Summary:
The Phantom A+ is a beastly piece of hardware baked in great software serving you a Jellybean experience at an affordable price. With dual sim card support, a 9.1mm slim design, an anti scratch polycarbonate body, a power packed 1.2Ghz Quad Core Processor, a 5.0 HD display and a 2100 mAh Li-ion battery, the Phantom delivers a seamless user experience at an amazingly affordable price.
We obtained two Phantom A+ Devices for review and experienced some signal reception glitches with one of them. This was a huge letdown considering calling is still the sole purpose of the phone. The A+ also lacks finesse and polish where the hardware and software work remarkably well together without occasional annoying hitches.
Perception is as good as reality
From manufacturing cheap feature phones, Tecno went on to make a brave statement with the Phantom A and then the A+ shortly after but many people (like us here at the TechPost) are not sure whether they can trust Tecno’s flagship phone. Many fear that they will buy it and later get disappointed as it might turn out to be a flash in the pan or won’t measure up to the hype it’s been accorded.
So we decided to get our hands dirty with it and bring you a breakdown of our experience with the device.
Unboxing: Free accessories in the Box
Tecno definitely nailed the packaging with the Phantom A+. One gets the feel of a premium device right from the time of unboxing to pressing the power button as the Phantom looks nothing like its price. Packed neatly in a hard board beautifully branded blue box, the Phantom comes with a host of free accessories that instantly excite you.
You get a screen protector already installed, a flip case cover, a 2100 mAh Li-ion battery, white earphones, a travel charger and 2 micro USB data cables, a 2200 mAh battery bank that doubles as a torch, a 13 month warranty and the Phantom user manual — all within the device price tag.
Are the Specs Real?
The Phantom specifications are real. The Phantom packs a slim 9.1mm design, a 5.0 HD TFT Display, a 1.2Ghz “Quad Core” processor (though we could only see 3 processors using “Android Info” App) with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of ROM, GPU embedded and an expandable memory of upto 32GB, an 8MP rear Camera with Flash and a 1.2MP front Camera, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, an FM Radio, 3G antenna, A gyro sensor, Light and Proximity Sensor, Dual Sim capabilities and 2100mAh Battery to keep you running.
These specs elevate the Phantom to the podium of high end smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S2, Lumia 820, iPhone 4S etc.
Android 4.2: An even sweeter Jelly Bean
All the power specs are served with the Sweet 4.2 Jellybean which is Google’s latest major iteration of their Android OS.
A complete review of the Jellybean OS would be for another day but the OS is such a major element of the Phantom experience that David Okwi actually believes that even with all the beastly hardware, the Phantom would have been just another ordinary phone without the Android OS.
One of our major concerns at this point is whether or not Tecno will be delivering updates to the OS regularly as there’s no mention of that at all.
There’s an offline AppStore with thoughtful inbuilt Apps
Another awesome thing about the Phantom is that it comes with many useful pre-installed apps. Apart from the usual Gmail, Youtube, Maps, Stock Browser, Calculator, Calendar, Notes, Video player, Recorder etc We saw apps like Opera Mini, UC browser, Whats app, Flash share, Torch app, OOBE, Quick Start, Calcare, and a host of boring Games from Gameloft except Asphalt. Some Notable apps were;
OOBE App & the Quick Start App: The OOBE app gives you step by step instructions to help you setup your phone when its new. This is very essential as not all customers are well conversant with setting up their devices while the Quick Start app takes you through all the basic gestures and phone management tips you need to know.
Calcare App: An amazing app which shows you the location and contact of all Tecno Calcare centres across Uganda and Africa where you can get your Tecno fixed should you have any issues with it.
The APK assistant: A mini offline app store with free pre loaded apps that you can install even without a data connection. Having an offline App store is a huge plus as it saves users data costs.
Flash Share: This Tecno exclusive app makes sharing content between Tecno phones very simple using WI-FI and no data. We were able to share folders, documents, MP3 files, videos, pictures and even App APKs
Asphalt: This is a popular game that comes pre installed unfortunately its too heavy and graphic intense that it often freezes the phone
Design: Is it a Galaxy or Phantom?
Almost everyone who saw me with the Phantom asked “Which Galaxy is that?” and I would reply it’s a “Galaxy Phantom” and later tell them it was a Tecno. I would immediately see faces painted with expressions of disbelief.
