For a smartphone firm that has been centered on the finances and mid-range phase since its inception, it was a giant shock when Tecno went all-in and unveiled its first folding smartphone throughout MWC 2023. Dubbed the Phantom V Fold 5G, this horizontal folding smartphone is a direct competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold collection, and will probably be made fully in India. This may very well be one of many causes for its extremely aggressive value of Rs. 88,888, which is round the place we normally discover vertically folding or flip smartphones. Tecno not too long ago launched this cellphone in India, and we obtained to spend a while with it. This is what we predict.
It is just pure to attract comparisons with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and its specs, the brand new Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G is fairly well-equipped. From its flagship-grade 4nm SoC and as much as 512GB of storage, to its large 7.85-inch LTPO AMOLED show, it checks all of the vital containers. The cellphone itself is cumbersome, similar to every other folding cellphone of this kind, and is supposed for use with two palms. It’s on the heavier aspect too. When folded, there’s just about no seen hole between the 2 halves, which I fairly like. At its thickest level (close to the hinge), the Phantom V Fold 5G continues to be slimmer than the competitors at 14.5mm.
The Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G has an aluminium body. The corporate has developed a proprietary hinge which it says minimises the crease. This will nonetheless be felt for those who run your finger throughout the centre of the folding display screen, but it surely’s is simply seen at excessive angles. The outer show additionally has a delicate curve on one aspect which is an fascinating design alternative. The ports and buttons are the place you’d count on them to be, and the ability button additionally homes the fingerprint sensor. In my temporary time with this cellphone, its construct high quality gave the impression to be first rate, though I did discover a little bit of play within the hinge when the cellphone was folded.
The crease of the folding show (left) is simply seen at excessive angles
The again panel of the Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G’s black variant is constructed from recycled plastic waste, whereas the white variant makes use of an “natural silicon leather-based” materials. There is a distinctive digital camera module on the again which features a 50-megapixel main digital camera, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera, and a 50-megapixel telephoto digital camera able to 2X optical zoom. The selfie digital camera on the outer display screen is a 32-megapixel sensor, whereas the folding display screen will get a 16-megapixel sensor in a hole-punch cutout. The digital camera app has loads of further options to reap the benefits of the folding display screen and we’ll discover all of them within the full overview.
The Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G runs HiOS 13 Fold, which is predicated on Android 13. Tecno says that over 1,000 apps have been optimised to reap the benefits of the folding show and ought to work in split-screen and multi-window modes. Whereas the show can keep unfolded at about 90 levels, I discovered that it would not maintain its place very effectively for those who attempt to go away it open it at different angles. I am curious to see how it will have an effect on daily use and productiveness.
The outer show of the Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G is a 120Hz LTPO AMOLED panel
The Phantom V Fold lacks wi-fi charging, however makes up for that with a big 5,000mAh battery and 45W wired charging. In keeping with Tecno, the Phantom V Fold 5G ought to have the ability to cost fully in beneath an hour. Its outer show is a 6.42-inch full-HD+ AMOLED panel, whereas the within will get a 7.85-inch AMOLED show with a 2K decision. The Phantom V Fold 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC.
The Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G is essentially the most inexpensive folding cellphone of its form in India for the time being, and that by itself ought to pique the curiosity of many who want to get their first foldable. Some great benefits of a horizontal folding cellphone versus a vertical one are plain, and value contemplating now which you could get both sort for roughly the identical value. Nonetheless, that is Tecno’s first stab on the premium smartphone market in India and it will be fascinating to see how consumers reply to the Phantom V Fold 5G. We’ll have our full overview of this cellphone prepared in due time, so ensure you do not miss that.
