The Tecno Pop 9, released on October 8, 2024, is a well-rounded budget smartphone offering impressive features that cater to a wide audience. Announced in late September, this new addition to Tecno’s Pop series brings affordability and functionality with modern technology, including 5G support, making it an excellent choice for those looking to enter the next generation of mobile connectivity without breaking the bank.
Design and Build
The Tecno Pop 9 boasts a sleek and lightweight design, measuring 165 x 77 x 8 mm and weighing 189 grams. Its build consists of a glass front, with a plastic back and frame, ensuring durability while maintaining an affordable price. The phone comes with IP54 dust and splash resistance, which offers some protection against the elements, though it’s not fully waterproof.
Display
The 6.6-inch IPS LCD display provides a clear and vibrant visual experience, with an 82.4% screen-to-body ratio, making it ideal for media consumption. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid performance, which is especially beneficial for gaming and watching high-motion content. The display resolution is 720 x 1612 pixels, offering decent clarity at 267 ppi. While this isn’t Full HD, it provides an adequate viewing experience for everyday tasks and streaming.
Under the hood, the Tecno Pop 9 is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 chipset, a 6nm processor that brings solid performance to this budget device. The octa-core CPU (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G57 MC2 GPU handle multitasking, light gaming, and app usage with ease. The device runs Android 14, ensuring the latest software enhancements and security updates.
In terms of memory, the Tecno Pop 9 comes in two variants: 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, both with 4GB of RAM. It also has a microSDXC card slot, allowing users to expand the storage for additional apps, photos, and media.
Camera Capabilities
The Tecno Pop 9’s camera setup is commendable for its price. The rear camera features a 48 MP main sensor with autofocus, which allows for detailed and vibrant photos. The dual-LED flash and HDR support enhance low-light photography. The camera can shoot videos at 1080p@30fps, delivering decent video quality for social media or personal use. On the front, there’s an 8 MP selfie camera with its dual-LED flash, ensuring bright and clear selfies even in dim environments.
Battery and Additional Features
The Tecno Pop 9 comes with a large 5000 mAh battery, ensuring all-day use on a single charge. It supports 18W fast charging, which is a valuable feature at this price point, allowing users to recharge quickly when needed.
For connectivity, the phone supports 5G networks, ensuring fast download speeds and low latency. Other features include dual speakers for a more immersive audio experience, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, and USB Type-C for charging and data transfer. The phone also retains the popular 3.5mm headphone jack and features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for added security.
Conclusion
Available in Aurora Cloud, Azure Sky, and Midnight Shadow, the Tecno Pop 9 is a budget smartphone that packs a punch with its 5G capabilities, modern design, and solid camera performance. It’s an ideal choice for those looking for an affordable, feature-rich phone.
