We have reached this point in time where book-style foldables are not in a tight duopoly between two major key players we’re all aware of.
Although TECNO is barely recognized where Samsung and HUAWEI are both dominant (South Korea and US, China respectively), the budding brand is still at the forefront for being Africa’s most popular smartphone brand.
TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 with TECNO CAMON 30 Premier LOEWE. Design Edition
As one of the fastest rising tech companies, the Chinese tech-maker continues to establish its dominance in South and Southeast Asia as well as expanding their reach in Latin America by offering premium products for less.
After almost two years, their first ever book-style foldable has been due for a refresh. This is where the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 enters the scene.
Refined Aesthetics
Nowadays, gargantuan circular camera islands are the new design trend in both slabs and folds — budget phones notwithstanding.
Well, TECNO has dared to make the PHANTOM V Fold2 shine on its own.
It might look like a step backwards compared to last year’s design but I appreciate this aesthetic change for the sake of getting out of the norm.
Albeit, the new rectangular camera cutout reminds me of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra — minus its 120x telephoto lens and measly watch band screen.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | 2021
The PHANTOM V Fold2 that I have is in this stylish “Rippling Blue” model. And it’s another special collab between the Chinese company and the German tech brand.
Again, ICYMI: LOEWE. (always with a periodt 💅) is a high-end German TV and audio brand. It’s NOT the popular Spanish fashion brand most of us know.
I would always prefer having a faux leather back instead of glass any day as it eliminates the need for case. This also counts as a leap forward with last year’s model only having a plasticky back.
If you don’t want this in-your-face colorway, Karst Green comes your way. But that one comes with a composite fiberglass material instead.
Admittedly, upon seeing the early press materials, I wanted this blue back more. I guess someone from TECNO had some telepathic power and read my mind.
Looking at all sides and corners of the PHANTOM V Fold2, the new foldable looks and feels sturdily built. Its shiny frame is made out of aluminum.
Opening and closing the fold never felt cheap. There’s enough resistance to keep the fold at a certain angle — between 30 to 120 degrees to be precise.
These are all thanks to TECNO’s aerospace-grade precision hinge, high-performance lightweight materials, and innovative engineering design. It even has an improved durability of up to 400,000 folds in contrast to last year’s 200,000.
Surprisingly, it has managed to shed some fat. The PHANTOM V Fold successor is now slimmer at 11.78mm when closed (versus 14.5mm of the V Fold).
HONOR Magic V3, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (Left) vs TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 (Right)
Even though it is not, in any way, the slimmest in the competition (the crown still goes to the HONOR Magic V3 at 9.3mm), it can still beat the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (12.1mm) and keep up with the OPPO Find N3 / OnePlus Open (11.7mm).
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs HONOR Magic V3 vs TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2
And while in the topic, look at how the PHANTOM V Fold2 shows the least amount of crease compared to Samsung and HONOR’s latest and greatest. Only time will tell how long will it stay this way.
Redefined Experience
One of the few unchanged parts in this year’s PHANTOM V Fold2 are its screens: 6.42-inch Full HD+ outer and 7.48-inch 2K+ inner foldable — both with AMOLED displays and adaptive 120Hz refresh rate.
Ever since the HONOR Magic V2 came out, I’ve been more accustomed to that cover screen aspect ratio. It’s a lot more usable even when folded.
But on the contrary, the outer screen of the PHANTOM V Fold2 reminded me instead of the HONOR Magic Vs I held for a year.
It’s not too narrow like the Galaxy Z Fold series, neither like the wider cover screens of the HONOR Magic V3 and OnePlus Open nor the Moleskine-like Google Pixel Fold.
But as someone who’s always into full-blown entertainment experience, the PHANTOM V Fold2 when unfolded delivers a plausible performance when it comes to audiovisuals.
The inner foldable display is bright enough with deep blacks and whiter whites. Its standard color calibration is already popping. What more if you switch to Vivid mode?
In line with V Fold2’s dual stereo speaker setup is the TECNO x Dolby partnership.
I may not be the biggest audiophile around but I appreciate (and can distinctly pinpoint) the superb sound quality of Dolby Atmos over something that sounds straight out of a can.
