Tecno Phantom X2 Pro review

Our verdict

The Phantom X2 Pro represents a very intriguing new direction for Tecno. We aren't used to seeing such high-end specs from the otherwise budget-oriented manufacturer. On paper, the Phantom X2 Pro is impressive in more ways than one. It has a solid metal frame and rocks a spacious 6.8-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display, curved on the sides for an extra premium look and feel. There is also the Dimensity 9000 flagship chipset powering the phone. And certainly not least, the impressive camera setup on the Phantom X2 Pro begs to be noticed. It's got autofocus across all three rear cameras and a dual 50MP setup with a pop-out 2.5x zoom camera, which is unique in more ways than one.And camera performance, in general, has been great all-around.

Look a bit deeper, however, and the cracks quickly start to show. There is no official ingress protection. That display doesn't get very bright, making it tough to use outdoors. It is not particularly color-accurate, either and there is no support for HDR video. The big 5,160 mAh battery inside the Phantom X2 is rather slow to charge. There is just a single bottom-firing speaker on board the phone, and it's not particularly impressive in terms of performance either.

All things considered, the Phantom X2 Pro is hard to recommend outright. Certain aspects of it are compelling, but others drag down the overall experience. Unless the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro nails your particular priorities, we would probably look elsewhere for a more well-rounded alternative.

Pros

• Memorable, eye-catching design and excellent build quality.
• 120Hz screen allows for high-framerate gaming.
• The Dimensity 9000 chip offers great performance and modern features.
• Solid all-around camera performance and a unique zoom camera.
• Solid battery life.

Cons

• Display doesn't get very bright and doesn't support HDR video.
• Cameras lack optical image stabilization, and autofocus can be unreliable.
• Single, underwhelming speaker.
• Slow charging.