Tecno’s Camon 30 Premier is positioned as a feature-rich smartphone that offers high-end specifications at a mid-range price. Introduced as a cameraphone, its primary selling point is its advanced camera system. The device features a potent triple 50MP camera setup on the back, including a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP main camera. The front of the device houses a 50MP selfie camera with autofocus, a rare feature that enhances its appeal.
The Camon 30 Premier is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset, an octa-core processor with a Mali-G610 MC6 GPU. This hardware configuration is supported by 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, ensuring smooth performance and ample space for apps, media, and other data. The device also features a 6.77-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 1264×2780 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Camon 30 Premier combines practicality with aesthetics. The device features a Gorilla Glass 5 front, an aluminum frame, and a back with a silicone polymer finish, giving it a premium appearance. The phone is generally available in two colors: Alps Snowy Silver and Hawaii Lava Black. The eco-leather back panel provides a soft-touch texture, though reports indicate that it can be somewhat slippery. The phone has an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, offering some protection against the elements.
We were fortunate enough to get a chance to check out the LOEWE. Design Edition which features a green gradient effect inspired by by the life cycle of natural leaves. It’s a considerably cooler looking aesthetic than what most phones have and begs to not be hidden behind a case.
Diving a bit deeper, the LOEWE. Design Edition features an industry-first back cover made from waste coffee grounds, achieving USDA Bio-based certification with over 25% bio-based material. It celebrates sustainability and craftsmanship and still manages to maintain a durable build.
Despite its 210g weight, the Camon 30 Premier is comfortable to hold and use, thanks to its well-balanced design. The buttons are conveniently placed, with the volume keys on the left and the power button on the right. The under-display fingerprint reader, while accurate and responsive, is positioned a bit too close to the bottom edge, which might be slightly inconvenient for some users.
Display
The Camon 30 Premier’s display is one of its highlights, and pairs nicely with the camera. The 6.77-inch LTPO AMOLED panel provides a high resolution of 1264×2780 pixels, resulting in sharp and vibrant visuals. The display supports HDR and provides a rather high level of brightness.
The phone offers four refresh rate modes: 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and Auto-switch. The LTPO technology allows for granular control over the refresh rate, enhancing battery efficiency by adjusting the rate based on the content being displayed. This means that static images are shown at a lower refresh rate to conserve battery, while dynamic content like videos and games benefit from higher refresh rates.
Performance
The Tecno Camon 30 Premier is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset, a robust processor designed to handle a variety of tasks with ease. This chipset is paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, ensuring ample space and smooth multitasking capabilities.
The MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset is built on a 4nm process and features an octa-core CPU. The CPU configuration includes one Cortex-A78 core clocked at 3.1 GHz, three Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 3.0 GHz, and four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz. This combination provides a balance between high performance and energy efficiency, allowing the device to handle demanding applications and multitasking scenarios effectively.
The Mali-G610 MC6 GPU complements the CPU, delivering excellent graphics performance. This GPU ensures smooth gameplay and responsive graphics in visually intensive applications. It is capable of handling high frame rates, which is particularly beneficial for gaming enthusiasts.
The Camon 30 Premier comes with 12GB of RAM, which provides ample memory for multitasking. Users can switch between multiple apps seamlessly without experiencing lag. The 512GB of internal storage ensures that there is plenty of space for apps, photos, videos, and other data. The storage speed, from what I can glean, is either a fast UFS 2.2 or UFS 3.1; Tecno has not disclosed the exact specifications. Either way, this configuration leads to quick access to data and fast read/write speeds.
In everyday use, the Camon 30 Premier offers a smooth and responsive experience. The device handles daily tasks such as web browsing, social media, and video streaming with ease. The UI is fluid, with no noticeable lag or stuttering. The 120Hz refresh rate of the display enhances the entire experience, providing smooth scrolling and a more responsive touch interface.
