Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro Review: 8 Things to Know

Tecno has just released the All new Camon 11 and the Camon 11 Pro. In this post, I’ll be giving you a brief review of the Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro.

I’ll be focusing mainly on 7 things you should know about the Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro, and how both devices compares against the older Tecno Camon X and the Camon X Pro. So without further ado, let get down at it.

Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro Specification Overview

Tecno Camon 11 Specifications and Features

• OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo) + HiOS 3.3 OS
• Display: 6.2-inch HD+ (720 x 1520 pixel) IPS LCD Display
• Processor Type: 2.0GHz octa-Core MT6761 Helio A22 CPU
• Graphics Processor: PowerVR GE8320 GPU
• Internal Storage: 32GB Internal Storage Expandable to 256GB via SD card
• RAM: 3GB RAM
• Back Camera : 13 + 2 Megapixel dual Rear Camera with quad-LED flash
• Front Camera: 16 Megapixel front Camera with LED flash
• Other Features: Fingerprint scanner, FaceID, Bluetooth 4.2 Dual SIM and 4G LTE Networks
• Battery: 3750mAh with Mediatek Pump Express
• Price: $146 (N52,560)

Tecno Camon 11 Pro Specifications and Features

• OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo) + HiOS 3.3 OS
• Display: 6.2-inch HD+ (720 x 1520 pixel) IPS LCD Display
• Processor Type: 2.0GHz octa-Core MT6762 Helio P22 CPU
• Graphics Processor: PowerVR GE8320
• Internal Storage: 64GB Internal Storage Expandable to 256GB via SD card
• RAM: 6GB RAM
• Back Camera : 16 + 5 Megapixel dual Rear Camera with quad-LED flash
• Front Camera: 24 megapixel front Camera with LED flashOther Features: Fingerprint scanner, FaceID, Bluetooth 5.0, Dual SIM and 4G LTE Networks
• Battery: 3750mAh with Mediatek Pump Express
• Price: $223 (N80,000)

Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro Review: 7 Things to Know​​​​​​

1. The Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro are not the same!

I don’t want to use the word ‘world apart’. But literally, that is what the Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro is! Both device has different processors, different memory and internal storage setups, and so on.

Key Differences Between Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro

So from the table above, it is obvious that the Tecno Camon 11 Pro pack more punch than it camon 11 sibling. But then, the Tecno 11 Pro cost more than the Tecno 11.

2. Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro are Both AI Powered

At the beginning of it all, when we learnt that Tecno will be making use of Mediatek Helio A22 and P22, we were a bit worried, considering the fact that the older Tecno Camon X and the Camon X Pro came with Helio P23, so why Helio A22 and Helio P22 (more on the processor later) on the Camon 11 and 11 Pro?

Well, the answer to the above question is simple: Artifical Intelligence (popular as AI). So Tecno made use of Mediatek Helio A22 and P22 because both CPUs are more AI-centric CPUs, than the Helio P23 used in the older Camon X-series.

Some advantages of Artifical Intelligence (AI) Technology on the Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro includes improved battery stamina, better UX and user interface, better camera performance, improve bokeh and face beautifications among others.

It important to note that Android OS fully optimized for AI is Android version 9.0 (Pie). Unfortunately, Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro still runs on Android 8.1 (Oreo). Which means, the device(s) might not be able to fully leverage the entire benefits of AI and Mediatek Helio P22 and A22 until when the duo are upgraded to Android 9.0 Pie. ​​​​​​

3. Tecno camon 11 and Camon 11 is Powered by HiOS 4.1 with AR emoji

Thanks to the presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered processor, the Camon 11 series are both AR emoji powered. Apple first dupped this feature as Animoji, the Sammy tagged hers as AR emoji.

Well, here is Tecno’s own ‘copymoji’ fully present in the Camon 11 series. Changes have also been made at the software level with a new version of HiOS (4.1) running on top of Android 8.1 Oreo. The highlight here is that you can now uninstall system apps if you choose so.

4. The Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro are all about camera

During the launch event, Tecno was more particular about the camera prowess of the Camon 11 and 11 Pro. This was not much of a surprise to us, owning partly to the presence of an AI powered CPU, and the fact that Tecno camon series has been all about camera even from the first Tecno Camon C5.

So talking about camera, the Tecno Camon 11 has a 16-megapixel sensor while, Camon 11 Pro comes with a 24MP selfie camera with improved facial recognition for better portrait shots as well as an AI-backed beauty mode that takes into account gender and age while shooting photos.

On the back, there’s a dual camera setup on both; a 13 +2-megapixel sensor on the Camon 11, and a 16 + 5-megapixel sensor on the Camon 11 Pro.

Part of the AI on the camera’s software is automatic scene detection that includes a built-in document scanner, portrait mode and a variety of night mode options. The company also put special emphasis on HDR, with improvements on the same.

5. The Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro are same as the Tecno Camon i2 and Camon iClick2 in India

While Tecno is just unveiling the Camon 11-series in this part of the world, the company had already unveiled this devices in India under the moniker of Tecno Camon i2 and the Camon iClick2. 

One nice thing seeing Tecno Smartphones across multiple countries, is the opportunities for OS development. As we all know, the larger the user base of a device, the ease of access to developmental tools such as rooting, porting Android roms and more. So if you wish to have access to a larger user base of your new tecno camon 11 and 11 Pro, then you might want search for Tecno camon i2 and Camon iClick2 on the internet.

6. Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro VS Tecno Camon X and the Camon X Pro: Should you upgrade?

Back in April this year, Tecno unveiled the Camon X and the Camon X Pro with Helio P23. And now here we are with the Camon 11 and 11 Pro, successors to the Camon X/X Pro, but with Mediatek Helio A22/P22 CPUs. So the question is should you upgrade to Tecno camon 11 or 11 Pro from the Camon X/X Pro?

Tecno Camon 11 VS Tecno Camon X and Tecno Camon 11 Pro VS Tecno Camon X Pro

7. Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro Have an Enemy: Price!

Yes, Tecno Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro are both great devices. But it seems the duo, especially the Camon 11 Pro might have pricing issues. The standard camon 11 is priced at $146 US dollars, while the Camon 11 Pro is priced at $233 US dollars.

While the Camon 11 comes under the affordable division, the Camon 11 Pro might dig a little bigger hole in your wallet for a device of this range. For comparison sake, Xiaomi Redmi 6A with same Helio A22 as the Camon 11 cost $95, the Redmi 6 with 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage and same Helio P22 as the Camon 11 Pro, cost just $155 US dollars.

These devices might not be the direct competitors for camon 11 pro, but I still personally think that $233 is a bit to high for a smartphone running Helio P22, except if the device is developed by Apple or OPPO.

8. Camon 11 and Camon 11 Pro Competes Against Huawei Y9 (2019) and OPPO F9 Pro

It seems to me that tecno is also aware of this fact. During the launch event, Tecno categorically compared the Camon 11 Pro against the Huawei Y9 (2019) and the OPPO F9 Pro.

I’m sure the comparison was done in order to give a head up to the new comer. But for a more balanced and non biased comparison, I had place the three smartphones side-by-side, so click here to read the full story.