It hasn’t been too long since I did my review of the TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G.
While I enjoyed that phone, I’ve admittedly spent my time with its brother even longer.
Forty days after, I’m here to share my deep-seated thoughts regarding TECNO’s newest CAMON 40 Premier.
Holy Three-nity
Let’s cut to The Chase and slice through that luscious cake.
The camera system of the CAMON 40 Premier is the main reason why you should consider this phone in the first place.
Technically, the CAMON 40 Premier has four 50MP cameras: one in front, three at the back.
CAMON 40 Premier |
CAMON 40 Pro 5G |
|
Wide |
50MP f/1.88
|
50MP f/1.9
|
Ultra-Wide |
50MP f/2.2 |
8MP |
Periscope Telephoto |
50MP f/2.2
|
— |
Selfie |
50MP f/2.5 |
50MP f/2.5 |
However, the Premier version has a dedicated periscope telephoto module that’s capable of taking optically-zoomed snaps beyond 3x — which its base and Pro siblings don’t have as they only rely on the main sensor’s in-sensor crop zooming.
And the good thing is, it still gives you the option of choosing your desired focal length whenever tapping any of the wide or zoom modes.
I sound like a broken record for always saying that I’m the type of person who uses zoom in camera phones A LOT.
It’s handy-dandy for taking everything that’s far to reach with just the main 1x sensor alone.
It’s also ideal when capturing cute cats at home — or outdoors. Just so they won’t go away when you’re taking photos too close.
Most of all, I choose this focal length when taking shots of food. It’s clearly the sweet spot to fit in everything in the frame while still showing that much-needed detail.
And while we’re already at it, here’s another notable trio.
It’s none other than the three color modes supplied in TECNO’s camera UI: Standard, Bright, and CAMON.
First profile is the default one. Meanwhile, Bright is a boost in saturation and contrast. CAMON makes your shots look more “dramatic”.
This can be seen easily when taking shots of food — or a combo of coffee and pastry together.
Surprisingly, the CAMON mode suits even in scenery photos.
It added a touch of film-like vibe with melancholy and nostalgia all over.
There are even Sky Shop filters — just in case you want to replace and beautify those “dull” skies.
Long-exposure mode also exists in case you want timelapsed scenery shots — such as the silky river along the vast waterfall resort I’ve been to just recently.
The Viet Bet
As already spoiled by the samples above, two of my friends brought the CAMON 40 Premier during their 1-week tri-city hopping in Vietnam. The moment they landed on The Land of the Ascending Dragon, they already attested to its camera prowess.
And as coincidental as it seems, “Cảm ơn” in Vietnamese means “Thank You”. And I think this is the best time to cleverly say “Cảm ơn, CAMON” 😇
With that, here are all the snaps of sights and bites taken through CAMON 40 Premier’s cameras — and let the beauty of each and every photograph speak for themselves.
Hồ Chí Minh City (formerly Sài Gòn)
Hà Nội
Sa Pa
Chân dung | Portraits
Đồ ăn | Food
Trong nhà | Indoors
Ánh sáng yếu + Đêm | Low-light + Night
Clearly, no matter what type of subject or scenario, the CAMON 40 Premier truly nailed every snap taken through its spectacular cameras.
And before I forget, the CAMON 40 Premier is the only phone in its lineup that headlines the company’s PolarAce 2.0 Image System with an Independent Image Processor 2.0.
This means it can shoot clear 4K videos — most especially at low-light/night with high clarity and acceptable amount of noise reduction.
As surprising as it seems, this phone gives a satisfying stabilized video recording without that unwanted jitter and jerkiness. That’s despite the phone being held in motion against a very airy surrounding.
Dash to Flash
If you’ve read my CAMON 40 Pro 5G review, you’d know by now what this is all about. If not, here’s a simple recap.
FlashSnap is TECNO’s newest imaging tech that instantly captures objects in motion even without tapping the shutter release.
This can be activated either by tapping the all-new One-Tap button twice (which is found at the left side) or just by swiping right from the default AI Cam mode in its native camera app.
Delightfully, it runs across all CAMON 40 phones regardless of what model it is. However, I find it a bit lacking that TECNO limited it to just 1x in the lower-end models.
This special new feature works best with the dedicated periscope shooter of the CAMON 40 Premier at 3x zoom (70mm equivalent).
Even I can’t believe that a phone of this price took these time-frozen photos like I tried to stop the time from ticking.
Premier Gear
Hey! Give way! Premier aesthetics are on the way!
Unlike last year’s CAMON 30 line which all looked similar with their circular camera island, this year, only the Premier model has preserved this design language that has a more streamlined look. It’s also a tad slimmer with the removal of that camera grip-like hump.
Additionally, the side-axis design found on the right side was moved to the left to be consistent with other CAMON 40 models.
But, as much as I love the very smexy look of the CAMON 40 Pro with the incorporation of the cameras on that swan-neck silhouette, TECNO is still clever to make the CAMON 40 Premier stand out with its gigantic “Space Ring” camera bump at its back.
Pair that with a brushed aluminum frame, and you get an overall Premium-looking phone.
Despite having a plastic back, it barely felt like one. It’s more closer to a glass-back phone if I must pinpoint.
Also, it resists fingerprint smears — which is usually a hard thing to avoid among a lot of phones in this category.
Speaking of fingerprint, it’s equipped with an optical in-display sensor for secure biometrics. That’s beneath the phone’s glass display with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection.
