In the US market, Tecno is hardly a blip on the radar, but in emerging markets like Africa, it has been able to get an absolute chokehold. The company has never focused on high-priced phones that can compete with the very best released by Samsung and Apple, so it was surprising to me when it released its first foldables last year.
Tecno’s second-generation of foldable phones is here; the Phantom V Fold 2 and the Phantom V Flip 2. As you can guess, there’s a clamshell foldable and a book-style foldable, and both of them are incredibly affordable compared to the competition.
The Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 Is The Cheapest Flagship Book-Style Foldable I’ve Seen
Let me cut to the chase and say that the new Phantom V Fold 2 costs $1,099. That’s the price of Samsung’s clamshell Z Flip 6. Needless to say, for a big foldable, that’s very cheap. The question is, does it deliver quality specifications for that price?
The Design
The Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 doesn’t have my favorite design in the world. The camera module is bulky and complicated and I think a simpler layout would have worked much better. However, it was likely done this way to fit in more capable camera hardware, so all is forgiven.
Tecno also did a whole lot in optimizing the design. Not only does the device go down to less than 12mm when folded (and 6.1mm unfolded), it loses a ridiculous amount of weight, down to 249 grams — that’s 50 grams shaved off. Yet, the battery is much bigger. Good work, Tecno.
The Screens
On the front of the device is a 6.42-inch FHD+ AMOLED cover display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. It comes with 2,160Hz PWM dimming for your eye health too. On the inside, the device will unfold to reveal a large 7.85-inch 2K AMOLED screen. Both displays have a 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO technology. Tecno did pretty well in this department.
Plus, it is compatible with the Phantom V Pen, so if you’re big on styluses working with your foldables, this doesn’t disappoint.
The Hardware
On the inside, the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ is the chip at play. This is the same as the Phantom V Fold from last year, and though relatively dated, it is still a flagship chip. There’s 12GB of RAM in this along with 512GB of storage.
The battery is impressively large, at 5,750 mAh, and still comes with 70W wired fast charging, allowing for a full charge in just 50 minutes. Wireless charging isn’t neglected, as you get the capability for a relatively standard 15W charge.
The Cameras
That camera module that I mentioned earlier houses a triple 50MP camera setup, with a primary camera, an ultrawide, and a 50MP 2x “portrait” camera. The main camera lets you record in 4K at 60fps and comes with OIS.
In the cover display and in the foldable display, you’ll find that each has a 32MP selfie camera punched into it.
The Pricing
As I mentioned earlier, this device will be available at $1,099, in Karst Green and Rippling Blue colorways. The back panel is made from “marble-patterned fiberglass and pleated leather textures”. I’m not sure what that means, but it does look good.
The Phantom V Flip 2 Is Even More Affordable And Very Fashion-Forward
Clamshell foldables seem to appeal pretty heavily to people who want more fashionable devices. I don’t know how that happened, but it is what it is. The Phantom V Flip 2 certainly does what it can to be simple and attractive, but packed with plenty of power at a low price.
The Design
The Phantom V Flip 2 is small and stylish and comes with the relative simplicity that we’ve come to expect of these clamshell devices. It has a relatively plain back panel, slightly rounded metallic sides, and a large cover display with two cameras cutting into it. It’s a sleek look, overall.
Its dimensions are mostly the same, measuring a relatively chunky 16mm when folded and it weighs just under 200 grams.
The Screens
The “ThruPool” cover display is a major point of excitement for people who saw the cover display of the original Phantom V Flip. Gone is the tiny circular screen, and in is the 3.64-inch square AMOLED display. It will also have compatibility with over 2,000 apps, as that’s what makes a clamshell’s foldable screen truly useful.
On the inside is a 6.9-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED screen, with FHD+ resolution. 6.9 inches is bigger than essentially all full-blown non-folding flagships of this day and age.
The Hardware
The phone comes in a single storage configuration, which is 8/256GB. You’ll also have to make do with the midrange Dimensity 8020 but to be honest, for the price this phone comes out, a flagship processor would have been a lofty expectation.
Despite its relatively diminutive size, Tecno manages to cram a 4,720 mAh cell into this device, making it one of the largest batteries you’ll find in a clamshell foldable. On top of that, you still get the 70W charging that the V Fold 2 has, allowing for a full charge in 43 minutes. Very impressive.
The Cameras
The dual-camera setup that cuts into the cover display is made up of two 50MP lenses — one is a primary camera and the other is a 150° FOV ultrawide. That is much wider than most ultrawide units that we’ve seen. The foldable display has a 32MP selfie camera. I reckon the cameras are similar to the ones you’ll find in the V Fold 2.
The Pricing
Getting the Tecno Phantom V Flip 2 will only set you back by $699, which isn’t bad at all for what you get. It’s priced the same as the Motorola Razr (2024); it’s nice to see competition in the lower tiers of the clamshell game.
It’s Not A 2024 Phone Launch Without AI
The Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 and V Flip 2 both offer an incredible amount of value for the prices that they come at; most particularly the V Fold 2. After all, most big manufacturers have no plans to launch foldables of its type at anywhere less than $1,799.
While the phones might be bucking pricing trends, they do stick to certain software trends, particularly the AI craze. The Tecno AI Suite comes on both devices, giving you access to the Ella AI Assistant, AI Wallpapers, AI Artboard, and more of those AI features that everyone else has at this point.
