Tecno Phantom 9 Review

Tecno Phantom 9 Review – A Flagship Worth Considering

The Tecno Phantom 9 is a premium smartphone from Tecno Mobile, a brand known for offering high-quality smartphones at affordable prices. Released as part of their Phantom series, the Phantom 9 brings flagship-level features to the mid-range market. With a sleek design, solid performance, and impressive cameras, it competes with other smartphones in the same price range. Let’s dive into the full review of the Tecno Phantom 9 and see what it has to offer.

Design and Build Quality

The Tecno Phantom 9 features a premium design with a glass back and a gradient color scheme. The phone feels sturdy and stylish in hand. The sleek, reflective finish gives it a modern and polished appearance. Here’s a closer look at its design:

Display: The 6.4-inch AMOLED display is one of the standout features of the Phantom 9. With FHD+ resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels), the screen delivers bright colors and sharp visuals. The Super AMOLED technology provides deeper blacks and vibrant colors, making it great for media consumption, gaming, and day-to-day use. The waterdrop notch at the top houses the front camera, keeping the bezels slim and maximizing screen space.
Build: The back of the phone is made of glass, which gives the device a premium feel. The gradient design adds a touch of elegance with color transitions that reflect light differently depending on the angle.
In-display Fingerprint Sensor: One of the premium features of the Phantom 9 is its in-display fingerprint sensor, offering fast and secure unlocking.
Ports and Buttons: The device comes with the usual set of ports, including a USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and dual SIM card slots. The power button and volume rocker are on the right side of the phone, making them easily accessible.

The Tecno Phantom 9 is one of the more attractive smartphones in the mid-range market. Its design and premium materials stand out, especially considering the price.

Performance

The Tecno Phantom 9 is powered by the MediaTek Helio P35 chipset, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card up to 256GB). The Helio P35 is an octa-core processor built for efficiency rather than raw power. Here’s how the phone performs:

Day-to-day Performance: The device handles most day-to-day tasks with ease, including browsing the web, social media, watching videos, and light gaming. The 6GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking, and switching between apps is responsive.
Gaming: While the Helio P35 is not a powerhouse, it performs decently in casual gaming. Games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty can run on medium settings with acceptable frame rates, but you may experience some stutter or frame drops with more demanding titles.
Storage: The 128GB of internal storage is more than enough for most users, and you can expand it with a microSD card if you need more space.

While the Phantom 9 won’t win any performance benchmarks against flagship devices, it performs reliably for its price range and is suitable for most users’ everyday needs.

Camera Quality

The camera setup on the Tecno Phantom 9 is one of its strongest points. The phone features a 48MP AI-powered triple camera system on the back and a 32MP front camera. Here’s a detailed look at the camera performance:

Rear Camera Setup:
- 48MP primary sensor: The main camera offers sharp, detailed shots with good dynamic range in well-lit conditions. The AI-enhanced camera helps optimize the settings for different environments, resulting in improved color accuracy and detail.
- 8MP ultra-wide lens: This lens is perfect for landscape shots or capturing wide scenes, and it provides decent results, although there can be some distortion around the edges.
- 2MP depth sensor: The depth sensor helps in creating better bokeh effects in portrait shots, giving them a professional touch with a nicely blurred background.

In daylight, the Phantom 9 excels, capturing bright, crisp images. However, in low light, the camera can struggle, with some noise and loss of detail in darker areas. The AI Night Mode helps, but it’s not quite on the same level as more expensive phones.

Front Camera:
- The 32MP front camera is one of the best in the mid-range segment. It captures high-quality selfies with a lot of detail, even in lower light. The AI Beauty Mode smoothens skin tones and enhances facial features, giving you great-looking selfies. Video calls are also clear, and the front camera is excellent for social media enthusiasts.

Overall, the camera performance is impressive for the price. The 48MP primary camera is perfect for capturing everyday moments, and the 32MP front camera is excellent for selfies.

Battery Life

The Tecno Phantom 9 is equipped with a 3500mAh battery, which is slightly smaller compared to some competitors in the same price range. However, the battery optimization and power-efficient chipset help the phone last through a day of moderate use.

Battery Life: You can expect around 6 to 8 hours of screen-on time, depending on usage. For light users, it can easily last a full day, while heavy users may need to charge the phone by the evening.
Charging: The phone supports 18W fast charging, which allows you to charge the battery up to around 50% in 30 minutes. While it’s not the fastest charging technology on the market, it’s still faster than traditional charging speeds and helps get you back to using the phone quickly.

Software and User Experience

The Tecno Phantom 9 runs on Android 9.0 Pie with HiOS 5.0 on top. HiOS offers a range of features and customization options, including:

Smart Panel: This feature provides quick access to apps and tools without leaving the current screen.
Game Mode: Game Mode optimizes performance while gaming, reducing interruptions from notifications.
Battery Saving Features: HiOS comes with a suite of battery-saving tools that help you get the most out of the 3500mAh battery.

While HiOS is a bit heavy on customization and comes with some bloatware, it provides a decent overall experience and a lot of useful features.

Connectivity and Other Features

The Tecno Phantom 9 offers a range of connectivity options and features, including:

Dual SIM support: You can use two SIM cards at once for more flexibility in managing calls and data.
4G LTE support: Enjoy fast internet speeds for browsing, streaming, and downloading apps.
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack.
Face Unlock: In addition to the in-display fingerprint sensor, you can unlock the phone with face recognition, which works quickly and securely.

Price and Value for Money

The Tecno Phantom 9 offers excellent value for money, considering its price point. It competes well with other mid-range devices in the market, providing solid performance, an impressive camera system, and a premium design. If you’re looking for a phone with flagship-like features at a mid-range price, the Tecno Phantom 9 is a solid option.

Pros

48MP AI triple rear camera for impressive photography.
32MP front camera for stunning selfies.
Sleek, premium design with a gradient finish.
6GB of RAM and 128GB storage, expandable with microSD.
18W fast charging support.
AMOLED display with vibrant colors.
Affordable price for the features it offers.

Cons

Helio P35 chipset may not be as powerful as competing devices.
Battery capacity of 3500mAh is smaller than some competitors.
HiOS can be a bit too heavy on customization and bloatware.

Final Verdict

The Tecno Phantom 9 is a fantastic mid-range phone that brings many premium features at an affordable price. From its stunning design and AMOLED display to the impressive camera performance and fast charging, the Phantom 9 offers great value for money. While the Helio P35 chipset may not be the most powerful for intensive gaming, it performs well for regular tasks and casual use.

If you’re looking for a phone that combines style, performance, and camera quality, the Tecno Phantom 9 is definitely worth considering. It’s an excellent choice for users who want a smartphone with flagship-like features without the flagship price.