TECNO‘s award-winning CAMON series, fresh off its IFA wins for camera and design and a MUSE Design Award, is finally gracing the local market.

After its global announcement at MWC 2024, the latest iteration of TECNO’s highly successful CAMON lineup is official in the Philippines. Three new models have been introduced in the country thus far — the TECNO CAMON 30 5G, the TECNO CAMON 30 Pro 5G, and the top-shelf TECNO CAMON 30 Premier 5G.

SEE ALSO: TECNO CAMON 30 series: Pricing and availability in the Philippines

The standard CAMON 30 5G positions itself as the value champion, boasting a friendly starting price tag of P11,999 (around $209) for the 8GB RAM/256GB storage variant. But that’s not to say it skimps on the essentials, like a capable chipset with 5G connectivity and a versatile camera that caters to both shutterbugs and vloggers.

In fact, our experience with the TECNO CAMON 30 5G suggests it’s a serious contender in its price bracket. In fact, we think it is one of the better smartphones of the year so far — especially from a value perspective. Let us count the reasons why.

Vlog-ready cameras

TECNO’s CAMON series is known for its camera chops, and the CAMON 30 5G doesn’t disappoint. The circular camera island on the back is a luxurious touch, housing a 50-megapixel main camera with a large 1/1.57-inch image sensor. This translates to better low-light performance with brighter and more detailed shots. Optical image stabilization is also included for sharper handheld photos and smoother video. Aiding the primary camera is an AI sensor coupled with a 2-megapixel depth sensor, mainly used for creating natural-looking background blur in Portrait mode.

Flipping the phone around, there’s an equally massive 50-megapixel front camera with eye-tracking autofocus, allowing for impressive features like sub-100 millisecond focusing speeds and the ability to shoot high-quality vlogs in sharp 2K resolution. Vlog mode will be added to the camera app via a future software update.

@revuphilippines The #TECNOCAMON30Series goes official in the Philippines today, May 10. Here’s a sample mini-vlog we captured on the #TECNOCAMON305G. Our story should be up at #RevuDotComDotPH in a few. (Typing this in the car on the way to the launch venue. 😅) #VlogLikeAPro #TECNO #CAMON30Series #CAMON305G #TECNOCAMON30 #CAMON30 #TECNOPH #TECNOPhilippines @Tecno Mobile Philippine Store @Alora Uy Guerrero @monch ♬ original sound – Revu Philippines

Sample mini-vlog shot from daytime to nighttime. Most of the shots are in 2x zoom

Sample shots

But TECNO isn’t just about the hardware. All models in the CAMON 30 series aim to push the boundaries of software with their Social Turbo feature. This industry-first function lets users add a layer of fun and interactivity to video calls across various third-party apps. Think voice changing, video-background replacement, beauty filters, and even Tmoji avatars to help liven up the usual video-calling experience.

AI Erase promises to salvage pictures ruined by photobombers, offering the ability to magically remove unwanted objects or people from your shots. Additionally, the CAMON 30 series premieres the groundbreaking Universal Tone imaging technology. This self-developed system goes beyond typical AI image processing.

TECNO collaborated with color-science experts from leading universities, feeding the system with a massive data set of real-world skin tones. The result? The most advanced multi-skin tone imaging solution yet on a mobile device. Universal Tone strives to capture the unique beauty of every skin tone and texture, ensuring all users are seen and celebrated in their individuality.

Retro-inspired design with a touch of modern vibe

TECNO isn’t shying away from standing out with the CAMON 30 5G’s design. The unit blends modern smartphone aesthetics with a dash of retro charm. The Classic Side-axis Camera Design is an interesting choice, channeling a vintage camera vibe without compromising functionality. Plus, there’s a little glowing dot on the back called the Action Dot that lights up for video recording and status alerts, and even lets you know when your phone’s juiced up.

TECNO goes all in on unique materials, too. The back is made of something called Tech-Art Leather, which combines a suede-like material with a glossy marble texture, giving the device a unique yet attractive appearance that’s also a joy to hold. TECNO’s Nature Flow texture technology adds a luxurious feel, while the Lotus Leaf Biomimetic Skin takes inspiration from nature with a water-repellent coating — because who doesn’t want a phone that isn’t afraid of the occasional water spill?

The TECNO CAMON 30 5G comes with an IP54 rating, meaning it can survive accidental water splashes and even light rain for a few minutes, something users who live in tropical countries like the Philippines will appreciate. On top of that, the brand has introduced a wet-hand touch algorithm to the entire CAMON 30 range, making the CAMON 30 5G easier to use in the shower or with sweaty hands.

Power play

Powering the TECNO CAMON 30 5G is a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G chipset that has been kitted with up to a whopping 512GB of built-in storage, which should be enough for most people and even heavy users. The processor supports 8GB of RAM on the variant we tested and is capable of handling demanding games like Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact. Multitasking feels satisfying, and regular smartphone tasks, such as browsing the web and downloading and installing apps, glide along.

Navigating the interface feels smooth and responsive with UI animations running mostly lag-free on the CAMON 30 5G’s 6.78-inch AMOLED display when the refresh rate is set to 120Hz. But TECNO goes the extra mile for night owls, too, by incorporating 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. When the brightness is set to a low value, the phone will automatically switch to 2,160Hz PWM Dimming mode to reduce screen flickers and maintain accurate colors, effectively minimizing eye fatigue and enhancing your viewing experience. Say goodbye to eye strain during those late-night browsing sessions!

The sound experience gets a bump with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos tuning — a welcome feature at this price point. While they might not blow you away, they should be perfectly decent for podcasts, Spotify streaming, and Netflix binges.

Battery life is another area where the TECNO CAMON 30 5G aims to impress. The 5,000mAh battery is rated to deliver up to 6.46 hours of gaming, 33.81 hours of calling, or a marathon 9.34 hours of video streaming on a single charge. The company even promises a long lifespan for the battery, claiming it will retain over 80% capacity after a whopping 1,600 charge cycles — or roughly four years of use.

If you do manage to drain the battery, fear not. The TECNO CAMON 30 5G supports 70-watt Ultra Charge, which can get the battery from 0% to 50% in just 16 minutes. Need a quick power boost before heading out? This device has you covered.

Final thoughts

Don’t let the friendly price tag fool you: The new TECNO CAMON 30 5G packs a serious punch. Budget-conscious buyers get a feature-rich camera system, a head-turning design, and a battery that won’t quit and charges super-fast. Whether you’re a heavy social media user or an aspiring content creator, this phone offers a compelling alternative to pricier flagships.

TECNO CAMON 30 5G specs

• 6.78-inch AMOLED display, FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
• 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 7020 5G chipset
• IMG BXM-8-256 GPU
• Triple 50-megapixel main, 2-megapixel depth, AI rear cameras with dual flash
• 50-megapixel front camera with dual-tone flash
• Under-display fingerprint reader
• Android 14
• 5,000mAh battery with 70-watt fast charging
• Dual speakers with Dolby Atmos
• Color options: green (vegan leather), silver, black

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