Tecno Phantom V Fold Is Proof ‘cheap Foldables Can Be Great, And Now A Flip Is Coming
Foldable smartphones are expensive, but there is a very affordable option, the Tecno Phantom V Fold, which was launched earlier this year. Now Tecno is announcing the launch of a foldable phone that is likely to carry the same brand value.
Tecno Phantom V Fold is a remarkable achievement when it comes to making foldable devices affordable
. Launched earlier this year, the Tecno Phantom V Fold is one of the most affordable book-style foldable devices to date. At around $1,100, it's barely more expensive than a traditional flagship phone, and well below options like the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But most importantly, it's a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Google Pixel Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
You don't need to make any major compromises to reach this price.
I've been playing with the Phantom V Fold for the past few weeks and I've been pretty impressed with it, at least from a hardware perspective.
From the brushed metal frame to the hinge itself, the Phantom V Fold is well built. When you open the device, the hinge gently opens to reveal a 7.85-inch 120Hz display that has an almost invisible crease like the icing on a cake. Tecno beat Samsung or Google here, which is impressive. The hinge catches a bit until it reaches a full 180 degree opening, and the hinge usually comfortably reaches its maximum size around 178-179. I don't think it's a big deal, but it's one area where there's been a clear compromise. The heel is also "springy" in that it wants to be fully open or fully closed. Unlike foldable devices from Samsung, Google and Oppo, this hinge cannot be "set" at a certain angle; I think it's a fair compromise.
The back of the V Fold is made of textured plastic, which I really like, and on top is a large circular camera module with a unique shape and three camera sensors. I haven't played with the cameras much, but at least they seem passable. The folks at Android Police called it "pretty decent" back in April.
The device of the Phantom V Fold inspires confidence in the possibility of a "cheap" foldable device, but the software is definitely the weak point. Tecno's 'HiOS' is a clunky Android interface and not particularly pleasant to use. There are some nice things, like the ability to run apps in floating windows and set the timer to 'quiet', but there are other things that are frustrating in day-to-day use, such as notification bar and quick settings in two separate windows (hello iOS), and I'm not the biggest fan. With a complete design aesthetic. But at least things seem to be getting better. During the few weeks I had the Phantom in my hands, one of the random updates brought the app drawer to the home screen, turning the angsty experience into something I'd be okay with.
Unfortunately, the Tecno Phantom V Fold is another book-style foldable device that only sells in limited quantities. The device is not limited to the Chinese market like many other markets, but is only available in specific regions like India.
Ultimately, though, Tecno's efforts mean more than just bringing a powerful foldable device to a new market. To me, this just proves that this technology has become so good that the prices can finally come down, and this is especially important considering that Samsung, the market leader, still chooses the same high price despite the lack of improvements important. the past three generations..
Above all, this is not the first time that Tecno shows how good cheap devices can be. The company also launched the Camon 20 Pro and Premier earlier this year as Android phones with surprisingly powerful specs and cameras, but at low prices. The Camon 20 Pro costs the equivalent of around $230 in the US market and still has 5G connectivity, a 120Hz display and is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8050 processor. It was one of the few devices that could test Android 14 early.
Compare that to a US$230 Android phone like the OnePlus Nord N300, which has a weaker 90Hz display, and the much weaker MediaTek Dimensity 810, which comes with Android 12 and only gets an update to Android 13. .
Tecno 'Phantom V Flip' will be released on September 22nd.
With this in mind, Tecno's next release, the Phantom V Flip, is quite exciting.
The Phantom V Flip has appeared in several previous leaks and has a similar shape to the Galaxy Z Flip 5, but with a unique circular display on the outside. It also looks like it will share a lot of similarities with the V Fold in terms of its construction, which is good news.
As GSMArena reports, Tecno is holding an event in Singapore on September 22, where it will be very clear that this foldable phone is coming to the market. Tecno even openly states that the upcoming release will demonstrate a "commitment to explore new form factors and redefine the style and functionality of foldable phones for an enthusiastic, modern and forward-thinking audience." The only question now is how much it will cost and whether
it will have enough of an impact to convince others to bring a cheaper-looking phone to market...
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