out in 3D and allowing you to move around virtual objects as if they were real.

Android Central's Nick Sutrich, who got to try on the glasses, writes about his experience with the Xreal Air 2 Ultra, saying they were the "most compelling AR product" he saw at MWC 2024, which is high praise coming from him. A representative told him that soon, users will be able to anchor their smartphone apps using the glasses, meaning they'll be able to better use the Air 2 Ultra as an extension of their phone.

The best part is that the glasses actually look like something you'd wear around, which isn't often the case with smart glasses such as these.

What you need to know

• During its Future Lens 2023 event, TECNO discussed a few new camera technologies aimed at refining problems consumers face with smartphone cameras.
• The company's new Physical Aperture takes aim at backlit scenarios while also bringing in tools to help manage light and reduce "harsh glare."
• Its Liquid Telephoto technology is said to take users in closer, keeping details sharp, and full.
• Tecno's work with skin tone technology uses three AI-powered engines to keep photos vibrant and "true-to-life" for everyone.

At its annual event, Future Lens 2023, TECNO detailed three new technologies aimed at solving "major imaging problems." As detailed in a press release, TECNO seeks to alleviate the "pain points" consumers have faced with camera innovations as the market continues to grow.

The first "game changer" is TECNO's "W-shaped Adjustable Physical Aperture," which is designed to solve problems with backlit scenarios. With bionic vision and new fixed apertures, the company states users won't have to decide between taking shots of a detailed subject or a beautiful background — axing the need for compromise, as well.

This technology gives users control over a camera's aperture to manage light and reduce "harsh glare" for a well-rounded photograph.

The next imaging solution is TECNO's "industry-first" Liquid Telephoto Macro Lens, designed to improve focus speed and zooming. The OEM sees this as a perfect fit for the periscope lens some Android phones sport. The press release adds the Liquid lens uses voltage to adjust the camera's curvature whereas traditional periscope lenses take up a lot of room and increase the size of the motor drive to be able to focus on a very close subject (5cm).

While the latter produces a much smaller yield (and higher cost), TECNO's design is said to keep costs low while maintaining a compact design. It's expected that this new method can capture "minute" details about a subject.

The final piece is TECNO's Universal Tone technology for capturing users' skin tones that may not be accurately represented by smartphone cameras. Its purpose is to ensure that the content produced is vibrant and "true-to-life" for photos and videos. Work to become inclusive and accurately portray the spectrum of skin tones was a venture Google has leaned on with Real Tone capture on Pixel phones.

TECNO's Universal Tone is backed by three AI-powered engines in the background: Multi-Skin Tone Restoration, Local-Tuning, and Computational Portrait. Each of these engines works to bring more vibrancy, skin tone adjustments through the color spectral matrix, and image tone mapping for a well-constructed photo.

The company didn't make it clear when consumers can expect this technology to arrive on the market. Presumably, it would be used in TECNO's next wave of flagships. The company launched the Phantom V Flip back in September, and the mid-range foldable had flaws in various places, particularly with its camera, as the V Flip struggled with low-light scenarios and portrait photos of inanimate objects.

The device did shine in daylight scenarios, but it's clear TECNO sees more work in the forecast as its new Physical Aperture aims to aid in situations with an abundance of light.

What you need to know

• Tecno Phantom V Flip is the first clamshell phone from the company announced globally.
• It features a 1.32-inch unique-looking circular screen and a large 6.9-inch 120Hz foldable screen.
• A MediaTek Dimensity 8050 SoC powers the device.
• The clamshell foldable phone will first launch in India at an early bird pricing of Rs 49,999.

Tecno is the latest OEM maker to venture into the flip phone category with the launch of the new Phantom V Flip. The company made the announcement at its Flip in Style event held in Singapore on Friday. Tecno assures that its first flip phone is a high-end fashion statement packed with powerful cameras and unique cover screen placement, all incorporated in a compact form factor.

The Phantom V Flip has been making rounds on the internet for a while now, primarily highlighting the cover screen, which is circular in shape and is enclosed in the large camera housing on the back of the device. The circular cover screen, which the company calls "The Planet," is an AMOLED display measuring 1.32 inches in diameter.