The CAMON 40 Premier also boasts dual IP68/IP69 ratings for utmost resistance against dust, water immersion, and even high water pressure.
Also, the Premier-class CAMON only has two colors this year. I have the Emerald Lake Green colorway with me which I truly love. Most of the time, it’s just that muted. But, once hit by any type of light, it shows a stunning shade of green.
There’s also Galaxy Black with a dark back and hints of bronzy gold on it. Honestly, you can’t go wrong from picking whichever.
TECNO CAMON 30 Premier LOEWE. Design Edition | 2024
I just wish it was offered in more colors or finishes like last year. Their partnership with Germany’s LOEWE. alongside that very special coffee grounds back cover was truly exceptional.
Crystal Clear
The CAMON 40 Premier features a slightly downsized 6.67-inch 1.5K Golden Ratio AMOLED display. That’s in contrast to last year’s 6.77 inches.
Refresh rate has been bumped up though from 120Hz to an even smoother 144Hz.
Looking at the fuller picture, I love how slim all sides of the screen look — even if the chin is slightly on the thicker side.
TECNO even says this has a 94% StB (Screen to Body) ratio which isn’t too common for phones in this segment.
Again, the actual max brightness nits of this phone wasn’t mentioned by TECNO. Truth be told, the display is sufficiently bright when used out and about.
I am very weak after finishing Weak Hero: Class 2 in less than 12 hours. Also on my knees after seeing Si-eun’s face card after almost 3 years 😭
With this type of display panel, blacks are truly black while the vibrant colors fully pop.
The brightness transition is also apparent when you view photos in its gallery with XDR Display mode turned. This makes it a stand-out feature for its category as it’s usually found in flagships.
Tuning in for the entertainment, the CAMON 40 Premier is equipped with a stereo speaker setup powered by Dolby Atmos.
Even if I can hear the sound quality improvement over its Pro sibling, overall volume power still sounds a little bit lower compared to other phones.
Still, it’s rich and has enough bass for your everyday loudspeaker sesh.
Fortunately, that Dolby Atmos partnership is more useful when you connect your favorite TWS earphones.
Not only it enables the powerful Dolby Atmos codec, it’s also one among the few Android phones that natively supports Apple’s Spatial Audio.
High for HiOS
This year’s HiOS 15 felt like a refinement over last year.
The revamped Control Center feels more accessible and intuitive with reshaped squircular (and circular) elements.
And with the CAMON 40 Premier having an IR (Infrared) blaster on its top just means you can control appliances without Wi-Fi straight from the Control Center.
Icon folders are also resizable into whatever scale and placement you want: smaller, larger, or just something that’s expanded vertically or horizontally. This makes home screen customization a lot easier.
Last but definitely not the least, the One-Tap Button introduced earlier. This is basically TECNO’s version of iPhone’s “Action Button”.
The great thing though is, they don’t limit users from assigning any app they want when double pressing that stand-out orange button. Meaning, it’s not just limited to just accessing TECNO’s FlashSnap camera.
Some of the features I love still remain though such as Dynamic Port that displays pop-up info from the punch hole cutout.
Even a more handy use is the ability to switch between three charging modes whenever Ultra Charge mode appears.
You can’t spell ‘Magic’ without ‘AI’ in it
Part of the HiOS upgrade is TECNO being all out with their AI Strategy.
The built-in TECNO AI app is your one-stop shop for anything and everything AI.
By long-pressing the One-Tap Button mentioned earlier, it enables Ella — or TECNO’s AI Assistant.
This year’s Ella looks and acts more intelligent. That’s most especially thanks to its DeepSeek R1 integration.
It’s able to do whatever question or task you throw at it. It even threw in information that’s relevant to the region you’re based in.
Despite this phone not having a system-wide Korean language setting, the AI Translate feature was still able to recognize my voice in Korean without any hitch.
Though there was just one instance where I asked Ella to add an event in my calendar. It was able to add what I asked for BUT at the wrong date. Maybe something TECNO should keep in mind for a future update?
Additionally, you can still summon Google’s Gemini by long-pressing the power button at the right.
This is TECNO giving us users the best of both worlds — or the pure freedom to choose whichever AI assistant they want.
Of course, the signature Circle to Search is ever-present — accessible by pressing the bottom bar.
Other AI features from the previous version all stay. In my experience, AI Eraser has been improved with better accuracy in detecting and removing hindrances (such as random strangers).
AI Eraser vs Original
But what I truly like is the all-new AI Image Extender — which is helpful for someone like me who’s very indecisive whenever I take photos for socials.
Through a set of AI algorithms, it’s able to extend an image so you can post it no matter what aspect ratio is needed in social media.
The Better Midranger
The TECNO CAMON 40 Premier is one of the few phones in 2025 that rocks MediaTek’s Dimensity 8350 Ultimate chipset based on an 4nm process.
Other than the Premier, its sister brand Infinix NOTE 50 Pro+ runs it. OPPO’s Reno13 series also has the same chipset minus the “Ultimate” superlative.
Honestly, this chipset is more than enough for a smartphone priced in this category.
Games like HoYoverse’s graphics-demanding Zenless Zone Zero ran in High Settings by default…
Ace Racer that was also able to work in High settings (which uses NVIDIA’s PhysX engine, BTW)…
and CoDM (Call of Duty Mobile) with Very High graphics set upon installation went all smooth without hiccups.
