In a relatively short span since the release of the Tecno Pova 5 Pro, the Tecno Pova 6 Pro arrives with a range of significant upgrades. Despite the brief interval between releases, this model promises enhancements in key areas like display, battery, charging, memory, and camera while maintaining a competitive price. The Pova 6 Pro starts with 256GB of storage by default, an upgrade from the 128GB base configuration of its predecessor.

The Pova 6 Pro’s enhancements over the Pova 5 Pro include a 120Hz OLED panel, a 108MP main camera, and an increased battery capacity of 6000 mAh. These improvements, combined with a similar price point, make the Pova 6 Pro an attractive upgrade.

Inside the box

Tecno provides a comprehensive retail package with the Pova 6 Pro. Along with the usual user manuals, charger, and cable, buyers receive a pair of wired headphones and a transparent silicone case for added protection. This generous inclusion is a pleasant surprise and adds value to the purchase.

Design and Handling

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro retains the “Mecha design language” seen in its predecessor but introduces some refinements. The back features redesigned ornaments and a revamped camera island. The LED strips, though shorter, are more refined and include an LED ring around one auxiliary camera sensor. These LEDs serve various functions such as notifications, calls, music, charging, and gaming.

Available in Comet Green or Meteorite Grey, the Pova 6 Pro sports an industrial look with 3D-like elements beneath its transparent plastic back. The plastic build is expected at this price point, yet the phone feels premium in hand, albeit a bit slippery with somewhat sharp edges and corners. It’s lightweight at just under 200 grams, which is impressive for a 6.78-inch device.

Button placement is ergonomic, but the fingerprint reader’s position near the bottom edge of the screen is less than ideal, making it difficult to reach. However, the reader is fast and responsive. The Pova 6 Pro’s IP53 certification against dust and splashes is a welcome addition.

Camera

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro aims to deliver a robust photography experience with its upgraded camera system. Here’s its camera capabilities:

Wide (Main) Camera: 108 MP Samsung ISOCELL HM2, f/1.9, 24mm, 1/1.52″, 0.7µm, PDAF

Depth Sensors: 2 MP; 0.08 MP (auxiliary lens)

Front Camera: 32 MP Galaxycore QC32E1, f/2.2, 22mm, 1/3.1″, 0.7µm

The highlight of the Tecno Pova 6 Pro’s camera system is its 108 MP main sensor, a significant upgrade from the 50 MP shooter on the Pova 5 Pro. The Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor is known for its large 1/1.52″ size and 0.7µm pixels, which allow it to capture more light and detail.

In good lighting conditions, the 108 MP camera captures impressive detail and sharpness. Colors are vibrant without being oversaturated, and the dynamic range is commendable, balancing highlights and shadows effectively. The PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) ensures quick and accurate focusing, which is essential for capturing sharp images of moving subjects.

In low-light scenarios, the Pova 6 Pro performs admirably, thanks to the large sensor and pixel-binning technology, which combines multiple pixels into one to enhance light sensitivity. Night shots are clear with minimal noise, and the dedicated Night Mode further improves the exposure and detail, although it can sometimes produce slightly artificial-looking results.

The inclusion of two depth sensors (2 MP and 0.08 MP) seems redundant and primarily appears to be a numbers game. These sensors assist in creating a bokeh effect for portrait shots, which is decent but not exceptional. Edge detection is generally accurate, but it can struggle with complex backgrounds.

The 32 MP front camera is a notable improvement over the 16 MP sensor on the Pova 5 Pro. It captures high-resolution selfies with good detail and natural skin tones. The wide aperture (f/2.2) allows for decent low-light selfies, and the front camera’s HDR capability helps manage backlit conditions well. The portrait mode on the front camera produces pleasing background blur, though edge detection can sometimes be hit or miss.

Video Recording:

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro supports 1440p video recording at 30fps with the rear camera and 1200p at 30fps with the front camera. Video quality is decent, with good detail and color accuracy in well-lit conditions. However, the lack of optical image stabilization (OIS) means that videos can be shaky, especially in low light or while moving.

Additional Features of the camera

AI Enhancements: The camera app includes AI enhancements that automatically adjust settings based on the scene, improving overall image quality.

