Tecno Phantom X2 Pro 5G Review

Introduction

Transsion, a Chinese electronics company, promotes its products under the Tecno name, primarily in Africa. Unquestionably, the company is most recognized for its Camon series, a type of flagship line that strongly emphasizes the camera experience. The Phantom line, however, has developed into a separate, unique entity. One that aims to provide actual premium goods and services.

The initial Phantom X was introduced last year, and the X2 series is now introduced in 2023. Its lineup consists of the standard Phantom X2 & the X2 Pro. The phone has a 6.80-inch display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It has 12GB of RAM built-in. A 5160mAh battery powers the Android 12 operating system on the X2 Pro. It has patented quick charging capabilities. The Phantom X2 Pro's eye-catching & ergonomic unibody design makes it a premium device. Its price starts from Rs. 49,999.

A Particular Focus

Tecno provides the X2 Pro model with a strong emphasis on photography. The Chinese company just ousted Samsung as the leading phone brand in Africa, and it has set its sights on expanding into Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, & India. As part of its advertising as an ecologically friendly phone, this model's rear cover is made of recycled ocean plastic.

This phone is a top-tier flagship that doesn't skimp on any of its listed specifications. It also has a 6.8-inch screen size, dual SIM support, 120Hz AMOLED display, a 5160mAh battery, and fast 45W charging?all of which are wrapped in a somewhat small body.

Design and Build Quality

The phone's unexpected look is purposefully created. It has a distinctive, clearly deliberate center island with a large camera. The X2 Pro's camera lenses even have bright embellishments.

Now is a great time to talk about handling and ergonomics. Tecno has rounded edges, allowing for a secure hold. Nonetheless, this smartphone is not a particularly comfortable gadget to handle. Holding the phone in your hand is difficult because it's excessively top-heavy. The phone's small width makes using the screen with your thumb simpler.

If we talk about its build quality, the phone has a substantial solid feel about it. Overall, it's well put together. Gorilla Glass Victus protect the phone's front, while the central frame is composed of metal. Unquestionably, the most exciting aspect of this phone is its back. It is made of plastic; according to Tecno, all the material was recycled?one of the strangest textures we've ever noticed on a smartphone.

You can get this phone in the incredibly "out there" and vibrantly colored Mars Orange or the more somber and quiet Stardust Grey. Images of the respective products indicate that the rear surface of the Stardust Grey variant is smoother.

Controls & Connectivity

The control structure and configuration of the phone are basic. The volume and power buttons are on the phone's right edge. However, they both have a slightly tiny shape. They are both nicely positioned in height & reasonably simple to operate. In addition, it is lovely and "clicky" and provides satisfying tactile feedback. We particularly enjoy how the two buttons' colors complement the rear of the smartphone. The left side of the phone is unoccupied and uninterrupted. Like every other smartphone, the top of the phone houses the secondary noise-canceling microphone. It has many more things at the bottom, like the bottom-firing speaker and the main microphone. Additionally, there are two SIM card slots and a USB Type-C cable.

It only supports 480 Mbps wired USB 2.0 data transfer speeds. There is no alternate video or audio output. A fingerprint scanner is positioned beneath the display. It is really concise. There have been no complaints about it.

It has Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, and SA/NSA sub6 5G on both SIM slots for wireless connectivity. NFC and FM radio are both on board. This phone contains proximity sensor hardware that performs as expected.

Battery Life

The Phantom X2 Pro has a battery capacity of 5,160 mAh, previously sold as 5,000 mAh. As a result, the battery has enough capacity. Undoubtedly enough is present to enable a good battery life. This phone provides excellent battery performance.

According to the battery usage menu, the Phantom X2 Pro's display is somewhat of a power eater, especially in 120 Hz mode, but nothing excessive that the battery management system can't handle. The Phantom X2 Pro has its own 45W charger as well as a USB Type A-Type C cable. This phone charges slowly yet at a reasonable rate.

Camera

Let's talk about the standout feature and distinctive selling point now. Triple camera setups are present in the great majority of premium flagship smartphones. Although it follows this trend, the X2 Pro offers a unique trick. The X2 Pro has the first retractable portrait lens on a smartphone. According to TECNO, the telephoto lens enables portrait photography with more realistic optical bokeh and professional-looking results.

The 50MP camera provides high-quality photos. Both the clarity and the detail are good. Algorithmic sharpening is occasionally noticeable, although it is never extreme. Lovely and true colors are used.

However, the phone contains a 50MP portrait camera specifically designed for portraiture. It is also well adapted to the work, with a 65mm equivalent. The portrait photos it captures are generally lovely. Additionally, the 32MP selfie camera leaves a favorable impression. It offers outstanding clarity, plenty of detail, and appealing skin tones.

Notably, the Phantom X2 Pro has autofocus on all three rear cameras. However, autofocus can be finicky at times, resulting in fuzzy faces. Make sure to take a few pictures, just in case. The Phantom X2 Pro includes Super Night mode on all three cameras.

If there ever is a Pro camera choice, we were astonished to learn that there isn't one right now. In Film mode, there are several presets available for fast videos. Video mode contains bokeh if you want it.

Finally, the bokeh around the subject's edges is slightly better with the Phantom X2 Pro. For portrait mode photos, the phone also offers a variety of software options, including Face Retouching. As it sounds, you can use software to retouch specific facial traits.

If desired, the phone also allows changing certain body parts in images. Overall, the telephoto camera on this phone is its standout feature for a reason. In contrast to other smartphones, which frequently rely on the calculation to create the bokeh effect, it takes crisp, realistic portrait photographs. Portrait photography works beautifully with the Phantom X2 Pro.

Performance

This phone has been powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM as well as 256GB of internal storage. The CPU itself is quite strong and has plenty of power. Daily tasks may be carried out without any difficulties. When you run many programs or do complicated activities, the phone doesn't lag. Everything went perfectly, including opening and closing programs, snapping images, and multitasking. The handling of the RAM was also extremely good. It has sufficient RAM to execute programs in the background. This phone is a strong performer who can quickly render visuals and tackle visually demanding games. Every game runs smoothly on high settings. It's safe to state that you can play any game on this device, and it won't disappoint you.

Conclusion

If you want a conclusion in a single sentence, this phone is difficult to suggest, primarily due to its high price. Without question, it's a fantastic phone, but I don't believe it's good enough to justify the high price. But even if you purchase it, you won't be dissatisfied.

You receive a fantastic, fluid display for daily usage, and the strong battery life ensures that you can worry-free binge-watch the newest Netflix release. The performance is excellent, and you can easily play demanding games on it.

It would be better if the charging speed was 80W or 120W rather than simply 45W. Furthermore, Tecno has to spend much time on the user interface. Despite lacking several crucial smartphone functions, X2 Pro is intended for a niche market of users who desire the greatest portrait shots they can obtain. What matters to you more in a smartphone for everyday use will determine whether you should buy this phone or not.