A Day With Tecno Phantom V Fold 2: A Foldable That Won’t Unfold Your Wallet

Morning: Wake up, flip and hope for the best

My alarm screams mad. Half asleep, I fumble for my phone and there is the Tecno Phantom V Fold 2, which looks like something a billionaire would carry. The foldable design gives it a fancy and high-end feel, no matter how much I actually paid for it. Note that this foldable IS quite affordable.

I flip it open and the big 7.85-inch screen stretches out like high-tech paper. The colours are punchy, the details are sharp and honestly, it justifies the price tag. But when I fold it back, I hear a tiny creak. Not loud enough to make me panic but just enough to remind me that this device comes with cost-cutting tech instead of cutting-edge tech (could be an exception for our highly abused review unit that has exchanged hands too often over the months). The hinge does its job but it doesn’t have that solid, satisfying snap that pricier foldables do.

Most of my quick tasks, which include checking emails, scrolling through X, editing and pretending to be productive, happen on the 6.42-inch cover screen. It’s smooth, easy to use and doesn’t feel squished like older foldable screens. That’s a win.

But the real test begins after breakfast.

Mid-Morning: Camera tricks and getting things done

Tecno did a solid job with the cameras. The 50-megapixel main camera captures clear and detailed photos, though sometimes it sharpens them a bit too much. Pictures look bright and colorful, perfect for social media but zoom in too much and they start to look a little over-edited.

The 50-megapixel zoom lens works well for portraits and the 13-megapixel wide-angle camera is decent for landscapes. Selfies? No complaints. The 32-megapixel front camera inside the fold is good but I prefer using the one on the cover screen for quick shots.

My favourite trick? Low-angle shots. Normally, taking dramatic ground-level photos means lying flat on the pavement like a crime scene victim. With the Phantom V Fold 2, I just bend the phone, place it on the ground and snap the shot. No back pain was acquired.

Tecno went all-in on its camera features and some of them are actually pretty cool. Take the AI sky replacement, for example. I snap a picture of my dull, grey city skyline and with one tap, the AI turns it into a bright blue, tropical paradise. Just like that, it looks like I live in Miami instead of a polluted city, Delhi.

There’s also AI photo enhancement, which makes dull pictures look Instagram-ready in seconds. Sometimes, it does an amazing job. It’s hit or miss, but at least it tries and captures decent details.

The wide-angle and telephoto sensor is quite usable also. The video quality of the smartphone is above average -- it gets the job done, but overall camera quality doesn’t justify the price tag.

Now, time to see how well it handles multitasking. I fold the phone into laptop mode and split the screen between work emails and a YouTube video. On one side, I’m acting like a responsible adult. On the other hand, I’m watching “10 Ways to Get Rich Without Working,” purely for research, of course.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ processor handles everything smoothly. No freezing and no lag -- just a fast and smooth experience. It’s not the most powerful chip out there but for everyday use, it feels close to a mid-range Android smartphone.

Afternoon: Gaming, movies and a surprise win

Lunchtime means gaming. I start up BGMI and it runs well on medium to high settings. The frame rates stay steady and there’s no major lag but after about 30 minutes, the phone gets a little warm. Hardcore gamers might want something more powerful but for casual players, it’s good enough.

Then comes my favourite part of the day, watching movies. I open Netflix, pick a film and wait, what? The video doesn’t fit the screen properly. I can either watch a zoomed-in version that cuts off parts of the movie or accept black bars on the sides like it’s 2010.

Neither option is great but the screen is so sharp and colourful that I eventually stop noticing. Almost. The screen crease is there but you will get used to it.

Then I step outside, expecting the usual struggle of using a foldable in bright sunlight. But here’s the surprise -- the inner screen actually holds up well. Most foldables turn into mirrors under the sun but this one stays clear and easy to see.

Then I take a call. A few seconds in, I realise something annoying -- the call volume is too low. Indoors, it’s fine. But outside? I have to press the phone so hard against my ear, I might as well absorb the sound through sheer willpower.

Night: Battery’s still going but what about the hinge?

By bedtime, the 5000mAh battery is still holding up. It’s not a two-day battery but it easily lasts a full day with normal use. And when it does need charging, the 45W fast charger powers it up pretty quickly.

But here’s my biggest worry, which is the hinge.

Samsung has been making foldable phones for years but Tecno is still new to the game. I understand that the price of Tecno tries to provide a product at an affordable price but every fold matters.

The hinge works fine now but will it stay this smooth after six months? Or will it start feeling loose and wobbly? And if something does go wrong, how reliable is Tecno’s repair service? That’s the gamble with budget foldables.

Final thoughts: A foldable for smart buyers, not just the rich

At the time of penning down my thoughts, the Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 was selling for INR 65,000, which is a steal! It is a great deal if you want a foldable phone without spending a fortune. It’s great for photos, multitasking and everyday use. The displays are pretty, the cameras are fun and it feels premium.

Unfortunately, the regular price of the device is as much as INR 89,999. This is pricey but then, it is tough to find a new foldable phone for that much even in 2025!

That said, you can't (and shouldn't) expect Samsung-level durability, top-tier gaming or flawless software design. The hinge is a question mark (as far as our review unit was concerned), video playback has issues and the call volume could be better. It is better to keep your expectations in check!

As long as you keep your expectations low, the Phantom V Fold 2 is a fun phone to live with. Do check it out before you sign a deal on one of those rather boring iPhone 16 or Samsung Galaxy S25.