Tecno says the cover screen is designed in such a way that users would be able to swipe on it with their thumbs to conveniently navigate "Smart Widgets" or reply to messages. With a display density of 325ppi, the cover screen is capable of showcasing customizable wallpapers, Tmojis, 3D interactive virtual pets, and more, the company notes in a shared press release. Additionally, the circular cover screen can be used for selfies with the main cameras.

Just don't expect to run full apps on a cover screen of this size and shape.

With the much-hyped cover screen out of the way, the clamshell phone has a large 6.9-inch Full HD+ LTPO (10Hz-120Hz) foldable screen that unfolds completely flat when in use. The company is promising a crease-less display, although this claim is thrown around quite often, so we'll have to see firsthand whether or not this is true.

The Phantom V Flip equips a large 64MP primary sensor with a 13MP ultra-wide angle lens for optics, which are nestled around the circular display. On the front, the device utilizes a 32MP selfie shooter. Tecno also takes advantage of the device's flip hinge, allowing it to stay intact when placed anywhere between a 30-degree to 150-degree angle. 

Like the Flex mode on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, the company calls the functionality FreeCam system. Users can take advantage of the feature for taking shots utilizing the cameras or quick video calls, all without needing a tripod.

As for dimensions, the Phantom V Flip measures 14.95mm when folded and 6.95mm when in an unfolded state, which makes it one of the slimmer foldable phones, even when compared to the relatively thin Galaxy Z Flip 5, which measures 15.1mm and 6.9mm, respectively. That's quite an impressive mark for Phantom V Flip, considering that it is a first-generation flip phone from the company.

Underneath, the Phantom V Flip is powered by MediaTek's higher-end Dimensity 8050 5G SoC, and the device is accompanied by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. There is an extended memory option available that supports up to 8GB. 

The phone packs a 4000mAh battery capacity that assures a day's use and supports decently fast 45W charging, ensuring a 50% battery life from a quick 15-minute charge.

The out-of-the-box experience brings Android 13-based HiOS, including Tecno's in-house developed ELLAGPT personal assistant.

Lastly, the Phantom V Flip will be available in two colors: Mystic Dawn and Iconic Black. Tecno also provides accompanying cases with color options like Rose, Sea Shore, or Cologne.

The Phantom V Flip is first launching in India with an early bird price of Rs 49,999 (~$598). It will be sold in the country as an Amazon exclusive, and the listing page is already live on the e-commerce site, which suggests the early bird sale will commence on October 1. 

The pricing is not surprising, based on Tecno's penchant for undercutting its rivals like it did with the Phantom V Fold. And at this price, it's definitely worth considering over much more expensive flip phones. For comparison, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 starts at Rs 49,999 for the base variant.

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What you need to know

• Tecno's Phantom V Flip has its design leaked in a tech retailer's early case listing.
• The images show off its supposed 1.32-inch circular cover display and camera housing consisting of a 64MP main shooter and a 13MP ultra-wide angle lens.
• The Phantom V Flip is rumored to feature a 6.9-inch display, utilizing a mid-range MediaTek chip.

What Tecno's upcoming foldable may look like is starting to come into clear view as a sneak peek at it comes from an unexpected place.

According to GSMArena, tech retailer Vopmart is listing an "Aramid Carbon Fiber" case for the Tecno Phantom V Flip, which gives us a brief look at its features. On prominent display is the Phantom V Flip's circular cover screen and camera array. The rendered images show off two camera lenses within this circular housing to the side of its LED flash nestled at the apex of the array.

The left side cutout seemingly shows the device's individual volume and power buttons. There's additional speculation that the Phantom V Flip's power button will double as a fingerprint scanner instead of Tecno offering it through the display.

A horizontal look gives us a quick peek at the V Flip's centered punch-hole selfie camera, as well.

Rumors and leaks surrounding Tecno's second foldable have been relatively moot. The chunkiest batch of rumors came back in August when its purported renders were spilled, alongside some key specification details. The circular cover display was rumored to measure 1.32 inches while the camera housing was said to hold a 64MP primary lens and a 13MP ultrawide lens.

Its internal display is said to arrive at 6.9 inches, making it slightly larger than Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 but right on par with Motorola's Razr Plus.

However, despite the potential specifications, the Phantom V Flip might utilize the MediaTek Dimensity 8050 — a mid-range chip. It's a notable difference between Tecno's book-style foldable, the V Fold, which launched with MediaTek's Dimensity 9000 Plus.

