In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, Tecno has unveiled a groundbreaking design that’s sure to turn heads. Introducing the Tecno Phantom V Flip – a folding phone with a cover screen that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before.
A Cover Screen Unlike Any Other
While most foldable phones feature square or oblong outer screens, Tecno has taken a different route. The Phantom V Flip’s cover screen is reminiscent of a smartwatch, both in functionality and design. This compact foldable phone’s outer screen displays time, notifications, weather updates, movement data, and calendar appointments, much like a smartwatch would. The 1.32-inch AMOLED screen boasts a resolution of 466 x 466, similar to Huawei’s Watch GT 4.
Navigating the cover screen is intuitive, with swipes revealing widgets, music controls, notifications, and quick settings. The interface is inspired by smartwatch software, particularly the Wear OS’s tile system. However, there are some limitations. The screen doesn’t support apps due to its size, and its brightness peaks at 800 nits. Additionally, the always-on feature is restricted to the main screen, and notifications aren’t immediately displayed on the cover screen.
Design and Build
The Tecno Phantom V Flip, when folded, is comparable in size to the Motorola Razr Plus. When unfolded, it reveals a 6.9-inch AMOLED screen with a 2640 x 1080 pixel resolution and a dynamic refresh rate of 101-120Hz. The phone’s chassis is metallic, and its body is wrapped in skin-friendly leather, available in “Mystic Dawn” and “Iconic Black” colors. Weighing 194 grams, it’s slightly heavier than its competitors but remains pocket-friendly.
The hinge, tested for up to 250,000 folds, offers a smooth and silent operation. It can hold the phone at angles ranging from 30 to 150 degrees. The hinge’s quality is superior to the Razr Plus but falls slightly short of the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s hinge.
Camera Capabilities
Tecno’s innovative design extends to the camera setup. The circular cover screen seamlessly integrates the cameras, giving it a clean look. The phone features a 64MP main camera, a 13MP wide-angle camera, and a 32MP selfie camera at the top of the unfolded screen. The cover screen also has a camera preview window, allowing users to take selfies using the main cameras.
While the main camera produces satisfactory images, the wide-angle camera’s performance is underwhelming. The main camera can sometimes oversaturate colors, but overall, it captures detailed and share-worthy photos.
Key Takeaways:
- Tecno Phantom V Flip introduces a unique smartwatch-like cover screen.
- The phone’s design is sleek, with a sturdy hinge mechanism.
- Camera performance is a mixed bag, with the main camera outshining the wide-angle lens.
Stay tuned for more updates on this innovative folding flip phone and its impact on the smartphone market.
