This is an honest user review of Tecno Camon 19 Neo, which is one of the most value-for-money smartphones available in Pakistan. However, the smartphone is an entry-level to mid-range device and it does have a lot of cons, which can be ignored considering the low price tag.
In this user review of the Tecno Camon 19 Neo, we are going to discuss all the pros and cons of the smartphone with a final verdict about whether it is worth buying in the given price range. As there are limited options with reasonable specification available in the Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 price range, Tecno Camon 19 Neo stands out with its 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.
Tecno Camon 19 Neo Price in Pakistan
The price of the Tecno Camon 19 Neo in Pakistan is Rs. 45,000, but you can find the device for as low as Rs. 43,000 in main markets like Karachi’s Saddar or Lahore’s Hafeez Center, which makes the phone’s specifications stand out compared to competition.
Tecno Camon 19 Neo User Review
Here is the user review for the Tecno Camon 19 Neo and it is divided into sections to make your final decision regarding purchase of the smartphone easier.
Performance
The smartphone comes with a MediaTek G85 SoC, which isn’t the most powerful or power efficient processor on the market. However, it is acceptable in the given price range considering what some other brands are providing in their smartphones. The chipset is based on the 12nm manufacturing process, which is behind some other mid-range devices like Realme 9i with the Snapdragon 680 with a 6nm fabrication process.
Overall, there were no complaints about the phone’s performance and the Tecno Camon 19 Neo was able to handle everyday tasks with ease and without any type of lag or stutters. These everyday tasks included Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Messenger with some occasional YouTube, Netflix and some gaming, including PUBG Mobile.
Display
Tecno Camon 19 Neo comes equipped with a 6.8-inch huge IPS display that runs at 1080p resolution with a refresh rate of 60Hz and while it does seem like the phone should have provided at least a 90Hz display in the given price range, it should be mentioned that Camon 19 Neo originally cost much lower than its current price, which is the result of extremely high inflation and currency devaluation.
The smartphone was never meant to boast a 90Hz display as it was launched an entry to mid-level device with a friendly budget. Regardless, the 1080p IPS display panel provides super sharp images and colors, which is a point in favor of the smartphone.
Furthermore, Tecno Camon 19 Neo’s display isn’t just 1080p on paper but the smartphone is also Widevine L1 certified, which means you can enjoy 1080p video streaming on Netflix and some other apps that require this specification certification for FHD or above playback.
Tecno Camon 19 Neo’s closest competitor is the Infinix Note 12, which also has a 1080p display and costs around Rs. 10,000 more compared, however, the smartphone lacks the Widevine L1 certification and cannot play FHD videos on Netflix and many other applications.
Gaming
While the smartphone carries a MediaTek G85 SoC, which is specifically aimed at gaming, you should keep in mind that it is a budget phone and you cannot get your expectations too high. The smartphone is able to provide a fun experience when playing some light games but it seriously lacks in performance with titles like PUBG Mobile.
Camera
Tecno Camon 19 Neo advertises its 48-megapixel camera with pride, however, it is probably the worst 48-megapixel camera I’ve seen on a smartphone. Despite the extra megapixels, pictures are grainy at best and the camera lacks a Macro mode for close-up photography.
The smartphone does not advertise or mention a Macro camera in the specifications, but one can expect a dedicated Macro mode in the camera app, which can improve close-up photography to some extent. However, the Tecno Camon 19 Neo completely fails to focus on close objects properly and it ends up taking one of the most blurry pictures I’ve seen on a 48-megapixel camera.
However, we might see a fix to the problem in the future via a software update.
In comparison, I have a Realme 3, which is a 4-year-old device, that has a dedicated Macro mode without any dedicated Macro lens and it manages to take extremely sharp images as compared to the Tecno Camon 19 Neo. Lastly, the two extra cameras (2-megapixel depth and a QVGA sensor) make no sense as the main camera does most of the heavy lifting.
The camera on the smartphone is acceptable but I’ve seen better options in the same price range. You can decide for yourself by taking a look at these sample images:
Battery
One of the pros of the Tecno Camon 19 Neo is the 5,000 mAh battery that is capable of providing a screen-on-time of 9 or more hours with basic use like social media. However, this drops significantly when you add gaming to the mix, which reduces the screen on time to around 6-7 hours.
Furthermore, the battery usage graph and statistics in the settings don’t work and you have to work out your screen-on-time from the Digital Wellness App that keeps track of screen usage throughout the day and not since last full charge. However, it only requires some basic math and the process isn’t that difficult.
The camera consumes the most battery, especially when recording a video with the flash turned on. Based on my testing, the Tecno Camon 19 Neo was able to record a 1 hour 55 minutes video with the flash on a full charge (100%), which is very low considering the smartphone has a 5,000 mAh battery.
Again, a simple software update could improve the battery timings while using the camera.
Additionally, the battery falls just a quick while taking photos with the flash on, which is the most battery consumption I’ve seen in a long time. Therefore, if your planning on using your camera as well, you can only expect around 5-6 hours of screen-on-time.
So, you basically you barely get a day’s worth of charge if you end up using your camera a lot.
Warranty
The warranty provided by Carlcare is impressive as I did have some problems with my smartphone, which ended up being replaced by the company on the third day. Carlcare, which handles warranty for Tecno smartphones, offers a 7-day swap for new smartphones if something goes wrong.
Furthermore, you also get a free screen replacement for 1 year.
Verdict
Is Tecno Camon 19 Neo worth buying? – The answer to that question in Yes, the smartphone is worth buying and at this price point, you can barely find any other option for a new smartphone in the market.
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