Apparently Tecno hired French phone designers to design the Phantom, however, the resemblance of the Phantom to the S3 is evident albeit smartly. Even though the phone looks like a Galaxy from afar, at close range one notices the absence of a physical home button akin to the Galaxies and the protruding rear camera that looks more like the HTC One X so we shouldn’t be expecting a court battle over design like that of Apple Vs. Samsung .
That said, the Phantom takes on a rectangular design with curved and smooth corners. The slim 9.1mm phone is wrapped up in an anti scratch polycarbonate back and what looks like a metallic finish on the sides. It feels light and steady in the hand even though its a little huge. The design features a micro USB charging port and the 3.5mm earphone jack at the top of the device. The power button is on the right side while the volume keys and a dedicated camera button are on the left. The camera button terribly feels misplaced as it could have been better and more convenient on the right considering the orientation of the phone. It would also work better on the right considering that when you replace the back cover with the Flip case, the camera and volume buttons are unreachable.
The protruding camera is a little bit of a turn off making it look like a foreign body on the phone. Its also easily scratched since the phone rests on it when places on a surface. This will in turn affect the quality of the images it takes.
The speaker was placed at the bottom centre on the back which was easily blocked when someone puts the phone in the pocket or in a bag and as a result you might not hear your phone ring if vibration isn’t activated since the highest ring volume isn’t high enough in loud environments. Even though the design and feel are premium, it’s important for Tecno to invest in differentiating itself rather trying to look like its competition especially if its to thrive in the very harsh and dynamic smartphone market
Display: 5.0 HD display but TFT
Whether its work or play The large 5.0 720*1080 HD display gives you enough space to comfortably edit your documents, reply emails, read your Ebooks or watch Movies. In the case of the Phantom, the TFT display is good enough with wide viewing angles but the display isn’t as sharp as seen on Apple’s IPS and Samsung AMOLED displays. We also noticed some grid lines when you tilt the phone at a particular angle when the screen is off which made it feel a little cheap. Even though a better screen would have been good, the Phantoms TFT display is good enough for its price tag and many will not even notice any difference from any other screen.
A Snappy 8MP Camera that under-performs in low-light
The 8MP camera** comes fully customizable with many functions and modes almost like a standard DSLR camera. The camera could take Multi angle, Panorama and HDR shots with a host of controls allowing you to manipulate Exposure, White balance and ISO. The Phantom camera also had Color effects, multiple preset modes for easy photography, Anti Flicker, Continuous shot, Face detection, Face Beauty, a self timer and an inbuilt photo Editor allowing you to retouch and add flair to your photos.
We were terribly disappointed by the lack of an image stabilization or anti shake feature as any movement of the subject or photographer would result in blurred images especially in low light situations. Even though the Phantom uses LED flashlight to boost low-light photography, the shots weren’t as good as those we got with other high end smartphones like the Lumia 820.
Also, the Camera sounds cannot be turned off except the phone is in silent which makes it hard to take candid photos.
We considered the Phantom Camera an average performer for Hobbyists as getting crisp images was such a hustle while other Cameras like the for the Samsung and iPhone just work effortlessly. We hope that the 13MP Camera in the Phantom A II which is Tecno’s latest iteration in the Phantom series has fixed these issues
The Phantom gives a fine and dandy Jellybean user experience
Tecno claims that the Phantom A+ has Quadcore Processor, but when we probed the device with “Android info” App, we could only see three 1.2Ghz cores instead of four! Still with three cores, bouncing between Apps gave us a remarkably fluid Jellybean experience. While 10 – 15 apps on an entry level Android is all you can install and work with, we installed over 45 apps and still counting but the phantom never showed us any signs of slowing down or freezing.
We were able to open over 25 apps in the background but the phantom still remained fast and responsive.
Our disappointment was when we tried to play Asphalt a graphic intense game. This was the first time the Phantom froze for about a minute before loading the game. We thought it was a one off but we played the game over and over again and concluded the graphics intensive game brought the Phantom to its knees which left us wondering if the 4 cores were asleep and needed waking up
As expected the Phantom is your portable Multimedia packed device
The Phantom comes with an 8GB memory card expandable to 32GB this gives you enough space to load all your music, movies and more. It was also able to play multiple media formats like MP3, AAC, MP4 and AVI on top having an FM radio. These options — as opposed to online music streaming services adopted by other smartphone vendors — are more ideal for Africa where bandwidth is a bottleneck. The radio also has an inbuilt recorder so you can record your favorite radio show for later
We couldnt verify if the Phantom A+ was DLNA and WI-FI Direct certified but we managed to interact with a Smart TV to stream content wirelessly via Wi-FI among other things
2100 mAh Li-ion Battery takes you 8-10 hours on 3G
Like all other smartphone batteries, the Phantom battery isn’t unique and can really drain fast with heavy use. However In comparison, the Phantom battery had a higher endurance taking us between 8 – 10 hours on 3G which we found to be a major bonus. When not on 3G the phone could go upto 1 1/2 days and when the battery dried up we were able to charge the phone using its external battery bank.