Information still isn't settled around when Tecno could possibly reveal the Phantom V Flip. Rumors have suggested the brand could ramp up promotional content for the clamshell sometime in September. If this occurs, then perhaps an October release is possible.

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What you need to know

• A leaked rendering of the Tecno Phantom V Flip shows off its unique circular external display and dual-camera array.
• The array may house a 64MP auto-focus lens while its display measures to 1.32 inches.
• Internally, the foldable is rumored to offer a 6.9-inch display and a 3,900mAh battery capacity.
• The V Flip is rumored to arrive sometime in October.

Tecno isn't just offering consumers a book-style foldable this year, as new leaks give us a look at what its clamshell phone could offer.

The rumored rendering, stemming from Newzonly, suggests the Tecno Phantom V Flip will arrive with a circular external display wrapped by a circular dual camera array (via PriceBaba). The publication suggests the array will house a 64MP auto-focus lens and a 13MP ultrawide lens on the outside of its external display.

According to its supposed specs, the V Flip's unique circular AMOLED external display measures up to 1.32 inches. Internally, the leak states that the phone will be equipped with a 6.9-inch AMOLED that will hold the V Flip's center punch-hole style 32MP camera.

The foldable may be powered by a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 8050 SoC instead of the same 9000 Plus chipset powering its V Fold. Additionally, the foldable may deliver a 1,165mAh and 2,735mAh dual battery setup, giving the V Flip a total 3,900mAh battery capacity, slightly larger than Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Memory-wise, the V Flip might land on the market with a singular RAM/internal storage combination of 8/256GB. Furthermore, the leaks float the possibility of the device following many other foldable phones which lack an external memory card option for more storage.

For software, consumers might have to settle for Android 13 and the company's HiOS 13 skin atop that, much like the V Fold. Lastly, the V Flip is rumored to arrive in Minimal Black, Film White, and Periwinkle Purple colorways.

This isn't the first time the phone has been leaked, with live images popping up on Weibo earlier this year of the phone in what appears to be Periwinkle Purple. The phone also appeared to go by the name Phantom V Yoga, although it's unclear if that moniker will stick.

Unfortunately, a concrete launch date isn't exactly nailed down, though Tecno is expected to begin its promotional run for the V Flip in September. With that in mind, it's theorized the device could officially launch in October. Considering the V Fold was released in India first, the V Flip will likely follow that same mentality before rolling out to other markets globally.

PriceBaba floats the possibility of a ₹50,000 price tag for the V Flip in India, which is roughly $600 USD. With the Tecno Phantom V Fold positioned as a more "affordable" book-style foldable, the company is likely taking a similar approach here.

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What you need to know

• Tecno unveiled the Phantom V Fold at Mobile World Congress.
• The phone features a 7.85 folding display with an external 6.42-inch display, both at up to 120Hz.
• The phone will launch in India before arriving in other countries.

Many exciting new smartphones are coming out of MWC, and Tecno just revealed its first foldable phone to take on the likes of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and others.

The Phantom V Fold is a fairly impressive foldable phone that comes with many of the bells and whistles one would expect from this type of device. It's powered by a flagship MediaTek 9000+ chipset with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to start. The external OLED display measures at 6.42 inches, while the inner display is a 7.85-inch OLED screen that's "virtually seamless and crease-free." Both LTPO panels can display content at variable refresh rates between 10Hz and 120Hz.

According to Techno, the hinge has been tested to withstand 200,000 folds, which should be enough to get through years of use. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any sort of water resistance, according to Android Authority.

The back cover is made from recycled plastics and houses a triple camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP 2x telephoto camera, and a 13MP ultrawide. There are two selfie cameras — a 32MP unit on the external screen and a 16MP camera on the internal display.

Underneath the hood is a large 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W charging, making the battery and charging speed both larger and faster than the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Techno also shows off software enhancements made to its HiOS 13 (Android 13) UI to take advantage of the foldable form factor, like a split panel view for apps, split screen gestures, and drag and drop.

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Techno is known for its large presence in Africa, although the company has begun to expand to other global markets with phones like the flagship Tecno Phantom X2 Pro. The Phantom V Fold seems to offer a good mix of specs and a solid design, and while it may not be the most interesting foldable phone out there, the presence of one from a relatively smaller OEM is a good sign for the form factor.

