Tecno Camon 30 Series Arrives: Specs, Features, and Pricing
Tecno announced the Camon 30 series at MWC. The phones comes with impressive specifications, ranging from the high-end Camon 30 premiere to the base Camon 30.
Key Specifications and Features
Tecno has announced four series of the Camon 30, including the Camon 30 premiere 5G, Camon 30 Pro 5G, Camon 30 5G, and Camon 30 4G. It might be confusing, so let me explain each device and its features.
Camon 30 Premiere 5G
Display
The Camon 30 series has a high-end model called the Preniere 5G which boasts impressive specifications.
Its display is a standout feature, with a large 6.77-inch AMOLED screen that delivers vivid and contrasty visuals, as well as deep blacks for an enhanced video-watching experience. Notably, this is the first Tecno phone to come equipped with an LTPO display, which can reduce its refresh rate to 1Hz from 120Hz when idle to save energy.
Additionally, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass for added durability.
It also has 1,500 peak brightness. This is one area where Tecno has been lagging to put this into perspective last year Camon 20 premiere brightness was 493nits using the manual slider and it topped up to 684 nits on auto mode according to GSM arena this is a major improvement so expect to use the phone under direct sunlight comfortably.
It also has a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations.
Processor
It will ship with a pretty impressive SOC, Meditek dimensity 8200 ultimate 5G fabricated under a 4nm architecture for good performance optimization. This SOC will be able to deliver good performance and battery life. According to Mediatek, it has a 6% improvement in single-core performance, over last year's Dimensity 8100.
Camera
On the camera side of things, the phone will pack a 50MP f.1/1.56 OIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens for extra optical zoom capabilities without making it heavy, a 50MP ultra-wide lens for wider views, and a 50MP front-facing camera and OIS.
Thankfully the rear cameras can record videos up to 4k 30fps which should be the standard in 2024 as of publishing we still don’t have conclusive information on whether the front-facing camera can shoot at 4k but it should be able to, we will keep you updated.
Battery
The phone has a huge 5000mAH battery which should last you an entire day depending on your usage coupled with a fast 70w charging, Tecno calls this ultra charge
Other Noteworthy Features
The phone has a unique design. At the back, there is a circular module that houses the four cameras and at the bottom of the camera module, there is a flashlight. On the right side, we get the usual volume rocker keys and the power button.
It has a stereo speaker for an immersive sound experience especially while playing games, but sadly no headphone jack.
The phone has one storage variant and that is the 12GB/16GB (RAM expansion) RAM and 512GB ROM, however, you don’t get an SD card slot.
Tecno Camon 30 Pro
Display
The Tecno Camon 30 Pro 5G boasts an impressive display - a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1080*2436.
The display is expected to be sharp and provide a good visual experience. Although the type of glass used for protection at the front is unspecified, we can rest assured that it will provide ample protection.
This display does not have an LTPO panel like the Camon 30 Premiere. However, Tecno has included a 144Hz refresh rate, making the scrolling and animations smoother.
Processor
The processor of the phone is pretty decent, we get a Mediatek dimensity 8200 ultimate same as the premiere, so the performance should be at par with the competition.
The upcoming phone will run on Android 14 and will feature Tecno's HIOS 14 skin.
In the past, Tecno's skin was not well-received due to the presence of too many pre-installed apps (bloatware) and ads that would pop up unexpectedly.
However, over time, the company has taken customer feedback into account and has reduced the amount of bloatware and unexpected ads, we hope this is reflected in the latest series.
Camera
The camera on this device has a slight downgrade in comparison to the premiere 5G. It features a 50MP f.1/1.56 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a 50MP ultra-wide lens, but unfortunately no periscope lens.
Additionally, it comes with a 2MP depth sensor. However, the camera is still capable of recording videos up to 4k 30fps, which is a good feature.
At the front, we get a 50MP front-facing camera. We don’t have any information about the recording capabilities of the front camera. Two LED flashlights help take sharper photos in dark scenarios.
Battery
It comes with a 5000mAH battery and 70W wired fast charging. The charger is included in the box. Battery life will vary depending on usage patterns.
Other Noteworthy Features
The design is similar to the premiere version a circular module at the back that houses the three lenses. It will have a glass back or a silicone polymer back.
On the storage, we get 12/16GB RAM and 256GB/512GB of storage. It also comes with an IR blaster to control your electronics such as TVs.
