In less than two weeks from today, Tecno will officially present it flagship Phantom X2-series to the world. When launched, the device will become the company’s new flagship, taking over the baton from where the current Phantom X stops.
But this time, Tecno seem ready to dance with the bigger boys in the smartphone industry. The company will not just bring a flagship device in the order of the current Phantom X, which even though a flagship to Tecno, is still more or less a midrange smartphone to other top brands.
But what will be changing?
As far as the upcoming Phantom X2-series is (are) concerned, Tecno have managed to keep everything in secrets up until now. But from what we’ve seen so far, we can already identify three areas to be excited for the upcoming device.
1. Power under the hood
One major mistake Tecno made with the current Phantom X, was the use of the Helio G96 octa-core CPU from MediaTek. Tecno was actually the first company to use the Helio G96 on it Phantom X on the 24th of June 2021, after the CPU was unveiled on the 16th of the same month.
Barely 3-months after, Realme came up with an affordable mid-ranger dubbed Realme 8i, and when we looked, it was the same CPU that was under the hood, watering down the flagship title of the Phantom X. Additionally, when review units started flying around, we discover that the Phantom X was not the powerful flagship device we all thought it was.
But the above will be changing with the Phantom X2. Tecno has already confirmed that the X2 will come with a flagship-grade Dimensity 9000 5G CPU. This put the X2-series on the same pedestal with all premium smartphones using that same CPU, and even those with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Chipset.
Insight: The current flagship CPU in the Android eco-system of 2022, going into 2023 is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and the MediaTek Dimensity 9200. The CPU before these two, is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and the Dimensity 9000 CPU. This should give you an insight of the power level to expect from the upcoming Phantom X.
2. Aggresive design and look
It is important to note that even until now, we’ve not been able to see what the frontal view of the upcoming Phantom X2 will look like. But we have seen what the rear might look like.
Not much have change on the camera design of Samsung’s Galaxy S20, S21 and S22 series, as well as the Pro and Max models of Apple iPhones since the iPhone 11 till date. But not the upcoming Phantom X2. The model will offer a revamped and aggressive camera design on the rear.
Not just that, the design looks super unique; so much so that there is nothing currently in the industry to liken to its rear. Looks like Tecno visited space to come up with these rear and rare camera module. And that takes us to the last point; camera.
3. Camera upgrades
The Phantom X2 will come with three camera lenses on the rear. Comparing the camera design and openings with that of the original X, tells us to expect nothing less than more.
The individual sensors within those openings are yet to be known. However, combining Samsung’s ISOCELL HP1, the same 200-megapixel lens used on the recent Zero Ultra, with the ISP prowess on the Dimensity 9000 CPU could output great results. The image above is an early teaser of the lowlight capabilities of the device.
So is Tecno really ready to dance with the bigger boys like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Google etc, in the premium smartphone segment? Well, I’d say factors that define the premium segment are way more than just CPU, looks and camera. I will give my final verdict when I get to know the total package of the Phantom X2 is on the 7th of December.