Its IP54 rating and Gorilla Glass Victus glass protection also make me less anxious against water splashes and sudden drops — especially when I’m so immersed in my banging K-Pop music sesh whenever I take a shower or do laundry.
But it’s not just the displays and sound system that make up the full experience.
With its flexible form factor, I also love how flexible you can get when it comes to consuming content.
First is by unfolding the screen to its full potential together with its bundled kickstand case.
Second, there’s FreeForm Mode where you can split the media and controls by folding it in half.
Lastly, there’s Tent Mode. I knew of this feature just recently and even tried out on HONOR’s latest fold offering.
Surprisingly, TECNO has the better implementation as it’s not as buggy as what HONOR did — especially with absurd control overlays and inconsistent full-screen previewing.
And with HiOS Fold 14, it makes the PHANTOM V Fold2 a very compelling all-around device.
For power users, there’s this nifty three-dot on top so you can switch your app in full-view, split-screen, or even floating window mode.
I also like the existence of this taskbar where you can swiftly switch between docked and/or running apps all at once. It can also be minimized when it obstructs your scrolling and viewing usage.
A menu app drawer is also at the left side in case the app you want to open isn’t in the actual deck. Moreover, apps you split into two can actually be saved and pinned on the multitasking switcher so it can be accessed next time you need ’em.
Finally, the Dynamic Port feature is here — and it looks better in a bigger screen like this.
BONUS: Customization options in lock screen much like any Android 14 skin nowadays.
When it comes to privacy and security, there’s a side-mounted fingerprint scanner which I highly prefer over slower in-display sensors.
Face Unlock is here too but again, it’s not foolproof.
Munch That Punch
TECNO has decided to keep MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000+ 4nm SoC just like last year’s PHANTOM V Fold. It’s also one among the rarest devices that has this chip equipped.
A bold yet controversial move I dare not to ask. But I could only think of one obvious reason: to keep costs down.
OPPO Find N2 Flip | 2023
ICYMI, it’s one of the least prominent processors used in ASUS’ ROG Phone 6D, Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition, and even OPPO’s Find N2 Flip.
For the most basic tasks including socials or entertainment, it is more than enough.
Most games will run just fine.
Those include FPS games like Call of Duty: Mobile (CoDM), MOBA games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) and Pokèmon Unite, and even the ever-popular racing game, Asphalt Legends Unite.
This foldable form factor even enables the racing game to run in split-screen — actual racing gameplay above, racing track course plus controls at its bottom.
But IMHO, it would have been better if Gameloft made an option to toggle this mode even when you use the foldable completely flat and opened.
This also seems a bit of a reach considering controls at the upper part of the game don’t work at all. It also feels weird to play this with a limiting screen angle.
Meanwhile, performance wear and tear are expected among HoYoverse titles such as Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Honkai Star Rail.
This is simply because the Mali graphics in this 4nm SoC isn’t up to par to the latest Immortalis GPU of the Dimensity 9200+ and 9300 SoC.
Memory-wise, its 12GB LPDDR5X RAM suffices in running several tasks all at once. That’s despite you using dual apps simultaneously or adding more floating windows.
If you can’t get enough, MemFusion extends it for another 12GB, making your total memory worth 24GB.
Though this also means it maximizes its internal storage. But in this worrying case, the V Fold2 has an ample 512GB UFS 3.1 storage.
A speedier and power-efficient UFS 4.0 standard would have been better. Then again, this may have been a move to avoid hiking up the price.
Sadly, don’t get your hopes up as most flagship devices have already ditched the idea of an expandable storage.
With a Bunch of Crunch
For the record, the PHANTOM V Fold2 currently holds the biggest battery in any book-style foldable at 5750mAh — beating the vivo X Fold3 Pro by 50mAh.
Sure, that’s a massive feat for TECNO in terms of tech and engineering. As a matter of fact, its battery capacity grew further to 750mAh compared to its predecessor.
But considering its chipset situation, my hunch was that its aging core will create a significant impact on its overall endurance.
And I wasn’t wrong. Even when I leave the fold on standby, it consumes a noticeable chunk of energy. If that was my case, how much more in last year’s fold of the same chipset.
Nevertheless, I do commend how a measly 1% charge still gives me more than half an hour of use.