Multitasking shouldn’t be a slouch as it has a plentiful 12GB of memory that can be expanded up to 24GB — which relies on its 256GB storage.
That one and only storage option is more than enough for some but it’s better if TECNO also offered a 512GB variant just like last year.
Barely Boosted
If there’s one feature that TECNO has barely changed in this year’s top-class midranger is none other than its battery capacity and charging speeds.
Compared to last year’s CAMON 30 Premier, the successor only had a 100mAh increase: from 5000mAh to just 5100mAh.
Its Si/C (Silicon-Carbon) battery tech is just part of the story.
In day-to-day use case, it lasts sufficiently through the day when used moderately. That means breezing through social apps and streaming platforms, some camera taking, and a little bit of gaming.
For hardcore gaming and phone-tography, it definitely depletes faster. Around 3 to 4 hours of screen-on time, to be very specific.
And just like last year, TECNO keeps its 70W fast charging speeds (and charger + cable bundle) in the CAMON 40 Premier. It’s the only CAMON 40 model to do so, as the rest got downgraded to 45W charging.
| From 0% | START TIME: 10:55AM |
| 3 minutes | 6% |
| 5 minutes | 8% |
| 10 minutes | 19% |
| 15 minutes | 29% |
| 20 minutes | 38% |
| 30 minutes | 57% |
| 40 minutes | 78% |
| 45 minutes | 86% |
| 50 minutes | 89% |
| 60 minutes | 98% |
| 100% | 1 hour, 4 minutes END TIME: 11:59AM |
In my GadgetMatch Charge Test, charging the phone through TECNO’s “Ultra” Charging Mode took me below 65 minutes to fully juice up the phone.
If you’re a fan of wireless charging, don’t get your hopes up as TECNO’s new CAMON devices don’t have it.
What’s in the box?!
As alluded to earlier, the CAMON 40 Premier still has a bundled charger and cable in the box.
Again, tempered glass that was included in the CAMON 30 series was removed this year.
@gadgetmatch When pro-grade photography meets 5G power 💪 #TECNOCamon40Premier ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch
Personally though, I like how TECNO made a premium-looking case that other brands tend to ignore by supplying us with icky silicone or clear cases.
Is the TECNO CAMON 40 Premier your GadgetMatch?
TECNO is true to its words by making the MSRP of the CAMON 40 Premier stay under the US$ 400 price range.
With a competitive price of just PhP 21,999 (around US$ 395) in the Philippines, the CAMON 40 Premier is a true blue midranger.
To make it even more irresistible, it has an introductory price slashed down to just PhP 19,999. That’s PhP 2,000 in savings coupled with a special CAMON gift set.
I am Super Swiping the CAMON 40 Premier because it’s worth more than its total value.
Although its plastic back and slightly downsized display size might be an issue to some, that “compromise” actually contributed to a better handfeel.
It won’t shatter when the phone drops on the ground. Most of us will slap on a case anyway. Kudos to TECNO for bundling a stylish yet grippy case.
Couple that with a chip upgrade, excellent imaging system, and even crazier dual IP rating, what more can you ask for?
And unlike the CAMON 40 Pro 5G with a bunch of questionable downgrades, the Premier model didn’t compromise a lot. Not even the unchanged 70W charging that’s still fast in today’s standards.
TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G | 2025
Owners of last year’s CAMON 30 Premier might be punching the AIR right now with all the upgrades that this new Premier possesses.
If there’s one thing to envy though from last year, it’s none other than the larger 512GB storage option that isn’t present in this year’s CAMON.
But, in all honesty, there’s NO reason to Swipe Left except if you’re looking for a flagship-grade camera and gaming performance. You obviously need to save up more and shell out a lot in order to do so.
At this point, “flagship killer” is an overstatement. Other phone brands should fear that such a “midrange destroyer” exists.
It’s just hard to resist this marvelous midranger for all the compelling package it offers.
The TECNO CAMON 40 Premier is ultimately a worthy recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.
With the arrival of vivo’s first “Ultra” smartphone last May 2024, I felt nothing but utmost excitement — until it was revealed to be China-exclusive.
Second generation landed, yet it remained the same. My disappointment grew twofold.
Despite rocking the vivo X200 Pro last year, my eyes were glued to the Ultra for its more powerful camera hardware.
Two years have passed, and my gloomy, rainy skies have finally turned into a sunny scenery.
The Chinese smartphone brand finally listened and unveiled the much-awaited vivo X300 Ultra slated for global markets.
A Whole Different Animal
With all the “Ultra” smartphones released in the wild, the vivo X300 Ultra is of a different species.
For starters, the vivo X300 Ultra has a massive 200MP f/1.85 rear camera based on Sony’s 1/1.12-inch LYTIA 901 (or LYT-901) image sensor.
What makes it stand out from the rest is that 35mm focal length is uniquely of its kind. No other smartphone brand dares to do what vivo is currently doing.
Even though 35mm exists in most modern flagships through a series of camera app taps, it’s only vivo’s X300 Ultra (and last year’s X200 Ultra) that made 35mm the de facto focal length standard in contrast to all 23/24/26mm wide shooters out there. No fake 35mm cropping whatsoever.
Personally, I am a huge lover of this tight framing. Not only it gives the best balance of DoF (Depth of Field) and FoV (Field of View), it makes you focus and capture more intricate subjects altogether.
