Tecno Pova 5 has been launched in Malaysia at a price of RM699 each. It is a mid-range device that is limited to 4G support via the MediaTek Helio G99 chip. At the same time, it also has its own pros and cons in upgrading devices in the 5G era. Here is the full review for the Tecno Pova 5 to see what it has to offer.
Specification
Tecno Pova 5
Screen 6.78″ IPS LCD, 120Hz
1220 x 2700 pixels (~444 ppi)
MediaTek Helio G99 Processor
4 x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 chips
6 x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55
Mali-G57 MC2 Graphics Chip
RAM 8GB LPDDR4X
256GB Internal Load
Main Camera 50MP
AI lens
16MP f/2.4 Selfie Camera
6,000mAh battery
45W wired charging
SIM/Telephone Dual SIM nano / 4G
NFC Yes
Bicu Audio Ada
Waterproof None
Impression system Fingerprint imposition
Face Scan
Selling Price RM699
design
Heavy and thick, these are the two words that came to mind when I first held this smartphone. What can I say the experience is quite different to devices that have been reviewed before. But considering that this smartphone uses a large 6,000mAh battery, then this is actually to be expected and maybe you can try to get one to experience this for yourself.
Compliments however can I give to the attractive packaging with a futuristic design. If included, there are two color choices offered in Malaysia and one of them is Hurricane Blue, like the unit received by me for this review article. Personally it really stands out, especially for the back panel with a completely unique pattern.
At the same time I am also grateful for the curved construction on the sides which makes this smartphone very comfortable to hold even though it is a bit heavy. It's then a plus that the Tecno doesn't use a thick camera mount so there's no problem laying it flat on a table.
As beautiful and comfortable as it is, weaknesses can also be found on the back panel which is very smooth with a completely plastic-based construction. Then, if you touch it, it can actually show a very clear impression of a fingerprint.
Well there aren't too many negative comments I can say about the build material considering the Pova 5 is just a budget device priced under RM700. But the existing problem of fingerprint dirt has created an unpleasant feeling that has disfigured the packaging of this smartphone itself. Likewise, the shiny side build requires me to be more careful to avoid scratching.
The power button and audio adjustment are placed on the right side. The position is considered ergonomic which can also be accessed easily without problems. The left side also has a SIM card slot that supports up to three different card slots, which means microSD cards can also be used here. At the top there is only the loudspeaker, while the second loudspeaker is at the bottom which is also flanked by a USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Then you can also find a built-in fingerprint scanner on the side of this smartphone. It works pretty well with smooth unlocking performance. It's just that the fingers should always be clean and not wet.
As an option there is also a face scan system provided with a selection process that takes about 5 seconds. The performance is also good with the ability to unlock the device quite smoothly. At the same time there are also special settings that allow it to be used in dark lighting areas if necessary.
Also worth sharing is that this smartphone provides a 3.5mm audio jack which is considered to give advantages to fans of wired earbuds. The existence of a stereo speaker system has also added value to this smartphone itself. It is able to offer a loud but unbalanced audio jump.
This is said to be because the speaker at the bottom sounds stronger than at the top. The lack of any kind of waterproof and dust protection can also be seen as a big drawback considering that there are only manufacturers who are still able to provide these features to budget devices.
Front Screen
Apart from the battery, this smartphone also has a large 6.78-inch FHD+ front screen which also supports 120Hz refresh rate. Also included is a 16MP selfie camera placed in a small hole in the middle.
No further comment regarding the inconsistent bezel sizes considering most phones in the same class also have the same issue. It can be said that I have no problems with this IPS LCD screen, but it is still bright with good color exposure.
Animation switching is also smooth without any issues with a 120Hz screen. At the same time users can also choose to use a 60Hz or 90Hz screen for battery saving purposes. I say this by putting it at the stage of an affordable device, so don't equate that experience with a more expensive device.
Levels and Markers
The MediaTek Helio G99 chip is used for the main support of the device. It is not a new processing chip, in fact it has been launched since 2019 and in general all devices powered by it only support 4G performance. This is combined with 8GB of RAM memory and 256GB of internal storage which is considered sufficient to accommodate the daily needs of most users.
In addition, this device also supports a virtual RAM called MemFusion with 3GB/5GB/8GB options, while making it have up to 16GB of RAM which can be activated through a specified space if necessary. But by default this virtual RAM will be set at 5GB RAM. I've also run some benchmark tests, and also compared them with equivalent devices as below:
Antutu 3D benchmarks
Tecno Pova5 4G – 406.217
Realme 10 4G – 398,203
Geekbench6
Tecno Pova 5 4G – 737/2005
Realme 10 4G – 572/1743
WildLife Extreme
Tecno Pova 5 4G – 1,263
Realme 10 4G – N/A
The result from experience is that the device can be used properly for the majority of daily tasks, especially the use of social media applications and ordering. The screen is also smooth because of the 120Hz screen, where there is no issue of slow-looking animations or excessive heating issues as long as the device is used during viewing.
I also often leave many apps running in the background but no extreme issues were encountered. In fact, you could say that the entire device operates smoothly, and the application also doesn't undergo a completely fresh process or is closed aggressively. It needs to be said that this experience is based on the benchmarks of a budget smartphone, so it shouldn't be confused with a good experience on a more expensive device.