Tecno Camon 30 5G
Display
Next up is the Camon 30 5G, which is the final 5G model in the Camon 30 lineup.
The phone has a good display, featuring an AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1080*2436 and a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling.
The front of the phone is made of glass, but it doesn't specify the type of glass. However, we suspect that it's not Corning glass. The fingerprint sensor will be integrated into the display.
Camera
In terms of the camera, the Camon series seems to have fallen apart. Though this phone has a 50MP f.1/1.57 main camera with OIS, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 0.08 auxiliary lens, I think the main camera is the only one that really works well. The other two lenses seem like gimmicks to me.
At the front, there is a 50MP selfie shooter and dual-led lights which should help you take sharp photos in dark scenarios.
It seems that the phone will be able to record videos at only 2K resolution due to the limitations of the processor.
Processor
The Tecno phone is equipped with a powerful Mediatek Dimensity 7020 6nm midrange chipset suitable for gaming. However, its performance depends on the optimization of Tecno's software for the processor.
It’s a 6nm chipset meaning it has been optimised to deliver good performance and at the same time conserve power.
Battery
The phone is equipped with a 5000mAh battery that can last for a full day or two if you are a light user. But if you are a heavy user, you don't need to worry since Tecno has included a 70W wired charger in the box. This means that charging your phone should take less time.
Other Noteworthy Features
We expect to see the same design as the other series no major changes. The phone should boot up on Android 14 on top of Tecnos HIOS 14.
On board, the storage there will be 512GB storage and a whopping 16GB RAM (Expandable), it is also likely there will be a 256 GB version and other RAM variants. There will also be dual stereo speakers supported with Dolby Atmos for an immersive experience.
Tecno Camon 30 4G
Display
In my previous article, I shared some information about this Camon series. This version of the Camon series is the basic version, but it comes with some impressive specifications. In the article, I discussed the leaks and rumors surrounding this phone, and some of the specifications have been confirmed.
The display is really good, it’s a 6.78-inch with an AMOLED screen and a resolution of 1080*2436 paired with a superfast 120Hz refresh rate for faster scrolling. I am glad tecno maintained an AMOLED screen on its base model.
Processor
The phone comes with a Mediatek G-99 chipset, which is known as a gaming processor by Mediatek. The only drawback of this chipset is that it doesn't support 5G. It's not a deal-breaker because the chipset performs exceptionally well on other smartphone brands, the most recent being Xiaomi's Redmi Note 13 Pro. It has a 6nm chipset, which should deliver high performance and also save on battery.
Camera
The camera's main feature is a 50MP 1/1.57 sensor equipped with OIS, ensuring stable videos and sharp photos. The other components include a 2MP depth sensor and a 0.08 MP auxiliary lens, which may not be very useful. The recording capabilities may be limited to 2K resolution due to the G-99 limitations.
At the front, there is a 50MP selfie shooter with dual-led flashlights to take crisp photos and videos in low-lit areas. The front camera will only shoot videos at 1080p 30fps and there is no mention of any form of stabilization.
Battery
It comes with a huge 5000mAH paired with a fast 70w wired charger out of the box, so you shouldn’t be worried about charging.
Other Notable features
Other features include its unique design but it’s the same across the series lineup but the camera lenses may differ from the rest, and there is a headphone jack a feature that is very rare even on some budget phones. There will be 256/512 GB storage paired with 16GB RAM (expandable), we suspect there will be other RAM variants, we will keep you informed.
Pricing and Availability
At the time of publishing this article, we do not have any information regarding the pricing of the phone since it has not yet been launched in Kenya. However, we anticipate that the launch will take place in March 2024. The phone will be available in select Tecno shops and authorized resellers.
Target Audience
The Camon 30 series is designed to cater to specific target audiences among its four different models. If you are into photography, you can opt for the higher-end Camon 30 Premiere 5G or Camon 30 Pro 5G. If you are a budget-conscious gamer, the model with G-99 will be a good fit for you. However, if you prioritize smooth performance, you should go for the ones with Dimensity SOC.
Conclusion
As I conclude, Tecno has upped its game with this series. They have all emphasized battery life, fast charging capabilities, and various camera configurations suitable for different preferences.
The pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed, but the launch is expected in March 2024.
Overall the Camon 30 series aims to improve options catering to photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious gamers, and users prioritizing smooth performance.
What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section.