That mighty sensor is also capable of capturing 50mm shots through in-sensor cropping.
Deny it or not, ultra-wide angle shooters are what most brands often neglect. Well, vivo tried to make it up to par with that 50MP f/2.0 UWA lens.
But, it’s not just about the megapixel count nor aperture opening. The X300 Ultra boasts a 1/1.28-inch Sony LYT-818. X200 Pro’s main sensor was transformed into X300 Ultra’s ultra-wide unit.
This further proves how the X300 Ultra, in aespa’s words, is truly a W.D.A (Whole Different Animal).
Last but definitely not the least, that 200MP f/2.67 periscope telephoto module capable of bringing in 3.5x optical zoom or an equivalent of 85mm.
Shooting beyond 10x is still crisp and clear thanks to Samsung’s 1/1.4-inch ISOCELL HP0 sensor refined for vivo.
Before I forget, the X300 Ultra is the only phone in the X-series line to feature a 5MP f/2.0 multi-spectral sensor.
vivo X300 Pro (left), X300 Ultra (right)
For the spec-savvy, here are the detailed camera specs of the X300 Ultra against its Pro brother.
vivo X300 Pro |
vivo X300 Ultra |
|
Wide |
50MP f/1.57
|
200MP f/1.85
|
Ultra-Wide |
50MP f/2.0
|
50MP f/2.0
|
Telephoto |
200MP f/2.67 ZEISS APO
|
200MP f/2.67 ZEISS APO
|
Multi-
|
– |
5MP f/2.0 |
Selfie |
50MP f/2.0
|
50MP f/2.45
|
Mirrorless Mimicry
Last year’s vivo X300 Pro was already a very, VERY capable camera-centric flagship.
This year, vivo takes the X300 Ultra to the next level with their overhauled camera app features.
First and foremost, the shortcut bar on top is now customizable. Moreover, the lower right side lets you add more tools based on how you like them in your screen. This was not possible in previous iterations.
Now, if you’ve been following through over the years, the default color profiles were ZEISS Natural, Vivid, and Textured.
This year, the latter was changed to “Refined” while Textured was moved to less major presets in the list.
My first day with this monstrous camera phone made me explore all the new features — including making your very-own preset through Color Palette. This fully unlocks the hidden potential of the X300 Ultra.
Upon firing up that camera app, I immediately tested it out and did my own film recipe just to make my photos reflect my photography style. Thus, V01 and V02 were born.
Now, if you’re not a tinkerer like me, mirrorless-like presets are floating around XHS / XiaoHongShu (or RedNote, whatever you prefer).
For reference, here’s a quick comparison between vivo’s built-in presets versus my own recipe.
-
- vivo – Vivid
-
- V – V01
-
- vivo – Refined
-
- V – V01
This added ability truly proves my sentiment that it can be a “mirrorless replacement.” And by that, I meant you can show off your own photography style without having to be too restricted with the phone’s built-in presets and camera processing. Neither color-grading after the fact.
Such new feat is why I can never go back to the X300 Pro. And, even if they do include it in a future software update, X300 Ultra’s camera hardware is simply unbeatable.
-
- vivo X300 Ultra 35mm + V’s V01 Recipe
-
- Sony ZV-E10 + TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 II Prime Lens
Just for fun, I took both of these 35mm shots using the vivo X300 Ultra alongside the Sony ZV-E10 with my budget 35mm prime lens.
Postcards #PhotoDump
Spoiler alert: There are a lot to see! And, that’s the point of a “review” anyway 🤐
🇹🇼 高雄市 / Kaohsiung
📍 Cijin Island
By making and applying the preset I made, I was able to take all the glistening photos at these two different beaches in Kaohsiung.
📍 Sizihwan Beach
📍 Night Light
📍 Kaoshiung Center
📍 Angel & Demon Café
📍 Pier 2
📍 Hamasen
My inner railway fanaticism was screaming with the working diorama and all TRA / Taiwan Railway-filled memorabilia inside Hamasen Railway Museum.
📍 THSR Zuoying
All the train madness (and the Kaohsiung trip as a whole) ends here.
🇹🇼 臺北市 / Taipei
Moving from the southern city towards the north, Taipei’s weather also shifted drastically.
📍 Ximending
Being able to witness an eerie Ximending for the first time in my fifth Taipei visit along with this preset made it more dramatic.
I can’t imagine how “impactful” these would look if I applied vivo’s built-in presets.
📍 Xinyi
📍 Songshan
📍 Xizhi / Nangang
📍 Food
📍 X-tras
‼️ Bonus #1: COMPUTEX 2026
-
- Eye contact of ROG’s Kris Huang is melting me
-
- I mean???
SEE ALSO: Postcards from MSI’s 40th Anniversary Expo
‼️ Bonus #2: Selfies
🇰🇷 부산 / Busan
It’s funny how this phone was able to see Busan while its owner is still dreaming of seeing it with his own eyes one fine day.
As stated, I was not the person who traveled here (my friend took ’em for me), Still, I’m glad how these photos turned out all throughout her week-long trip in Busan.
Full-on FleXibility
With the newer G2 and G2 Ultra teleconverter lenses by vivo and ZEISS alongside the improved Grip Case produced by PGYTECH, it’s hard not to think the vivo X300 Ultra is a professional-looking mirrorless camera from afar.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any of these X-tras with me.
