TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 review: applaudable and affordable

Because the current emergence of foldable telephones, few manufacturers have put affordability earlier than all else to attraction to shoppers. That was till TECNO entered the fray with the unique Phantom V Fold, a budget-busting smartphone. It had its flaws, admittedly, however it was a good first try. Now, it’s time for the sequel, the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2, and spoiler alert: this factor is spectacular.

Whereas nonetheless rather more moderately priced than the likes of the Google Pixel 9 Fold Professional, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and OnePlus Open, the V Fold2 is a correct competitor. The shows, cameras, and software program are a lot better than the unique, and an expensive really feel and type issue would have you ever consider this factor is simply as costly as its foldable rivals. So, the place does it rank on our listing of the very best foldable telephones? Properly, let’s get into it.

Value and availability

Let’s get this out of the best way early and remind you that, sadly, TECNO telephones aren’t extensively obtainable within the US and Europe. The model is at the moment concentrating on rising markets, like Latin America, the Center East, Africa, and past, with the V Fold2 arriving in Africa on September 23 for the equal of round $1,099. The PHANTOM V Pen, TECNO’s reply to the Magic Pencil, is obtainable individually.

When you decide to import a V Fold2, you may select between two colorways: Rippling Blue and Karst Inexperienced. The cellphone is available in one configuration, with 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. TECNO can also be fairly beneficiant with its equipment, together with a beautiful fake leather-based case, charging lead, charging plug, and different helpful bits within the field.

Specs

Options and software program

The TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 runs the model’s personal HiOS Android 14 pores and skin, which, whereas not as visually spectacular as another working techniques, is extremely simple to make use of. It feels similar to Apple’s iOS, placing simplicity at first else, which I’m a giant fan of. It’s all the time annoying having to spend days adjusting to a brand new working system, however it takes mere minutes with the V Fold2. It’s additionally price mentioning that this handset may be very mild on bloatware, so there’s no time spent eradicating apps you don’t use both.

Earlier than stepping into software program options, we have now to speak concerning the PHANTOM V Pen. Sure, TECNO now has its personal S Pen equal, and it’s a reasonably nifty addition to the V Fold2 providing. I’ve by no means been a giant stylus man, prodding on the display with my fingers, even in my Nintendo DS glory days. Nonetheless, the V Pen is fairly good to make use of, and it’s a speedy charger due to it having its personal USB-C enter on the facet. The one draw back is that, whereas the V Pen comes with a holster to stay onto your cellphone, it doesn’t really feel like there’s any notably handy place for it to go on the V Fold2.

One of many large promoting factors of each this cellphone and its sibling, the TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2, is TECNO’s new AI options. From my expertise, these options are a little bit of a blended bag. Some, like voice assistant Ella and stay translation, are unbelievable and are certain to get even higher with future updates, however I’m not satisfied about others. AI Sketch to Picture is enjoyable, however it doesn’t all the time appear to understand what I’m making an attempt to attract, usually deciding on turning virtually something right into a younger girl. Once I’m clearly sketching a pig, with a snout and twisty tail, I count on the cellphone to know what I’m searching for. Generally it does, typically it doesn’t.

Whereas the V Fold2 shares many options with its flippable sibling, it actually comes into its personal while you’re multitasking. With the cellphone unfolded, splitting the display is simple, and I’ve already used this to my benefit. Lately, I lined a product launch, and I may watch the stay stream on one half of my display whereas jotting notes down with the V Pen on the opposite half. All it takes is a faucet of the side-by-side button, which yow will discover by dragging from the underside of the display. You additionally discover the floating home windows possibility there, additional demonstrating how clear and simplified TECNO’s OS is. Whereas there are many causes I’m pondering of creating this cellphone my day by day driver, its ease of use could be the principle one.

Design

The V Fold2’s design is a little bit of a coup for TECNO, because the factor is in some way slimmer than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. It’s not fairly as skinny as the brand new Honor Magic V3, however it’s not far off, and contemplating how proud Honor is of its slimline cellphone, TECNO ought to take delight in how shut it’s include one thing rather more inexpensive. At 249g, it’s a bit heavier than each of these pricier foldables, however it’s probably not noticeable, particularly while you unfold the factor.