Pro Mode: For users who prefer manual control, the Pro Mode offers adjustable settings for ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus, allowing for creative freedom.

HDR: The High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode works well in high-contrast scenes, bringing out details in both shadows and highlights.

Beauty Mode: The front camera’s beauty mode offers various levels of enhancement, smoothing skin and adjusting facial features for a more polished look.

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro’s camera system is a significant improvement over its predecessor, especially with the addition of the 108 MP main sensor and the upgraded 32 MP front camera. It performs well in various lighting conditions, offering good detail, vibrant colors, and a range of features to enhance the photography experience. While the depth sensors seem unnecessary and the lack of OIS affects video stability, the overall camera performance is impressive for a device in this price range.

Battery Life

The Pova 6 Pro excels in battery life, achieving an Active Use Score of 13:26h, surpassing many competitors in its price range. Its 6,000 mAh battery and efficient Dimensity 6080 SoC contribute to this impressive endurance. The device outpaces rivals in web browsing, video playback, and phone calls but falls short in gaming runtime. For non-gamers, the Pova 6 Pro is an excellent choice for battery endurance.

Charging Speed

The Pova 6 Pro supports up to 70W fast charging with the included charger, reaching 65% in 30 minutes and a full charge in 1 hour. Despite the larger battery, it charges faster than most rivals, although slightly slower than its predecessor due to the increased capacity.

Android 14-based HiOS 14

Running on HiOS 14 based on Android 14, the Pova 6 Pro features minor updates and new features like Always-on display, updated icons, Game Space 4.0, smarter gallery search, and Dynamic Port 2.0, similar to iPhone’s Dynamic Island. An added IR port allows control of certain home appliances.

Performance

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, the Pova 6 Pro performs well within its price range, occasionally outperforming the Dimensity 8100+ and Dimensity 7020 in certain scenarios. The device maintains maximum clock speeds under heavy loads, thanks to the upgraded SuperCooled System 1.0, ensuring no thermal throttling.

Big 120Hz OLED Panel

The Pova 6 Pro features a 6.78-inch OLED panel with a 1080 x 2346px resolution, a notable upgrade from the LCD panel of its predecessor. This OLED display runs at 120Hz, offering a smoother and more vibrant visual experience. Although HDR support is absent, the device supports high-quality streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video due to Widevine L1 compliance. The panel uses high-frequency PWM dimming at 2,160Hz, reducing eye strain for sensitive users.

In terms of brightness, the display reaches 565 nits in manual mode and 1070 nits in auto mode under strong ambient light. To achieve maximum brightness, the High-brightness mode must be enabled in display settings.

Refresh Rate

The display offers four refresh rate modes: 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and Auto switch. The Auto switch mode conserves power by reducing the refresh rate to 60Hz when idle and boosting it to 120Hz upon interaction. All tested apps support 120Hz, including YouTube. During video playback, the refresh rate drops to 60Hz to save power.

The Tecno Pova 6 Pro is a compelling upgrade over its predecessor, offering significant improvements in display, camera, battery, and overall performance while maintaining a competitive price. Its robust feature set, combined with excellent battery life and fast charging, makes it a strong contender in the mid-range market.

Key Specifications:

Body: 165.5 x 76.1 x 7.9mm, 198g; glass front, plastic back and frame; IP53 dust and splash resistant.

Display: 6.78″ AMOLED, 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak), 1080x2436px resolution, 20.3:9 aspect ratio, 393ppi.

Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 6080 (6 nm): Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G57 MC2.

Memory: 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM; microSDXC (dedicated slot).

OS/Software: Android 14, HIOS 14.

Rear Camera: Wide (main): 108 MP, 0.7µm, PDAF; Depth: 2 MP; Depth: 0.08 MP (auxiliary lens).

Front Camera: 32 MP (wide).

Video Capture: Rear camera: 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1200p@30fps.

Battery: 6000mAh; 70W wired, 50% in 20 min, 100% in 50 min (advertised), 10W reverse wired.

Connectivity: 5G; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 5; BT 5.3; NFC; FM radio; Infrared port; 3.5mm jack.