Tecno Phantom A perfomance review

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.

Conclusion

The bottom-line is good performance ultimately, the TECNO Phantom A is quality and I will recommend it any day.