The mere mention of “cheap smartphone” is usually enough to conjure up images of contorted faces, confused laughter and pearl-clutching reactions in many smartphone buyers these days, and we can’t blame them, as mid-range phones have continued to gain popularity. Better yet, there’s little reason to accept the compromises found in cheap Android phones in exchange for a wallet-friendly experience.
But times have changed and in recent years we’ve seen some interesting takes on cheap smartphones. Take, for example, the Tecno Camon 30 Pro 5G, which is priced at around $280. It is not available in countries like North America, as Tecno is targeting developing markets and will instead take on rivals like Xiaomi and Realme, who reign supreme in such regions. However, is it worth spending your money? We’ll see.
Tecno Camon 30 Pro 5G specifications:
- 6.78-inch AMOLED screen; 1080 x 2436 pixels; 144Hz
- Android 14 (with HIOS 14)
- Mediatek Dimension 8200 Ultimate; Mali-G610 MC6
- 12 GB RAM, 256/512 GB storage
- 50 MP f/1.9 main camera, 50 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle, 2 MP depth, 50 MP f/2.5 front camera
- 5,000 mAh battery; 70W fast charging support
Design and display
With many smartphones featuring rounded designs these days, the Camon 30 Pro is one of the few devices to feature more rectangular designs, somewhat similar to the Pixel 6 series and Sony Xperia phones. The phone is sleek with a metallic finish on the side and our review unit features a leather-like material on the back panel. Unfortunately, there’s no ingress protection, but overall it’s a solid-feeling device with a lightweight profile.
The Camon 30 Pro’s display is a joy to look at and the sharp resolution, plus 144Hz refresh rate, make it ideal for content consumption. There’s not much to complain about here, although the on-screen fingerprint reader often gives me trouble when trying to unlock the phone, leading me to use my lock code.
Internal specifications and software
One of the highlights of the Camon 30 Pro is the Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset, a 4nm SoC that beats inside the heart of the phone. It is accompanied by 12 GB of RAM, which made the user experience very smooth during the time I used it. Navigating the UI felt very smooth and there was very little app stuttering – for a budget smartphone, it offers smooth daily use.
Software-wise, the phone runs on the current version of Android 14, although it comes with HIOS, Tecno’s custom Android skin. Like other user interfaces like HyperOS and Color OS, for example, HIOS offers a decent amount of customization options that allow users to adjust how they want their phone’s interface to look. It comes with pre-installed third-party apps, some of which unfortunately cannot be uninstalled.
As for the battery, the phone packs a large 5000mAh cell inside, which can charge quite quickly thanks to 70W fast charging support. It’s enough to last most users a day, although gaming and data usage, for example, will take a toll on the battery.
Camera performance
Unlike other phones in its price segment, the Camon 30 Pro manages to take some surprisingly attractive photos. As someone who uses their phones for casual photography, the Camon 30 Pro’s photos featured decent contrast, with color tones that, while not overly saturated, don’t look dull either (although they lean toward a warmer look). The highlights weren’t too dull either, even in outdoor photos in bright sunlight.
For low-light photography, the camera is capable enough, although don’t expect the best results: images tend to look a bit soft at times, with a bit of noise, especially in dark settings. Check out some photos below (and yes, the watermark was on by default).
Final thoughts
In closing, it’s safe to say that for a phone in its price range, the Tecno Camon 30 Pro ticks all the essential boxes: an attractive display, a decent camera, a robust battery and a capable chipset all add up to a good experience. of user. and Tecno fans looking for an upgrade will want to consider this one.
Of course, there are some considerations, such as the problematic in-display fingerprint scanner, the presence of third-party bloatware, and the lack of IP rating. But compared to what it does well and considering the needs of its target audience, Tecno has a winner with the Camon 30 Pro.