Tecno is at the forefront of mid-range flip phones, and its Phantom V Flip 5G boasts several impressive features.
important keys
- The Tecno Phantom V Flip represents a mid-range foldable smartphone distinguished by its distinctive vegan leather outer covering, a high-refresh-rate 120Hz screen, and a respectable camera configuration.
- It boasts an elegant design featuring a clamshell foldable mechanism and a generously sized external display, elevating its aesthetics with the addition of the vegan leather exterior.
- Although the phone delivers commendable value for its cost, it does come with certain limitations, notably the absence of water and dust resistance, as well as room for potential software enhancements.
You might not be familiar with Tecno, as it’s a brand that has established a strong presence in Asia and Africa but is now making determined efforts to break into the US market.
Tecno’s Phantom V Flip stands out as one of the most intriguing smartphone releases in 2023, attempting something that few other manufacturers are willing to undertake: offering a mid-range, reasonably priced smartphone that combines aesthetics without breaking the bank.
The Phantom V Flip boasts an array of notable features, including a 6.9-inch folding screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 64MP primary camera, a 13MP secondary camera, a 4,000mAh battery, and a capable octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 8050 SoC that ties the flip phone together. The addition of a vegan leather exterior adds a delightful touch, setting the Phantom V Flip apart.
However, despite the growing appeal of the Tecno Phantom V Flip during my testing period, there still seems to be something missing from the overall package.
Aesthetic and Appearance
The Tecno Phantom V Flip is a clamshell folding smartphone with a spacious 6.9-inch display, and at first glance, it exudes an appealing aesthetic. Tecno has chosen to embrace a unique vegan leather or pleather casing for the device, a departure from the norm that adds to the distinctive character of the V Flip. I’ve had the opportunity to test the black leather variant (Iconic Black), but the purple color option (Mystic Dawn) appears intriguing, especially in a market filled with glass-dominated smartphones.
Beyond the vegan leather covering, the external aspect of the Phantom V Flip is primarily defined by its versatile external screen. Like many contemporary foldable devices, this exterior screen serves multiple functions, such as functioning as a camera viewfinder, displaying calendar notifications, and more. However, during my testing, several individuals pointed out that the screen appeared smaller than anticipated.
The cover display, referred to as the Planet Cover Screen by Tecno, is enclosed by a noticeable bezel housing the front-facing cameras and various sensors, resulting in an actual screen size of 1.32 inches. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 boasts a 1.9-inch cover screen, which expands to 3.4 inches with the Galaxy Z Flip 5. I will delve into screen quality and resolution in the following section.
Nevertheless, it would be desirable to witness a reduction in the size of this bezel in potential future iterations of the Phantom V Flip.
Durability is a crucial factor for flip phones, and Tecno rates the Phantom V Flip’s in-house developed steel hinge for a commendable 200,000 folds, placing it on par with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 (although less than the 400,000 folds claimed by Motorola for the Razr 40). Folding the device is straightforward and can be accomplished with one hand, although there is a slight sense of play when the screen is folded flat. While this play doesn’t result in any operational issues, it can be perceptible at times.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the Phantom V Flip does not fold completely flat. It can achieve angles between 30° and 150° with partial support before reaching its fully flat 180° mode. However, I observed a minute variance in angles, which doesn’t impact performance significantly and is hardly discernible. Nevertheless, this discrepancy means that there is a subtle crease consistently present on the Phantom V Flip’s display. Consequently, there is a noticeable void beneath this crease when running your fingers across the screen, imparting a slightly inexpensive feel to the device. Nevertheless, it’s understandable that this design is necessary for the folding mechanism.
Display Panels
I find the Phantom V Flip’s screen to be quite satisfactory. The primary 6.9-inch display features a resolution of 2,640 x 1,080 and a pixel density of 426 pixels per inch (ppi), set in a 22:9 aspect ratio. It boasts a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate with a responsive 360Hz touch sampling rate. It’s worth noting that the refresh rate rarely dropped below 60Hz when using Android’s developer tools, although it oddly dipped to 10Hz when using the Shure Play app for functions like ANC control and custom EQ settings. However, this quirk doesn’t bother me, as the Phantom V Flip’s screen remains highly responsive, offering an engaging and lively touch experience. There are some variances in performance around the fold crease, as expected, but even in those areas, the screen performed well, whether for tasks like file management or gaming.
In terms of brightness, the screen reaches a peak of 1,000 nits. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Flip 5 achieves a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, indicating that the mid-range Phantom V Flip 5 has some room for improvement in this regard. Occasionally, the screen may pose visibility challenges, especially in bright conditions, but these can usually be mitigated by adjusting your positioning to avoid direct sunlight. Nevertheless, an enhancement in screen brightness would be a welcome upgrade for future iterations.
The Phantom V Flip comes with a screen cover that is recommended not to be removed. This ultra-thin glass cover provides essential protection, and I appreciate Tecno’s decision to apply this protective covering at the factory. The only minor issue is that it tends to attract dust and fingerprints, although hardened glass screen protectors are not readily available for flip phones.
As mentioned earlier, the Phantom V Flip’s cover screen measures 1.32 inches, featuring a resolution of 466 x 466 and a pixel density of 352 ppi. Despite its compact size, the cover screen exhibits responsiveness with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 120Hz touch sampling rate. It also offers a respectable brightness of 800 nits. Regrettably, it does not support full-fledged apps like the Galaxy Flip series or Motorola Razr series, being limited to just nine apps at the time of my review.
However, considering that this is Tecno’s inaugural flip phone with a mid-range focus, the front cover screen performs admirably. It proves to be handy for quick tasks such as taking selfies, capturing short videos, checking upcoming appointments, and more.
Nonetheless, expanding the range of applications available for the front cover screen would be essential to enhance its competitiveness further.