We also noticed that when we charged the phone using a fully charged battery bank, it didn’t charge up to 100% but drained at about 60%. When we charged and used the phone at the same time, the battery bank just acted like an extension of the Phantom battery and not necessarily delivering charge.
Availability and Cost
The Phantom is available at the Tecno head office Kampala, Select MTN stores and a host of downtown dealers/Agents. Its advisable to purchase the Phantom from Official distributors and dealers . The official retail price from the Tecno retail store is 650,000 Ugx (about $250) but some dealers have different prices.
What we didn’t Like about the Phantom A+:
- Reception issues: One of the Phantoms we tested started having reception issues in just 3 weeks. In some cases we couldn’t not make calls indoors and had to move outdoors to make calls. We also couldn’t get 3G and were constantly on EDGE.
- The Flickering screen: When Brightness control is set to automatic the Phone flickers constantly as it tries to re adjust the brightness which makes it seem like the Light sensors weren’t properly calibrated
- One of our test phones also made a slight whistling sound in the background when we ran particular apps which left us wondering what was wrong
- We listened to the Radio which was always interrupted by almost every app we ran which was very irritating
- Torch App was not as polished and feature rich like some of the alternative Torch apps we got on the Playstore such as the FlashLight App.
- The battery bank drains so fast and cannot deliver a full charge
- The Flip case isn’t magnetic as a result couldn’t comfortably settle on the screen. This occasionally and accidentally triggered some apps which was a big inconvenience.
- The Phone isn’t Skype certified as such we received a message while installing Skype that the device may not perform satisfactorily as its not certified however the Skype app worked just fine
Conclusion
The Phantom A+ emerges not as another wanna-be smartphone but one that actually contends against renown heavy weights like the Samsung Galaxy S2, The Lumia 820 and the iPhone 4.
Tecno uses its in depth understanding of the African market to deliver a smartphone that will surprise many at first sight — as the Chinese feature-phone-turned-smartphone maker has a perception problem to overcome among seasoned smartphone owners who are used to renown global brands like Samsung, Nokia and Apple. Only time will tell what Tecno’s future will be.
NOTE:
*** We obtained 2 devices for review and test run both of them simultaneously. We shall call them device A and Device B. We experienced reception issues with device B that worked perfectly well for three weeks and started frequently losing signal and had no 3G reception while device A worked just fine. We immediately took device B to the Tecno Carlcare centre where we left the phone for a day. When we returned we were assured that the phone had been fixed but we later experienced the same issues with the device. We are now seeking replacement and will update you on what happened
** All photos used in this review were taken using the Phantom Camera
Phantom Gallery
About Onyait Odeke
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Talkio Mobile , Uganda’s newest telecommunications service provider, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Banana Life Investments, a leading chain of mobile phone and retail shops. This strategic alliance aims to bring Talkio’s innovative telecom services closer to Ugandans.
This collaboration will leverage Banana Life Investments’ extensive retail network of 26 stores strategically located across Uganda in major malls, towns, and cities to provide customers with unparalleled convenience. Through this partnership, Talkio Mobile will offer its full suite of services, including SIM cards, airtime, and exclusive product offerings at any Banana Life Investment location.
This partnership is more than a business initiative—it’s a shared commitment to transforming lives. By integrating Talkio Mobile’s forward-thinking services & nationwide reach with Banana Life Investments’ retail footprint, the two brands are setting a new standard for customer convenience and inclusivity.
READ ALSO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Talkio Mobile: New Telecom Company in Uganda
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting Ugandans to innovative and transformative telecom solutions,” said Vianne Allan Ahura, CEO of Talkio Mobile. “By leveraging Banana Life Investments’ trusted presence and nationwide footprint, we are not only expanding our agent network but also bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. This collaboration ensures that our online customers can now enjoy a seamless offline experience right at their doorstep. Together, we are empowering Ugandans with the tools they need to stay connected, grow their businesses, and unlock new opportunities.”
