Tecno Camon 50

At Rs. 90,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model, the Tecno Camon 50 is a well-rounded package with one clear weak spot. It does almost everything well: a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED screen, a 50MP Sony main camera with OIS, IP68/IP69/IP69K water resistance, a glass back, NFC, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers and a 45W charger in the box. It is not the best at any single thing, but it rarely falls short.

The main compromise is the Helio G200 Ultimate, a 4G-only chip that is clearly slower than the 5G Dimensity chips some rivals offer.

The Motorola Moto G77 costs slightly more and brings 5G on the Dimensity 6400 and a 108MP main camera, but a smaller 5200mAh battery with 30W charging. The Vivo Y500 is cheaper, with a much larger 8100mAh battery, but it lacks NFC and an ultrawide camera.

Verdict: a strong buy if you want the best all-round camera, screen and durability package and can live with 4G. Buyers who need 5G or maximum performance should look elsewhere.

Its screen is a flat AMOLED panel measuring 6.78 inches, running at up to 144Hz with a sharp 1208 x 2644 (1.5K) resolution. Bezels are slim and even, and the in-display fingerprint scanner is quick.

• Brightness: peak brightness of 4500 nits keeps it clearly readable in direct sunlight.
• Video: HDR and Widevine L1 support make it good for streaming, though YouTube tops out at 1440p.
• Smoothness: scrolling and app use feel very fluid, though 144Hz works only in some apps, not all.

Many buyers prefer the flat panel over the curved screen of the Camon 50 Pro, as it is easier to use and protect. Overall, few screens at this price match it.

The phone runs the MediaTek Helio G200 Ultimate with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage, scoring around 600,000 in AnTuTu.

• Everyday use: apps open and close smoothly, and the phone handles daily tasks without trouble.
• Gaming: PUBG Mobile runs at about 60fps, with Smooth graphics at Extreme frame rate. It is fine for casual gaming, but not built for competitive play.
• Limits: the G200 is a 4G processor, so there is no 5G. Phones with Dimensity 5G chips at a similar price score noticeably higher and are better for gaming or future-proofing.

Heating and long gaming sessions were not tested in depth, so sustained performance is not confirmed.

The camera is the Camon 50's biggest strength. It has a 50MP Sony LYT-700C main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide and a 32MP selfie camera.

• Photos: details, sharpness and colours are very good in daylight and at night, among the best at this price. A 2x option gives decent portraits in good light, and AI zoom gives solid results up to 5x on subjects without text.
• Video: both cameras record up to 2K 30fps with stabilisation; the Ultra Steady mode drops to 1080p.
• Underwater: Aqua mode turns the volume buttons into shutter keys for underwater photos and video, and can push water out of the speakers.
• AI tools: Flash Snap captures fast moments automatically, plus AI Studio editing, AI Auto Zoom and AI Art Gallery.

There is no telephoto lens, which is the main difference from the Camon 50 Pro. The microphones have improved, but an external mic still helps for vlogging.

Power comes from a 6500mAh cell that charges at up to 45W, and Tecno includes the matching charger in the box. Bypass charging is supported for gaming, but wireless charging is not. Despite the large battery, the phone is thin and light at about 175 grams.

Real-world battery life was weaker than the capacity suggests in one week of testing: only 7 to 8 hours of screen-on use, with 144Hz and high brightness mode switched on. Battery life may improve once the phone learns your usage over the first couple of weeks.

Tecno says the battery is built to stay durable for five years.

The phone runs Android 16 with HiOS 16. Tecno promises 3 years of Android updates and 5 years of security updates, though updates on Tecno phones often arrive late.

HiOS 16 is packed with features:

• The Ella AI assistant, opened by the side One Tap button, can summarise web pages, solve maths problems from a photo, and offers dialogue translation with built-in Urdu support.
• Mind Hub remembers screenshots and photos so you can search them later by text or content.
• AI writing, call assistant, recording summaries, AI subtitles and AI health tools.
• Call recording without an announcement, an IR blaster, and Free Link Bluetooth calling between Tecno, Infinix and Itel phones without a signal.

Downsides: preinstalled bloatware appears out of the box (it can be deleted), and app opening and closing animations are missing.