Still, it would be a huge miss not to test out the built-in periscope prowess of the X300 Ultra on concert grounds.
🎵 260612 BTS ‘ARIRANG’ in Busan
🎶 260425 IVE ‘Show What I Am’ in MNL
Video VerXatility
I’ve witnessed how vivo aimed to hit two birds with one stone by delivering a capable photo and video shooter like how Apple does with Pro-branded iPhones.
View this post on Instagram
vivo made the X300 Ultra rival the iPhone 17 Pro Max not just in photography, but in videography as well. This year, they have finally delivered.
For one, there’s better lens versatility when shooting in 4K/120fps — regardless if it’s the default SDR (Rec.709) codec, Dolby Vision, or as extreme as Log recording. More so, slo-mo shooting will be smoother and clearer.
Additionally, low-light shooting, video stability, and even lens switching are all seamless.
While I already enjoyed the video strengths of last year’s X200 Pro and X300 Pro, the X300 Ultra is remarkable and unbeatable.
Back to that custom color palette feature. Well, it also works in video shooting — making the vivo X300 Ultra an ultimate mirrorless sub.
Admittedly, unlike MKBHD and most filmmakers out there, I’m never a fan of 24fps as I prefer shooting in 60fps or higher. However, the X300 Ultra made me think otherwise as I enjoyed such “cinematic” shooting made possible with vivo’s Film Style mode.
If you’re just the point-and-shoot type of shooter without wanting vivo’s default color styles or not “pro” enough to make your own color recipe, Film Look also exists for those cine-rich footages.
It does not stop there! vivo even added this more profesh-looking layout reminiscent of professional cine cameras.
In all honesty, I only used it once since the texts are quite tiny, and adjusting controls were quite fiddly.
Clean and Lean
At first glance, the vivo X300 Ultra is nothing but subtle refinements.
Last year’s Rimowa-like texture of the X200 Ultra was gone in favor of that two-tone shade. Personally, I loved that design element more as it also serves as a functioning grip when held.
Moving through, while the Film / Steppe / Victory Green is closer to my heart, the White colorway given to me is still heaps better than the plain Eclipse Black shade.
It’s not just clean-looking, the bigger part has that subdued, mountain-like pattern faintly showing up when hit by light.
I’ve always been fond of massive circular camera cutout — vivo X-series not left out. Gladly, vivo still stuck with this design.
vivo X300 Ultra (above) vs X300 Pro (below)
Now, before you jump on that hump hate train, it’s great to appreciate how vivo engineers were able to fit all these massive camera components within.
I don’t mind the thiccer, protruding camera bump versus its Pro sibling. After all, it serves both form and function especially that it makes a great resting place for my finger when held one-handed.
At 8.49mm and 237 grams, it’s not too slim and hefty enough to avoid those unwanted drops and slides that I experienced frequently with the previous X200 Pro and X300 Pro.
#NowPlaying: The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, The WONDERfools
Flipping to its front shows the X300 Ultra’s 6.82-inch 144Hz LTPO AMOLED panel.
In the entirety of this review period, I was able to start and end The Legend of Kitchen Soldier starred by Park Ji-hoon — one of my ultimate biases (and crushes) both in the K-Pop and K-Drama world.
One of the best and most hilarious K-Dramas ever existed, periodt.
From the series’ cool video game-like VFXs à la smart glasses, mouthwatering cooking mastery, all the way to the hilarious, comedic snippets in between, it’s hard to deny how immersive it gets the longer you stare at that screen.
The bezels are impossibly thin for an Android smartphone.
Admittedly, I’m impatient when it comes to bi-weekly broadcasts (or two episodes being aired per week). Luckily, the one-time full release of Netflix’s The WONDERfools headlined by the amazing Park Eun-bin alongside the irresistible Cha Eun-woo made me sane.
This further tested its display strengths when I tried watching it against the harsh sun.
Just like the Legend Kang Sungjae and the Haeseong WONDERfools, X300’s Ultra display is legendary and wonderful on its own. 4500 nits peak brightness, 2K resolution, pixel density of 510ppi, and support for DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut, what more could I ask for?
It would be a huge denial on my end though if I didn’t say I want a bigger 6.9-inch display in order to fully feel its “Ultra” naming superlative — just like how Samsung, Xiaomi, and Apple made it possible with their Ultra (or Pro Max) models.
On Queue: I.O.I, NMIXX, tripleS
Sound produced by vivo’s X300 Pro were already loud and full. How much more with the X300 Ultra?
It’s hard to say that there are major improvements. Rest assured, its built-in stereo speakers sound superb.
Highs, mids, and lows are clearly separated without that unwanted flat nor muffled sound output.
Speaking of separation, I.O.I has been separated 10 years ago but came back this 2026 for a short yet sweet reunion comeback. I was very giddy to play Suddenly through the phone’s mighty speakers.
Suddenly, it made me teary-eyed after realizing I’ve witnessed I.O.I’s hardships and very formation ever since I watched Produce 101 Season 1 since 2015.
Thanking all the gods for NMIXX’s existence
The lossless goodness can also be heard when I played NMIXX’s Cresecendo and Heavy Serenade — especially with Lily, Sullyoon, and Kyujin’s adlibs.
Last but definitely not the least, the soothing yet energizing vibe was felt all throughout when I played the rock-infused pop track Baby Flower by the K-Pop super group, tripleS.