Then my experience also found that there were no excessive problems that occurred when the device was used to play the first. Most of the surfaces tested function properly, and special settings can also reach Ultra/Super for MBB games and Medium/High for COD Mobile.
Playing Alsphat 9 games is also fun with the Extreme graphics setting which immediately doesn't cause any issues with barriers. It's just that the initial weakness is visible for games that require high graphics support such as Genshin Impact, it's more advisable to play at simple settings for a good experience.
Also sharing about the software, Pova 5 uses HiOS 13 based on Android 13. It also needs to be said which is my first experience reviewing Tecno devices, so I can't be sure either in general or specifically the difference with the previous version. But what is certain is that this device fully supports Google Mobile Service, which means no issues using Google services on the device.
In short the interface can be customized with various built-in features such as floating windows, ability to run two applications simultaneously and so on. The most obvious flaws are encountered when the problem of fat apps and ads applies to the device. However, this issue can still be overcome by disabling the fat application manually. One thing that cannot be ascertained is the system update period and the security provided because it was not specifically shared.
Camera And Image Quality
The dual-camera system is used with the 50MP setting (main) and is followed by an AI lens. Its capabilities are also diversified with various camera mods built into the main camera interface such as Film, Video, AI Cam, Beauty, Portrait and Super Night. Inside there are also Slow Motion, AR Shot, Pro, Dual Video, Panorama, Document, Time-lapse and Sky Shop mods which can be accessed by dragging the small arrow icon up.
Each image can be taken at a different ratio which includes Full, 4:3 and 1:1, while videos can also be recorded up to 2K/30fps which also supports built-in stabilization. The camera system also supports 2X optical zoom and 10X digital zoom, in addition to a built-in beauty mode that can be used to take pictures and record videos. It's more fun if the bokeh in the background can also be adjusted when making video recordings.
The overall image regeneration looks fine but depends on the conditions and lighting. This is said to be because the performance is inconsistent in that even when HDR and AI mode are enabled, images sometimes have excessive exposure issues. Reproduction of colors is very dull, then noise can also be seen clearly.
It's even more funny if AI is also seen to have failed to accurately assess the current situation/subject, even the suggestions given are also very different. For example, when I point the camera towards a building area, AI will provide a "Street View" view which feels completely different from the current situation.
The included AI lens can also be considered a futile action because everything only depends on the 50MP main camera. It would be good if at least a wide sensor was given here which should be of more use to the user.
But kudos are still given for the seamless experience of switching camera mods, as well as no single closed camera app crashes encountered throughout the review. Likewise, built-in Night Mode 3.0 support is very helpful in making low-light images brighter and clearer.
However the results are inconsistent with the simple details as frenzy issues also exist in some situations. Although it feels unfair to put high hopes on a budget smartphone. But since I've tested several budget smartphones with better camera systems, to be honest the Tecno Pova 5 isn't one of them.
Battery Life
Finally the battery that is included is also large with a capacity of 6000mAh which should have no problems being used for a long period of time. The light usage experience involving daily activities like browsing the web, replying to messages, listening to music and so on allows this smartphone to be used for more than a day without any problems. Likewise with extreme use which can offer SOT of more than 12 hours for daily use.
Compliments also go to Tecno for providing a fast 45W charging system, as well as a charging head which is also provided in the purchase box. Therefore, users are not at all burdened with the issue of buying chargers separately. What's even more interesting is that earbuds are also given free of charge which is a very rare case for manufacturers today.
What's In The Box?
Here is what is received with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Tecno Pova 5.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x 45W charging head.
1x User Manual.
1x Silicone Shell.
1x SIM Pin.
1X Wired earpads.
Conclusion
Overall, this smartphone has its own pros and cons. The good thing about the Tecno Pova 5 is the large 6.78″ screen which is capable of providing a satisfying visual viewing experience. Apart from that, there are no excessive issues found on the included screen, even though it is only an LCD type.
Then the battery capacity is also large which should be no problem for this smartphone to last longer. This is further enhanced by the 45W charging system which can be categorized as still suitable for the smartphone recharging process. The combined memory of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage is also sufficient to accommodate the needs of most users. Also provided is the ability to extend virtual memory up to 8GB, while being a smartphone can offer up to 16GB of RAM in total.
The most obvious cons should be the lack of 5G support on this smartphone considering the MediaTek Helio G99 chip is used as the main support. Apart from that, Tecno Pova 5 also does not comply with any waterproof rating which should require very careful care to avoid damage issues.
The 50MP camera configuration used may sound a bit grand, but the results are not as expected. This clearly shows that the camera system is not a strength for him, instead there are many other options in the same class that can be considered such as Redmi or Xiaomi devices. However for those interested in getting one, it has been sold in Malaysia for RM699.
Pro
The screen is satisfactory even though it is only an IPS LCD.
Smooth tuning with 120Hz screen.
The combination of RAM and adequate internal storage.
6000mAh battery with 45W fast charging.
3.5mm audio jack.
Counter
Body heavy and thick.
No 5G support.
Not dust and water resistant.
Inconsistent camera.