Per Android Authority, the Phantom V Fold is expected to launch first in India, retailing just over $1000 before arriving in other regions, making it quite a steal for anyone considering a large-screen foldable.

What you need to know

• Tecno has unveiled the industry's first dual prism telephoto camera, which boasts the biggest tilt angle.
• The Tecno Eagle Eye Lens setup promises improved video stabilization when shooting moving objects through rotation of the dual prisms.
• It will make its way to Tecno smartphones that will debut in 2023.

While smartphone cameras have come a long way when it comes to sensor size and telephoto capabilities, image stabilization is still a hole that needs to be plugged. 

Tecno aims to fill that gap with what it says is the industry's first dual-prism periscope camera with real physical tracking and shooting capabilities.

Tecno has unveiled its Eagle Eye Lens technology, a camera setup that uses two prisms to track and shoot a moving object while reducing handshake. The system promises to produce a more stable image or video than a standard telephoto camera with OIS, such as those found in the Xiaomi 12T Pro or OnePlus 10 Pro.

"The lens's internal rotational dual prisms, which provide real AI tracking and shooting, allow for an ultra-stabilization angle that can be as wide as 6 degrees on both the positive and negative axis," Tecno explains. "The two prisms can tilt uniaxially by +/- 8°or +/- 10°resulting in a combined uniaxial tilt range of +/-16° in the short side direction and +/-20° at the long side direction for the image, which allows them to intelligently track moving objects in the image."

As a result, a moving object will constantly occupy the center of the telephoto lens' view area. On the other hand, many of the best Android phones use digital technology to keep the object in the center of the frame.

Tecno says the lens works in tandem with an optical stabilizer to yield a sharp and clear shot of a moving object. This comes in handy when shooting at sporting events, such as F1 racing.

"The Eagle Eye Lens can solve the enduring issue of telephoto lens's limited view when capturing sports videos like the F1 racing," said Jimmy Hsu, deputy director of Tecno Image R&D Center. "Instead, cutting-edge equipment can acutely monitor, detect and capture the racing automobiles' rapid movement most ably."

Tecno hopes to include the lens in its future smartphones that will debut next year. However, the company says it will not license the system to other manufacturers, which means the camera setup won't be available to everyone given the limited availability of Tecno's handsets.

While a slew of Chinese budget phone makers, such as Xiaomi and Realme, have captured everyone's attention this year with their affordable models, another Chinese brand, Tecno, has quietly been on a tear.

Tecno is known for the flashy rear panel designs of its smartphones, such as the Camon 19 Pro Mondrian Edition with a unique back panel that changes color when exposed to light. Other product lines from the company, such as the Spark family, are designed in the same vein. The Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition, for example, adds a nice flair to the regular model that launched in July, courtesy of a collaboration between Tecno and Designworks, the design innovation team of the BMW Group.

The Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition is a budget phone with an accessible price, a stylish design, and an amazing 32MP selfie camera, which is the phone's main selling point. But how good is it? We'll find out in this review.

Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition: Price and availability

The Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition is available in select markets, including Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. It costs $170, though prices may vary depending on location.

It ships in a crystalline blue and white color scheme. It is a limited-edition model born out of a partnership between Tecno and BMW Group's Designworks. On the other hand, the regular model comes in Quantum Black, Burano Blue, Holy White, and Hacker Storm.

Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition: What I like

Like many of the best budget Android phones money can buy, the Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition's design broadly resembles Apple's iPhone. It is easy to see the iPhone's influence in the phone’s flat rim, sharp corners, and glossy rear panel with a glass effect (though it's plastic).

That said, the design team deserves a pat on the back for pulling off a unique design. Tecno and Designworks created a trendy fashion statement by combining blue sky and white cloud hues with an intricate tessellation of triangles. I particularly like the distinct crystal diamond-cut element that gives this low-cost phone a rather premium appearance.

Tecno likes to tout the phone’s 32MP selfie snapper, which features Samsung’s powerful ISOCELL 2.0 sensor. I've had a pleasing experience with the Sports Edition's front camera in the past few weeks of using the device. The majority of its selfie shooter's strength comes from software, with the headline feature being Super Night Mode 3.0. This is aided by a Ring Screen Fill-in Light or a front-facing flash to provide adequate lighting even in complete darkness.