Solomon Ssemuyaba, the assistant general manager at Banana Life Investments, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to join hands with Talkio Mobile to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. This partnership represents our shared vision of fostering a connected future for Uganda. Together, we are redefining what convenience and accessibility mean for our customers.”
The partnership goes beyond retail distribution, introducing joint initiatives aimed at value addition and personalized service. Customers can expect seamless access to:
- SIM Card Sales : Available at all Banana Life Investments locations.
- Talkio phone number bookings : Book your preferred Talkio number at any Banana Life Investments location.
- Airtime Services : Recharge easily through in-store purchases.
- Customer Support : Friendly and knowledgeable staff trained to assist with Talkio Mobile products and services.
Additionally, the two companies plan to launch promotional campaigns and expand services to even more locations, ensuring no Ugandan is left behind in the digital transformation.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona , the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, has just concluded. This annual event gathers leading technology brands to unveil groundbreaking mobile, AI, and digital solutions innovations. At MWC 2025, TECNO showcased a range of AI-driven products, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology.
The key launches included:
- CAMON 40 Series – AI-powered smartphones with One-Tap FlashSnap and advanced mobile imaging features.
- MEGABOOK S14 – The world’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring AI-enhanced multitasking and Snapdragon® X Elite.
- MEGABOOK T14 Air & K15S – Lightweight ultrabooks with AI capabilities and extended battery life.
- TECNO AI Glasses Series – Smart eyewear integrating AI imaging, translation, and AR display.
Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, shared, “In the past year, we have observed significant advancements in the field of AI. AI will continue to drive transformative changes in our daily lives. In this critical period for the economic development of emerging markets, TECNO’s AI technologies are unlocking potential for diverse needs.”
“The application of AI technologies is crucial and urgent in emerging markets. We’re committed to bridging the digital gap between emerging and mature markets,” said TECNO CMO, Laury Bai. “TECNO is taking a practical approach to make AI more accessible, ensuring users in emerging markets can access AI and cutting-edge technologies.”
Laury Bai, TECNO CMO
Driven by its commitment, TECNO has forged a robust partnership with MediaTek, establishing a joint AI laboratory dedicated to accelerating advancements in AI. At the event, James Chen, Vice President of Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek, emphasized, “The synergistic R&D efforts between TECNO and MediaTek are set to democratize AI technology. Our collaboration powers a seamless, interconnected AI experience, bringing users a future of truly connected intelligence.”
James Chen, Vice President, Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek
CAMON 40 Series Powered by AI One-Tap FlashSnap Revolutionizes Smartphone Snapshot Photography
TECNO’s Global Product Launch Officer, Olivier Mas, officially unveiled TECNO’s next-generation AI-driven products. Attendees at TECNO’s launch event witnessed the highly anticipated debut of TECNO’s new CAMON 40 Series, a device that embodies TECNO’s legacy of excellence in mobile imaging. Featuring One-Tap FlashSnap Mode and TECNO AI, the series sets a new benchmark in smartphone photography, delivering exceptional snapshot capabilities and AI-enhanced user experiences.
Olivier Mas, TECNO Global Product Launch Officer
The CAMON 40 Series exemplifies a commitment to innovation that transcends hardware and software, extending into strategic partnerships that deliver cutting-edge AI solutions to emerging markets. Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud, remarked, “Our collaboration with TECNO on the CAMON 40 Series is a standout example. Leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, we’ve introduced groundbreaking features such as Ask Ella, AI Image Generator, AI Writing, and AI Translate. I am particularly impressed by the industry-leading and competitive edge of some of these innovations. For instance, TECNO’s AI supports text translation in 136 languages, voice translation in 44 languages, and photo translation in 51 languages. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with TECNO, unlocking limitless potential to bring advanced yet practical AI capabilities to emerging markets in a convenient and secure manner.”
Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud
The CAMON 40 Series’ innovative One-Tap FlashSnap leverages AI to enhance imaging capabilities, revolutionizing mobile photography. AI optimizes camera startup and continuous shooting for instant captures, while AI-powered multi-frame processing intelligently reduces noise and enhances details, delivering sharper, more refined images. Additionally, the BestMoment algorithm analyzes motion patterns, automatically selecting the optimal frames for precise, high-quality shots in dynamic scenarios, ensuring users an unparalleled mobile imaging experience.
TECNO CAMON 40 Demonstrates the Cutting-Edge FlashSnap Capability
To delve deeper into the imaging prowess of the CAMON 40 Series, TECNO invited Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK, to share the image performance of CAMON 40 Pro. Frédéric highlighted, “The CAMON 40 Pro 5G has demonstrated exceptional imaging and performance capabilities in our rigorous evaluations. We’ve been particularly impressed with photo performance being the best for devices under 600$, and the 1st eligible device to our Smart Choice Label.”