Case in point: I watched four different K-Pop music videos that’s worth 12 minutes. I then played LE SSERAFIM’s “CRAZY” in Apple Music on-repeat for around eight times (around 30 minutes). All in all, that 1% charge gave me more a crazily-long 42 minutes worth of entertainment playback.
And when you’re already in a pinch
Its 70W Ultra Fast Charge Adapter easily makes up for the battery performance woes I’ve experienced. Gratefully, it’s bundled in the box.
Here are the results of my usual GadgetMatch Charge Test:
| TECNO 70W Fast Charge Adapter + bundled USB-C to USB-A cable | UGREEN 100W USB-C PD Charger + USB-C to USB-C cable | |
| START TIME from 0% | 2:41AM | 9:35PM |
| 3 minutes | 9% | 2% |
| 5 minutes | 18% | 5% |
| 10 minutes | 26% | 9% |
| 15 minutes | 39% | 14% |
| 30 minutes | 68% | 29% |
| 45 minutes | 92% | 42% |
| 1 hour | — | 58% |
| 1 hour 15 minutes | — | 74% |
| 1 hour 30 minutes | — | 96% |
| END TIME to 100% | 3:31AM 49 MINUTES |
11:20PM 1 HOUR, 45 MINUTES |
I noticed that the PHANTOM V Fold2 does NOT support the “Ultra Charge” feature using my 100W GaN charger. The CAMON 30 Premier I reviewed was able to take advantage of it.
I could be wrong but I’m pointing my fingers (again) to the device’s processor.
Although I’ve never been a wireless charging type of guy, it’s good to mention that the PHANTOM V Fold2 now supports it for up to 15W. Of course, it has reverse wireless charging too.
Pretty fly for a camera guy
The TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 has an improved triple 50MP rear camera setup with dual 32MP selfie shooters.
Wide |
50MP f/1.9
|
Ultra-Wide |
50MP f/2.2
|
Periscope Telephoto |
50MP f/2.0
|
Selfie (In and Out) |
32MP f/2.5
|
As GadgetMatch’s camera guy, I appreciate how TECNO managed to equip this very capable camera system. Other brands usually compromise cameras in favor of other features.
And in case you weren’t aware, its main camera houses the OmniVision OV50H — the same image sensor found in camera-centric flagships like the HONOR Magic6 Pro and HUAWEI Pura 70 series — minus the dual variable aperture, as expected.
With my not-so-recent CAMON review, using the camera app felt familiar. The three-color modes are present here as well:
Standard for a flatter, true-to-life look…
Bright with a boosted vibrance…
…and PHANTOM with its toned down highlights, shadows, and saturation altogether resulting to a faded feel. Much like the CAMON mode last time.
I’ll let this plethora of photos speak for themselves.
Ultra-Wide + 1x Wide
Macro Mode
2x Zoom and Beyond
Portrait Mode
Low-Light
Night Mode
Hoop the Loop
There are some camera caveats I witnessed:
1. Worrying 2x telephoto lens
I usually use 2x lens for a better image framing. The problem here is that, it takes blurry photos at a certain distance.
Moving a bit away from the subject seems to solve the issue but getting closer brings back the issue for no particular reason.
2. Cover Screen Preview needs some learning curve
In instances where you want to use the rear cameras for selfies, couple-fies, and groufies, the Cover Screen Preview will never appear when the foldable is already open.
The workaround is to close the fold and restart the camera app.
From there, you will see the Cover Screen Preview icon beside the flip icon. Once selected, it will prompt you to unfold the device.
3. The Photo Review icon feels irrelevant
Which is frustratingly persistent at the upper left part. It felt senseless as it can be activated when the device is half-folded.
It would have also been better if that was replaced by the Cover Screen Preview icon instead.
I wish TECNO would polish these small inconsistencies in a future software update.
Noteworthy Companion
To make the PHANTOM V Fold2 an overall noteworthy companion, it supports TECNO’s first ever PHANTOM V Pen.
While it’s not a dedicated pen nor bundled in the box, it’s still a great add-on for those users who do a lot of writing, scribbling, or sketching every once in a while.
I used to draw frequently way back in ‘my prime’. But forgive me for my cat sketch.