Finally! OT24 and ASSEMBLE26
It’s not just the song, rather, the full <LOVE&POP> pt.1 album, that’s worth listening to more than the streams they have garnered from their release date.
All in all, much like all these explosive bangers, the vivo X300 Ultra is a remarkable device for your banging loudspeaker sessions — even without the existence of any audio brand partnership.
True Blue Flagship
With flagship-grade display and cameras lie all the powerful core within.
Given that this is vivo’s ultimate flagship, it runs the latest and greatest 3nm SoC from Qualcomm: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Paired with a speedy 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra Pro memory, opening and switching or using apps simultaneously should be easy-breezy.
With OriginOS 6, animations are less fluid yet very snappy. I prefer it more over other Android skins (ColorOS, MagicOS, HyperOS, you get the idea).
Talk about perfect timing! I was thrilled when NTE (Neverness to Everness) finally made its release last May.
With this phone’s ultra-capable specs, it made me enjoy the all-new open-world game more fun and enjoyable. It’s like a mashup of Zenless Zone Zero and Cyberpunk 2077.
Looking at the graphics settings alone, you’re assured that the X300 Ultra will run the most intensive gaming titles to ever exist on the Android space.
While other markets have a 1TB storage configuration, the region where I reside in solely sticks to the 512GB variant.
Then again, it’s a major downside for a power user like me who easily fills up the phone. That’s considering how massive and daunting the file sizes are once you shoot in RAW and record in the most insane video resolution and codec possible in this device.
Hopefully though, vivo would consider bringing in 1TB to more regions — and 2TB like the newer iPhone Pros.
Now that I mentioned it: Other than the macOS integration with vivo’s Office Kit, the X300 Ultra can now do AirDrop as well! This was only a fantasy back then — especially for an Apple-slash-Android user like me.
The Not-so-flagship aspect
Frankly, the only thing that is not flagship-like about the X300 Ultra is its battery longevity.
Even though we are now being spoiled by 8000mAh ~ 10,000mAh+ midrangers nowadays, I am very much aware of the engineering challenges faced by manufacturers when prioritizing cameras in the flagship-class.
But, hear me out real quick. Why did OPPO manage to equip the Find X9 Ultra with an even bigger 7025mAh capacity? The Chinese Xiaomi 17 Ultra even has 200mAh more.
ICYMI, the X300 Pro already had a 6500mAh battery — and it didn’t last me throughout a whole day. How much more with the 6600mAh tank of the X300 Ultra?
Despite a more “power-efficient” chipset and a 100mAh boost in battery, the X300 Ultra is not in any way better in terms of endurance. While I thank vivo for the OriginOS transition, the battery efficiency of Funtouch OS was left behind.
While it can last well when used in moderate scenarios, it’s a heavy hogger when you use the cameras a LOT — which is the point of wanting this smartphone.
Case in point: During our COMPUTEX 2026 coverage, I relied heavily on this smartphone for shooting 90% of the stuff around the exhibition — especially because of how crammed and crowded the booths and pathways were.
From 9AM up until 2PM, it easily depleted its fully-charged state down to just 15%.
Fortunately, the vivo X300 Ultra supports one of the fastest charging speeds in a smartphone: 100W FlashCharge and 40W Wireless FlashCharge.
With my whole review duration, I utilized its wired charging capabilities more especially that it has a bundled charger plus USB-C to USB-C cable in the box.
FlashCharge High Speed |
FlashCharge Normal |
|
START TIME (From 0%) |
4:20AM |
6:06PM |
3 minutes |
2% |
2% |
5 minutes |
4% |
4% |
10 minutes |
10% |
7% |
15 minutes |
21% |
11% |
20 minutes |
30% |
20% |
30 minutes |
50% |
30% |
45 minutes |
77% |
44% |
1 hour |
98% |
62% |
1 hour 15 minutes |
— |
83% |
END TIME |
5:26AM1 hour 6 minutes |
7:35PM1 hour 28 minutes |
Mind you, third-party chargers, cables, and even power banks will still work and can take advantage of that FlashCharge High-Speed charging all thanks to that USB-C PPS protocol.
Although MagSafe isn’t supported, third-party cases with magnets can still make magnetic Qi2 (and Qi2.2) wireless charging possible.
Is the vivo X300 Ultra your GadgetMatch?
The original headline of this review was supposed to be “the true mirrorless for less.”
But, with a base price of PhP 109,990 / MYR 6799 / INR 159,999, it’s not precisely cheaper than most mirrorless setups in the market.
Still, that doesn’t mean the X300 Ultra performs less than a mirrorless.
Spending almost two months with the X300 Ultra, I can truthfully say I’ve enjoyed shooting with this power-packed phone more than the mirrorless camera I own.
This isn’t me saying smartphones can replace mirrorless cameras anytime soon. But, the focal length flexibility, photo and video versatility, plus plentiful software feats truly make the X300 Ultra the pinnacle of phone-tography and videography.
As I alluded to earlier, the X300 Ultra is vivo’s direct answer to Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max.
While acquiring that iPhone of the same configuration is cheaper at PhP 101,990 / INR 154,900 (but more expensive in Malaysia at MYR 6999), X300 Ultra boasts greater camera hardware and better pro-grade tools altogether.
And, even if you are stuck with some Apple devices (like yours truly), its readiness alongside the Apple ecosystem makes it an Android smartphone you cannot resist.
