TECNO held its fourth Future Lens event this December 2024.

As a refresher, last year’s Future Lens 2023 is where the company has announced camera improvements both in the hardware and software side such as the Liquid Telephoto Macro Lens, W-Shaped Adjustable Aperture, and Universal Tone (UT) technology.

In this year’s Future Lens 2024, we get to see AI-driven imaging solutions that will power cameras in TECNO smartphones in 2025 and the years to come.

AI in Imaging

Dubbed as the “TECNO Image Matrix” (TIM), this is the brand’s all-new “brain” for AI-powered imaging processes. This new AI vision strategy aims to implement the brand’s practical AI capabilities straight to imaging.

It’s pretty hard to say each and every process in simpler terms. But to sum these all up, the new process ensures that future TECNO smartphones will deliver fast yet high-quality image quality without actually consuming and compromising the overall computational power of the camera hardware and the device as a whole.

The combination of four engines stated above make the AI-powered imaging experience unparalleled and seamless for actual users — especially in terms of optimizing color, scene, and image quality. It even promises high dynamic prowess during low-light / night time.

The TECNO Image Matrix will be the foundation of the brand’s new and optimized AI-powered functions — AI Shooting Quality++, Portrait Master, Video Master, AI Snap and AI Image Studio.

EVS Dynamic Snapshot

Another AI-powered functionality introduced by TECNO is the EVS Dynamic Snapshot.

This is basically TECNO’s answer when capturing fast-moving subjects — which is still one of the pain-points in modern smartphone cameras.

To alleviate this type of concern, most brands tend to collect pixels frame-by-frame. But, TECNO’s approach is different.

This technology uses high dynamic tracking to intelligently lock onto fast-moving subjects. At the same time, the tech pinpoints the pixel changes at an ultra-high frequency.

These are all possible through specific AI algorithms made by TECNO combined with the power of RGB camera sensor to capture static objects. At the same time, the EVS sensor detects those function and keeps all the motion data intact.

The result? Sharp, blur-free, and crystal-clear photographs without the need for professional cameras and lenses — regardless if it’s about taking a photograph of a flying bird or a fast sports car in action.

Tap Any Zoom Dual Prism Telephoto

The annual event would not be complete without announcing an imaging capability with the power of hardware in it.

While it sounds complex (and mouthful), TECNO’s Tap Any Zoom camera tech solves three major challenges experienced when using any modern telephoto lens: focusing difficulties, frequent blurring, and re-framing issues.

As simple as double-tapping any subject that you want to capture (either from the 1x wide or ultra-wide angle mode), the camera instantly zooms to the optimal level (up to 30x) for fast and precise framing.

The lens-shift OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) as well as the dual-prism wide swing angle effectively reduces impact from external vibrations. This further ensures sharp and stable shots.

Moreover, the dual prism lens offer a wider range of shooting area. It has the ability to take images up to with 14 times the zoom of a standard 125mm focal length lens.  This new hardware gives the ability to take ultra-wide-angle photos with an even greater perspective.

The combination of long-range scanning function and 400MP pixel auto-assembly ensure perfect high-resolution imagery altogether.

There’s even a telephoto sweep function that stitches full-frame shots without distortion — which is often overlooked in panorama shots.

Stop At Nothing

The whole Future Lens 2024 event was introduced by Nicole Scott — currently a producer for BloombergTV as well as an Award-Winning Documentary Maker.

She is actually close to our hearts as she had several appearances in some of our YouTube videos and write-ups during her prime in MobileGeeks.de.

There’s also Laury Bai, TECNO’s CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) who presented all the imaging possibilities through the all-new TECNO Image Matrix.

It would also be amiss without Xiaohan Huang’s presence — TECNO’s Director in Image R&D Center.

The first half of the event was concluded with a panel discussion between the media together with Nicole, Xiaohan, and Nigel Atherton of Amateur Photographer.

Some of the questions and curiosities were asked and answered during this segment. These were all connected to the new imaging features aforementioned as well as TECNO’s concrete plans of implementing these camera features in their upcoming products.

Moreover, this further proves and solidifies TECNO’s vision of breaking boundaries in imaging through cutting-edge camera hardware and practical yet responsive software — especially with the emergence and power of AI in ever-growing world of tech.

The brand’s “Stop At Nothing” philosophy might sound challenging and too ambitious for such a rising brand. However, it also serves as a motivation for them to deliver and innovate more powerful, intuitive, and creative imaging solutions each year — especially in emerging markets where it’s often overlooked.

Smartphones: Assembled, Tried, and Tested

In my six years working for GadgetMatch, I never had the chance to witness how production and assembly work in a smartphone company. Not until TECNO provided us a glimpse of their cutting-edge factory in Chongqing without recording restrictions.

Mind you, my colleague MJ told me it was surprising that they allowed cameras inside the production factory. This means TECNO is confident to show how they assemble, try, and test the smartphones they make.

From manufacturing and completing the actual components needed…

Testing each and every crucial part…

And even assembling everything in place.

In another part of the plant is where we get to see how the phones get tried and tested in terms of overall usability and durability.

Camera works even after repeated dust resistance test

Those include various tests such as dust resistance, water splashing plus immersion, and even repeated drop tests for several times.

TECNO CAMON 30 during the water IPX8 water resistance test

TECNO Spark Go 1 unscathed after repeated drop test

This just shows that TECNO has a tedious, rigorous, yet systematized process when testing their smartphones — regardless if its a budget, midrange, or a flagship smartphone.

Two Vinces, One Photo: Here’s GadgetMatch’s Vincenz and Yanko Design’s Vincent capturing that phone drop test in action

Photos and words aren’t enough. Here’s a 60-second round-up I did of the actual factory tour.

@gadgetmatch Tried & Tested: This is how TECNO smartphones are made #TECNOFutureLens2024 #foryou #fyp ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

BONUS: TECNO Coffee?!

TECNO has also showed us how they produce coffees in another production facility.

These beans were ethically-sourced from Ethiopia. The boxes weren’t lying as Gesha Village is popular for its coffee beans.

And ICYMI, TECNO tops Africa’s smartphone brand ranking.

That’s not all. They even let us know the actual taste of just one among the various coffee products they produce.

While there’s no official word during the tour talk, I’m just assuming that the LOEWE. Design Edition of the CAMON 30 series is where they got their discarded coffee beans in order to manufacture the actual backing of the phones.

Photo by TECNO

The result? These Yirgo-branded coffee products that they also sell for a surprisingly wallet-friendly price.