Techno Pova 5 Pro Review
From foldable phones to game-centric budget smartphones, Tecno has definitely upped their ante in the consumer electronics space in the Philippines. In case you missed my review of Tecno Pova 5 x Free Review, I praised it for its incredible performance for the price it asks. At PhP7,999, the combination of Helio G99 and 8GB RAM make a compelling reason to consider it as a good budget smartphone.
With the Tecno Pova 5 Pro, Tecno is even giving everything they’ve got to offer more power at an unbelievable impressive price of PhP9,999, making this a new contender in the performance-focused budget devices in the market.
Tecno Pova 5 Pro vs Tecno Pova 5
| Feature | Tecno Pova 5 Pro | Tecno Pova 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 5000mAh Mega Battery | 6000mAh Mega Battery (45W Smart Charge) |
| Processor | MTK D6080 5G Processor | Helio G99 6nm Processor |
| Display Size | 6.78″ FHD Dot-in Display | 6.78″ FHD Display (120Hz Refresh Rate) |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Internal Storage | 256GB (128GB option available) | 256GB |
| Camera | 50MP AI Camera | 50MP AI Camera |
| Operating System | HiOS based on Android™ 13 | HiOS based on Android™ 13 |
| Available Colors | Dark Illusion/Silver Fantasy | Amber Gold/Mecha Black/Hurricane Blue |
| Network & Connectivity | GSM, GPRS, FULL EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, FDD LTE, TDD LTE, 5G NR, GPS, WiFi, FM, OTG | GSM, GPRS, FULL EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, FDD LTE, GPS, WiFi, FM, OTG |
| Dimensions (mm) | Height: 168.50, Width: 76.50, Thickness: 9.00 | Height: 168.61, Width: 76.61, Thickness: 9.00 |
| Front Camera | 16MP Front Camera with Flash | 8MP Front Camera with Flash |
| Rear Camera | 50MP Dual Rear Camera with Dual Flash | 50MP Dual Rear Camera with Dual Flash |
| Sensors | G-Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Ambient Light and Distance sensor, Electronic compass, Gyroscope, NFC | G-Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Ambient Light and Distance sensor, Electronic compass, Gyroscope, NFC |
| In the Box | Phone * 1, Charger cable * 1, Charger * 1 | Phone * 1, Charger cable * 1, Charger * 1 |
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Design and Display
The Tecno Pova 5 Pro’s design is an undeniable head-turner, thanks to its Turbo Light Mecha Design. takes personalization to a whole new level with its very unique LED light strip, boasting a striking 9-color RGB interactive design. It’s like having a miniature light show right in your hands. But it’s not just about pretty lights; it’s about enhancing your overall smartphone experience. This design decision by Tecno give the phone an aesthetic appeal and sets it apart from the usual boring design of its competitors.
The Colorful LED Ambient Light feature isn’t merely a cosmetic add-on; it’s a dynamic visual storyteller. Imagine receiving an incoming call on your Tecno Pova 5 Pro. Instead of a usual ringtone or notification, the LED strip activates and pulses in sync with the rhythm of your chosen tune. It’s a visual spectacle that turns every call into an event. This reminds me of the Nothing Phone series, but with RGB.
And when you’re about to dive into the immersive world of gaming, the Tecno Pova 5 Pro takes it up a notch. As you play a game, the LED strip transforms into a breathtaking light show, setting the stage for an epic gaming session. The vivid, multicolored lights pulsate and shift with your every move, creating an ambiance that draws you deeper into the game.
The Tecno Pova 5 Pro also packs a 6.78-inch FHD Display with 120Hz Refresh Rate with a 1080×2460 resolution. It has a touch sampling rate of 240Hz and can achieve up to 580 nits of maximum brightness. Colors pop and the level of details are good. The overall display experience is pretty much the same with Tecno Pova 5.
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Performance
Underneath the sleek exterior of the Tecno Pova 5 Pro lies a sleeping powerhouse. At the heart of this smartphone beats the powerful new MediaTek Dimensity 6080 5G processor.
When compared to its competition, such as the Snapdragon 750 and even the Helio G99 on the Pova 5, the Dimensity 6080 emerges as a clear frontrunner. Tecno Pova 5 Pro’s performance in our benchmark is nothing short of astounding, making it perform better, if not the same, than competition.
But it’s not all about raw power. The Tecno Pova 5 Pro is also a master of efficiency, thanks to its Smart 5G 2.0 technology. This intelligent feature optimizes power consumption, ensuring that your device delivers exceptional performance without draining your battery prematurely. It’s the perfect harmony between power and longevity, making it an ideal choice for both productivity and entertainment. Oh yeah – before I forget: this is also among the best sub-PhP10,000 smartphone with 5G chipset.
As if that weren’t enough, the Tecno Pova 5 Pro generously offers a 256GB of internal storage, accompanied by 8+8 extended RAM. This is an amazing combination, especially if you plan on downloading a tone of mobile games like Farlight 84 and Honkai: Star Rail.