In Europe, while the starting price is higher at EUR 1999, that gives you double the storage. But, at the cost of removing the bundled charger and cable due to EU laws.
Enough talking! The vivo X300 Ultra is a hard Swipe Right, solid Super Swipe, and a worthy recipient of GadgetMatch’s Seal of Approval.
Whenever a brand slaps a “long battery life” label on a box, we take it with a grain of salt.
Even as smartphone battery capacities have become larger as of late, endurance is still subjective. It’s heavily dependent on your daily screen time, signal strength, and other habits.
But when a smartphone lands on your desk with a gargantuan 10,001mAh battery, then that subjectivity basically goes right out the window.
That’s what the realme P4 Power chiefly brings to the Philippine market for the first time, in the brand’s P series relatively quiet debut in the country.
It’s here to eliminate low-battery anxiety and render your bulky external power banks completely obsolete.
Tether-less freedom
We wielded this device for weeks as a primary daily driver, and the endurance is nothing short of black magic.
The daily rotation included endless social media scrolling, video streaming, continuous navigation, and a relentless stress test: serving as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot for up to three separate devices simultaneously.
Through all that usage, the phone flat-out refused to die. I didn’t consciously “try” to drain it. I just know it would last an entire day for up to the wee hours.
When acting as a multi-device router, the chassis does heat up slightly, but it never crosses into alarming or uncomfortable territory.
It simply sips power, providing a level of tether-less freedom that no standard 5,000mAh or 6,000mAh smartphone can replicate.
When it is finally time to recharge the device, it supports 80W SUPERVOOC charging so you won’t have to spend hours waiting.
Even if you don’t replenish it back up to 100%, an hour’s worth of charging should keep you going the extra distance.
Immersive visuals, casual performance
The massive battery pairs beautifully with a expansive 6.8-inch 144Hz AMOLED display. With a high, 453ppi pixel density and 1280 x 2800 resolution, media consumption and gaming become highly engaging — at least from a visuals standpoint.
There is a wider aspect ratio so you don’t get a comically long phone, and a curved screen. We aren’t typical fond of this but the curvature seems subtle, meaning no accidental edge touches.
When it comes to performance, the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra chipset handles everyday tasks and casual, less-demanding titles with absolute ease.
However, when jumping into competitive matches of Call of Duty: Mobile or exploring the heavy landscapes of Honkai: Star Rail, you will encounter frame drops and stuttering from time to time.
It’s never jarring enough to ruin your match or hinder what you’re trying to do, but it does occasionally disrupt an otherwise smooth gaming experience.
If anything, there’s Championship Mode and GT Mode to optimize the device for such tasks. Bypass Charging is a bonus so you can keep playing without the risk of device overheating.
Audio is loud but somewhat flat, but I didn’t expect much.
Heavy, mecha-inspired tank
That display curvature is part of the phone’s overall aesthetic. Around the back, the realme P4 Power embraces its “all about power” persona with a distinct, machine-inspired design language.
The upper half where the camera island is located, in particular, look aggressive and sharp, as if a nod to mobile gaming. The colorway for this unit is silver metallic.
However, housing a 10,000mAh cell requires a serious physical compromise: weight. This phone is significantly, undeniably heavy.
The sheer heft is a constant reminder of the juice it carries, to the point where switching back to a “normal” smartphone yields a stark, instantly noticeable contrast in your hand and pockets.
Reliable main camera, lagging selfies
For its camera package, the realme P4 Power comes with a dependable 50MP main camera with a Sony IMX882 sensor.
I didn’t exactly “test” the camera but just naturally used it whenever I was out and about. Hence, I ended up with plenty of food, product reviews, and random finds.
Performance is decent, with the 1x to 1.5x range being the sweet spot. Compared to budget devices, there is definitely more detail and texture.
Color reproduction is likewise amenable, with some depth and acceptable clarity. But camera-centric mid-rangers can obviously offer punchier, more “popped-up” contrast.
With OIS, video recording is likewise smooth. It’s usable for casual vlogging, although lighting is still the catch. You’ll need an extra tofu light for instance, which sacrifices the portability of the phone itself.
@manilaconnoisseur Dropped by Daily Beer Korean Chicken and Beer in ArcoVia, Pasig for some food after a team meeting!
The selfie camera, meanwhile, also lags compared to older realme number series devices I’ve used. Sharpness, vividness, and color accuracy are lacking.
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Built to survive the elements
As an added bonus, realme didn’t sacrifice ruggedness for the sake of capacity. The handset comes armed with a familiar IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, including high-pressure water jets and submersion.
We took it out on outdoor jogs, and heavy sweat didn’t cause a single issue. Even when dealing with moisture, the display’s touch optimization remained responsive.
Is this your GadgetMatch?
The realme P4 Power sits right in the competitive PhP 25,999 price bracket. In an era where smartphone prices are continuously climbing, it still offers a value proposition as an all-around mid-range device.
Think of it as buying a standard mid-ranger plus a power bank, minus the double pocket clutter. Long-term battery degradation remains to be seen but it seems the device is a fair purchase for power users.
It’s a close call, but the P4 Power is still a Swipe Right especially if your lifestyle demands endless battery life above all else.
After a week with the HONOR Watch 6, I realized I liked having data on things I normally would just leave to uneducated guesses.