The ring light was a huge help in making my selfies bright even when all the lights are out. This feature adds brightness around the edge of the camera interface to flash enough light onto your face. The result is a smooth selfie with even lighting.

The Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition's front camera also boasts an AI Portrait enhancer, which produces sharper images in low light conditions. At first, I dismissed it as a marketing ploy, but I soon discovered that it delivers on its promises. My night selfies have improved in clarity. Although far from perfect, the AI Portrait enhancer gets the job done.

I also like the phone's video recording capability. Unlike many budget phones (and even some flagship models) with front cameras that are limited to 1080p video recording, Tecno's contender supports video recording at up to 2K resolution. The only drawback is that it lacks electronic image stabilization, which is understandable given the phone's price.

Tecno also solves a perennial problem with beauty filters on many selfie cameras. In contrast to the hit-or-miss behavior of these filters, the Sports Edition's AI-powered gender recognition feature applies filters based on whether the subject has beards or eyebrows.

The Spark 9 Pro lacks an ultra-wide or telephoto camera on the back. Instead, you get a 50MP wide-angle camera with an f/1.6 aperture and a 2MP depth sensor. The rear camera isn't a photographic champion, but it's a phone that costs a lot less than other models in this ballpark.

The photos I took with the Spark 9 Pro were detailed and natural, given good enough lighting. However, it struggles with the unpredictable tricks of HDR, as demonstrated by overexposed backgrounds. However, the Super Night mode produced shots with little to no noise — more than adequate for a budget phone.

The phone's screen is a pleasant surprise for its price tag. It’s quite big at 6.6 inches, though it’s only an IPS LCD screen rather than a more vivid AMOLED display. But not all LCD screens are the same, and this one has better quality than many IPS LCDs. Its 1080 x 2408 (Full HD+) resolution is a boon for my content consumption.

Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition camera samples

On top of the impressive selfie camera, the phone's unique and stylish design deserves special mention. I love the Tecno Spark 9 Pro's two-tone finish, marked by crystalline blue triangles and a majority of snowy white areas for a lively theme. Tecno says the design was inspired by an “icy crystal talisman," and the two circular camera islands on the back are also a nod to BMW's iconic logo.

The device also has a nice grip and feels compact to hold, making it easier to operate with one hand without worry. This is made more convenient by the placement of the power button on the right side, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor. While this sensor took a beat to unlock the phone, I didn’t encounter any trouble with reliability.

Another remarkable feature of the Spark 9 Pro is its supporting cast, like many other phones these days. You can enable the phone's MemFusion system to expand your RAM by up to 3GB.

I also found a few other rare features of this device (which ironically were a thing a few years ago): a headphone jack and a message alert light that doubles as a front-facing flash. The latter is something you don't often find in many of the best camera phones today.

For the price, don't expect an official IP waterproof rating. Regardless, the phone should be able to withstand minor splashes, as Tecno has included a red rubber ring in the SIM card tray to prevent water and dust ingress.

The Spark 9 Pro also has decent stamina. With normal use, I usually get more than a day's battery life. The device comes with a 5,000mAh battery, which makes it one of the longest-lasting cheap phones I've tested, thanks to the combination of an LCD 60Hz screen and the lack of 5G connectivity.

The device easily waltzed through one day of use, with social media scrolling, photography, and light games. Under these circumstances, the phone can generally make it well into the next day.

The charging speed is only 18W, which isn’t fast by today's standards. It usually takes over an hour to fully juice up the phone. If you're in the habit of charging your handset overnight, this phone is for you.

Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition: What I don't like

The Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition is quite a large slab of glass. Combined with its sharp corners, it’s not the most comfortable phone to hold over a long period.

It also comes with HiOS 8.6 based on Android 12 out of the box. Unfortunately, Tecno only promises one year of major software updates and two years of monthly security fixes for the Spark 9 Pro.

Tecno's Android skin is a fairly bog-standard custom UI that sits on top of Android 12. While its notifications and custom apps aren’t too obtrusive, it’s not as clean as the near-stock Android experience of Motorola's Moto G22.

The phone runs on a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, which is far from the most impressive processor, given that it is built on a dated 12nm process. So, it comes as no surprise to me that the chipset is limited to 30 frames per second when playing demanding graphics games. 

