TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra 5G Unboxing and First Impressions

We've gotten our hands on the new TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, a sub-Php 20K phone that promises incredible image quality and overall value. Let's dive into its features.

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra

The TECNO CAMON series is designed for imaging-focused smartphones that offer value for money.

The new CAMON 50 Ultra 5G features the 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate, 8GB/12GB RAM, 8GB/12GB Extended RAM, 256GB/512GB internal storage, and a 6,500mAh battery with 45W fast charge.

Its key selling points are the cameras, which are the 50MP f/1.8 main camera with a Sony LYTIA 700C sensor, a 50MP f/2.4 3x telephoto camera, and an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a flicker sensor and LED flash.

Other features include stereo speakers, an IR blaster, IP66 + IP68 + IP69 + IP69K dust and water resistance, 4G LTE, 5G, WiFi, and Bluetooth.

Currently, there is no word yet on pricing and availability internationally or the Philippine Market. We will have to wait for local pricing.

Let's dive in.

Unboxing/Accessories

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra box

Like previous CAMON phones, the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra 5G's box is made of a white box with a metallic blue color way. Around the box are branding, key features, and certifications.

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra box inclusions

Inside the box are the documentation, the warranty card, the SIM ejector tool, the screen protector, the 45W wall charger, the USB Type-A to Type-C cable, the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra 5G, and the leather-like case.

There are no earphones included in the box.

Build Quality/Design

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra's rear design

At first glance, the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra looks like a premium mid-ranger. The fit and finish of the metal frame, the metal camera module, and the glass front and rear panel make it a cut above the phones in its expected price point. It is 7.75mm thin and weighs 181 grams.

Both the rear and front curved glass panels are Corning Gorilla Glass protected.

It is IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance rated. The brand even advertises that it offers maximum water resistance. An IP69K rating means it can withstand high temperature and high-pressure water jets.

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra's screen

In front is the 6.78-inch curved AMOLED screen with a 2,644 x 1,208 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. Around the panel are the uniform slim bezels, and on the upper part of the screen is the punch hole that houses the selfie camera.

On the upper bezel is the super slim earpiece.

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra's top and bottom sides

On the top side of the metal frame are the IR blaster, microphone port, the Dolby Atmos branding, and one of the phone's speaker grills

While on the bottom side are the second set of speaker grills, USB-C port, microphone port, and the SIM tray.

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra's SIM tray

The SIM tray can carry up to 2 Nano SIM cards and it has red rubber gasket for the phone's dust and water resistance.

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra's left and right sides

On the left side of the CAMON 50 Ultra 5G is the metal customizable One-Tap button. Currently, the phone asks you to map it upon initial installation and set-up of the phone. It also has a unique spiral-like texture that makes it unique to the other hardware buttons.

On the right are the metal volume rocker and the metal power key. All buttons have a satisfying resistance when pressed.

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra's rear cameras

The back features are a metal vertical pill-shaped camera module that houses the main camera, 3x telephoto, and the flicker sensor. Beside it are the ultra-wide camera and the LED flash.

It is made of a 50MP f/1.8 main camera with the 1/1.56-inch Sony LYTIA 700C sensor, a 50MP f/2.4 3x telephoto camera, and an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a Flicker sensor and an LED flash. While in front is the 50MP f/2.4 Selfie Camera.

The Stock camera app comes with the following modes: AI CAM, video, AI Art Gallery, FlashSnap, Portrait, Super Night, Sky Shop, Pro, Long Exposure, Panorama, Documents, Time-lapse, Dual Video, Vlog, AIGC Portrait, Super Macro, Aqua Mode, Ultra HD, and Slow Motion. Users also have access to Live Photos.

Aqua Mode allows the phone to be used to take photos even underwater.  In fact, it can be turned on manually or automatically. If the phone detects water entry, it will prompt the user to turn it on via the Volume down. Once in the mode, a single click with the volume button takes a photo, and a long press switches between the rear-facing and front-facing camera. While single-clicking the volume down button starts and ends video recording. The power button turns the screen off and on. Long-pressing the power button for 3 seconds releases the sonic water ejecting mode.

