Tecno POVA is stealing some thunder in the budget segment following the release of the Pouvoir 4. On paper, it's a very convincing device with Helio G80 chipset, 6000 mAh battery, and quad-camera module.
Tecno POVA (LD7) Review
Now that the smartphone is entering a fiercely contested stage, does it have what it takes to be your next smartphone purchase? Join us as we get a deep dive into the smartphone's capability in this Tecno POVA review.
Review Summary:
Pros
- Wide screen real estate
- Decent processor for its price
- Excellent battery life
- Fast charging support
Cons
- microUSB port
- App duplicates and bloatwares
Design: A Familiar build
The Tecno POVA's design reminds me of the previously released Pouvoir 4. The plastic yet solid build has become a standard for Tecno smartphones. Once again, the brand delights us with a curved backing where cameras are tucked on a rectangular module. Our review unit is so dreamy in Magic Blue colorway which becomes dark purple depending on what angle you look at it. There are also diagonal patterns that reveal the finely sprayed silver dust-like design underneath the smooth plastic finish.
There's a Tecno branding at the bottom middle section of the back panel. The smartphone also supports a rear fingerprint sensor which is easily accessible even when using one hand. The ports and buttons are on the sides. On the right, there's the power button and the volume keys. The left side has the SIM tray and the accented Google Assistant button, while the bottom part houses the microUSB port, the 3.5-mm audio jack, and the microphone.
Flipping the handset, you'll see the 6.8-inch display. It's quite wide compared to some smartphones in this segment. The Tecno POVA is treated with a 2.5D arc glass which gives the smartphone a continuous feel when swiping on the edges of the display. There's also a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera at the upper left corner of the panel and LED notification on the top bezel.
Display: Generous Display
Just like the model before it, the Tecno POVA is not holding back when it comes to screen real estate. However, it being an HD+ panel makes the pixel density slightly lower than most handsets in this price segment. Nonetheless, the smartphone's brightness is high enough for you to use it on bright environments, even under direct sunlight. The display panel also offers decent color saturation and contrast.
If you're planning to use this smartphone for e-learning, the display would be more than enough in reading PDFs and eBooks. The fact that it comes with a wide display makes it a good companion in consuming content. Moreover, the Tecno POVA supports Dark Mode and Eye Care which is quite useful especially when using the smartphone at night.
Performance: Snappy Gaming Processor
The Tecno POVA is powered by a MediaTek Helio G80 gaming processor. This not only makes the Tecno POVA one of the cheapest smartphones with this chip, but also one of the powerful handsets in this price range. The MediaTek Helio G80 is developed in a 12nm process. For sure, it could flex some gaming prowess, and do well in graphic-oriented activities.
In real-time usage, this SoC and the 6GB of RAM translate to very responsive sessions with minimum lag time. Moderately heavy tasks come off as buttery as we have expected. These include social media usage, mobile photography, or even video calling. In our Antutu Benchmark, the smartphone scored a decent 196,107.
In games, Tecno POVA is also a winner in its own right. It delivers consistency smooth gaming performance with the help of software optimizations. Mobile Legends is quite enjoyable with the smartphone. Call of Duty Mobile is also a game that we love playing with this handset. In my 20-minute gaming session, the smartphone did not get warm at all. This means that the power management of the Helio G80 is in high bars.
As I've said earlier, the Tecno POVA is such a treat when it comes to consuming content. Its bigger screen is ideal for video streaming and playback. Watching Netflix is a great example. However, I must say that I don't like the loudspeaker. It lacks bass and tends to get pitchy. Good thing, it has an audio jack for a better sound experience using wire accessories.
Camera: a capable camera phone
There's a quad-camera module at the back of the Tecno POVA. The main camera is a 13MP sensor with f/1.9 aperture. It is coupled with a 2MP depth sensor and another 2MP for the macro. It also has an extra QVGA sensor. For an entry-level smartphone, this camera combination speaks a lot.
For its price, the Tecno POVA is decent enough to capture good photos in daylight. Colors are rich and accurate. Contrast is also acceptable, as well as the details.
In lowlight, colors come off as muted and noise become prevalent. The front camera is also good enough to produce shareable social media selfies. Check out our sample shots after the jump.
Software: HiOS 7
The Tecno POVA boots with HiOS v7.0 based on Android 10. The smartphone's interface is minimalist with flat and rounded icons. Swiping from the bottom gives you access to the app drawer. This is where the apps are piled in alphabetical order; there are app cards on the top where you can try them even without installing.
The notification shade houses - well - your fetched notifications, as well as some toggles for your commonly used settings. You can invoke Google Assistant by pressing the dedicated button at the right.
Moreover, the HiOS 7 features the GameMode which allows you to manage or even block notifications while in game. On top of that, the feature gives you the flexibility to monitor network speed, memory, and more.
I have no complaints about the software except that it has its own alternatives for almost all of the basic apps, which to me is quite a hard sell.
Battery: Longer usage, fast charging support
Just like the Pouvoir 4, Tecno POVA's battery life is a winner. You get a whopping 6,000 mAh battery right off the bat. I'm averaging 36 to 48 hours of usage, and it goes beyond that with moderate use.
What's even more exciting is the fact that it comes with an 18-watt fast charging. It's a great improvement compared to the former.
Verdict: Should You Buy The Tecno POVA (LD7)?
The Tecno POVA is definitely a strong contender in the budget segment. In its own right, it has great features that potential buyers would love - decent camera, big screen real estate, and gaming-oriented processor. All these jewels are very essential to those who plan to use this smartphone in e-learning.
It's also a good smartphone for your home office. The fact that it packs a juicier battery than its peers proves this point. On top of that, it has a fast charging support which is quite rare in this price point.
A USB Type C port could have cemented its place in the entry-level market. Apart from that, we think the Tecno POVA is a solid smartphone.
Key Specifications:
- 6.8-inch IPS LCD HD+ Dot-In (Hole-Punch) Display
- MediaTek MT6761 Helio G80
- 2.0GHz octa-core CPU
- Mali-G52 GPU
- 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM
- 13MP triple rear cameras
- 8MP front camera
- 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
- microUSB 2.0, USB OTG
- 3.5mm audio jack
- HiOS 7.0 with Android 10
- 6000 mAh battery
- Php 6,999 Official Price
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