Talking of probably not noticing issues, let’s transfer onto the sticking level of many a folding cellphone: the crease. Like with the V Flip2, TECNO does a terrific job of hiding the V Fold2’s crease, and with content material on the display, it’s virtually invisible. It’s a bit simpler to see when you weirdly angle your cellphone or have a clean display, however when it counts, you may hardly see it. When you favor to angle your system like slightly laptop computer, the choice is there, with an adaptive positioning of 30-120 levels, which is right for streaming video content material if you wish to go hands-free.

As an entire, the V Fold2’s design feels extra refined than the unique, and the curvature of the sides makes it easy sufficient to unfold the system with out feeling such as you’re prying it open towards its will. I’m additionally a giant fan of the redesigned digicam module. It’s a bit chunky and rectangular, however it sits properly throughout the wider aesthetic of the system with out making for an uncomfortable type issue to carry both folded or unfolded, and there’s no wobble issue with the cellphone mendacity on its again.

By way of sturdiness, this factor is IP54-rated. That score isn’t terrible for a foldable system. It’s under the extent of safety we’d count on for the standard smartphone, with IP68 the gold commonplace, however it’s rather more widespread for foldable telephones to drift across the IP54 score. TECNO additionally assures us that the V Fold2 is able to 400,000 folds, although I couldn’t examine that myself (I gave up after 100).

Show

The PHANTOM V Fold2 boasts not one however two beautiful LTPO AMOLED shows, that are each able to providing 120Hz refresh charges. This makes for silky easy and well-defined visuals, whether or not you’re enjoying a recreation, streaming content material on YouTube, or simply shopping the net. I’ve tried all of the big-name foldables, and truthfully, the V Fold2 is as spectacular as any of them when it comes to display high quality.

Peak brightness is slightly decrease on the principle show than I’ve seen on different units, at simply 900 nits. Thankfully, when you’re struggling beneath direct daylight, the 1,600 nits peak of the duvet show is bound to shine by. I’d have examined this myself, however it’s September and I’m in England, so I’ve forgotten what the solar seems like. Each shows additionally provide PWM dimming, so you may dial down the brightness when you’re vulnerable to complications from taking a look at screens.

My solely challenge with the V Fold2’s shows is that they’re smudge magnets. Whereas I would go round with a few microfiber cloths, often to de-smudge my Steam Deck, not everybody does, so this might be slightly annoying when you all the time desire a glowing display. It’s definitely a bit irritating for somebody who needed to take a bunch of good footage of the factor for this overview earlier than discovering after a 15-minute photoshoot that there’s a mark proper down the middle. Nonetheless, I’ve to be honest and say this isn’t an issue distinctive to this system, and I had comparable points with the Honor Magic V2.

Cameras

The digicam division is one other space that highlights the V Fold2’s glow-up, with the triple digicam setup on the again of the factor lots able to high-quality captures. You’ve obtained a 50MP primary lens, 50MP telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide to play with, and when you’re one thing of an beginner smartphone photographer, that ought to cowl you on all bases. As ever, I’ve used an image of my pretty pup Floyd to supply a snapshot of the principle digicam’s high quality, which you’ll see under.

I’ve to say, I’m actually happy with the outcomes. The standard is the extent I’d count on from a flagship, in order that’s a giant win. It’s extra spectacular due to how less expensive this cellphone is in comparison with Samsung and OnePlus’ foldable alternate options, with little to separate the three telephones when it comes to the caliber of primary cameras. It struggles slightly extra with shifting topics, however fortuitously, Floyd stayed nonetheless. The results of our little photoshoot is a collection of photographs with spectacular colour definition, particularly the darkish blacks of his coat. Ultrawide pictures are equally stellar, capturing even the smallest of particulars off within the distance.

Nonetheless, whereas the V Fold2’s cameras are nice for essentially the most half, there are a few sticking factors. For some purpose, the bokeh impact in portrait mode may be very invasive, missing the subtlety you would possibly count on whereas making use of extra like a blur impact on every part however the topic of the picture. The 20x zoom is a pleasant choice to have, however the zoomed photographs lack the standard I’ve seen from different cameras at 30x or 40x zoom, so there could be a bit of labor to do there for the V Fold3.

By way of selfie cameras, TECNO has geared up each the outer and internal shows with 32MP selfie cameras. As I discovered with the V Flip2, the V Fold2’s front-facing cameras don’t have any enterprise being this spectacular. All too usually I discover that even flagship cameras have a tendency to clean the colour out of a picture, however there aren’t any such issues right here. Personally, I’d nonetheless use the principle digicam for selfies, however it’s all the time good to have choices.

