Tecno has launched the Camon 30 5G in the sub-Rs 25,000 price bracket with some compelling specifications. It features a smooth 120Hz AMOLED display on the front and a 50MP primary rear camera. Marketed as a smartphone designed to resemble a camera with impressive capabilities, this phone begs the question: is it merely a camera phone, or does it offer more? Let’s find out in my review.
Tecno Camon 30 5G
Rs 22,999
What Is Good?
- Smooth AMOLED display
- Aesthetic design, good build quality
- Good daylight camera performance
- Selfie camera captures detailed photos
- Notification indicator at the back is helpful
- Good battery life
- Charging indicator on the adapter is a nice touch
What Is Bad?
- Performance is not ideal for gamers
- Bloatware apps
- Brightness under direct sunlight is low
- Average speakers
- No ultra-wide angle camera
Tecno Camon 30 5G Review: Pricing and Availability in India
The Tecno Camon 30 5G is available in two different variants on Amazon with multiple bank offers and cashback also available.
| Variants | Pricing |
| 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs 22,999 |
| 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage | Rs.26,999 |
Tecno Camon 30 5G Review: Design and Build Quality
The Tecno Camon 30 5G flaunts a sleek design and comes in two colourways: Uyuni Salt White and Iceland Basaltic Black. I got my hands on the latter, which looks stunning. The richness and subtlety in this black shade is very attractive to the eye. However, if you prefer lighter shades, then the Salt White might suit you more.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 202 grams |
| Thickness | 7.83mm |
| IP Rating | IP53 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Speaker grille, Primary Microphone, USB Type-C
Top: Secondary microphone, secondary speaker grille Right Side: Power button and volume buttons |
Tecno Camon 30 5G boasts a wavy texture design reminiscent of raindrops cascading down a car window. As for its build quality, it’s quite up to the mark. I dropped the phone thrice from my waist height, and the phone survived it with no casualties. In terms of comfort, it’s reasonably ergonomic to hold and can be used without a case for some time. Extended use might result in discomfort and leave those pesky lines on your hand.
Next to the camera module, there’s a red LED indicator at the back of the phone, reminiscent of the LED notification light found in older phones. The red light flashes when notifications come in or when recording videos. This feature can be handy for those who prefer to keep their phone silent but still want to be alerted by the LED light when the phone is face down.
The matte glass back of the phone is remarkably smooth. I even used it while eating, and it didn’t attract any smudges, which is a big plus. Although not entirely matte, a rectangular patch on the top right has a glossy finish. This resembles a retro camera from the back, when held horizontally. The Camon 30 is stylish in terms of design, and if you’re a fan of stylish phones, this one won’t disappoint.
Tecno Camon 30 5G Review: Display and Audio
The Camon 30 features a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which provided a very smooth scrolling experience throughout my usage. According to Tecno, the Camon 30 has a peak brightness of 1300 nits. The phone could only achieve 571 nits of peak brightness in our test with a lux metre. The display is bright indoors, but sadly, it is slightly dim outdoors under glaring sunlight.
| Display | Specifications |
| Size | 6.78-inch |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080×2436 Pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 1300 nits, Tested: 571 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 05 nits |
I watched 4K videos on this phone, and the quality is excellent. I also binge-watched a couple of videos on YouTube and watched Friends on Netflix. In terms of display, this phone is very smooth and offers high-quality videos. However, while Netflix supports Widevine L1 certification, it does not provide HDR capabilities, despite the display supporting it.
This phone has support for Dolby Atmos, but the overall experience is average. The stereo speaker setup produces acceptable at 100 per cent volume, but they feel inadequate at 70% volume.
The Camon 30 incorporates an in-display fingerprint sensor. When I registered my fingerprint, the phone guided me through the process. It recommended placing my finger on the sensor using a red LED light. This guidance feature can benefit senior citizens who want to register their fingerprints accurately.
Tecno Camon 30 5G Review: Performance and Software
The Tecno Camon 30 5G runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 SoC and offers up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The same chipset is in the Motorola G54 and the Infinix Note 40 Pro 5G.
This phone easily handles everyday tasks like calling, texting, browsing, scrolling through social media, and casual gaming. If you’re after a smartphone primarily for daily use, this device is a solid choice.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7020 |
| RAM | Up to 12GB |
| Storage | Up to 512GB |
| Storage Test | 503602 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 79 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | HiOS 14 based on Android 14 |
| Connectivity Details | Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1 |
I tested it with casual titles like Subway Surfers. The phone maintained a steady 60fps, with negligible drops to 58fps. However, after playing five games, the back panel started to warm up noticeably, reaching 36.8°C in an air-conditioned room.