Onsite photo of Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK
Beyond its advanced rapid-capture functionality, the integration of TECNO AI further enhances the device’s capabilities. Intelligent imaging, a 360° AI Call Assistant, and productivity tools elevate creativity and efficiency. Powered by MediaTek’s latest chipsets, the series ensures smooth performance, fast processing, and extended battery life. With a sleek, durable, and water-resistant design, it seamlessly blends style with practicality for modern users.
MEGABOOK S14, the World’s Lightest 14-inch OLED Laptop, Inspires Creators and Game Lovers
The MEGABOOK S14 is TECNO’s first OLED laptop and the industry’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring a 2.8K OLED display and incredibly weighing only 899g (31.7oz). The laptop is equipped with the outstanding power of the Snapdragon® X Elite compute platform, the flagship chipset for AI PCs from Qualcomm Technologies, and integrates TECNO’s world’s first self-developed edge-side large-scale AI model, to achieve AI-enhanced multitasking.
World’s Lightest 14-inch Laptop MEGABOOK S14
Specifically designed for next-gen AI productivity, TECNO AI enhances the Ella AI Assistant, AI-powered PPT generation, AI-driven image search, smart albums, and offline meeting transcription with multilingual support. The External Graphics Dock, equipped with a powerful NVIDIA graphic card, delivers scalable, high-performance capabilities for design, gaming, and content creation. The laptop’s 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures exceptional visuals, while DTS:X Ultra dual 2W speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, fingerprint login, and PC Manager optimize connectivity and user experience.
TECNO’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies was a highlight of the TECNO AI Ecosystem Product Launch event, demonstrating a shared vision for the future of AI PCs. Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm, took the stage to discuss the integration of Qualcomm’s cutting-edge PC chipset into the new MEGABOOK S14 laptop, underscoring TECNO’s commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions.
Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm
In addition, TECNO also introduced several standout new products. The featherlight 999g (35.2oz) ultrabook MEGABOOK T14 Air, features high-speed storage and LPDDR5 memory, while the ultra-thin, all-metal MEGABOOK K15S, equipped with a powerful 70Wh battery and supported by a 65W PD GaN charger, offers a smarter and more long-lasting user experience. Both devices are empowered by TECNO AI with advanced AI capabilities such as AI Album and AI Voice Assistant, making them perfect companions for all aspects of life.
The Next Game-Changing Tech Innovation: See the World with the TECNO AI Glasses Series
TECNO’s new AI Glasses Series also took center stage with the introduction of TECNO AI Glasses Pro and TECNO AI Glasses, reimagining eyewear with cutting-edge imaging, intelligent interactions, and a sleek aesthetic. The TECNO AI Glasses feature an aviator design, while the Pro model showcases a browline style, both embodying timeless elegance and modern fashion.
TECNO AI Glasses Redefine the Way People See the Future
Equipped with a 50MP high-definition camera, the series integrates an OV50D sensor, a 100° ultra-wide-angle custom lens, and an AI ISP imaging chip, forming a mobile-grade imaging system. This system lets users capture stunning, high-resolution photos with advanced AI noise reduction and HDR capabilities. With real-time translation supporting over 100 languages, TECNO AI’s Ella empowers accurate translation even for less common languages, as well as voice control, AI-powered object recognition, and intelligent information summaries for ultimate convenience.
Additionally, the AI Glasses Pro features a MicroLED display with 7th-gen resin waveguide technology, offering a 30° field of view, over 1,500 nits of brightness AR display, and a lightweight, ultra-thin design. The AR display allows users to effortlessly enjoy features like translation display, navigation, information prompts, and teleprompting.
Equipped with a 250mAh battery, these glasses offer over 11 hours of music playback and 8 hours of mixed use with just 30 minutes of charging. An advanced ultra-linear speaker, bass enhancement, and spatial sound deliver an immersive audio experience, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure seamless connectivity.
With these innovative launches, TECNO is setting new standards in mobile imaging and AI-enhanced technology, shaping a more connected and empowered future for consumers in emerging markets. Once again, TECNO has showcased its cutting-edge innovation on the global stage at MWC. With the brand essence of “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO’s relentless pursuit of innovation is making AI-powered technology more accessible, allowing consumers to experience the future ahead of time.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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