I love seeing my sleep metrics, knowing if my heart is actually racing, and seeing notifications on the fly. These are things I find truly helpful in how I go about life currently. That’s why I can already see myself using the watch beyond the review period.
The thing is, I wasn’t expecting any of this.
The first thing that jumped out at me when I first wore the HONOR Watch 6 was that it barely felt like it was there. I was half expecting it to be this chunky-feeling thing. But it wasn’t. I was pleasantly surprised.
I have the silver model with the brown leather strap, and it feels light to wear. That was key for me because what I really wanted to track more than anything was my sleep.
The only time I really started to notice that I was wearing it practically all the time was around the fifth or sixth day. And honestly, that says a lot because I tend to want to take off most of the smartwatches I’ve used in the past.
A smartwatch that fits daily life
The brown leather strap is inoffensive in the best possible way. It blends well with both casual wear and smart casual outfits, which made it easy to keep on throughout the week.
In fact, I think it looks more at home during everyday life than during intense workouts.
That’s why I found myself looking at the HONOR Watch 6 less as a fitness watch and more as a health tracker that looks nice and tells me if there’s a proverbial fire I need to put out — or if she remembered me that day.
The display also quietly did its job.
Of course it’s a TWICE notification
You know, I didn’t even think about it. Whenever I needed to check the time or glance at a notification, I simply gestured as anyone would to look at their watch. No matter where I was, what I needed to see was readily visible.
That’s probably the highest compliment I can give a smartwatch display. It never gave me a reason to think about it.
Managing attention without reaching for my phone
Oof. I cannot overstate how many notifications I get on any given day.
As a Managing Editor with occasional side hustles, notifications come from multiple messaging apps. One moment I’m tracking production progress on WhatsApp, the next I’m checking what the team is discussing on Telegram. Then there are the emails, Messenger messages from friends, and the “… sent you a reel” notifications that have recently dropped in frequency to my dismay.
I don’t always want to pull out my phone to check these.
What I appreciated most about the HONOR Watch 6 is that notifications are grouped by app, and each one provides a clean preview. It gives me enough information to quickly assess what needs attention and what can wait.
For someone who is constantly juggling attention, that proved surprisingly useful.
Replacing guesses with data
The feature I was most interested in wasn’t fitness tracking.
It was sleep tracking.
Some time ago, a friend of mine started tracking her sleep and it helped her better regulate her energy throughout the day. I am nowhere near that level of discipline, but I was curious.
Between traveling across time zones, late-night coverage, doomscrolling, revenge bedtime procrastination, and everything else life throws at us, I honestly wasn’t sure if I was getting enough sleep.
What I learned is that I tend to wake up at least once in the middle of the night. Not for anything, really. I just do.
The mornings that felt best were often the nights where my sleep wasn’t interrupted. I know that sounds obvious, but if you’re not actively paying attention, these are the kinds of patterns you can easily miss.
The same goes for heart rate tracking.
During a particularly stressful stretch, I noticed my heart rate was consistently elevated. It wasn’t exactly surprising, but seeing the data attached to the feeling made it feel more real.
That’s what I found myself appreciating most about the HONOR Watch 6. It didn’t magically solve anything. It simply helped me replace assumptions with information.
Battery life that quietly impressed
As of taking the photos, the battery life is at 39% – still coming off the first initial charge.
I charged the watch the moment I unboxed it. Seven days later, it was sitting at 59%.
During that time, I wore it constantly. Notifications were enabled. Health tracking was enabled. I tracked a handful of kettlebell workouts and wore it while sleeping.
I wasn’t exactly pushing the watch to its limits, but I also wasn’t babying it.
The result was a battery experience that quickly faded into the background. That’s exactly what I want from a smartwatch.
Everything else
To be completely honest, I didn’t have the time or bandwidth to thoroughly test every feature.
My workout sessions were limited to a few kettlebell workouts and my usual walking. That said, the breadth of sports tracking available here is impressive. If you can think of an activity, there’s a good chance the HONOR Watch 6 can track it.
Pairing was also straightforward. The initial setup process and software updates went smoothly, even if updates immediately after unboxing remain one of my least favorite parts of testing any device.
My one annoyance came from using the watch with multiple HONOR phones. At times, notifications would arrive twice or arrive at slightly different times depending on which device was relaying them. There’s probably a setting that solves this. I just didn’t have the opportunity to dig deeper.
Same notification, two different phones
As for features like AI Recorder and NFC payments, I simply didn’t encounter situations where they became essential to my routine. That’s not necessarily a criticism. It may simply reflect how different people use smartwatches.
Is the HONOR Watch 6 your GadgetMatch?
Something I don’t think we’ve talked about enough is that the HONOR Watch 6 also works well with an iPhone.
If you don’t particularly like the look of the Apple Watch but still want a smartwatch on your wrist, this is a viable alternative.
The HONOR Watch 6 is for people who want useful technology that blends into everyday life. It looks good enough for casual outings and nicer occasions alike, while still offering the usual smartwatch essentials like health tracking, workout monitoring, notifications, and long battery life.
After about a week with the HONOR Watch 6, I realized I liked having data on things I normally would just leave to uneducated guesses.
Smartwatches aren’t for everyone. But if you fancy having one, the HONOR Watch 6 is an easy swipe right.
It has the right features, excellent battery life, and a design that fits comfortably into many parts of daily life.
That’s really all most people need.
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