Moving on to heavier games like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile, the Camon 30 didn’t perform as impressively. While playing the former with HD graphics and High frame rate settings, the phone delivered consistent results at 30fps, with occasional stutters and lags. The Smooth and Ultra settings improved the frame rate to 40fps, but the heating issue persisted, reaching 39°C after two games.
Call of Duty: Mobile fared slightly better, running at High and Max settings with a consistent 60fps. Despite the smoother gameplay, the phone’s temperature remained high, indicating potential discomfort during extended gaming sessions.
The phone runs on HiOS 14, based on Android 14. I had plenty of customisation options at my disposal. However, the phone does come with some pre-installed apps or bloatware, though it’s not overwhelming. Apps like Facebook and Snapchat are included but can be easily uninstalled if not needed. The Camon 30 will get three years of OS updates as well as security updates.
Tecno Camon 30 5G Review: Cameras
The “Cam” in the “Camon” stands for “Camera,” and I have to say, the cameras on this device are truly impressive. The Camon 30 features a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS and a 2-megapixel secondary camera for depth sensing. The primary camera excels at capturing stunning daylight shots with accurate colour reproduction.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel with OIS |
| Secondary Camera | 2-megapixel depth camera |
| Selfie Camera | 50-megapixel, f/2.45 |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 2K at 30fps |
During a Jungle Safari in Jim Corbett, my colleague, Yash, tested the Camon 30’s camera. It flawlessly captured the greens and browns of the jungle scenery, however, the phone takes a second or two to process the image, but the results are consistent. The pictures don’t look grainy when taken from afar, so that’s a plus for people who love to capture scenic beauty. However, the absence of the ultra-wide angle camera at this price range is a bummer.
On the front, a 50-megapixel selfie camera delivers precise skin tones. This phone captures even the smallest pores on my face in selfies, which is good if you are looking for accuracy, good details and don’t want artificial-looking skin. Different filters are also available for selfies, producing social-media-ready pictures. However, portrait selfies don’t differ much from regular ones, as the background blur isn’t pronounced by default.
When experimenting with portrait mode, I noticed that sometimes the background blur is too aggressive during processing, obscuring the surroundings and producing an unnatural depth of field. However, the intensity of the blur effect can be adjusted through settings. The edge detection in portrait mode isn’t always accurate.
I found the results acceptable for low-light photography. While not exceptional, the phone manages to capture relatively clear images with minimal noise in dimly-lit conditions. However, in extremely low lighting, the colour accuracy tends to suffer.
Tecno Camon 30 5G Review: Battery and Charging
The Camon 30 packs a 5000mAh battery capacity and includes a 70W fast charger in the box. However, it’s worth noting that the lower variant gets a 33W charger in the box. When I connected the phone to the charger, a cute green light on the adapter flickered, indicating it was connected. This feature was handy, as I often forget to turn the switch on.
Within 30 minutes, the phone charged from zero to 54 per cent, and it took an hour to reach full charge. Hence, if you’re rushing out the door, this phone’s fast charging capability won’t disappoint you. In the PCMark Battery Test, the phone lasted 10 hours and 1 minute, which is not remarkable, but still sufficient. In comparison, the Realme P1 in the same price segment lasted for 13 hours and 29 minutes which is more reliable.
I used the phone extensively, and the battery level went from 83 per cent to 21 per cent in almost six hours. My usage included heavy tasks such as gaming, scrolling through Instagram reels, watching YouTube videos, and binge-watching Netflix series. However, for users with lighter usage, this phone should last more.
Tecno Camon 30 5G Review: Verdict
The Tecno Camon 30 5G boasts excellent cameras, a smooth AMOLED display, and respectable battery life. However, its performance, driven by the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 SoC, falls short of expectations on the gaming front, but for everyday life usage and multi-tasking, this phone is more than sufficient.
On the downside, the software comes with pre-installed apps, and the phone’s brightness could have been significantly better for outdoor use. In the same price range, contenders like the Moto Edge 40 Neo and the Realme 12 Pro offer stiff competition to the Camon 30.
That said, when considering your options, if you seek a smartphone that excels in everyday tasks, offers good camera capabilities, and delivers decent battery life, then the Tecno Camon 30 5G is an ideal choice.