It is a feature-packed camera app. In fact, the camera app allows zooming optically up to 20x and up to 100x Smooth Zoom using its AI Tele Zoom.

The phone also comes with several AI features that improve and make photos more fun, such as 3D Photos, where it analyzes the phone and dimensionality to the phone that give a 3D effect. It also has AI Studio, which allows users to take advantage of multiple image editing features, such as AI Light Master 2.0 and an AI Remover.

Other AI features include the AI Image-to-Video Generator, AI Art Gallery, Health Indicator, Flash Memo + Mind Hub, Health Indicator Measurement, Dust & Water Clean using Ella, Oral Practice Partner, Oral Practice Partner, Alarm Announcement, and Voice Find Phone.

Voice Find Phone allows users to wake up Ella by saying, 'Where are you?'

Some of the more practical AI features include AI Problem Solving (guides the student/parent on how to solve problems instead of direct answers), AI YouTube Note (summarizes the video by using the link of the video), and Song Recognition (like Shazam).

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra Specs

Display: 6.78-inch Gorilla Glass-protected Curved AMOLED w/ 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 2160Hz PWM dimming, 1.5K 2800 x 1260 resolution at 460 ppi

CPU: 2.6Hz 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate octa-core processor, Independent Image Processor 2.0

GPU: Mali-G615 MC2

RAM: 8GB/12GB

ROM: 256GB/512GB

Back Camera: 50MP f/1.9 Sony LYT-700C w/ PDAF, OIS + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle + 50MP 3x Telephoto with 100x Super-Zoom

Selfie Camera: 50MP AF Battery: 6,500mAh w/ 70W Ultra Charge OS: Android 16 w/ HiOS 16

Connectivity: WiFi (2.4GHz/5GHz), 5G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth, 5.4, OTG, NFC, GPS, dual SIM (nano)

Sensors: Geomagnetic, A+G, ambient light + distance, electronic compass

Others: In-Display fingerprint sensor, IR Blaster, stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, IP66/68/69/69K dust and water resistance, USB-C, Colors: Misty Purple, Moonshadow Black, Luminous Orange, Nebula Titanium

Dimensions: 7.75 mm

Weight: 181 g

Price: TBC

Quick Thoughts

TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra's web surfing

As of this article's writing, the pricing and availability for the Philippines are still a mystery. But if it is priced relatively near the previous generation's pricing, then the CAMON 50 Ultra 5G could live up to the value-for-money imaging powerhouse in your pocket.

Out of the box, we loved the build quality and design of the phone. CAMON 50 Ultra 5G has curves that make it unique and look even slimmer than it is. The metal frame, metal buttons, and the metal vertical pill-shaped camera module have a polished quality to them. While the curved front and rear panel feel solid and premium, too.

The phone is also IP69K dust and water-resistant.

Let's not forget about the 4nm Dimensity 7400 Ultimate, 8GB/12GB RAM, and a 6,500mAh battery with 45W Super Charge via USB-C.

The 6.78-inch Curved AMOLED 144Hz 1.5K panel is bright and crisp, but like any curved screen, the slope from both sides makes the phone sharp and slippery to hold. Even with the curved frosted glass, the phone is still slippery and a fingerprint magnet right out of the box.

The highlight of the phone is the specs of the cameras, especially at its expected price. The 50MP main camera has a Sony LYT-700C sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP 3.5x telephoto camera with a 1/2.88-inch sensor, and a flicker sensor with an LED flash.

While the 50MP f/2.4 selfie camera has a decent field of video but, the f/2.4 aperture could be slower than we would like. 

We will need to take more photos with the camera to see how all the cameras will perform. Thankfully, we have it with us at Barcelona for MWC. Expect our dedicated camera deep dive with Barcelona Camera samples soon.

Overall, we will have to wait for the price to see if it is indeed a super value when looking at its specs and cameras.

Stay tuned until then.

What do you guys think?