To be clear, it's not bad for a phone at this price. However, if you enjoy playing games like PUBG and other graphics-intensive titles, you should set the Spark 9 Pro to low or medium settings to avoid overheating.

Another aspect of the device that let me down was the portrait mode. It has poor color recognition and does not blur the background well. It also has a tendency to blow out the highlights. Furthermore, there is no OIS or even EIS stabilization, forcing you to hold your hand steady to avoid blurry shots.

The onboard sound isn't something to write home about, either. There’s just a single speaker mounted beside the USB-C port. If you want a decent-sounding stereo speaker, you’ll need to spend more money on pricier models.

Under direct sunlight, the display is hard to see. I recorded a maximum brightness of 400 nits with auto-brightness turned off. Another drawback with its screen is the utterly basic refresh rate of 60Hz rather than 90Hz. However, these fluid refresh rates don't really mean much for budget phones with limited performance.

Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition: Competition

The Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition faces stiff competition in the crowded budget segment. A few options that come to mind are the Xiaomi Redmi 10 and the Moto G22. However, in terms of performance, the Spark 9 Pro performs better than the Moto G22 with its MediaTek Helio G37.

If you're willing to spend the extra cash, you can never go wrong with the POCO M5s, with better features like an AMOLED display and improved performance. It's not a huge step up, but it's a significant premium at this price point.

Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition: Should you buy it?

You should buy it if...

• You want an astounding selfie camera phone.
• You want a decent performance without spending more than $200.
• You like a front camera with 2K video recording.

You should not buy it if...

• You like playing graphics-intensive games.
• You want a fast-charging device.
• You hate bloatware.

The Tecno Spark 9 Pro Sports Edition is an extremely cheap phone, and it hits the mark on the camera front, no small thanks to its impressive 50MP main camera and 32MP front snapper. If you have higher standards for photos and selfies, then this one is right up your alley.

The Sports Edition's 2K video recording puts the phone way ahead of other models in its price range, too. This is one of the factors that make this device worth considering if you want style and performance without hurting your wallet.

Plus, a large 5,000mAh battery rounds out a well-balanced budget package, though a little more money can definitely go a long way. If you can’t stretch that a bit further, this is one of the best phones you can buy for under $200.

Like every year, the end of the Summer and beginning of Autumn is an incredibly busy season for me as a tech editor and writer. From new phone launches to the endless barrage of ways to protect or stylize those new phones, there's simply no shortage of cool gear and tech to cover. While I don't have the time to go into detail on every little thing I receive, some things are still very worth talking about.

This week, I'm going to peruse my inventory of things I've been sent but haven't had the time to individually cover over the past few weeks. From AGM's latest rugged phones to Tecno's literal work of art, Dbrand's latest troll skin for Pixels, and Toy Story cases that'll have the inner child in you screaming for joy, there's plenty to behold in this week's From the Editor's Desk.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Pixels

It might sound silly, but my personal favorite things on the desk right now are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Pixel skins I got from Dbrand. I had previously purchased the mock TMNT skins that Dbrand posted about after the Pixel 6 launch last year, but those skins had one big problem: they really weren't the right colors.

That's because, like most other things Dbrand does, the TMNT skins were more of a gag concept than a specially designed product. In other words, Dbrand already had green, orange, purple, blue, and red colors that were close enough to get the point across.

This year, things are very different, and Dbrand even went so far as to come up with a new branding for the line — hence, the TMNP logo. TMNP-branded skins from Dbrand are actually Pantone color-matched to be as authentic to the actual Ninja Turtle green skin color, and each of the Turtle's four individual colors are likewise palette-accurate.

You can see the difference in the image below. The old, pastel colors are on the right while the new Pantone-matched TMNP skins are on the left.

Looking at the new skins next to the old ones on my Pixel 6 Pro shows all the difference you'll need. These new skins look exactly like you think they should and, since they're that nice matte Dbrand vinyl, they add a noticeable amount of grip to an otherwise slippery set of phones.

If you're a TMNT fan and absolutely must have your Pixel 6, 6 Pro, or 6a look the part, I wholeheartedly recommend Dbrand's TMNP skins. They've even got leather skins if that's more your thing.

If just skinning your phone and leaving it caseless makes you nervous, pick up one of Dbrand's Grip cases and select the TMNP skin that works with the Grip case, that way you get the best of both worlds.

