When I first heard about the Tecno Camon 40 Pro, I was genuinely intrigued. Its spec sheet boasted premium features like a 6.78-inch AMOLED display, 165 Hz refresh rate, and a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset, all at an attractive price point. However, after using the phone extensively, I’ve realized that no device is perfect—and this one is no exception. Here’s my honest review of the Tecno Camon 40 Pro, highlighting its strengths and, more importantly, its shortcomings.
First Impressions and Design
Right out of the box, the Tecno Camon 40 Pro looks sleek with its 7mm thickness and eco-leather back. The 165 x 75 x 7 mm dimensions make it comfortable to hold. However, I couldn’t help but notice how fragile it feels. Despite its Corning Gorilla Glass protection, the phone seems prone to scratches and smudges. I had to invest in a sturdy case almost immediately, which slightly diminished its stylish aesthetic.
The camera placement—three vertically stacked rings—is a refreshing design change from Tecno’s circular modules, but it protrudes significantly. This makes the phone wobble when placed on flat surfaces, which is annoying for desk users like me.
Display: Stunning But Flawed
The 6.78-inch AMOLED display is undeniably vibrant. Colors pop, and the 165 Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and gaming. However, I noticed that the 1080 x 2436 pixels resolution struggles under direct sunlight. Even with brightness cranked to the maximum, outdoor visibility is subpar.
Additionally, the always-on display feature is a battery drain. While it’s convenient for quick notifications, I found myself turning it off to conserve power—a trade-off I didn’t expect from a phone with a 5000mAh battery.
Performance: Powerful Yet Overheating
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset, the Tecno Camon 40 Pro breezes through multitasking and gaming. Benchmarks like 1,034 (single-core) and 3,257 (multi-core) on Geekbench are impressive. But in real-world usage, the phone overheats during prolonged gaming sessions or 4K video recording. The Mali-G610 GPU handles graphics well, but the heat buildup often forces me to pause.
Moreover, while the 12 GB RAM (+12 GB extended RAM) ensures smooth app transitions, the HiOS 15 interface feels bloated. Pre-installed apps take up unnecessary space, and I spent hours uninstalling or disabling them.
Camera System: Great on Paper, Average in Use
The 50 MP wide, 50 MP ultrawide, and 2 MP depth cameras sound impressive, but the results are inconsistent. In well-lit conditions, photos are sharp and detailed. However, in low-light environments, even with the Dual LED flash, images often turn out grainy.
The 4K video recording at 60 fps is a standout feature, but stabilization is poor. Videos appear shaky unless shot with a tripod. As someone who loves capturing memories on the go, I found this quite disappointing. The 50 MP selfie camera, while decent, struggles with dynamic range, often overexposing backgrounds.
Battery Life and Charging: Not as Promising
The 5000mAh battery should last all day, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. With heavy usage—gaming, streaming, and using the always-on display—the battery drains faster than expected. The 45W fast charging is a saving grace, taking around 50 minutes for a full charge. However, I noticed the phone heats up significantly during charging, raising long-term durability concerns.
Connectivity: Missing the Mark
The Tecno Camon 40 Pro is marketed as 5G capable, but my experience with network stability was mixed. While it performed well on 4G LTE, the 5G bands SA/NSA coverage was spotty. The dual-band WiFi works well indoors, but the signal weakens at longer distances.
Features like NFC and infrared are useful additions, but their utility feels niche. For most users, these are “nice-to-have” features rather than essentials.
Storage and Build Quality: Room for Improvement
With 512 GB storage, I had plenty of space for apps, photos, and videos. However, the lack of a dedicated microSD slot was a letdown. Tecno opted for a shared SIM slot, forcing users to choose between dual SIM functionality and expanded storage—a compromise I didn’t appreciate.
The eco-leather back, though stylish, isn’t very durable. It started showing wear after just a few weeks, which dampened my initial excitement about its design.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Vibrant AMOLED display with a high refresh rate.
- MediaTek Dimensity 8200 delivers strong performance.
- Ample RAM (12 GB) and storage (512 GB).
- Decent camera performance in bright conditions.
- Affordable pricing for the specs (₨104,999).
Cons:
- Poor outdoor visibility on the display.
- Inconsistent low-light camera performance.
- Overheating during intensive tasks.
- Bloated software with pre-installed apps.
- Fragile build and easily scuffed eco-leather back.
- Lack of a dedicated microSD slot.
FAQs
Does the Tecno Camon 40 Pro support wireless charging?
No, the Tecno Camon 40 Pro lacks wireless charging, which is disappointing for a phone at this price point.
How does the Tecno Camon 40 Pro perform for gaming?
While the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chipset and Mali-G610 GPU handle most games smoothly, prolonged gaming leads to significant overheating.
Is the camera good for low-light photography?
The Dual LED flash helps, but low-light performance is inconsistent, with grainy images and reduced sharpness.
How long does the battery last with heavy usage?
The 5000mAh battery lasts about 8-10 hours with heavy usage. However, enabling features like the always-on display can drain it faster.
Is the Tecno Camon 40 Pro worth its price?
At ₨104,999, the phone offers impressive specs but falls short in key areas like build quality, overheating, and software experience.
Final Verdict
While the Tecno Camon 40 Pro offers an impressive spec sheet and competitive pricing, it doesn’t fully deliver on its promises. The display, performance, and cameras shine in ideal conditions but falter under real-world use. If Tecno addresses these shortcomings in future updates or models, it could become a serious contender in the mid-range smartphone market. For now, consider your priorities carefully before making the purchase.