One noteworthy functionality is the ability to generate AI images with the precision of this pen.
You can also use it to jot down notes while simultaneously voice recording solemn meetings and presentations. TECNO’s AI magic will then transcribe it for you.
That’s not all. Using the pen with AI Eraser precisely removes unwanted subjects out of an image instead of relying on fat fingers (like I have).
Lastly, text recognition with the pen so foreign handwriting can easily be translated once written by a local.
TECNO’s stylus only works on the inside screen due to the nature of the digitizer that doesn’t exist on the outer display.
As per battery life, it can last more than a day when casually used. Expect complete energy depletion when continuously used.
PHANtastic Packaging
Here’s what you get when you purchase TECNO’s latest foldable — plus its pen on the side.
@gadgetmatch The biggest battery in a foldable so far! 🔋 #TECNO #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #fypage #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #fypシ゚ ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch
Is the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 your GadgetMatch?
With a pricing of US$ 1099 (EUR 996 / GBP 840 / SG$ 1434 / PhP 61,985 / INR 92,288), the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold2 is the “most affordable” book-style foldable you can buy in 2024.
“Affordable Foldable”??¿?¿?
Ever since Samsung revealed the Galaxy Z Fold to the world, it has created a vision of the future. But with its staggering pricing of US$ 1980, there has been nothing but a slow and unsure future for foldables.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold | 2019
But the birth of a contender like the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold as the “affordable foldable” means something.
Not only it challenges the trendsetter in producing the BETTER foldable, it also gives consumers a more viable option that wouldn’t burn huge holes in pockets.
It’s something other major Android brands like HONOR, HUAWEI, OPPO (or OnePlus), vivo, and Xiaomi won’t even dare to do anymore because of their already established reputation.
This new segment in the foldable farm paves a different path for people to try out the latest in tech without shelling out every fortune they have.
I am fully aware that second-hand foldables cost way less than their original launch pricing. But would you risk buying a used one instead of getting something new for yourself?
Old folds are notorious for their shallower than ever creases, degrading performance, and restricting software features. That’s where I can commend the PHANTOM V Fold2.
Sure, it may not be the greatest when it comes to performance with its chip “limitations”. Even so, its overhauled software, capable cameras, superb screens, and even fast charging speeds all make up for it to be deemed as something worthy to buy.
Most of all, it never felt flimsy. It’s a solidly-built fold that has managed to overcome its past hurdles — its thick and hefty form factor with an underwhelming hardware inside and out.
And unlike the definition of a phantom whose existence is nothing but an illusion, TECNO’s PHANTOM is the complete opposite. It’s a real and finished product that you can truly be proud of. It rightfully deserves the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.
The Future of PHANTOM
TECNO, despite being a brand dedicated to the lower and mid class, does not stop them from making tech innovations and show them to the masses.
At MWC 2024, they unveiled their very first rollable concept dubbed as the “PHANTOM Ultimate”. But it’s NOT that concept that intrigues and excites me.
TECNO PHANTOM Ultimate | February 2024
Right before HUAWEI announced the Mate XT, TECNO unveiled their second iteration of the PHANTOM Ultimate concept with a tri-fold design and a more holistic approach towards overall usability.
Although the claims of the “world’s first tri-fold” neither goes to TECNO or HUAWEI as it was first presented by TCL way back in the early days of the pandemic.
TCL Tri-Fold Concept | 2020
Still, with this foldable form factor already being consumer-ready, I am way beyond excited with what the future of tech holds. I am honestly expecting to see an affordable tri-foldable one day.
And I would be lying if I don’t say I see TECNO as the pioneer in such regard — much like what they’re doing with their current PHANTOMable portfolio.
Concerts are unfair camera tests — wild lighting, fast movement, and zero second chances. So when I brought the HONOR Magic8 Pro to TWICE’s THIS IS FOR concert in Bangkok, I wanted to see if HONOR’s Stage Mode could actually handle it.
Everything here was shot using Stage Mode at 4K 30fps.
This wasn’t lab testing. This was real-world, heart-racing, shaky-hands shooting.
Where I was seated and why zoom mattered
View this post on Instagram
The concert used a 360-degree stage. I was lucky enough to sit close to one of the extended stages, which meant I was often shooting between 3.7x to 10x zoom.
