TECNO, a brand aggressively carving out space in markets like the Philippines, continues its push into the crowded mid-range segment with the CAMON 40 Premier 5G. Landing with an SRP of PHP 21,999, this device attempts to punch above its weight class, packing a spec sheet headlined by a quad-50MP camera array, a high-refresh-rate LTPO AMOLED display, and MediaTek’s potent Dimensity 8350 Ultimate SoC.
Add in unusually robust IP68/IP69 durability ratings, and TECNO seems to be ticking many boxes. But in the cutthroat ~PHP 20k-25k bracket, headline specs sometimes require a few compromises to stay ahead of the competition.
Let’s dissect where the CAMON 40 Premier delivers – what’s story beyond the spec sheet?
Display: 144Hz LTPO AMOLED
The display specifications are solid, if not groundbreaking for 2025’s upper mid-range. We’re looking at a 6.67-inch LTPO AMOLED panel pushing a 1.5K resolution (2800 x 1260 pixels, ~460 ppi). The key draw here is the 144Hz refresh rate combined with LTPO tech, allowing dynamic adjustment down to lower rates for static content – a necessary feature for mitigating the battery drain of such high refresh rates.
Brightness is rated at 1600 nits (peak), adequate for outdoor visibility, and it supports 1 billion colors plus HDR, which works on YouTube though it does not appear to be supported in Netflix (possibly due to licensing limitations).
In practice, this translates to a sharp, fluid viewing experience. Interactions feel responsive, and colors are reportedly well-calibrated without excessive saturation.
It’s a competent panel that meets expectations for the price, though it doesn’t necessarily leapfrog competitors who also offer high-refresh-rate OLEDs.
Build Quality & Design: IP69 with drop certification
TECNO’s design language involves a large, circular “space ring” camera module design – a visual statement emphasizing the phone’s imaging focus. The back features a subtle “swan-neck curve,” presumably for ergonomics. While relatively slim at 7.7mm and 193g, the materials likely reflect the price point: a plastic frame and back are probable.
For its price, it can feel “plasticky,” a common trade-off for cost savings. However, we are not bothered by it, especially with the beautiful hard case that comes free with the package.
The standout feature, however, is the phone’s durability. IP68 and IP69 ratings are rare at this price, offering protection against dust, water immersion, and even high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. Combined with Gorilla Glass 7i and an SGS 5-Star drop certification, this phone is built to withstand more abuse than many rivals. Biometrics are handled by an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, though its low placement might annoy some users.
Performance: Dimensity 8350 Ultimate
Under the hood lies the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate, a 4nm SoC that promises near-flagship performance. Its octa-core CPU configuration (1x 3.35GHz Cortex-X4 performance core, 3x 3.20GHz Cortex-A715, 4x 2.20GHz Cortex-A510 efficiency cores) paired with a Mali-G615 MC6 GPU translates to benchmark scores (AnTuTu ~1.4M, Geekbench 6 ~1350 SC / ~4300 MC) that significantly outpace typical mid-range silicon. This should mean snappy UI navigation, fast app loading, and headroom for demanding tasks.
Memory and storage are also generous: 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM (plus virtual expansion) and 256GB of fast UFS 4.0 storage. The catch? No microSD expansion. The phone runs Android 15 overlaid with TECNO’s HiOS 15.
TECNO heavily markets its AI capabilities, including imaging tools (AI Eraser, etc.), a comprehensive call assistant (noise cancellation, translation), and its own “Ella” smart assistant, which can utilize the DeepSeek model for its AI capabilities.
However, Ella is in early development and can sometimes feel less polished and responsive compared to Google Gemini. There is an option that supposedly lets to switch to Google, but we failed to get it to work.
You can hold the One-Tap FlashSnap physical side button quickly access Ella, or double tap to trigger the camera.
Gaming: High performance with bypass charging
TECNO CAMON 40 Premier 5G runs on the Dimensity 8350 Ultimate chipset with LPDDR5X RAM and 144Hz display, which form a strong foundation for gaming. Most demanding titles should run smoothly at high settings with fluid visuals. However, this isn’t explicitly positioned as a gaming phone.
Key gaming-centric features often found elsewhere, like bypass charging (powering the phone directly while gaming to reduce heat and battery wear) or dedicated gaming software modes with features like voice changers, appear absent based on our initial review data.
The phone comes with a system-level configuration item called High Performance mode to take full advantage of the available hardware resources. It handles most modern titles well, consistently staying at 60 FPS on high or very high graphics mode.
Camera: Quad 50MP with OIS and optical zoom
TECNO CAMON 40 Permier 5G offers the best imaging solution in the CAMON 40 Series with its quad 50MP cameras – just look at this setup:
- Main: 50MP Sony LYT-701 (1/1.56″, f/1.9) with PDAF and OIS
- Periscope Telephoto: 50MP (1/2.76″, f/2.2) with 3x optical zoom (70mm) and PDAF, no OIS
- Ultrawide: 50MP (1/2.76″, f/2.2) with 114° FoV (14mm) and PDAF, no OIS
- Front: 50MP (1/2.8″, f/2.5) with PDAF
The use of 50MP sensors across the board provides resolution consistency, and the main Sony LYT-701 sensor with OIS should perform well, especially in low light (“Ultra Night Camera”). Autofocus (PDAF) on all rear lenses and even the front camera is a plus.
The critical omission is OIS on the ultrawide and telephoto lenses. While EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) helps, the lack of optical stabilization makes these lenses more susceptible to handshake blur in photos, particularly when zooming or in challenging lighting. This significantly undermines the versatility suggested by the high megapixel counts.
Features like “FlashSnap” (fast capture) and “Universal Tone” (skin tone accuracy) leverage AI, but the hardware limitation on stabilization is notable. Video capabilities are decent (4K/60 rear, 4K/30 front), but stabilization quality, especially on the non-OIS lenses, remains a question mark.
Battery Life and Charging: Fast Wired
A 5100mAh battery paired with the efficient LTPO display and 4nm chipset should offer respectable endurance, though real-world results will depend heavily on usage patterns (especially that 144Hz display).
The 70W wired “Ultra Charge” is genuinely fast, capable of significant top-ups in short order. Our battery life benchmarks yielded an average of 7.5 hours on Wi-Fi which feels a little low, though it can be extended with the built-in battery saver.
Value for money: The most durable AI camera phone from TECNO yet
Priced at PHP 21,999, the TECNO CAMON 40 Premier 5G is a very attractive option for its performance, display refresh rate, charging speed, imaging, and exceptional durability. For users prioritizing these aspects, it offers compelling value.
Its MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate chipset performs well above its price class, and the IP68/69 rating provides peace of mind few competitors can match.
However, the compromises are clear. The lack of OIS on the ultrawide and telephoto cameras limits the practical potential of the high-resolution sensors. The build, while durable, might not feel super premium.
The AI features, particularly the Ella assistant, need real-world validation regarding their polish and utility. Omissions like wireless charging and expandable storage further temper the value proposition.
Bottom line, the CAMON 40 Premier 5G plays on performance and durability. If you need speed, a fluid display, fast charging, and a phone that can survive drops and downpours better than most, it’s a strong contender that really delivers at the PHP20-25K price segment.
