Tecno Phantom V Fold – (12GB RAM, 256GB ROM)

Tecno Phantom V Fold – 7.85″ (12GB RAM, 256GB ROM) Android 13 (50/50/13) MP + 16MP/32MP Selfies – Dual – NFC – 5000mAh – Black

The Phantom has the better proportions of foldables that aren’t the Galaxy – the cover screen is larger and so much more usable than the one on the Samsung, and the foldable display on the inside is bigger too. A large battery is then needed to power all that 120Hz OLED screen area, and you end up with a rather heavy package – a gram shy of 300g.

You do get a pretty capable camera system with a couple of 50MP units for main and tele, plus an autofocusing ultrawide – when are we ever getting AF on an UW on a Samsung foldable?

Unlike the bulk of foldables, the Tecno has a Mediatek chipset at its heart. The Dimensity 9000+ is about on par with the Snapdragon 8(+) Gen 1 though, so the Phantom V Fold is anything but underpowered. And with 12GB of RAM as standard and 256GB or 512GB of storage, you won’t be pressed for memory either.

Other small niceties include 45W fast charging, stereo speakers, and an FM radio – flagship Snapdragons dropped that a while ago. It’s a most welcome sight that the V Fold runs Android 13, so its software is current, too (also quite capable, it turns out).

• Body: 159.4×140.4×6.9mm unfolded, 159.4x72x14.2-14.5 mm folded, 299g; Gorilla Glass Victus front, plastic back, aluminum frame; Schott UTG on the foldable display.
• Display: 7.85″ Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1100 nits (peak), 2000x2296px resolution, 10.3:9 aspect ratio, 388ppi; Cover display: 6.42″ LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1100 nits (peak), 1080 x 2550 pixels, 431 PPI.
• Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.20 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Mali-G710 MC10.
• Memory: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
• OS/Software: Android 13, HiOS 13 Fold.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.3″, PDAF; Telephoto: 50 MP, PDAF, 2x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 13 MP, 120˚.
• Selfie camera: Cover:: 32MP, f/2.5. Internal: 16MP, f/2.5.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps; Front camera: 1080p@60fps.
• Battery: 5000mAh; 45W wired, 40% in 15 min, 100% in 55 min (advertised).
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); NFC; FM radio; stereo speakers.