I like very, very few cases and typically prefer my phones naked as the day they were manufactured, but Dbrand's Grip cases are extremely well built, feel comfortable to hold, and don't add the bulk that some other cases do. Plus, they're grippy as heck, as the name implies.

CASETiFY Toy Story cases

If you're someone who drops your phone a lot or has an occupation that's regularly a hazard for your black mirror of choice, you need a tough case. Problem is, most tough cases are ugly. Thankfully for you, CASETiFY makes tough cases that are actually pretty.

A few months ago, CASETiFY shipped me some special edition Star Wars cases that I adored because they successfully meshed great design with a tough case, and the company's special edition Toy Story cases are no different.

In my pile are assorted cases for the Galaxy S22 Plus and the Pixel 6 Pro, all of which are identical physical case designs to the Star Wars cases I previously used, albeit with very different visual flair. Still a Disney-owned brand, but much more colorful than the last set of special edition cases I got from the company.

My favorites are the Buzz Lightyear and Woody cases, which feature the characters surrounded by transparency that gives them a lovely 3D cut-out aesthetic. All of the cases feature a number of layers that help add to the overall quality feel of the build. I would feel very comfortable with my phone being dropped in any of them because of the obvious quality of the case build and design.

Tecno Camon 19 Pro

Let's face it, China and India get all the coolest phones. From the bevy of foldable devices that aren't Samsung-branded to the impressive number of affordable phones with unique hardware features and designs, these phones are just so much more interesting than anything most U.S. customers will ever get a chance to actually use.

Case in point, the Tecno Camon 19 Pro. It's a $275 phone that has a uniquely artistic back that changes color in sunlight. Sure, the phone looks nice enough in its totally white shell with black outlines, but the phone really comes to life in the Sun and actually looks like a work of art by famous Dutch artist Piet Mondrian.

Aside from fanciful looks, the Camon 19 Pro is actually a rather impressive phone in and of itself for the mere price of ₹21900. It's got a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC and 8GB RAM inside, a 6.8-inch display with a teardrop camera cut-out on the front, a large 5,000mAh battery that lasts an easy 2-days on a single charge, and a 3.5mm headset jack on the bottom.

Tecno's HiOS is based on Android 12 and looks very similar to Vivo's OriginOS — that means a very iOS-inspired interface with various Android elements like a vertical app drawer tossed in — and is incredibly full-featured in every single way.

A trio of cameras sits on the back, and while one of them is just a 2MP depth sensor, the quality of the photos and videos from the phone are surprisingly impressive given the price, although nighttime photography could use some work.

Tecno also outfits the camera software with a metric ton of modes, many of which are super fun to use in random situations. Take the Sky Lab mode, for instance, which adds interesting effects like clouds, a twilight glow, the Aurora Borealis, or even an entire galaxy to the sky around you.

There's also a bunch of different other photo and video modes, like the Short Video mode, which a little over a dozen different filters to shoot your video with. Film mode offers a handful of preset options that combine filters and audio to help you shoot something a little more interesting right off the bat without having to edit the video later.

The one thing I'm really not crazy about, though? The fingerprint sensor. While it's side-mounted and located in the power button — that's my personal favorite kind of fingerprint sensor — I found that it wasn't very good at its job. Most of the time, I'd have to unlock the phone with my PIN because the sensor would outright fail to recognize my print. Odd for a dedicated sensor like this but it definitely wasn't a good experience.

AGM Glory G1S

I've heard smartphones referred to as modern Swiss Army Knives because of their ability to basically do anything you need, but AGM's Glory G1S takes this description to the next level. This phone packs an infrared camera, thermal imaging camera, dedicated Zello push-to-talk key, and even a laser pointed inside its extremely rugged frame. Yes, it has a laser pointer on the top of the phone!

As is the case with many rugged smartphones, AGM's Glory G1S is encased in what can probably be best described as a permanent Otterbox-style case that's got a very grippy, rubbery texture to it. The corners are raised for maximum drop protection, and there's little chance you'd do any harm to the device unless it was dropped display-down on top of a pile of rocks. There's even a slot on the bottom-left corner that you could thread a lanyard through for extra safekeeping.

All the ports are covered by a rubber gasket, including the phone's 3.5mm headphone jack and the microSD card slot. On the left is a bright orange key that matches the orange highlights around the frame and can be used as a push-to-talk key for the popular Zello app that's preinstalled on the phone.

