Foldable phones are becoming more and more popular at an ever-accelerating rate. TECNO introduced its first smartphone that could be folded in half at MWC 2023. The company's latest and greatest smartphone, the Phantom V Fold, has just been released.
The Phantom V Fold will compete directly with Samsung's Fold range. The specifications of the new TECNO Phantom V Fold are the best one can get. The phone features a premium LTPO dual display with a fast refresh rate and a 5-lens camera system with a primary and secondary setup.
At the Mobile World Congress 2023 event in Barcelona, the Phantom V Fold, manufactured by the Chinese phone company TECNO, was presented for the first time. The phone claims to be the first smartphone that can be folded from left to right.
The phone is powered by the high-end MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ 4nm SoC. The company said the chipset did better on the AnTuTu test than 1.08 million. During the event, TECNO also reportedly announced that the foldable smartphone will be released in India first and confirmed its pricing.
TECNO Phantom V Fold launched
The TECNO Phantom V Fold is now a legit phone. TECNO has launched its first foldable smartphone. TECNO will present the Phantom V Fold at Mobile World Congress 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
The phone has a 7.8-inch screen that can be folded, but the company says there aren't many creases. The smartphone features a teardrop-shaped aerospace-grade hinge that is unique to the brand. This makes the main interior surface of the screen almost completely smooth and flat.
The innovative reverse-snap hinge design makes the phone much more stable, and the aerospace-grade materials used in its construction make it sturdy without making it too heavy. The TECNO Phantom V Fold is powered by a Media Tek Dimensity chipset and runs Android 13.
TECNO Phantom V Fold Specifications and Features
For a long time, TECNO has been known as a low-cost player in emerging markets. They have a range of cheap and mid-priced phones that are made for the local market. In recent years, products like the Phantom range have helped the Chinese brand try to break into the high-end market. Now we have the TECNO Phantom V Fold, which is definitely the best phone in its class. But can TECNO make a high-end phone that folds in half? You can find out in our article.
Display
The secondary screen of the new TECNO Phantom V Fold is 6.42 inches wide. The screen has an aspect ratio of 21:9 and is slightly curved. When you open the device, you will see a huge 7.85-inch screen with an aspect ratio of 8:7. The main screen is completely flat.
In terms of performance, the device is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 9000+ processor and comes with HiOS13 Fold, an Android 13-based operating system that is optimized for the foldable smartphone. More than 2,000 apps have been modified so that they can be used on the foldable device, according to TECNO.
The Phantom V Fold also features a 50MP AI-powered Super Night main camera, as well as AI-powered Super Night Portrait, Super Night Mode, and Super Night 4K Video. A company called TECNO made the hinge.
It looks like a drop and is made of metal which is good for use in space. The company claims that the main interior surface of the screen is very flat thanks to this design. The new Phantom V Fold can be folded 200,000 times, according to TECNO. When new, the fold is only 0.11mm wide.
Screen
It is clear that a foldable phone is impossible without a foldable screen. The main screen of the TECNO Phantom V Fold measures 7.85 inches (2,296 x 2,000, LTPO, 120Hz). The fold of the TECNO foldable screen is about the width of my index finger, but it is much shallower than that of the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
This foldable display uses ultra-thin glass (UTG) to increase its durability. Despite this, the screen has the flaws common to foldable screens. Compared to conventional screens, it is extremely reflective.
TECNO's packaging includes a series of warnings. These include warnings not to unfold the device in temperatures below minus 15 degrees Celsius, not to press the center of the screen when folding it, and not to use fingernails on the screen. ‘screen.
When the Phantom V Fold is closed, a 6.42-inch, 2550 x 1080 OLED display covered in Gorilla Glass Victus is revealed. This is a 10Hz compatible LTPO screen identical to the main screen. I liked the little curve on the right side of the screen, which is really comfortable when using the back gesture.
Performance
The TECNO Phantom V Fold is a foldable phone that launches with a MediaTek chipset, specifically the 2022 Dimensity 9000 Plus processor, similar to that of the OPPO Find N2 Flip. It's still a formidable machine, especially when coupled with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB or 512 GB of storage. For most users, performance was satisfactory; Swiping between home screens, transitioning between smartphone and foldable screens, and launching programs was generally smooth.
Still, the software limits the phone's otherwise remarkable hardware. TECNO and sister manufacturer Infinix have generally lagged behind the competition when it comes to third-party Android skins, and while things have improved a lot here compared to previous devices we've tested, there's still a long way to go to reach the best Android skins.
With the Phantom V Fold's HiOS, which is based on Android 13, you can expect more foldable improvements. These include a shortcut to run two apps simultaneously, an app pair feature to launch two specified apps simultaneously, window compatibility, and more.
Additionally, the TECNO skin offers PC connectivity, dual app support, RAM expansion compatibility, and the ability to quickly launch apps by drawing letters on the lock screen. But, there are some software issues.
You cannot add Google Explore to the left-most home screen, however you can remove the default tablet-like screen. As on the Galaxy Z Fold range, the taskbar is only displayed on the foldable's home screens.
Camera
The TECNO Phantom V Fold falls short when it comes to the camera. The hardware specs look pretty good. It has a 50MP main camera, a 50MP 2x telephoto lens, and a 13MP ultra-wide lens. Theoretically, this should be similar to the best camera phones.
However, some of the photos taken during our first tests look like they were taken by a low- or mid-range smartphone. Images captured by the main camera appear to have a good amount of detail, but they sometimes look too sharp and have too much contrast.
It doesn't help that TECNO is always trying to make things look better, luckily you can turn this off. On the other hand, the 2x telephoto lens gives you more detail, but it seems to struggle even in perfect conditions, as highlights are overexposed and colors are more intense.
The ultra-wide lens tends to have softer corners and less overall detail than the 1x lens, but it has autofocus for macro photography. Additionally, there is a cutout for a 32MP selfie camera on the outer screen and a cutout for a 16MP camera on the foldable inner screen.
Initial tests show that the camera on the foldable screen works like the first generation cameras that were placed under the screen. Faces will look washed out when there is even a little backlight. Plus, like Samsung's foldable, you can take high-quality selfies with the main camera.
Price
The Phantom V Fold will cost QR in India, according to TECNO. There will be two different ways of storing data on the phone. The model with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage will cost Rs 89,999 ($1,099), and the model with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB storage will cost Rs 99,999 ($1,222). TECNO will also offer first-time buyers a special offer starting at Rs. 79,999 ($979).
Release date
In an official statement, TECNO said it will introduce the Phantom V Fold, its first foldable smartphone, at MWC 2023 on February 28. TECNO claims its next flagship phone will be the first smartphone that can be folded from left to right.
Cons of the Phantom V Fold
The lack of a free-stop hinge on the TECNO Phantom V Fold is perhaps its most visible flaw at first glance. This hinge is instead spring-loaded and does not remain in any position other than fully closed or fully open.
Those who want to use their phone as a kickstand for watching videos or a tripod for photography will be quite disappointed. Stranger still, a number of apps, including the camera app, YouTube, and others, seek to switch to a Flex Mode-like UI when the device is partially folded.
Conclusion
The way the software works and the quality of the camera make us nervous, though. Recent phones from Samsung, OPPO and HONOR are more advanced than TECNO's foldable phone. It comes with a lot of weird apps, and the picture quality is about the same as cheap phones.
On the other hand, the phone's low early bird price of Rs 79,999/$979 (12GB/256GB) helps offset some of these issues. It's the cheapest Fold-style foldable phone you can buy, even at its normal price of Rs 89,999/$1,099. The TECNO Phantom V Fold will be available in India first. The list will grow as more countries are added.