Phantom V Fold: TECNO boldly ventures into spirited premium foldables market

TECNO's high-end sub-brand, PHANTOM, has unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the PHANTOM V Fold, signalling the brand's confident entry into the foldable device market.

This announcement follows the launch of the Phantom X2 Pro, featuring the world's first retractable portrait lens, three months ago.

The PHANTOM V Fold is the newest addition to the Phantom X2 series, which continues to revolutionise the premium smartphone market by offering exceptional performance and outstanding technology.

The device boasts an immersive visual experience with its optimally sized dual flagship screen and ultra-clear 5-lens photography system, which delivers unparalleled image-making capabilities.

Two Flagship Screens Create New Possibilities

The PHANTOM V Fold, is designed to enhance users' smartphone proficiency in various activities, including gaming, movie-watching, and work.

The device features dual LTPO screens with an adaptive 10-120Hz high refresh rate, delivering smooth motions and fluid transitions both when folded and unfolded.

The sub screen of the phone measures 6.42 inches and has a unique micro-curved design with a 21:9 aspect ratio, providing users with a classic single-screen flagship smartphone experience.

The dimensions of the sub screen are a result of extensive research into usage scenarios and global smartphone use, making it optimal for single-handed operation.

It can sit comfortably in the palm of the hand, allowing users to operate it efficiently using only a thumb.

When unfolded, the PHANTOM V Fold boasts an outstanding 7.85-inch display with an optimal 8:7 aspect ratio on an ultra-flat screen with a virtually invisible crease.

This feature enhances users' viewing experience, providing them with a wider and more immersive display.

TECNO’s Technologies Inspire an Almost-Invisible Screen Crease

PHANTOM V Fold's primary inner screen benefits from the fruits of TECNO's continual quest for the most advanced technologies.

The brand's proprietary aerospace-grade drop-shaped hinge produces a nearly crease-free main inner screen surface.

The hinge's unique reverse snap structure substantially enhances the phone's structural stability, while its lightweight construction materials provide strength.

The self-developed fixed-axis rotation and slide technology hinge design guarantee a snug fit between PHANTOM V Fold's main inner screen components, thereby generating a crease that is barely discernible.

Upon initial use, the device's screen crease measures a mere 0.11mm, and the device can handle 200,000 folds.

Five Lenses for Unprecedented Image-Making

The phone’s exceptional 5-lens photography system provides an unrivaled image-making experience with lenses tailored to meet a wide range of needs.

The phone boasts three rear lenses and two front lenses, which allow users to discover new perspectives.

Its 50MP Super Night main camera delivers spectacular night-time image-making, thanks to its super light-sensitive custom 1/1.3-inch sensor, large f/1.85 aperture, and 7P composition.

Further enhancing the phone's night-time imaging capabilities are AI-powered features such as Super Night Portrait, Super Night Mode, and Super Night 4K Video, which reduce noise and capture clear lines, bringing the night to life in intricate detail.

The phone's other rear lenses comprise a powerful 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical and 20x digital zoom, and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens.

In addition to the rear lenses, two front lenses - one on the sub-screen and one on the main inner screen - offer exciting photographic possibilities.

The foldable screen design allows for capturing large-screen images with a preview displayed to the subjects on the sub-screen, while the front camera on the main inner screen enhances video calling and video conferencing.

HiOS13 Fold Provides a Super-Optimized Experience

Although the foldable smartphone experience offers a lot of advantages, it has often been limited by operating systems that are not suitable for these devices.

In response, TECNO has developed HiOS13 Fold, a highly optimized and customized operating system based on Google's Android 13, specifically designed for foldable devices.

The system offers large-screen capabilities, such as split-screen, picture-in-picture, parallel windows, and drag-and-drop across screens, as well as differentiated interactive animation designs that enhance users' productivity and enjoyment.

Customizations have been made to the top 1,000 apps with the highest global download frequency, with 90 per cent adapted to support split-screen and multi-window modes.

In total, over 2,000 apps have been adapted for HiOS13 Fold.

MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ Delivers a First for the Industry

PHANTOM V Fold represents TECNO's latest effort to bring high-end technologies to emerging markets through its PHANTOM sub-brand.

Powered by MediaTek's flagship Dimensity 9000+ processor, it is the world's first left-right foldable smartphone.

TECNO has deepened its collaboration with MediaTek to develop a dual-5G processor with dual-SIM functionality customized for the large-screen design of the PHANTOM V Fold.

The processor delivers exceptional performance, enabling efficient multi-tasking and seamless switching between screens.

PHANTOM V Fold's performance is further enhanced by 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256/512GB UFS 3.1 flash storage.

The device is also equipped with a powerful 5000mAh (type) battery that can be rapidly charged to 40 per cent in just 15 minutes and fully charged in just 55 minutes.

PHANTOM V Fold offers a premium foldable experience that empowers users to showcase their identity and become pioneers in business and society.

The device will be available at select TECNO stores, Safaricom shops, and on the PHANTOM website. It will retail at Sh129,999 for the 256+12 GB and Sh143,999 for the 512+12 GB, excluding VAT.