Tecno Phantom X2: Tecno, who are usually associated with cheap low-end handsets in the developing world, look to make a big entrance into the premium mid-range market with the Phantom X2.
Debuting under Tecno’s top-tier “Phantom” sub-brand, this device is apparently designed to compete with more established players in the game by offering premium features at a rather generous price-tag.
With an ambitious goal and features such as a curved AMOLED display, Dimensity 9000 chipset, and a 64MP retractable portrait camera (in the Pro edition), the Phantom X2 is surely an attention grabber. But does it have the goods to go along with that style? Let’s dive in.
Design & Build – Sophiscated and Cutting-edge
The premium design of the Phantom X2 is one of its most noticeable features. It has a curved 6.8-inch AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass Victus on its front, and a distinctive rear camera module that juts out proudly.
Moonlight Silver and Stardust Grey colors feature a soft, matte finish with a contrasting effect anti-fingerprint coating that has been applied Combined with an aesthetic inspired by futuristic sci-fi flicks.
It’s 203g and 8.9mm thick, giving it a reassuring tangibility and sense of balance in the hand. It is, by far, one of the prettiest looking smartphones Tecno has ever made.
Display: Vibrant and Fluid
The Phantom X2 features a 6.8-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The outcome is silky-smooth scrolling with punchy colors, deep blacks and pretty solid brightness for indoor and outdoor use.
The rounded corners provides an ergonomic in-hand regale feeling to the user. There’s no LTPO or adaptive refresh rate but in everyday usage, it still feels responsive and sharp.
Performance:
The chip on the flagship in the middle of the premium body.
The Phantom X2 is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 9000, MediaTek’s flagship SoC in 2022. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, the phone’s performance is solid pretty much across the board.
Apps open fast, multitasking is a breeze and more demanding games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile can be played on high settings with few frame drops. Thermal is good, heating only slightly under load.
Camera: The Phantom’s Calling Card
The Phantom X2 Regular variant has a 64MP main sensor, 13MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP depth sensor. In well-lit scenes, the main camera shoots sharp, colorful photos with excellent details and dynamic range.
Low-light performance is good thanks to Tecno’s AI tweaks, though it’s a notch below those on high-end flagships. I had to manually turn up the exposure in the latter to capture more detail in the highlights, but the feature generally does a good job of balancing skin tones in selfies when shooting with the 32MP front-facing camera.
If you choose the Phantom X2 Pro, for the world’s first retractable portrait lens (50MP), which means DSLR quality bokeh and better subject isolation in portraits – a genuine help-me-buy-this feature at this price point.
Power: Long & Power You need it, we guarantee
The phone packs a large 5160mAh battery that should easily be good enough for a full heavy day use. With 45W fast charging, the device boasts a quick 0-100% charge of 55 minutes. No wireless charging here, but that’s okay for the price range.
Software: Improved, but There’s Still Work to Do
The Phantom X2 is powered by HiOS 12.0 which is based on Android 12. It has a visually appealing UI, with convenient features like Game Mode, Smart Panel, and Power Boost. That said, the bloatware and sporadic spammy notifications might turn off users who were anticipating a cleaner experience.
Tecno has said it will update the device to Android, but its track record isn’t as solid as Samsung or OnePlus. This could be worrisome for long-term buyers.
Pros and Cons
Pros
with 120Hz Premium curved AMOLED display
The processor is the powerhouse Dimensity 9000
Beautiful design and Gorilla Glass Victus
Great quality from the main camera
Long lasting battery with fast charging
Exclusive retractable portrait lens (Pro version)
Cons
No IP rating and no wireless charging
Software remains bloatware Time stamp: 1999-01-03 02:00:00 +0000.
No stereo speakers
Not sure of HiOS updates authenticity
A little bulky because of the camera module
Tecno Phantom X2 Final Verdict
The Tecno Phantom X2 is a welcomed participant in the premium mid-range space. With its eye-catching design, strong performance and innovative cameras — especially in the Pro version — it punches above its price range.
It’s far from perfect, particularly in the way that it relies on software polish, but for design-forward users looking for power and the ability to take a variety of photos, X2 is a respectable fighter that punches above its weight.