What makes a good smartphone? For me, it has to excel in several key areas. Good design, solid performance, great cameras, long battery life, and great software.
In October last year, vivo launched not one, but 3 smartphones that promise all of that: the vivo X200, X200 Pro, and the X200 Pro mini.
The X200 is the base model. The X200 Pro has a superior zoom lens and slightly bigger display. And the X200 Pro mini is vivo’s answer to those looking for a flagship experience in a more compact chassis.
They all have more in common than they have differences. They tick all the boxes, and they all look great.
They are all powered by the mighty MediaTek Dimensity 9400, all have great cameras co-engineered with ZEISS, and all have extra large batteries and super fast charging.
But to really know for sure, we had to actually use them. So we immediately moved into the vivo X200 Pro and have used it extensively. We’ve traveled with it through China, India, Thailand, New York, Miami, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas.
Smartphones
HONOR unveils 1st cinematic video captured by its Robot Phone
Footage highlights phone’s built-in physical gimbal system
At the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, HONOR has unveiled the first professional video captured by its upcoming Robot Phone.
The output was part of a cinematic portrait project created with ELLEMEN for SIFF jury members. The footage highlights the device’s built-in physical gimbal system, delivering exceptionally smooth handheld tracking shots while preserving full image quality.
Unlike conventional smartphone stabilization that often relies on digital cropping, the Robot Phone achieves cinema-like camera movement through physical stabilization. This enables creators to follow subjects naturally without compromising visual fidelity.
Beyond stabilization, the film also showcases a significant leap in smartphone video texture and cinematic quality.
Leveraging ARRI’s LogC knowhow at the RAW level, the footage offers exceptional flexibility in post-production and seamless integration into professional workflows.
This allows creators to make full use of ARRI’s LUT ecosystem in DaVinci Resolve to achieve an authentic cinematic look.
The HONOR Robot Phone is set to launch in Q3 of this year.
For now, you can watch the behind-the-scenes here:
News
TECNO’s SPARK 50 Pro is the latest budget smartphone battery beast
Just two months after the SPARK 50 5G
One after another, TECNO launches the SPARK 50 Pro with a beastly battery within. That’s just days after the grand launch of the POVA 8 5G in India.
Built to last
The icing of the cake has got to be the battery of the SPARK 50 Pro. However, the battery capacity will differ depending on where you live.
There’s a 5600mAh dual-cell version and a slightly larger single-cell model hitting the 6000mAh mark.
Still, despite that battery capacity, it measures just 7.8mm thin.
If you’re worried about battery longevity, the SPARK 50 Pro can still last more than 80% of their original battery capacity — even after 1900+ charging cycles in six years.
Charging support is faster at 60W, better than what TECNO’s 45W speeds in their most recent smartphones.
Beneath that battery lies MediaTek’s Helio G100 Ultimate SoC. When it comes to memory, it allows up to 24GB extended thanks to Memory Fusion 4.0.
Up front, there’s a 6.78-inch 120Hz display paired with DTS-supported dual stereo speakers.
Finally, the SPARK 50 Pro also boasts SGS Five-Star durability certification alongside IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance — making it one of the budget-friendly devices to have such durability rating.
More than meets the eye
Unlike the base SPARK 50 5G, the SPARK 50 Pro is powered by a 50MP Sony LYTIA 600 (or LYT-600) main camera. The said sensor promises improved low-light performance compared to typical cameras in its category.
The company is also bringing its TECNO’s very-own FlashSnap capabilities found in higher CAMON series. This feature offers shutter speeds of up to 1/10,000 of a second to better capture fast-moving subjects like pets, sports, or action shots.
Speaking of, TECNO’s Universal Tone technology also returns, aiming to produce more natural-looking skin tones across different environments.
Several AI-powered editing tools are included as well. That includes AI Eraser 2.0 and AI Extender for photos, AI Noise Cancellation for clearer calls, as well as AI Health Assistant. Even Ella as your AI Assistant was not left behind.
For off the grid communication, FreeLink 2.0 exists when needed.
Pricing and Availability
The TECNO SPARK 50 Pro comes in five color choices: Ink Black, Titanium Grey, Midnight Blue, Dynamic Orange, and Cloud White.
TECNO has yet to announce official pricing and regional availability.
India
TECNO’s POVA 8 5G is both futuristic and future-ready
8000mAh battery, Sony LYTIA 600 camera, Alive Matrix display, and more
Four months after the POVA Curve 2 5G, TECNO adds the POVA 8 5G to their performance-focused arsenal.
Futuristic vibe
TECNO’s POVA 8 5G continues the series’ signature sci-fi-inspired design language. The latest smartphone features sharp geometric elements and a semi-transparent rear panel.
One of its standout features is none other than the new Alive Matrix Display. It’s a customizable light panel on the back that can display 49 pre-loaded lighting effects for incoming calls, notifications, charging status, gaming sessions, and more. Prospective users can also personalize scenarios to match their style and could actually store many more customized effects aside from the pre-loaded ones.
Beside that LED display lies the 50MP main rear camera based on Sony’s LYTIA 600 (or LYT-600) sensor. The said sensor offers improved light capture for brighter and more detailed photos. It also supports 2x lossless zoom. Up front, you’ll get a 13MP front-facing shooter.
Powering the device is MediaTek’s Dimensity 7100 SoC. That’s paired together with TECNO’s in-house G1 Signal Enhancement Chip and SE1 Wi-Fi Enhancement Chip — making it a triple chipset smartphone.
TECNO says these chips help improve connectivity in challenging environments such as elevators and basements while boosting Wi-Fi reception.
The phone also features a 144Hz display with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification and military-grade durability.
Last but definitely not the least, its 8000mAh battery that can last as much as two days. For some measure, TECNO says the phone can last up to 85+ hours of music playback, 29+ hours of YouTube streaming, 26+ hours of WhatsApp, or 14+ hours of playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).
Future-ready
Aside from the beastly battery packed inside, TECNO is also bringing several practical AI tools to the POVA 8 5G.
Among them is AI YouTube Summary. This turns lengthy videos into concise notes with key points and timestamps. The device also features AI-powered noise cancellation that helps isolate the speaker’s voice during calls, recordings, and meetings.
For photography, AI LightMaster 2.0 can remove unwanted reflections, lens flare, and shadows. The phone also supports uploading Live Photos directly to Instagram as Boomerang.
In select markets, users can even access AI Health features that estimate metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and respiration through facial scanning technology.
Further solidifying its future readiness, TECNO promises two major Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates.
The company is also bundling three years of FREE 256GB cloud storage for POVA 8 5G users. Eligible markets can also receive a 3-month Google AI Plus trial which includes 2TB of cloud storage.
Pricing and Availability
The TECNO POVA 8 5G debuts first in India and is available in 16-Bit White, Terminal Green, and Plasma Orange colorways.
Specific pricing and availability in global markets are yet to follow along these four color choices: Arc White, Graphite Black, Echo Green, and Helios Orange.
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