Tecno Phantom 9 – Review
Tecno is a brand that is generally known for entry-level mobiles, but the Phantom 9 changed that perception. Tecno Phantom 9 is a mid-range mobile with loads of features that is rare in this segment. Let’s dive in and check if this mobile is worth the price tag of Rs 14999, in India.
Unlike any other Tecno mobiles, the Phantom 9 was much awaited and the internet was flooded with leaks, rumors, and anticipation. When the device was finally launched in India, the device lived up to the hype. Let us look at the design of the mobile. Tecno Phantom 9 is predominantly made of plastic, but it is a sturdily built mobile. It has a 6.39 inch AMOLED panel with a dewdrop notch and the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The mobile supports dual SIM cards along with a dedicated slot for SD card. I found the design to be attractive. It has a good feel in the hand. The plastic back case that ships in the box are of very good quality. Overall, I have nothing to complain about the Tecno Phantom 9 in design.
Display
Tecno Phantom 9 has an AMOLED screen which gives its deep contrast and vivid colors. Under direct sunlight, the display brightness is just about average. You can read the text, but don’t expect to review photos or see images under direct sunlight on a sunny day. Indoor usage has no issues. It has a night reading mode to help ease the strain on the eyes. For those who hate the notch, like me, the dewdrop notch is still an intrusion. But the display offers a better screen to body ratio compared to many other devices in its price segment.
Camera
I was in for a pleasant surprise with the Tecno Phantom 9 cameras. It has a 16 MP camera at the back with 8 MP wide-angle camera and 2 MP depth sensor. The camera UI utilizes AI algorithm to detect the scene and process the image. There are loads of fun features like AI Emoji shots. But the inclusion of a wide-angle camera is the most pleasing part of Tecno Phantom 9, especially in this price segment. Portrait shots are clean and natural. The primary camera shoots are good under most lighting conditions. The wide-angle shots are a bit soft around the corners. But considering the price segment of Tecno Phantom 9, the camera will please everyone.
On the front is a 32 MP quad sensor camera for selfies. But within those slim bezels, Tecno has managed to squeeze in dual flashlight for the front camera, along with speaker grills. Sliding the fingers on the camera UI adjusts the brightness of these LED flashlights. I must say that it is not just an engineering marvel, but a great design challenge made to look easy by Tecno. The quality of selfies is good under all light conditions. Portrait mode edge detection is not perfect, but the other features and general quality of output are good, considering the price.
Software
Tecno Phantom 9 runs on HiOS skinned on top of Android 9.0 Pie. It offers a bunch of features that have good utility value. It gives rooms for customization and personalization. It has a few apps pre-installed and those can be uninstalled if needed. The UI is breezy for most of it. It can handle apps and games with ease. It is not the lightest of the skinned UI we have seen. But it just works.
Performance
The Tecno Phantom 9 runs on a new processor from Mediatek: Mediatek Helio P35. This octa-core processor has a 12 nm architecture and is clocked at a maximum of 2.3GHz. It has 6 GB of RAM and a whopping 128 GB of internal storage. It has most of the expected sensors. The performance of the P35 processor is good for a mid-range mobile. It can handle PUBG at medium graphics and most resource-intensive games. But this is not a performance beast if you are looking for a gaming mobile. It can handle your day to day apps and games but don’t expect it to be an all-round performer.
It has an in-display fingerprint sensor, but the speed of the sensor is not quick. It is accurate but takes a little while to sense and unlock the mobile. But face unlock is faster and reliable.
Battery
Tecno Phantom 9 is powered by a 3,500mAh battery. The 10W charger in the box takes about 130 minutes to charge the mobile. Once charged fully, Tecno Phantom 9 can last for more than a day of moderate usage.
Verdict
Of all the Tecno mobiles launched, the Tecno Phantom 9 stands out and speaks the voice of the brand screaming to come out of the entry-level segment and join the big guns in the battle for market share. Well, Tecno Phantom 9 could be the ticket for that race. It is a surprise entrant in the market and it has much better features and performance compared to Oppo or Vivo mobiles in this price segment. The UI does not look childish. It has a mature user experience. I would recommend the Tecno Phantom 9 for anyone looking to buy a dependable daily driver. If you are looking for a powerful gaming device, look elsewhere. For the 15k, price tag, Tecno Phantom 9 does not disappoint.