The mid-budget smartphone segment continues to evolve rapidly, and the Tecno Pova Slim enters with something bold: a thickness of just 5.95mm paired with a curved 144Hz AMOLED display. While many slim phones often compromise battery or performance, Tecno attempts a balanced approach. After using the device for several days, the Tecno Pova Slim review highlights where it stands strong and where it struggles.
Box Content and First Impressions
Tecno includes a generous retail package with the smartphone. The box contains a 45W fast charger, USB Type-C cable, phone case, user manuals, and a screen protector kit. Although the protector is not pre-applied, the DIY setup is simple and well guided. The complete accessory set adds clear value and removes the need to buy essentials separately.
Design and Build Quality
The design immediately stands out due to the incredibly slim form factor and lightweight feel. The matte finish helps minimise fingerprints, and the overall look resembles a premium flagship. Tecno also includes its “Mood Light” customization feature, placed near the camera module, allowing alerts and notification lighting. The downside is the single bottom-firing speaker, which sounds balanced but lacks loudness in busy surroundings.
Display Quality
The display is one of the strongest highlights of the Tecno Pova Slim. The 6.8-inch curved AMOLED panel offers vibrant colours, deep contrast, and an impressive 144Hz refresh rate for smooth navigation. Outdoor visibility remains clear thanks to a peak brightness of 1600 nits. Tecno also includes Gorilla Glass 7i protection, adding durability without compromising slimness.
Performance Experience
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6400 5G chipset, the Tecno Pova Slim handles daily tasks smoothly. The UI feels clean with minimal bloatware, and the overall usage experience stays responsive. However, during heavy gaming, especially titles like Call of Duty, the device shows heating and frame drops. Light gaming and regular multitasking work fine, but demanding use exposes the limits of the hardware.
Battery and Charging
Despite the slim design, Tecno manages to fit a 5160mAh battery. With moderate usage, it comfortably runs a full day. Charging is efficient as well: the device reaches 43% in around 25 minutes and completes a full charge in about one hour and five minutes using the included 45W adapter.
Camera Performance
The camera app offers useful modes such as Night, Portrait, Video, and Time-Lapse. In daylight, images appear satisfactory, though fine detail is limited. The 13MP front camera performs similarly with decent selfies. Night mode boosts brightness and colour but trades off detail sharpness, which is expected at this price bracket.