The gaming performance of the Camon 30 Premier is impressive. The Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset, combined with the Mali-G610 MC6 GPU, ensures that games run smoothly even at high settings. The device supports high frame rate gaming, and games load quickly thanks to the fast storage. The Game Mode feature in HiOS 14 optimizes system resources to enhance gaming performance, reducing latency and minimizing distractions during gameplay.
The 5,000mAh battery, combined with the energy-efficient Dimensity 8200 chipset, provides excellent battery life. The LTPO OLED display also contributes to power savings by adjusting the refresh rate dynamically based on the content displayed. This efficiency means it can handle intensive tasks without draining the battery quickly, ultimately providing for a balanced performance: battery ratio.
Camera
The Tecno Camon 30 Premier is designed with a strong focus on camera performance. It features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear and a high-resolution front camera, making it an ideal choice for photography enthusiasts.
The rear camera system comprises three 50MP sensors: a main wide-angle camera, a periscope telephoto camera, and an ultrawide-angle camera.
Main Camera
The main camera uses a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor with a 1/1.56-inch size, 1.0µm pixel size, and an f/1.9 aperture. This setup allows for excellent light capture, producing detailed and vibrant images. This camera includes Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which help in achieving sharp and stable shots, especially in low light and during handheld shooting.
Periscope Telephoto Camera
This camera also features a 50MP sensor but with a smaller 1/2.76-inch size and 0.64µm pixel size. It has an f/2.2 aperture and provides 3x optical zoom. The periscope design allows for higher optical zoom without increasing the phone’s thickness. PDAF and OIS are also present, ensuring clear and focused zoomed-in shots.
Ultrawide Camera
The ultrawide camera uses a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor, similar to the periscope telephoto camera, with a 1/2.76-inch size and 0.64µm pixel size. It has an f/2.2 aperture and a 114-degree field of view. The ultrawide lens is great for capturing expansive landscapes and group photos. It also supports autofocus, a rare feature in ultrawide cameras, allowing for close-up shots and macro photography.
Front Camera
The front camera boasts a 50MP Hynix Hi5022Q sensor and it has a 1/2.8-inch size, 0.64µm pixel size, and an f/2.5 aperture. The inclusion of autofocus on the front camera is a notable advantage, making for sharp and detailed selfies. The front camera can record 4K videos at 30fps, providing high-quality video for vlogs and video calls.
Daylight Performance
- The main camera captures detailed and vibrant images with a wide dynamic range. Colors are rendered accurately, and the images retain sharpness across the frame.
- The periscope telephoto camera produces clear and sharp zoomed-in shots with minimal loss of detail. The 3x optical zoom allows for close-ups without compromising image quality.
- The ultrawide camera delivers excellent performance with sharp and detailed images, though with a slightly narrower dynamic range compared to the main camera. The autofocus capability enhances its versatility, enabling macro shots.
Low-Light Performance
- The main camera excels in low-light conditions, thanks to its large sensor and OIS. Night mode enhances the dynamic range and light capture, producing bright and detailed images with minimal noise.
- The periscope telephoto camera also performs well in low light, with the Night mode helping to maintain detail and reduce noise in zoomed-in shots.
- The ultrawide camera, while not as strong as the main camera in low light, still produces respectable results. Night mode helps improve brightness and detail, though some noise and softness may be present.
The camera software in HiOS 14 offers a range of features to enhance the photography experience:
- AI Scene Recognition: Automatically detects the scene and adjusts settings for optimal results.
- Pro Mode: Provides manual control over settings like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance, allowing for more creative freedom.
- Super Night Mode: Enhances low-light photography by improving brightness, detail, and dynamic range.
- HDR: Captures multiple exposures to create images with a balanced dynamic range.
- Panorama, Time-Lapse, and Slow-Motion: Various modes for creative photography and videography.
Battery and Charging
The Camon 30 Premier is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which provides a solid 13+ hours of active use. The phone can easily last a full day on a single charge, even with heavy usage. The device supports 70W fast charging, which can charge the battery from 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes. This fast charging capability is especially convenient for users who are often on the go and need quick top-ups.
