The successor to the POVA 5 Pro 5G is now official. TECNO even made sure to put everyone on notice by announcing its latest gaming-focused midrange smartphone at MWC [Mobile World Congress] 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, in front of teeming crowds for mobile technology’s biggest annual event.

This year, the TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G has been launched in the Philippines in partnership with Farlight 84 to really drive home the gaming emphasis. If you’re not familiar, Farlight 84 is a fast-paced battle-royale game for PC and mobile devices, and it’s currently one of the most popular games online, with over a million daily active players here alone, according to data from last year.

Not that the TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G needs a lot of help being marketed as a phone for mobile gamers. Just like the previous model, the new handset flaunts an industrial-inspired Mecha design language with mini-LED lighting on different parts of the camera block.

Locally, the POVA 6 Pro 5G with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is priced at P11,999, or roughly $216, in the Philippines, although you can purchase it for much less during sale events. A sweet deal, yes?

If you like bling…

We love the design overall. It’s unique, nice to look at, but at the same time, we don’t think it’s polarizing either. The whole build is made of plastic to keep the device light, and it feels solid when held tightly. You don’t have to worry about light rain or splashes, too, since the TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G comes with an IP53 rating.

At the back, you’ll find multiple LED rings surrounding the AI sensor. There are also mini LEDs forming a propeller next to the camera setup, similar to what the POVA 5 Pro 5G has. All in all, there are 210 single point-controlled mini LEDs on the back panel, and most of them can be personalized for calls, messages, power status, music, gaming, and more in the Settings app.

You can even customize the notification-light effects for specific apps, like Facebook, Messenger, Gmail, Messages, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The middle frame is even slimmer this time around, measuring just 7.88mm without the camera bump, and the weight is manageable at 195 grams.

Striking a balance between performance and efficiency

The bells and whistles on the exterior are obviously well and good, but what about gaming performance? Well, if you own the POVA 5 Pro 5G, you probably know what to expect since the new model uses the same MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset from last year. The TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G, though, comes with more RAM — 12GB instead of 8GB — plus dynamic RAM expansion, which converts up to 12GB of available storage for a better multitasking experience.

You can play most popular Android games at medium to high graphics, while some demanding games will run smoothly at low settings. This smartphone doesn’t have a high-end chipset, so although it looks the part, don’t expect it to obliterate AAA titles like a modern flagship would. Temper your expectations.

As far as upgrades you’ll feel or notice right away, there’s the improved haptics engine further enhanced by a Z-axis linear motor and hard gyroscope that help deliver a more realistic feedback when gaming. The POVA 6 Pro 5G also introduces TECNO’s new SuperCooled cooling system advertising an ultra-large VC heatsink coupled with an ESports Pro temperature-control engine and a phase-change thermal gel to further reduce the CPU temperature.

The goal of this cooling system is to make both everyday use and intense tasks, such as playing demanding games, more comfortable for the user. We have to agree that it does seem to make a difference, as our unit managed to stay pleasant in the hand while gaming. To be fair, the Dimensity 6080 isn’t a powerhouse chip to begin with, with just two Cortex-A76 cores and a Mali-G57 GPU. Still, we believe the brand’s own cooling solution has been effective in its role.

Other perks

Another bright spot that adds to the gaming experience is the phone’s Hi-Res-certified dual speakers, now with Dolby Atmos tuning. This will give you the benefit of better audio quality, no matter if you use earbuds, headphones, or the phone’s built-in speakers.

Dolby Atmos promises to surround you with sound from every direction, making dialogues clearer and the sound field wider, while providing you with richer details. You can find Dolby Atmos support in a number of Android apps, including PUBG Mobile, Disney+, Apple Music, and Audible.

The TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G also arrives with built-in AI noise cancellation, and it’s designed to reduce background noise on the line when you’re talking to someone who’s in a noisy environment, like a bar or restaurant.

A big battery that delivers

TECNO upgraded the device’s battery to 6,000mAh from 5,000mAh in the previous model, making it one of the lightest and thinnest handsets on the market with the said battery capacity. According to the company, the big battery inside the POVA 6 Pro 5G should be good for at least 14 hours of video streaming or 11 hours of continuous gaming.

In our case, we found the POVA 6 Pro 5G to be one of the longest-lasting phones we’ve used in the segment, able to last for two days of moderate use regularly. The fast charging is a little faster, too, thanks to TECNO’s 70-watt Ultra Charge standard, which can top up the unit from zero to full in under an hour, or 50% in less than 30 minutes in Hyper mode. That’s quite an achievement given its 6,000mAh cell — not to mention, 70 watts is the fastest charging speed you’ll find in this price point.

It’s also worth noting that the device arrives with several battery and charging features, including the ability to safely fill up the battery while playing a graphics-intensive game and alert the user when moisture is detected in the charging port. When set to Low Temperature mode, the smartphone slows the charging speed considerably to extend the service life of the battery.

Finally, an AMOLED display

Moving to the front, the TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G upgrades to a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with noticeably slimmer bezels especially on the chin, translating to a higher screen-to-body ratio while maintaining the same screen size as the previous generation.

The resolution is FHD+, and the refresh rate goes up to 120Hz for a smooth experience. The sizable AMOLED display looks decent with pretty vibrant colors, yet we’re actually more impressed that TECNO managed to incorporate an under-screen fingerprint reader that’s both fast and accurate and even allows the user to unlock the unit with wet or sweaty hands with reasonable success.

For improved eye protection, the Transsion sub-brand has increased the high-frequency PWM dimming system, boosting it to 2,160Hz. This alone should improve the viewing experience in low light. Meanwhile, TÜV Rheinland’s low blue-light certification will help minimize blue light exposure and protect your eyes during binging sessions on Netflix and other video-streaming apps.

Basic but decent camera system

The TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G packs some surprises in its camera system, but doesn’t go beyond the basics for a midranger. For crisp daytime shots, it relies on a 108-megapixel main camera that advertises 3x lossless-quality zoom. However, low-light performance might be less consistent, though not terrible. Closeup shots still manage to impress with their natural-looking blurred backgrounds.

Up front, you get a 32-megapixel punch-hole camera for selfies. Additionally, the front camera boasts an unusual feature: a dual-LED, dual-tone flash. This means brighter, clearer selfies, even in those tricky low-light situations. It’s a welcome addition for social media enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, there’s no ultrawide or even a capable macro camera here. Both cameras can record videos at up to 2K resolution at 30 frames per second, making it a decent option for vlogging or capturing memories on the go in crisp detail.

Sample shots, all taken in Barcelona, Spain, by Revü Philippines editor Alora Uy Guerrero (except the last selfie)

Final thoughts

All in all, we think the TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G is a worthwhile successor to the capable 5G phone that launched last year. There are several upgrades to note here, not the least of which is the AMOLED display with almost uniform bezels all around and longer-lasting battery that can achieve a full charge in less than an hour.

TECNO’s POVA series has always walked a fine line between budget-conscious and bold design, but the latest iteration doubles down on the basics instead of going back to the drawing board with a redesign. It’s predictably effective. The POVA 6 Pro 5G is an excellent proposition for anyone looking for a solid midrange option, regardless if gaming is a priority or not.

Availability: Online and offline

TECNO POVA 6 Pro 5G specs

• 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate
• 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 6080 5G processor
• Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• Triple 108-megapixel main, 2-megapixel depth, AI rear cameras
• 32-megapixel front camera
• Under-display fingerprint reader
• 6,000mAh battery with 70-watt charging
• HiOS 14 based on Android 14
• Color options: Comet Green, Meteorite Grey

---