This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
Launched in August 2019, the Tecno Phantom 9 is a Flipkart-exclusive device that boasts a triple-rear-camera setup, an AMOLED screen with in-display fingerprint sensor, and a gradient design.
Available at a retail price of Sh24,999, the phone seems to be a good value for money in the mid-range segment. However, does it live up to its promise?
The device has a trendy design, with a reflective plastic back that feels like glass. The phone features a micro pattern on its back, which Tecno refers to as a holographic design.
The display has a full HD+ resolution, stretched in a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Although it is an AMOLED panel, the screen's contrast, saturation, and color rendition do not seem very well calibrated.
However, the display is sufficiently bright and can hold its own under direct sunlight. The screen is also protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass 3.
The display comes with an integrated fingerprint sensor, which works but is slightly slow.
The phone has a triple-camera setup on the back, featuring a 16-megapixel primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view, and a 2MP depth sensor.
For selfies, the phone is loaded with a 32 MP AI front-facing camera, which is impressive. However, the camera performance is a bit of a letdown, especially in terms of capturing details and low-light imaging.
The phone draws power from a 3,500 mAh battery and takes over two hours to fully charge. On a single charge, the Tecno Phantom 9 easily lasts for an entire day with a screen-on-time of around 7 hours.
The handset lacks a dedicated night mode, which is no surprise given its budget-friendly price. However, the camera records Full HD videos at 30 frames per second, and the resolved detail is decent.
The phone is powered by Mediatek's MT6765 Helio P35 chipset and also loaded with 6 GB of RAM. This combination does well to keep the stutter and lag at bay during normal tasks. However, things go south when you turn to gaming.
Overall, the Tecno Phantom 9 is an average phone that struggles to keep up with the highly competitive handsets. However, you might like to consider it for its design, on-battery time, and decent performance.