Audio
The audio setup on the Camon 30 Premier includes a hybrid stereo speaker system, with the bottom-firing speaker acting as the main speaker. The speakers are surprisingly loud given the price of the device. But while the audio quality is generally good, there is some distortion at higher volumes, and the bass could be more pronounced.
The Dolby Atmos tech makes things much better than you’d normally get from a phone, but at the end of the day I’d prefer to go with earbuds or a Bluetooth speaker.
Software
The Tecno Camon 30 Premier runs on HiOS 14, a custom Android overlay based on Android 14. HiOS 14 offers a user-friendly interface with a variety of features designed to enhance the overall user experience.
The layout is straightforward, with easily accessible menus and settings. The home screen can be customized with widgets, app icons, and wallpapers to suit personal preferences. The notification shade and quick settings panel are well-organized, allowing quick access to essential functions like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and screen brightness.
The system is optimized for smooth performance, leveraging the power of the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset. The interface is responsive, with minimal lag when switching between apps or navigating through menus. HiOS 14 also includes several features to enhance usability:
- Dynamic Port 2.0: Tecno’s version of Apple’s Dynamic Island provides contextual information and quick access to certain system apps, improving multitasking and productivity.
- Game Mode: Enhances gaming performance by optimizing system resources and minimizing distractions during gameplay.
- Smart Panel: Offers quick access to frequently used apps and tools, which can be customized to fit the user’s needs.
- Smart Scanner: Utilizes the phone’s camera for QR code scanning, document scanning, and even translating text in real-time.
HiOS 14 allows extensive customization options. Users can change themes, icon styles, and fonts to personalize their device. The built-in Theme Store offers a wide range of themes and wallpapers to choose from, catering to different tastes and preferences.
HiOS 14 places a strong emphasis on security and privacy. The under-display fingerprint reader ensures secure and quick unlocking of the device. Additionally, the system includes features such as:
- App Lock: Allows users to lock specific apps with a password or fingerprint, adding an extra layer of security.
- Privacy Space: Creates a separate, secure space for sensitive apps and files, accessible only with a password or fingerprint.
- Data Protection: Ensures that user data is encrypted and secure, protecting it from unauthorized access.
Tecno has committed to providing two major software updates and three years of security patches for the Camon 30 Premier. This ensures that the device will receive the latest features and security improvements, keeping it up-to-date and secure over its lifespan.
Value and Competition
The Camon 30 Premier offers excellent value for money.* It competes well with other devices in its range, such as the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy S23 FE. Compared to these models, the Camon 30 Premier offers better hardware performance, faster charging, and superior camera capabilities.
It’s worth noting here that the actual price of this device varies based on market availability. It’s part of a series of phones in the Camon 30 family with each model varying from the next. Historically, Tecno phones come in less expensive than most counterparts.
Verdict
The Tecno Camon 30 Premier stands out in the mid-range segment with its exceptional camera capabilities, robust performance, and elegant design. Its triple-camera setup, featuring advanced 50MP sensors, offers versatility and impressive quality across various shooting conditions, from detailed daylight shots to crisp low-light photography. The high-resolution front camera with autofocus enhances the selfie experience, making it a top choice for photography enthusiasts.
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset and paired with 12GB of RAM, the Camon 30 Premier delivers smooth and efficient performance for gaming, multitasking, and daily use. The 6.77-inch LTPO AMOLED display provides vibrant visuals and a dynamic refresh rate, enhancing both visual appeal and battery efficiency.
The innovative design, highlighted by an eco-conscious back cover made from waste coffee grounds, reflects Tecno’s commitment to sustainability without compromising on style. The device’s fast charging capability, solid battery life, and robust build quality make it a reliable companion for both work and play.
Though not readily available in all global markets, the Tecno Camon 30 Premier is a compelling choice in regions where it is sold. It combines cutting-edge technology, thoughtful design, and impressive camera performance at a competitive price, making it a standout option for those seeking a feature-rich smartphone that doesn’t break the bank.