We subjected the Tecno Pova 5 Pro to a series of synthetic tests that you can try and replicate. Below are the list of synthetic benchmarks we have used.
- Antutu Benchmark is a widely used and popular benchmarking tool for smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. It evaluates the performance of a device by measuring its CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage capabilities, as well as testing its UX (user experience) and overall performance. The benchmark provides a comprehensive score that helps users compare the performance of different devices and make informed decisions based on their specific needs and preferences.
- Geekbench 6 serves as an indispensable tool for individuals who seek reliable and comprehensive information about the performance capabilities of their devices. By providing accurate and standardized benchmarks, Geekbench 6 enables users to choose devices that cater to their specific requirements, ensuring a seamless and efficient user experience.
- 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme is a benchmarking test that measures the performance of graphics cards in mobile devices. It is designed to push graphics cards to their limits, simulating demanding gaming scenarios and providing an accurate assessment of their capabilities. With Wild Life Extreme, users can evaluate the graphical performance of their devices and compare them to other devices on the market. It is a reliable and comprehensive tool for assessing the gaming potential of a mobile device and making informed decisions about their hardware choices.
- PCMark Work 3.0 is a benchmarking tool specifically designed for smartphones. It assesses the performance of various aspects of a smartphone’s functionality, focusing on work-related tasks. This benchmark evaluates the device’s ability to handle daily productivity tasks such as document editing, web browsing, video conferencing, and data manipulation. By running PCMark Work 3.0, users can accurately gauge their smartphone’s efficiency and compare it to other devices on the market. This information enables users to make informed decisions regarding their smartphone choices, ensuring optimal productivity and performance in their daily work routines.
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Synthetic Benchmark Results
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Gameplay Benchmark Results
In terms of actual gaming peformance, I played games like Farlight 84, Diablo Immortal, Mobile Legends, and Honkai Star Rail on the Tecno Pova 5. As expected, performance is amazing for the price it asks. Honestly, I did not quite expect the new Mediatek chipset to perform this good, but having experienced it the following games, I can say that this phone is ok for gaming.
You have to take note though that Diablo Immortal cannot be played beyond 60fps, and even at 30fps, this game stutter heavily most of the time. Star Rail game performance is lackluster as well. However, Mobile Legends and Farlight 84 – being very optimized on a lot of smartphones we tested – play very well on this device. Check out the test charts below for your reference.
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Software
Tecno Pova 5 Pro’ software is directly the same as the one on the Pova 5. Since the unit we receive also has a FreeFire co-branding, there’s an option for you to switch on its branded theme. You get the usual amount of bloat, as expected from a device packed with tons of features and co-branding. It’s a double-edged-sword, honestly; but it is not a dealbreaker. For what it’s worth, there are QOL of features that are acceptable with very minimal performance toll.
There is also a dedicated section in the app settings that will allow you to control the back lighting of the phone. It is, however, very limited as it only gives you 5 lighting options. There is no way to further customize it, but then there’s really no point of complaining because (1) the backlight effect works, albeit with limited lighting options; and, (2) it’s a less than PhP10,000 phone.
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Camera Performance
As a gaming-focused smartphone, I did not expect highly from the Tecno Pova 5 Pro’s camera performance yet it delivered fairly. Basic camera modes are available except for Pro Mode, which can be helpful to maximize its camera sensor, and let users be more creative with their compositions.
For what it’s worth, there are features like Video Bokeh mode, which helps users achieve something similar to Portrait Video. It’s good to have, but at the end of the day, it is obvious that this feature is not the Tecno Pova 5 Pro’s greatest suit.
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Sound Performance
The Pova 5 Pro’s sound is loud and supports DTS Sound. You have the option to set the DTS Sound to Smart so it automatically adjust the EQ based on the content you’re listening too. There is also an equalizer that will allow you to freely tweak 100, 300, 1K, 3K, and 10K frequencies.
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Battery and Connectivity Performance
The Tecno Pova 5 Pro has a 5000mAh batatery, and performs a little less than I expected. Don’t get me wrong – it is still way better than most devices with the same battery configuration, but I expected it to go beyond 15 hours. From full charge to 20%, the phone lasted 14 hours and 27 minutes at moderate usage.
There are a couple of features that I liked about its Battery Lab software. You have the ability to turn on Power Boost and Ultra Power Settings to further tweak the performance of the phone at the expense of battery life or save more on battery life accordingly. There is also charging completion tone, to help you save the life of your phone’s battery over time. There is no bypass charging.
Tecno Pova 5 Pro Verdict
I have to give it to Tecno: they are making very good smartphones and the Tecno Pova 5 Pro is not an exeption. While I would still recommend the Tecno Pova 5 more (because of its better price to performance ratio), there are still good reasons to consider the Tecno Pova 5 Pro. It has a very creative way of showing notifications through its light strip (ala Nothing Phone series) and acceptable gaming performance.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
