In
2006, TECNO TELECOM was established, focusing on the research & development
of products.
TECNO was the first dual SIM mobile phone brand to hit the market in Africa,
and staying true to the maxim “think globally, act locally”, TECNO has achieved
great success in translating advanced technology into superior localized
products. TECNO puts heavy consideration on the customers experience and
endeavors to provide the customer with the most suitable products for their
environment by adopting the latest innovative technology. Even though I believe the device will sell in
large numbers, it has to be fast, powerful and feature-packed to sustain the
market share. Let us take a look at its performance.
Is the
Tecno PhantomA just a nice looking attractively packaged device or one that
power to thrill the user?
Love
- Chock-full of
features
- Great screen
- Dual Sim
- Quality Audio
- Good Camera and
Flash
- Decent Processor
- Great bargain
Price
- Practical
Accessories
Hate
- Gloss plastic
looks low-end
- Indecent battery
life
- Built in memory
- Crappy Front
Camera
Build
The Phantom A has a 5 in display and
it's certainly big enough if you want a smartphone that doubles for a tablet.
It’s manageable It’s like a smooth, cardholder that you can roll seamlessly
through your fingers though way bigger. It’s not quite as slim, at 9.1mm weighing a
hefty 143.5g and it
feels plasticky when you use the flip case. However, reassuringly solid despite
a removable battery.
Screen
The
screen is superbly viewable at 5in, the 1280x720 pixels High definition
resolution screen. It
is impressive with brilliant colors and rich black. Works perfectly in the outdoors. The content
is still legible in direct sunlight. You only have to deal briefly with the viewing
angle stability. The resolution is definitely not on the level of a Samsung
Galaxy S4 is great value for money.
Video
Video
playback on a mobile is always a questionable priority however increasingly
smartphone users watch videos on their devices and the Phantom A with 5ins of
high-resolution screen with its vivid colours and blacks, this makes it more of
a possibility than before.
Camera
Tecno
installs two camera modules for good quality pictures. The primary camera has a
resolution of 8 megapixels + bright flash and enables recording
videos in Full HD. I have recorded some great videos and also
uploaded some amazing images to instagram. However, you are required to have
stable hands for image stabilization. I have reservations about the 1.2
megapixel front-facing camera for video calls or Skype is
located above the screen. It is pretty much blurry. Overall, the primary camera is no longer
inferior to point and shoot digital cameras due to different modes and
supplementary functions. I think considering the purpose of the front camera,
you can ignore the quality of the image.
Audio
The
integrated speaker is located at the lower part of the device and considering
the size, the sound quality makes a good impression. In
the past Tecno devices were known for their high pitch audio. When I was handed
the device, that is the first thing I tested and the volume is more than
sufficient and the high pitches are rendered clearly. The low pitches as well
as bass exist to a minor extent .It even gets better when you plug-in the
included high-quality headphones for music enjoyment.
Storage
I my opinion,
the in-built memory of 1GB is not enough. However , the Tecno manufacturers
made up for it by providing a 32GB micro SD card so there is enough space to
install your apps if you are into lots of apps like me. I can never have
enough.
Input
The capacitive
touchscreen of the Tecno Phantom A responds accurately as
if it was a Samsung Galaxy. The virtual QWERTY keyboard is faded
in automatically for writing emails or short messages. I realized I didn’t need
any calibration needed for frequent typing. I love the swipe and save feature
as it allows you to build your frequently used words and inserts them in
autocomplete style (T9).
Processor
Performance
The
1.2 GHz dual-core CPU works pretty fast. I can’t complain. Whether I am
browsing, playing games, watching videos or running zillions of apps, the
performance is decent enough for everyday use and abuse. In comparison, it is
perhaps even somewhat faster and more pleasant than most smartphones on the
market.
Software
After
turning on the phone for the first time, I was faced with the fastest growing
mobile device OS from Google's Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating
system, alongside the modified user interface. The interface looks very
appealing and clearly arranged although the noise whilst typing leaves much to
be desired. It cannot be turned off in the system settings. One improvement is
the option to look at the home screen widgets in a small preview. A few apps
from Google and Tecno Assistant are preinstalled. Among them, for example, is Palm
Chat, CamCard, and Flash Share that are very effective productivity apps. In my
opinion, its value added though not massive.
Battery
and Energy Management
Low
power consumption is
a prerequisite for good battery runtimes which is what is promised but I am
disappointed about the output of the battery. Despite a full charge which last
approximately 90 minutes, the battery drains quickly sometimes. The 2100 mAh Li-Ion
battery doesn’t give me my expected 21 hours talk time. I believe that is the
reason why the power bank is supplied as an in-box accessory. Maybe I am the cause, I use too
many internet based apps that usually drain battery power quickly. For any smartphone,
if you browse, tweet, Facebook, google+, whatsapp, watchetc., with two SIM’s and my
email accounts in place, I guess the grinding is too much. It works adequately
for sane people and not app abusers like me.
Dual
SIM
Tecno
with their growing expertise in dual sim phone development, did a great job by
ensuring that the dual standby feature works seamlessly with perfection. “Mi tu
che ma mo” Twi for, I doff my hat for you.
Connectivity
and Communication
The
Phantom A packs a micro USB 2.0 port on the top like “Oga at the top”,
which enables smooth sharing audio and video material. The device is also
recharged over this port. However, a special, not included adapter is needed
for video transmission. A basic
component is the integrated Wi-Fi module that supports transmitting in
using 802.11 b/g/n standards which has come in handy in recent
times when I am out on the road. Bluetooth is also an included
wireless feature though I hardly use it, it enables sharing data faster and
corresponding end devices consume considerably less power. The Tecno Phantom A
is suitable for most networks in the world because is supports the main GSM
frequencies (quad-band, 850/900/1800/1900/2100 MHz) meaning 2G and 3G
networks will run at ease. I honestly wish it was LTE enabled though
considering the fact that LTE (long-term evolution) services will take off in
Ghana soon. Overall, communication and connectivity is flawless.
Accessories
The
new smartphone is found, an in-ear stereo headset from Tecno, a USB data cable,
the modular USB power supply, power bank, flip case.
|
• Flip Cover: The Tecno Phantom A comes with a
standard back cover but also comes with a free flip cover which gives it a
Samsung Galaxy S3. The leather cover gives the device a classy feel. I love
it.
• Power Pack: The Tecno Phantom A comes with a free
power bank and this power bank charges the battery really fast and the pack
doubles up as a handy flashlight. You can even use it to charge other devices
like tablets, my iPad got some “juice” from the power bank. It is a great
asset.
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Conclusion
The
bottom-line is good performance ultimately, the TECNO Phantom A is quality and
I will recommend it any day.
