Tecno Expands Lineup with Pova Slim 5.99mm and 144Hz Display

Smartphone competition for the thinnest phones is intensifying as more brands enter the market. Tecno has joined its Pova lineup with the introduction of the Pova Slim.

Image courtesy of Tecno

The Tecno Pova is a unique addition because of its slim form factor and packing a huge 5,160mAh battery; it’s hard to find phones with not even the Samsung Galaxy S25 edge

Ultra-Slim Build - Just 5.99mm Thin

The Pova is impressively slim. To put this into perspective, a standard credit card is 0.76 mm thick, while the Pova Slim, measuring 5.99 mm, is about eight times thicker. 

While this may appear significant, it is actually rather slim. Most modern smartphones generally range from 7.55 mm to 9 mm in thickness, making the Tecno Pova considerably thinner in comparison. This phone is designed for those who love slim and feather-light devices that can easily fit in their tight pockets.

The device is designed with IP64 dust and water resistance, meaning it can withstand splashes of water without getting damaged. Additionally, the Pova Slim meets the MIL-STD-810H standard, a U.S. military specification that ensures a certain level of durability for technology products, as noted by Android Authority. However, this does not guarantee durability or suitability for use in extreme conditions.

Smooth Visuals - 144Hz Display Experience

Gamers will experience smoother gameplay and less motion blur, leading to a screen that refreshes more quickly with smoother animations, especially in first-person shooters and racing games. Tracking moving objects will be easier and clearer.

There will also be lower input lag and faster response times, which refer to how quickly your touch and swipe actions are registered on the screen and how swiftly the corresponding actions occur in the game.

Additionally, you can expect immersive visuals, as higher refresh rates enhance the gaming experience and make scrolling more visually appealing. Animations and transitions will appear more fluid and lifelike.

The display is also protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i with a resolution of 1.5k, and at the back, it has fiber glass.

Power Under the Hood

The Pova Slim features the Mediatek 6400 5G chipset, a new 6nm architecture released in February 2025, designed for efficiency and performance.

The phone is available in two storage options: 128GB with 8GB of RAM and 256GB with 8GB of RAM. I believe it's time for Tecno to consider offering 256GB as the standard storage option. 

As app sizes increase and camera technology advances, photos and videos are taking up more space, making additional storage increasingly necessary.

The battery life is anticipated to be strong, featuring a 5,160mAh battery alongside a 45W charging brick, 10W reverse wireless charging, and bypass charging. Under typical usage, it should last an entire day. 

The more efficient MediaTek processor is expected to enhance battery efficiency; however, if you're a heavy gamer, you may need to recharge the phone a couple of times throughout the day.

Camera Setup - Style Meets Function

The camera setup on the Pova is unique compared to previous models in the Pova lineup, featuring what Tecno refers to as Mood Light Design. Let's focus on the cameras first: there are two at the back—a 50MP wide-angle camera and a 2MP camera, which I assume serves as the depth sensor.

At the front, you get a 13MP camera. The back camera can record videos up to 2k maximum resolution, while the front camera can only record up to 1080p.

Regarding the camera design, it features two circular LED lights integrated into the camera itself. When activated, these lights illuminate in various patterns to convey different "emotions" and provide real-time visual feedback for events such as notifications, charging, and incoming calls. As a result, you’ll need to put your phone down to observe the lights' indications for these events.

If you are a content creator and are looking to buy this phone for taking pictures or recording videos, it will get the job done; however, the quality of videos and pictures won’t be jaw-dropping.

Why the Pova Slim stands out

The Teco Pova Slim is notable for its slim design, impressive display featuring a 144Hz refresh rate, and outstanding performance. As part of the Pova lineup, which is recognized for its larger batteries, the Pova Slim sets itself apart as a premium smartphone.

Price and Availability

The Pova Slim is anticipated to be priced at approximately KES 30,000, making it an ideal option in the mid-range segment.

While it's uncertain whether Tecno Kenya will introduce the Pova Slim to the Kenyan market, I will provide updates once I receive official information from Tecno Kenya. If it does become available in Kenya, you will be able to purchase it at Tecno shops and select retailers.

Final Thoughts - Is it worth it?

I believe the Pova Slim has a specific target audience; it's not designed for everyone. It's for those who want a slim, compact phone and aren't overly concerned about the camera quality. 

One issue I've experienced with Tecno phones, particularly the Pova series, is the lack of support for software updates. Additionally, Tecno is known for including a lot of bloatware apps, which helps keep the prices low, but if you know how to remove bloatware, that’s great. However, many people will end up keeping these unnecessary apps without knowing how to uninstall them.

For my key takeaway, I believe Tecno has really excelled in the design of this phone, particularly with the Mood Light Design on the back. While the cameras are decent, they aren't the best on the market. However, the display is quite impressive and comes protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, which is rare to find at this price segment.