A cute superhero

Superheroes are often bulky, muscular beings with super powers that save the world, and occasionally to win a lady’s love. They are larger-than-life aspirations for kids. In the world of smart phones, flagship devices do pretty much the same thing: provide industry-first features that were a fantasy, a few years back. From in-display fingerprint scanners to low-light cameras, flagships have introduced us to a lot of innovative features -- we had to pay a hefty price to experience them. Then there are clever brands that are able to offer the same features at one-third the price. Tecno is one of them, and their latest number, to no surprise, is named after a superhero.

With features such as AI triple camera, dual flashlight and in-display fingerprint scanning, Phantom 9 ticks all the boxes for flagship features at not-so-flagship prices. The back camera comes in a 16 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP configuration for the primary camera, ultra-wide-angle and a depth sensor respectively. Together, they provide good landscapes and low-light portrait images. The AI kicks in to identify and beautify sheen parts of the face such as forehead and lips, elongates eyes tastefully, and identifies 18 facial points in real-time to optimize images. If you choose, you can smoothen and thin your face, and remove freckles and blemishes. The front camera is 32 MP with pixel binning (4 pixels combined into one big pixel for sharper images) and a Video Beauty feature for optimized picture quality during WhatsApp video calls. Tecno, over the years, has used the dual front flashlight feature to brighten your face for video calls and the Phantom 9 continues this tradition with new enhancements.

The 6.4inches Full HD AMOLED display comes with a dot notch, juiced up by a 3500 mAh battery, with a fingerprint sensor hidden under the screen. It is responsive and fast, thanks also to the Helio P 35 processor under the hood. Design-wise, the aurora-themes back is pleasant and stylish, and hand feel is solid. The back camera module is tastefully placed, in sync with the rest of the design elements. With the Phantom 9, Tecno initiates its partnership with Flipkart and promises to launch more products and accessories in the day to come. For now, the device, available in a 6 GB + 128 GB configuration, with a bunch of interesting features is priced at Rs 14,999, making it the most affordable device with the in-display fingerprint at this price bracket.