For the main stage, I mostly relied on 15x zoom.
That’s where a phone either wins your trust… or completely falls apart.
Surprisingly stable, even with shaky hands and excitement
Let’s start with what impressed me most — stability.
I’m naturally shaky, and TWICE being right in front of me did not help. I was vibrating out of excitement most of the night. Even then, Stage Mode stabilization held things together beautifully.
View this post on Instagram
Shots stayed usable. Footage stayed watchable.
Even when I wasn’t being my most careful self.
This gave me confidence to keep shooting instead of worrying about every tiny hand movement.
Image quality: sometimes magical, sometimes uncertain
Now the honest part.
Stage Mode still needs to mature.
There were moments when footage looked crisp, clean, and genuinely impressive for a smartphone in that environment.
View this post on Instagram
But there were also times where it clearly struggled — particularly with lighting transitions and focus.
View this post on Instagram
Some clips handled spotlights well. Others felt like the processing panicked a little.
It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t consistent yet.
How it compares to other concert kings
View this post on Instagram
If I were purely relying on zoom to watch the concert through my phone, I’d still recommend the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. It remains the phone I trust most when zoom is mission-critical.
vivo also still leads in Stage Mode execution. The vivo X300 Ultra’s Stage Mode feels more refined and reliable at this point.
HONOR isn’t there yet.
But it’s also much closer than I expected.
So… would I bring the Magic8 Pro to concerts again?
Yes.
Even with the inconsistencies.
Even knowing there are better Stage Mode implementations out there.
View this post on Instagram
Because the Magic8 Pro still gave me plenty of shots and clips I was genuinely happy with. Stability is excellent. Quality can be great. And for most users, it delivers results worth keeping and sharing.
If I didn’t have a Galaxy S25 Ultra or vivo X300 Ultra with me, I’d still confidently bring the HONOR Magic8 Pro.
Stage Mode isn’t perfect yet.
But it’s promising — and when it works, it really does feel like magic.
View this post on Instagram
SEE ALSO:
Reviews
HONOR Magic8 Pro review: What sorcery is this?
Looks incremental on paper. Feels like magic in real life.
There are phones that feel like upgrades because the spec sheet says so. Then there are phones like the HONOR Magic8 Pro — where the longer you use it, the more you start asking, “Wait, what kind of sorcery is happening here?” Because on paper this feels incremental. In real life, it feels like HONOR finally clicked.
Coming from the Magic7 Pro, the feeling was immediate. This is just better overall. Not loudly. Not showy. It’s one of those “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” situations where individual improvements don’t scream at you, but together they create something that feels confident, smooth, and genuinely premium. Not “premium for HONOR.” Premium, full stop.
HONOR may still be playing catch-up in reputation, but with a phone like this, they’ve stopped chasing in experience. They’re executing — and sometimes, it really does work like magic.
This is for the person who wants out of the usual rotation — who doesn’t want yet another iPhone or Samsung — but doesn’t want to feel like they’re experimenting. It’s different. But familiar enough that you don’t feel like you’re learning a new ecosystem from scratch.
Design and hand feel: lighter, friendlier, easier to live with
First impression: this feels better in the hand. Lighter. More balanced. More like something you’ll mindlessly hold even when you don’t need to. HONOR’s quad micro-curved screen plays a big part in that. It melts into your palm in a way that disappears after a few days — which is exactly the point.
I wasn’t immediately in love with the design or color options. They didn’t hit me the way some aggressively styled flagships do. But like many good decisions in life, it grew on me. Over time, you realize it’s not designed to impress in photos. It’s designed to feel right while you live with it.
NanoCrystal Shield? IP rating? I forgot they existed. And that’s a compliment. These are silent guardians — not features you constantly think about.
What surprised me most is how right the size and shape feel. HONOR didn’t go flashy. They went comfortable. And comfort wins long-term.
Display and eye comfort: the “oh right, real flagships exist” moment
The first true “wow” moment wasn’t dramatic. It was simply turning the phone on.
I came from a device that proudly wore the “flagship killer” label. Good display. Good everything. But the Magic8 Pro reminded me that “flagship killer” is still not the same as “flagship.” Real flagships feel different — and this one does from the first second.
