Tecno Camon 20 Premier is a new entrant in the mid-range segment. The smartphone faces tough competition but is able to stand-out with its stylish design and the 108MP ultrawide-angle camera.
When you see the Camon 20 Premier, the first thing you’ll notice is its camera module, which makes it distinct from the competition. It’s huge but designed in a way that mixes well with the geometrical pattern on the back. The smartphone has a good in-hand feel, thanks to the textured finish. It is one of the few smartphones that aren’t prone to fingerprints, smudges or dirt. The similarly colored sides on both Blue (Serenity Blue) and Black (Dark Welkin) adds to the looks as well.
The Camon 20 Premier is comfortable to hold. I had no problems with reachability on the power button and volume rockers. In fact, the power button is lower than expected, and requires a bit of adjusting but it’s better than having it pushed higher. At 202.5 grams, the phone isn’t lightweight but it doesn’t feel heavy in the hand. There is no IP rating, so be mindful of splashes or using it in the rain.
On the front lies a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1080×2400-pixel resolution. It features a 89.3% screen-to-body ratio, which is fine for its price. There is no HDR or Dolby Vision support but offers Widevine L1 DRM certification to stream Netflix at up to Full HD. It’s satisfactory for media consumption. However, when using it in direct sunlight I wished it to be brighter. As for authentication, it sports an in-display fingerprint sensor that works 10 out of 10 times.
The Tecno Camon 20 Premier is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8050 chipset, paired with 8GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. In day-to-day usage, it offers smooth performance with no lags or stutters in the UI. It runs fine with multitasking and doesn’t get warm to touch even when you’re pushing it. The Tecno phone packs a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging, which charges it from 5% to 50% in under 30 minutes. I didn’t notice any abnormal battery drain, and it lasted me an entire day throughout my four-day usage.
The smartphone runs HiOS 13 based on Android 13. It comes with bloatware that can’t be uninstalled, like Aha Games. But it’s less than what Realme is offering with its UI on the Realme 11 Pro Plus. Tecno’s HiOS 13 is on the cleaner side when compared to Realme UI. The ads have been reduced and you can disable the spammy notifications with a few taps. The software offers always-on display with Tecno customizations. Other features include Game more, parental controls, Smart panel, and more. It’s a feature-loaded skin.
The Camon 20 Premier comes equipped with a triple rear camera setup that includes a 50MP primary camera, accompanied by a 108MP ultrawide-angle sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. Tecno is using in-body image stabilization that is claimed to compensate for shakes up to 5,000 times per second, and comes in handy for people like me who have shaky hands.
The 50MP sensor clicks detailed shots (for the most part) with good dynamic range in daylight. It’s when you pixel-peek that you notice that dark areas didn’t get enough detailing. If you need better details, switch to the 50MP mode but you’ll have to put up with slower capture speeds. The night mode sharpens image to make them appealing. That being said, nights shots look good too. There is no telephoto lens and you get a 2x digital zoom for capturing far-away objects.
I liked the portrait shots because of the good-looking skin tones and texture. It doesn’t soften the skin. Plus, you get good subject and background separation. The only slight annoyance I have here is the absence of 2x or 3x zoom in the portrait mode.
The 108MP ultrawide camera captures great shots. It’s 12MP by default, which is mostly enough. You can switch to 108MP mode but those shots are huge in size without offering a lot of improvement over the 12MP images. I liked the contrast and dynamic range but the images have a warm look to them. You can also click superb macro shots using this camera.
On the front, you get a 32MP selfie shooter with flash that’s built into the top bezel, despite it being so thin. The images have plenty of details, good skin tones and colors.
At Rs 29,999 starting price, the Camon 20 Premier has a lot going for it. The Realme 11 Pro Plus is another stylish phone in the segment but has a cluttered UI. If you want to play a lot of games, look at the Poco F5, which also offers a better display. The Tecno Camon 20 Premier offers a distinct design, on par performance, good cameras and a solid battery life, which makes it a reliable phone.
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