Tecno’s growth trajectory in recent years has been remarkable, and 2024 proved to be another year of milestones and market disruptions for the brand. As part of Transsion Holdings, alongside Infinix and itel, Tecno continued its strong presence in emerging markets by delivering a portfolio of feature-rich devices across various price segments. From folding phones to midrange champions, Tecno showed it has what it takes to challenge established brands. But while 2024 was mostly a success story, a few shortcomings and missed opportunities deserve attention.
Winners: Phantom V Fold2 and V Flip2 – Affordable Foldables Done Right
Tecno’s foray into foldable phones has been bold, and with the Phantom V Fold2 and V Flip2, the company delivered significant improvements over their first-gen counterparts.
- The Phantom V Fold2, with a 50g lighter build, slimmer profile, and IP54 rating, made strides in hardware. The updated vegan leather back, stylus support, and new 50MP ultrawide camera added further polish, while the device ran an optimized Android 14 interface tailored for foldable screens.
- The V Flip2 also turned heads with a 3.64-inch cover display, improved 50MP ultrawide camera, 4,720 mAh battery, and 70W fast charging, making it one of the most practical flip phones in its class.
Both foldables were priced aggressively, with the Phantom V Fold2 at INR 79,999 ($945/€890) and the V Flip2 at INR 34,999 ($415/€390), making them among the most affordable folding phones available. Unfortunately, Tecno’s limited global availability remains a barrier to broader success.
Winner: Camon 30 Premier – Midrange Marvel
The Tecno Camon 30 Premier punched well above its weight, offering features rarely seen in its price range. Highlights include:
- LTPO OLED display
- Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset
- Triple 50MP camera setup, including a 3x optical periscope lens
At INR 39,999 ($470/€450), the Camon 30 Premier delivered a premium design, 70W fast charging, and solid battery life, making it one of the most compelling midrange phones of the year. It’s a device that deserves wider recognition, and with Tecno’s planned global expansion, the upcoming Camon 40 Premier may further solidify its position.
Winner: Pova 6 Pro – Feature-Packed Gaming Beast
Tecno’s Pova 6 Pro caught attention in the midrange gaming category with its distinct design and impressive specs.
- 120Hz AMOLED display
- 108MP main camera
- 6,000 mAh battery with 70W fast charging
- Dependable Dimensity 6080 chipset
Priced around €300, the Pova 6 Pro stood out with its transparent back design, LED notification strip, and HiOS 14 based on Android 14, offering excellent value for money in its segment.
Loser: Spark 20 Pro+ – A Missed Opportunity
While the Spark 20 Pro+ brought a well-rounded package to the budget segment, it was held back by several issues:
- The MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, though reliable, felt dated in late 2024.
- The 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display lacked HDR support and offered relatively low 549 nits brightness, limiting its appeal.
- Our review unit shipped with HiOS 13.6, which felt outdated compared to the newer HiOS 14 seen on other Tecno devices.
- Wi-Fi stability issues further marred the user experience.
Tecno needs to address these shortcomings with better software support and more up-to-date hardware in future Spark models.
Loser: Global Availability – A Persistent Challenge
Despite launching some of the most exciting devices in the midrange and foldable segments, Tecno continues to struggle with global availability. While it has a strong foothold in developing markets, it is yet to expand meaningfully into Western markets. This limits its ability to compete with established brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus on a larger scale.
Loser: Phantom X2 Pro Successor – The Missing Follow-Up
One glaring absence in Tecno’s lineup was a successor to the Phantom X2 Pro, a device that was lauded for its 2.5x pop-out portrait camera. With no follow-up in 2024, fans were left wondering why Tecno didn’t capitalize on the X2 Pro’s momentum.
The good news is that Tecno has been working on new camera technologies, including EVS Dynamic Snapshot and Tap Any Zoom Prism Telephoto, which could feature in the rumored Phantom X3 Pro. Hopefully, 2025 will see Tecno return to form in the high-end segment with a true flagship successor.