Efficiency

By way of day-to-day efficiency, nothing actually phases the V Fold2. It handles web shopping, on the spot messaging, and even video calling with fashion. Admittedly, that is what it’s best to count on from any system over $1,000, however it’s nonetheless a reduction, as, with out naming any names, I’ve seen dearer units battle with primary duties.

So, onto gaming. Whereas the V Fold2’s little sibling, the V Flip2, can’t fairly muster the efficiency energy to run demanding video games like Honkai Star Rail or Zenless Zone Zero at excessive settings, the V Fold2 is rather more succesful. The boosted efficiency over the unique V Fold is a little bit of a shock, on condition that each use the identical MediaTek Dimensity 9000+, however given I can play HSR at 60fps, I’m not asking any questions. That’s greater than adequate for me.

The one draw back within the efficiency division is that the digicam island on the again of the cellphone tends to get slightly toasty when you’re enjoying with the system unfolded. It’s not so sizzling that you need to cease enjoying, however it will get slightly hotter than I’d like, and it spreads throughout the remainder of the cellphone’s again panel over time. Whereas I respect how skinny this system is, it could be price sacrificing the ultra-slender design to squeeze in additional cooling tech, however that’s coming at it from a gamer’s perspective. When you’re not a lot of a gamer your self or solely dabble in a little bit of Sweet Crush or Marvel Snap, you shouldn’t discover an elevated temperature.

Battery

As I’ve come to anticipate with TECNO telephones, each the battery life and charging speeds of the V Fold2’s 5,750mAh battery are spectacular. When you use it sporadically, it may simply make it by a full day, usually with slightly juice left to spare. It drains a bit faster when you play video games or stream content material, shedding something between 10-20% battery an hour. It could lose cost quicker nonetheless when you’re enjoying one thing demanding, so make sure you dial down the settings if you would like a six-hour Genshin Impression session with a little bit of battery life respiratory room when you end.

When you thought the battery life was a promoting level, the V Fold2’s 70W charging velocity is much more exceptional. I managed to get from flat to 100% in round 50 minutes, which implies you may get a stable enhance of 25% from slightly below quarter-hour. When you usually overlook to cost your cellphone earlier than mattress, as I do, this is usually a actual lifesaver. Not solely does this factor provide speedy charging, but additionally 15W wi-fi charging, which, whereas not extremely quick, is all the time a terrific possibility when you sprint out of the home with out your charger.

Do you have to purchase the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2?

Whereas I’ve virtually all the time had an gratifying expertise testing a TECNO system, the V Fold2 could be essentially the most spectacular but. Its shows are unbelievable, its efficiency is as much as scratch, and the design might be the envy of bigger-name manufacturers with extra assets at their disposal. That is all earlier than you have in mind how less expensive this factor is than most foldable telephones in the marketplace, providing another that doesn’t really feel like a funds model or a downgrade.

Positive, it’s not excellent. Among the AI options aren’t there but, and it may get a contact too sizzling whereas working demanding video games, however I’ve seen different manufacturers remedy each these points with software program patches, in order that’s a risk. My solely plea to TECNO is to make this factor extra extensively obtainable. I can’t let you know how many individuals have advised me they’d get a foldable if it wasn’t for the $1,500+ pricing. I’d like to advocate the V Fold2 to them, however not everybody desires to import a cellphone. So when you’re listening, TECNO…

Options

If our TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 overview hasn’t bought you on the brand new foldable, try some recommendations for alternate options under.

Samsung Z Fold 6

Samsung is the massive canine of the foldable market, which is smart given it’s the model that basically introduced the choice type issue into the highlight. The massive caveat right here is that the Z Fold 6 is rather more costly than the V Fold2, however for the additional spend, you’re getting a big efficiency improve and a few of the greatest smartphone cameras in the marketplace. For extra on this one, see our Samsung Z Fold 6 overview.

Honor Magic V2

With the discharge of the Honor Magic V3, the V2 is now extra inexpensive than ever, and it’s nonetheless a stable cellphone in comparison with its successor, with beautiful shows, a snug type issue, and stellar efficiency due to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Once more, it’s dearer than the V Fold2, however in case you are decided to select up a foldable, it’s one other robust possibility. To get the total lowdown, see our Honor Magic V2 overview.