While most of this phone's design works incredibly well for its intended audience, I'm not sure most people will be happy with the surprisingly dim display. It's basically impossible to see in direct sunlight, which is probably not a great thing given the intended audience usually works outdoors.

The phone's main 48MP Sony IMX582 camera isn't going to win any awards when taking photo or video, and there's no telephoto lens here to speak of, so zooming in isn't great, either. But the auxiliary cameras are the real draw with the phone's camera system, anyway.

In addition to that main camera, you'll find a night-vision IR camera and a separate thermal imaging camera on the back, as well. The night-vision IR camera shoots in black and white and can be access via the regular camera app as its own mode. It works very, very well and picks up all sorts of light from sources that our eyes can't see.

The thermal imaging camera is controlled via a totally separate app that's pinned on the home screen's quick bar at the bottom by default. This camera can be used to take photos and video, with AGM claiming it's the best thermal imaging camera you'll find on a smartphone.

I haven't used enough smartphones with this feature to corroborate those claims, but I can say the AGM Glory G1S provides absolutely superb thermal imaging with what appears to be very accurate thermal measurements. To test, I used a surface-scanning thermometer on my forehead and it matched what the AGM Glory G1S measured by 0.1 degrees Fahrenheit.

The software side of the house doesn't have much to talk about. You're looking at mostly stock Android 11 with a few custom quick toggles added — like a quick toggle button for the phone's bizarrely fun laser pointer — but relatively few additional options. One of the few customization options here is the ability to set the side key to perform one of a handful of different functions, including a push-to-talk key, launching the camera, toggling the laser pointer, or controlling audio playback.

It's powered by a Snapdragon 480 and a big honkin' 5,500mAh battery, so expect to get several days out of a single charge unless you're constantly using the thermal imaging camera. A Snapdragon 480 won't run more than just the basics, though, so keep that in mind before jumping in.

What you need to know

• TECNO has unveiled the Camon 19 Pro Mondrian Edition, which features a distinctive back panel design.
• The phone's Mondrian-inspired back changes color when light strikes it.
• It will be available to consumers in various global markets beginning in July.

Hot on the heels of the TECNO Camon 19 series' debut, the company has unveiled a special edition of the series' Pro version with a unique back panel design.

The Camon 19 Pro Mondrian Edition boasts a distinctive rear panel that changes color when exposed to light. It is the model's headline feature, which relies on polychromatic photoisomer technology to "follow geometrical patterns of color change in the sun," TECNO said in a press release.

But it doesn't only change color in the sunlight. The Mondrian Edition also does its trick when exposed to any type of light both indoors and outdoors. Under normal settings, the phone's back is all white, punctuated by straight lines and right angles. However, the fun begins when light strikes it, revealing a design inspired by the art style of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian (thus, its name extension).

TECNO officially took the wraps off the device in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where it was shown off in full.

Specs-wise, the special edition device doesn't differ from the regular Camon 19 Pro, which debuted in June. This means it has the same 6.8-inch IPS LCD screen capable of up to 120Hz. Under the hood, it's powered by a 12nm-based Mediatek Helio G96 chipset coupled with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It also packs a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support.

Roun the back, it includes a 64MP main sensor complemented by a 50MP telephoto shooter and a 2MP depth sensor. Selfies are handled by a 32MP front camera. TECNO claims the device's rear camera features the "first high-clear crystal sensitive lens with RGBW sensor" to challenge the best Android camera phones in night photography.

The Chinese phone maker claims it's the "world's first smart device that uses 'sunlight drawing' technology to allow the phone to change colors in sunlight." 

However, other Chinese brands including Vivo and OPPO pulled a similar gimmick in the past. Earlier this year, Vivo launched the V23 series with unique exterior gradients that change colors depending on the light that hits its back panel. In 2020, OPPO unveiled the Reno 5 Pro+ Artist Limited Edition in China with the same trick.

The Camon 19 Pro Mondrian Edition will be available in July alongside the original model and other variants in the Camon 19 series. It will arrive in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Southern Asia, with prices varying by region.

It will also ship with the TECNO Sonic 1 earbuds inside the box as part of the gift set. The earbuds promise up to 50 hours of battery life, though your mileage may vary.