Tecno POVA 5 Review: Experience Gaming Without Breaking the Bank

Tecno, the well known Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has recently launched its new budget gaming phone, the Tecno POVA 5 Free Fire Special Edition. As a dedicated iPhone user, I was excited to try out this Android gaming phone and see if it could compete with more expensive brands like Asus and Google. In this review, we’ll take a deep dive into the specs, design, performance, cameras, battery, and Free Fire-specific features of the Tecno POVA 5. Are you ready? Let’s take a dive then!

Tecno POVA 5 – Technical Specifications

• Amber Gold/Mecha Black/Hurricane Blue
• Helio G99 6nm Processor
• 120Hz Refresh Rate/6.78″ FHD+ Display
• 6000 mAh Mega Battery/45W Smart Charge
• 50MP AI Camera
• 256GB ROM + 8GB RAM
• HiOS based on Android™ 13
• Height: 168.61mm
• Width: 76.61mm
• Thickness: 9.00 mm
• 120Hz Refresh Rate/6.78″ FHD+ Display
• 1080*2460
• 6000mAh/45W Smart Charge
• 256GB ROM + 8GB RAM
• 8MP Front Camera with Flash
• 50MP Dual Rear Camera with Dual Flash
• G-Sensor
• Fingerprint Sensor
• Ambient Light and Distance sensor
• Electronic compass
• Gyroscope
• NFC

The first thing that caught my eye was the phone’s design. The Pova 5 has a sleek and futuristic shell design inspired by classic anime mecha designs. It comes in three color options: Amber Gold, Mecha Black, and Hurricane Blue. I found the Amber Gold color to be subtle and sleek, while the Hurricane Blue option (seen in my hands below) is bolder and stands out more. The phone’s display is a huge 6.78-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2460) with a 120Hz refresh rate, making every app look bright and clear. The front camera is located in a small hole punch cutout, which doesn’t obstruct the display.

Performance

The Tecno POVA 5 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, which allows for a smooth and fast experience while looking stunning. I tried out a range of games on the Pova 5, from simple puzzle games like Candy Crush to more graphically-intensive games like Honkai Star Rail. The phone had no noticeable issues with any of the games, and I was impressed by how well it ran Love Live! School Idol Festival All Stars, a game that often crashes on my iPhone. The only downside was that the Pova 5’s gaming capabilities are limited when it comes to more demanding games like Honkai Star Rail, but given its budget pricing, I have no complaints.

HiOS 13’s Always-On Display is a fantastic feature that allows you to explore a new visual realm. The intelligent color system and dynamic layout combine to create new dynamic effects that feed the imagination. The Always On Display presents important information in a visually appealing, customizable layout. Information includes the weather, calendar events, and more.

The customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement… The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don’t use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly.

Tecno POVA 5 Cameras

The Tecno POVA 5’s cameras are surprisingly good for a budget phone. The main AI camera has a 50MP image sensor that can recognize a range of different subjects, and the photos come out bright and clear. I found that the photos were often brighter than those taken on my iPhone, which can be a blessing or a curse depending on the subject. The phone also has a suite of built-in features, including beauty and sky filters, which are fun to play around with. It also has optimized the Super Night Mode 3.0 with AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm and the cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. This appropriately brightens your image to make it both clear and natural even shooting in a dark environment.

There’s also a 50MP Selfie camera placed at the front, that can provide several interesting features for youngsters mainly:

• Customized beauty adjustment
• Smart AI
• Smooth skin
• Skin tone adjustment
• 3D sculpting/Nose shape
• Eye shape

TECNO has invested a lot in the selfie camera department, and I believe the result is impressive. I really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect!

Tecno POVA 5 Ready for vlogging

Empowering users to capture their coolest moments, TECNO POVA 5 Series Free Fire Special Edition features a superb 50MP AI camera for capturing in ultra-clear detail. The device also enables dual view video for vlogging life with dual perspectives, and Sky Shop to magically edit the sky with just one tap. Meanwhile, a Portrait Beauty feature lets users amplify their brilliance, while the HDR mode ensures crystal-clear quality.  

HiOS 13′s Certified 96KHz/24bit hi-res hi-fi sound quality creates a full and layered surround sound experience. The details are rich, and the bass is vibrant, allowing you to imagine yourself at the recording studio or a live concert. HiOS 13’s Visha Player can do so much more than before. Use gestures to Drag and Drop media and video files with no delay.

Tecno POVA 5 Battery

One of the standout features of the Tecno POVA 5 is its long-lasting battery life. The phone has a 6000 mAh battery that can last all day, even with graphically-intensive games. The phone also has a fast recharge time and can be fully charged in just an hour. I was impressed by the phone’s ability to act as a power bank in a pinch, which is a handy feature to have when you’re out and about.

I was happily impressed by the charging speed. The brand new Type-C 45W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides 1,5 hours for a full charge! The STS coating technology ensures safety by preventing dangerous internal short circuits caused by direct contact between aluminum foil and anode, providing you with complete peace of mind.

Free Fire-Specific Features

The Tecno POVA 5 Free Fire Special Edition is a collaboration with Garena’s popular game Free Fire. The phone is based on the character Kelly and comes in a specially designed themed box featuring the character. You also get a clear phone case and a sheet of Kelly-themed stickers to customize your device. The phone’s wallpapers, ringtones, and app icons are all themed around Kelly and her companions. She’s a passionate runner with extreme speed and incredible stamina – this perfectly aligns with the ultimate power system and the incomparable performance of the POVA 5 Free Fire Special Edition that would grant players a randomized in-game wearable or tool.

As someone who hasn’t played Free Fire extensively, I found the tie-ins to be subtle enough that they didn’t detract from the phone’s overall design.

I also experienced immersive and full-bodied sound with dual speakers, certified by DTS and Sony Hi-Res. I really enjoyed the pure audio quality that restores the essence of sound.

Pricing and Availability

Details about the availability and pricing of the Tecno POVA 5 Free Fire Special Edition were not listed on the company’s official website at the time of writing. According to reports, the phone will be available in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America soon. Tecno Pova 4 was launched in India in December last year with a price tag of Rs. 11,999 for the single 8GB RAM + 128GB onboard storage variant.

Conclusion

Overall, the Tecno POVA 5 Free Fire Special Edition is an excellent budget gaming phone with impressive specs and features. The phone’s long-lasting battery and fast recharge time make it a great gaming companion, and the Free Fire tie-ins are a fun bonus for fans of the game. If you’re looking for a budget gaming phone, the Tecno POVA 5 Free Fire Special Edition is definitely worth considering.