Brightness when it needs to punch. Warm and easy when the lights go down. It’s the kind of display that never calls attention to itself, but you notice how relaxed your eyes feel after hours of use.
Late nights? This is still my favorite kind of HONOR device to use. I watched a lot of Surely Tomorrow on Prime Video — yes, partly because of Won Ji-an — but mostly because watching on this screen is simply satisfying.
Won Ji-An as Seo Ji Woo in “Surely Tomorrow”
Eye comfort has been consistently good across HONOR Magic devices, and that continues here. And while we’re talking consumption: the speakers are excellent. Not “good enough.” Excellent.
Outdoor visibility? Never squinted. Never fought the brightness slider. Just worked.
MagicOS’s translucent visuals sit quietly in the background. They’re there. They add polish. But they don’t steal attention. Think liquid glass aesthetic. Familiar, but still HONOR.
Camera: confidence at night, honesty in tone, and just… fun
The first thing I checked? Stage mode. Because I was planning to bring this to a concert. It was there, it worked, and I ended up writing an entirely different story about it. That should tell you how confident I felt about the camera system early.
Outside of that? I didn’t “test” the camera. I just used it. Food. My mom’s cats. Street moments. CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Normal life. Which is the highest compliment — I wasn’t thinking about whether the camera could keep up. I trusted it to.
At 10x and beyond, I’ll be honest — I didn’t trust it before reviewing shots. Then I checked. And I was pleasantly surprised. There’s definitely processing going on, especially at night. But the results are consistently usable, and more importantly, they look good.
View this post on Instagram
Blue hour? Beautiful. Cinematic without feeling fake. My default has always been the Authentic preset — warm, moody, emotional images that still feel real.
Skin tones behaved well even under chaotic neon and mixed street lights. That matters. HONOR’s camera finally feels like something I want to shoot with, not just something I can rely on.
And yes, handheld night shooting absolutely feels more confident than before. I enjoyed shooting on the Magic8 Pro. Simple as that.
Magic Color: not a gimmick — just early
Magic Color sits somewhere between “interesting toy” and “future essential.” In the right hands, it’s powerful — letting people create their own color identity without going into full editing mode. For me? It didn’t completely replace editing, but it did speed things up.
More often than not, I was already happy with the output. Especially in fast-paced shooting. This has potential to evolve into something truly meaningful over time.
AI Button and AI features: helpful… but not yet instinctive
HONOR really wants the AI Button to matter. I… almost forgot it existed.
Not because it’s useless. But because habits take time to rewire. I kept it on default, rarely reached for it, and never felt disrupted by it. It’s neutral for now — useful eventually, but not yet muscle memory.
Where AI did help: setup and daily flow. The AI Settings Agent organizing my apps? Loved that. Anything that saves time in review cycles is a win. AI suggestions sometimes felt smart, sometimes like they needed more maturity. But HONOR is on the right track.
Gemini remains my primary AI tool on Android — translate and circle-to-search will always be two of my most-used features. HONOR AI and Gemini don’t clash. They coexist.
AI Safety features? Good to have. Haven’t had to use them. Hopefully never will.
Performance, gaming, and heat
Zenless Zone Zero ran well. Frames felt stable. Movement felt crisp. The phone does heat up faster than I’d like — not uncomfortable, but noticeable. You can feel it working hard.
Oddly enough, screen brightness and audio probably impacted my gaming enjoyment more than raw horsepower. And honestly, that matters more in real use.
Battery and charging: genuinely excellent
This might be the most boringly excellent part of the Magic8 Pro. Full day? Absolutely. Even during heavy usage days — like concerts with constant video recording — I never felt anxious.
Charging feels like cheating. Blink, and you’re basically back. Wireless charging? Actually useful. Not just “nice to have.”
Battery here feels dependable. Quietly elite.
MagicOS 10 and day-to-day life
MagicOS 10 feels like a helpful salesperson at a store. Mostly out of sight. Never pushing. But always there when you need help. Feature-packed without feeling like it’s shouting for attention.
It fades into the background the right way. Just letting you live.
Cross-device life
This needs work.
