Chinese phone-maker Tecno has finally availed its most expensive and flagship device for Kenyan consumers. In an event that took place at Sarova Stanley Hotel, the OEM touted the device’s prowess in processing power, image-capturing ability, as well as a large battery with fast-charging capabilities that allow 40 percent top up in half an hour.
We have no review piece in our possession, yet, but we played with the device at the stage for a couple of minutes. It is beautifully designed with a plastic back, which apes a glass feel if you are not keen. We would have loved to see a glass back, with lifestyle additions like wireless charging but that is a lot to ask for a device that costs KES 37,000. The front is graced with a 5.7-inch IPS screen with a 1080p resolution. In a world where competitors are equipping their flagships with sharper 2K screens, we’re are glad to see Tecno stick to this resolution as it strikes a good balance between sharpness and admirable battery life – which we will test in coming days.
The camera department is handled by a dual-sensor setup that appears to be the trend for 2017 devices. Tecno’s approach employs a super zoom lens that superimposes multiple distant images to render a clear shot sans quality loss. At the front is a 20 MP sensor with a dual-tone LED flash for those selfies in dingy, poorly lit (ha) hallways. All cameras have their fair share of shooting modes, which will be tested as soon as we grab a review unit.
The entire spec sheet for the device can be found on this post.
There are things we were hoping to see in the Phantom 8. For instance, a November launch should have squeezed enough time for the Tecno development team to ship the device with the latest Android version (8.0.0) but product development is a complex process. However, we hope the software team is cooking an update. Also, we would have loved to see a larger battery but 3500 mAh seems fair enough for a 5.7″ device. Lastly, a modern, 18:9 screen would have spurred the Phantom 8 to the big leagues. 2018, maybe?
Lastly, some retailers have the device in store, including PhonePlaceKenya that began selling it more than a week ago, as well as Jumia Kenya that bundles it with goodies such as a water bottle, selfie stick, a Telkom Kenya SIM card and 2.5 gigs of Telkom data. Buying price varies across these retailers, so you may need to check which deal serves your needs best.
