Tecno POP 9 5G: The Tecno POP 9 5G is one of the cheapest 5G smartphones that has finally landed in the Indian smartphone industry. Envisioned for new users and price-sensitive consumers, the POP 9 5G is supposed to supply a good amount of the basics while bringing 5G to the budget market.
While it’s not promising flagship-grade performance, it is targeting a smooth day-to-day experience without trying you too hard.
Design and Build Quality
The Tecno POP 9 5G is a simple looking and functional device at first sight. The back panel comes with a textured finish that helps in resisting fingerprint smudges and provides better grip.
On the back, we see a rectangular shaped camera module that 2 sensors and one LED are inside. You may not get the premium feeling of using a plastic phone, but the phone’s construction is sturdy enough to withstand some casual abuse and is covered in plastic that can handle small drops and scratches.
The apparatus’ structure is sufficiently lean and portable, thus giving it the portability and easy usage. The colors are punchy and will appeal to a younger audience who wants something colourful just as much as it is functional without breaking the bank.
Display and Visual Experience
The display size of the Tecno POP 9 5G is 6.6 inches with 6.6-inch HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels) resolution. It features a IPS LCD-based screen with normal levels of brightness and viewing angels.
The resolution is only 720p, but it’s enough for browsing, watching YouTube or engaging with social media apps.
The bezels are pretty thick, especially on the bottom, and waterdrop notches feel a little dated. But you get what you pay for and given the price point, Tecno’s is just enough to still give you a functional screen for basic multimedia purposes.
Performance and Software
The POP 9 5G will be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6020 chipset, a power-efficient silicon made for budget 5G phones. Combined with 4GB RAM and 64GB of ROM (expandable via microSD), the phone copes fine with day to day light to medium tasks.
Apps open quickly enough and you can just about multitask without the device getting all hot and bothered.
You can use it for day to day activities like calling, messaging, social media and simple gaming. But it’s not for heavy games or computationally demanding tasks like video editing.
The phone is based on Android 13 Go Edition with Tecno’s HiOS skin on the top. The Go Edition streamlines performance on less hardware using slimmed down versions of Google apps.
There is a little preloaded bloatware, but the majority of it can be disabled or even uninstalled.
Camera Quality
It has a 13MP primary camera on the back. The camera does very well when shooting during the day, delivering fairly detailed, true-to-life images. HDR is good in ideal conditions but as far as dynamic range goes, it’s a small one.
Low-light images were not the cleanest and detail was reduced, though we aren’t surprised with that at this price. The 8-megapixel selfie camera up front produces fine selfies fit for video calls, snaps and whatnot. Basic camera features like AI mode, Beauty and Portrait are also included by Tecno to enrich your experience.
Battery and Connectivity
The Tecno POP 9 5G is backed by a 5000mAh battery that gives a breeze all day with normal usage. There’s no support for fast charging so the regular 10W charger requires well over two hours to charge the phone to full.
The main selling point here is 5G support. The POP 9 is a device that brings 5G on a budget and with several 5G bands to support in the future, budget buyers don’t have to break the bank for a future-proofed device.
The connectivity is enhanced by dual SIM, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Pros:
Affordable 5G connectivity
Decent battery life
Cons Clean and jerky Android Go experience
Expandable storage option
Great for everyday use and simple tasks
Cons:
HD+ display feels outdated
Slow charging speeds
Camera struggles in low light
Some version lacks a fingerprint sensor
Long-term use may be hampered by limited RAM and storage
Tecno POP 9 5G Verdict
The Tecno POP 9 5G provides the hope for 5G on a budget without sacrificing much. It’s not a beast in any one category, but offers good overall day-to-day performance and the advantage of up-to-date connections.
Perfect for those that want a smartphone with all the essential features and a long battery life.