I primarily use a MacBook Pro M4. Connecting wasn’t smooth. Sharing sits somewhere between “fine” and “needs work.” If you’re deep in Apple’s ecosystem, this will be the hesitation point.
But also? I switched from an older iPhone. And yes — I’d still recommend that switch.
Is the HONOR Magic8 Pro your GadgetMatch?
Compared to the Magic7 Pro? No hesitation — upgrade.
Is this HONOR’s strongest non-folding flagship so far? Absolutely.
This feels like the year HONOR quietly cracked the code. Not because of a single headline feature, but because everything finally works together — display, performance, battery life, cameras, and all the little quality-of-life details that make a phone feel reliable, capable, and genuinely exciting to use.
If you want a phone that feels different without feeling risky, swipe up.
If you shoot a lot at night and want photos that simply work, swipe up.
If you want a device that feels confident without trying too hard to impress you, swipe up.
Hesitate only if you’re deeply tied to Apple’s ecosystem and that cross-device life matters more than anything else.
Otherwise? The HONOR Magic8 Pro is HONOR at its most polished, most confident, and most magical yet — the kind of phone that looks incremental on paper but feels like sorcery in real life. A no-brainer recommendation, and absolutely worthy of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.
SEE ALSO:
Reviews
OPPO A6 Pro: Adequate tool, no definitive punch
Ample, all-around, just alright — you name it — but no definitive punch anew
I’ve thought of several adjectives starting with “a” to accurately describe the OPPO A6 Pro 5G. After narrowing them down, I came up with adequate, ample, all-around, and (just) alright.
This smartphone cuts above the budget segment with a mix of performance, camera, durability, and advanced features.
Yet none of these adjectives are tantamount to exceptional nor impressive. You see, there still aren’t enough arguments to make the A6 Pro a standout midrange device.
More than enough, yes. But much like the previous A5 Pro, the definitive punch is missing — especially at its asking price. Still, it’s useful, and here’s what you can expect.
Adequate performance
The OPPO A6 Pro 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor. You can expect smoother everyday performance compared to US$ 100 devices if you want to upgrade.
For simple browsing and multitasking, the handset holds up well. Paired with a 6.57-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, swipes, scrolls, and navigating feel a lot more fluid and responsive.
However, it’s hit-or-miss for gaming and heavier workloads.
I once played Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on high graphics settings and saw a few frame drops. That’s in spite of a dedicated mode for better load distribution.
Demanding titles like Call of Duty Mobile and Racing Master still work, but graphics settings default to medium, so it lessens the immersive experience — if that matters.
To its credit, none of these titles crashed. Keep settings at medium or low to be able to enjoy stable play. You wouldn’t be able to set the graphics to high in some cases to begin with, anyway.
Perhaps, what you can appreciate is that it hardly heats up, thanks to its SuperCool VC System. Battery drain is more modest too, losing just about 5% in a 30-minute session on Wi-Fi.
Of course, that’s aside from the 6500mAh battery. I like the fact that it is complemented by an 80W SUPERVOOC charger.
Replenishing the battery power from 1% back to full takes roughly about an hour and 20 minutes, which is pretty darn nice given the capacity.
Ample audiovisuals
The OPPO A6 Pro’s display offers a 397ppi pixel density and up to 1400 nits maximum brightness.
Video playback is noticeably better on this panel compared to cheaper devices.
Moreover, the phone lets users select a 300% volume mode which is helpful when outdoors or in crowded areas. The audio quality is decent, but don’t expect it to rival those from upper mid-rangers.
I just spent time on the phone watching a lot of sports, WWE and Physical: Asia on Netflix. The 93% screen-to-body ratio keeps the bezels out of sight, letting you focus more on the content.
Gaming visuals sometimes sees jagged details, like the cars in Racing Master. It’s a reminder the phone does not punch above its weight.
AI LinkBoost: No significant improvement?
One of the features OPPO retained for the A series is AI LinkBoost, which is now in its third generation.
But compared to my experience with the A5 Pro last year, I felt the network optimization feature didn’t give significant support to the A6 Pro.
Yes, mobile data speeds still reached about 300mbps and above at times. But network struggled in the same toll booths and underground MRT stations where the A5 Pro was able to will itself better.
Perhaps, the aluminum frame plays a role, although OPPO insists on paper that it should complement the antennas.
All-around durable daily driver
Not new to the A series is durability and water and dust resistance, and these are chiefly still the strengths of the OPPO A6 Pro 5G.
There’s Military-Grade Shock Resistance plus reinforced materials to easily shrug off drops. It also boasts of an IP69 dust and waterproofing, enabling it to resist high-pressure water jets, spills, and even accidental soaks.
Beyond those, the phone’s display is optimized for touches even when there are droplets. They just dry out, as in the case with previous iterations, creating friction.
There’s also a Glove Touch feature when you’ve got gloves on while cycling, camping, or other outdoor activities.
More AI
For productivity, the phone comes with an AI Assistant for Notes and Documents, plus Gemini integration.
Photo tools include AI Eraser 2.0, AI Reflection Remover, and AI Unblur.
Cameras: Just alright
Speaking of photos, the phone features a 50MP f/1.8 main camera and a 16MP f/2.4 front shooter.
I just captured a lot of food, selfies, and cats during my time with the phone. Which is exactly what you’re supposed to do with a serviceable camera package: document your daily life.
The color science still leans on the paler, more “natural” side, with skin tones a bit inaccurate at times.
You’ll have to do some editing for added vibrancy. The sharpness and detail are there, but they’re not instantly share-worthy.
To its credit, detail seems to have been improved, especially with foliage. At least, compared to the A5 Pro. There is also depth by default, which is further elevated with Portrait Mode.
But a waterloo is Night Mode, as well as taking photos of, say, neon signs, candles, or light bulbs. Be wary of backlights or clear skies that might lead to glare or overexposure.
Furthermore, recording videos can be shaky without OIS. I was willing to trade a higher frame rate so long as there was stabilization, so this tool isn’t ideal for budding content creators as well.
Improved feel
On the positive end, the grip on the OPPO A6 Pro feels a lot better and more secure. The model I got came in Stellar Blue, which blends with neutral-colored outfits.
The phone looks squarish on the edges and a bit curved on the corners. I’m not a fan of the latter as they could crop out some gaming UI elements.
Nevertheless, there is a good balance between being long and thick. The cameras have now shifted to a squarish shape rather than circular.
Bloatware remains, and there’s even more pre-installed apps than expected, which I don’t see the need to use in the future.
Beyond these, ColorOS looks neat and clean overall.
Is this your GadgetMatch?
There’s no question the OPPO A6 Pro offers an intriguing overall package and still gets a Swipe Right. However, there’s stiff competition in the PhP 12,000 to PhP 15,000 (~US$ 200 to US$ 250) category.
If you have such budget, in my opinion, niche devices at lower prices may be better for gamers. For daily drivers, cheaper phones with larger storage options also exist, if you’re just after function.
Add just a few more bucks and you can get phones with more superior camera packages, including telephoto lenses and better color reproduction.
HONOR Magic8 Pro Stage Mode at a TWICE concert
Good… with room to grow
HONOR Magic8 Pro review: What sorcery is this?
Looks incremental on paper. Feels like magic in real life.
OPPO A6 Pro: Adequate tool, no definitive punch
Ample, all-around, just alright — you name it — but no definitive punch anew
Anker, eufy, soundcore unveil next-gen products at CES 2026
Rokid integrates Alipay+ GlassPay into wearables
LG showcases CLOiD home robot at CES 2026
Leion Hey2, world’s 1st AR Translation Glasses, launched at CES 2026
HONOR X9d 5G launches in the Philippines: Price, preorder, availability
-
Reviews1 week ago
OPPO A6 Pro: Adequate tool, no definitive punch
-
News3 days agoHONOR X9d 5G launches in the Philippines: Price, preorder, availability
-
Blog2 weeks agoThe GadgetMatch Team’s Favorite Picks of 2025
-
Editors' Choice2 weeks agoLifestyle Favorites of 2025
-
Entertainment2 weeks agoNow Playing: Avatar: Fire and Ash
-
Reviews3 days ago
HONOR Magic8 Pro review: What sorcery is this?
-
CES 20267 days agoSamsung thinks AI works best together
-
Camera Walkthrough3 days ago
HONOR Magic8 Pro Stage Mode at a TWICE concert