Review Summary
Expert Rating
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The Tecno POVA 7 5G has been launched in India for a starting price of Rs 14,999. For the price, Tecno is offering a 144Hz LCD, Android 15-based HiOS software, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultimate chipset, a 50MP rear camera, and a 6,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging support, all packed in a sci-fi-inspired design. While that design is intriguing and those specifications are interesting, let’s see if the assortment translates to real value.
I have been using the Tecno POVA 7 daily for a few days now and have compared it to two of the most popular phones in the sub-Rs 15,000 segment: the iQOO Z10x (review) and the OPPO K13x (review). The iQOO phone is powered by the same chip as the POVA 7, and the OPPO phone offers a similar battery capacity, along with a camera-first, design-centric approach.
Table of Contents
Short verdict
The Tecno POVA 7 offers a smooth and detailed display, reliable performance, and a sizeable 6,000mAh battery, complemented by fast 45W charging. However, the camera colours aren’t the most natural, and the software support is limited. Despite that, the phone stands out with its bold, unique design and delivers solid value in daily use, especially for its price.
Unique design and easy to hold
| Smartphone | Thickness | Weight | IP Rating |
| Tecno Pova 7 5G | 8.8 mm | 207 grams | IP64 |
| iQOO Z10x | 8.09 mm | 204 grams | IP64 |
| OPPO K13x 5G | 7.9 mm | 194 grams | IP65 |
The Tecno POVA 7 has a faux-transparent back with a rounded triangle-shaped rear camera island. There’s no major protrusion on the back, allowing the phone to lie flat on a surface with minimal wobbling. There is only one camera lens on the island, and the other two rings are there for symmetry. Surrounding these three rings is an LED strip that Tecno refers to as the Delta Light Interface. This strip lights up to alert you about notifications, calls, charging, low battery, volume changes, timers, game launches, and device startup. The interface can grab attention in public, but whether that’s a good thing depends on personal taste.
Under the see-through plastic panel, more rounded triangle patterns add to the overall symmetry. There are also printed text elements, including the Tecno logo and mentions of key features like the 50MP AI Camera, NFC, and Hi-Density 6,000mAh battery.
This cyber-futuristic design, featuring an LED lighting system and a transparent panel adorned with text inscriptions and geometric patterns, appears to take inspiration from Nothing, and that’s not a bad thing. It gives the POVA 7 a unique edge, helping it stand out from the sea of generic rectangular slabs in this price range. It’s also encouraging to see more smartphones embracing bold, visually distinctive designs.
The phone is also easy to hold. The subtly curved back edges feel smooth in the hand. The right-side buttons are clicky and easy to reach. The SIM tray is on the left. At the bottom, there’s a speaker grille, a USB-C port, and a microphone. Additionally, you receive an earpiece that doubles as a second speaker, an extra microphone, and an infrared port. The frame has a matte finish, which I prefer over glossy ones.
Great display, average brightness
The Tecno POVA 7 sports a 6.78-inch flat IPS LCD with a central punch-hole setup for the selfie camera. The bottom bezel is slightly thick, as is the case with the other two phones, while the other three sides have thin bezels. The underlying LTPS backplane powers a FHD+ resolution. The phone has a higher pixel density of 396 PPI compared to 393 PPI (FHD+) on the iQOO Z10x and 264 PPI (HD+) on the OPPO K13x.
When compared side by side, the Tecno phone stands out from the other two in terms of clarity and contrast. So, visuals appear relatively more lifelike on this panel. You can watch up to FHD videos on Netflix (with Widevine L1 support) and up to 1440P videos on YouTube.
The LTPS panel can also aid in a faster refresh rate. This phone offers a 144Hz refresh rate in select apps, including Settings, Phone, Messages, Facebook, and Files by Google. The other apps can refresh up to 120Hz, and there is an option to auto-switch refresh rate between 60Hz and 144Hz based on the content.
As for brightness, it is usable both indoors and outdoors. However, the peak brightness is slightly underwhelming compared to its competitors.
On the other hand, the dual stereo speakers are loud. Compared to the iQOO Z10x’s stereo speakers, the Tecno phone offers more apparent separation between frequencies in a track like Fearless Pt. 2 by Lost Sky. Meanwhile, the OPPO phone has a single speaker. However, the OPPO smartphone offers a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is absent on the other two, allowing for wired audio with lower latency than most wireless options available.
Cameras
A single 50MP rear camera with PDAF (phase-detection autofocus) and a dual-LED flash is present on the back of the Pova 7. Its competitors, the OPPO K13x and iQOO Z10x, also feature a 50MP primary camera with PDAF, but they also include a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera on the POVA phone uses a 13MP sensor, which is superior to its rivals, for capturing selfies and video calls. You can even record up to 4K 30fps videos from the POVA’s front and back cameras, while the other two smartphones are limited to 1080p 30fps from both sides.
The POVA 7 camera app is also quick to open and easy to navigate. Besides regular photos and videos, you get options like Super Night mode, Portrait, AIGC Portrait (template effects for hairstyle and clothing), Slow Motion, Dual Video, Time Lapse, Panorama, Sky Shop (sky effects), Pro, and Document scanning.
As for the results, the Tecno smartphone captures decent daylight shots, portraits, and selfies. The low-light images are detailed with good exposure control. That said, the colour reproduction, although appealing, is not entirely accurate, and exposure requires improvement.
To give you a better perspective, here’s how the POVA 7 cameras compare to the OPPO K13x, which is among the best camera phones in its segment.
Daylight
In daylight conditions, the Tecno POVA 7 captures slightly sharper and more detailed images than the OPPO K13x. The handset also handles exposure and dynamic range more effectively, maintaining a more balanced look in both highlights and shadows. The shadows under the circular pergola (the central structure) are missing in the OPPO photo, which makes it look flatter and less contrasty compared to the Tecno photo.
That said, the OPPO K13x delivers colours that appear more natural. The Tecno image has a noticeable yellowish tint, and the sky looked more blue than the greyish tone it rendered. Overall, while both phones perform well, the Tecno POVA 7 has a slight edge in sharpness and light control, although the colour tonality could’ve been better.
Portrait
The Tecno POVA 7 performs slightly better than the OPPO K13x in portrait photography. The handset captures more accurate skin tones and colours, with better detail and clarity. Case in point, the subject’s hair and shirt pattern. Edge detection and background blur also appear more refined on the POVA 7, making portraits look cleaner and more natural. The OPPO smartphone accidentally blurs a part of the subject’s hair. The background on the Tecno portrait retains better dynamic range, too. Overall, the POVA 7 delivers a more polished portrait output across all key areas.
Selfie
In selfies, the Tecno POVA 7 captures slightly better detail and clarity in facial features than the OPPO K13x. The dynamic range is also decent, and the details in the highlights and shadows are legible. However, its selfies tend to have a warmer tone, and thus the subject’s skin and the colour of the t-shirt are a little off. The OPPO K13x, on the other hand, delivers more accurate skin tones.
Low-light
In low light, the Tecno POVA 7 offers better exposure control, particularly in terms of reducing flares and noise, especially in regular night shots without night mode, compared to its counterpart. The handset manages to retain superior detail in darker areas, making scenes look clearer overall.
However, the OPPO K13x delivers more natural-looking colours and better white balance. Its images feel more realistic, especially in how it handles artificial lighting.
Low-light (night mode)
In night mode, the OPPO K13x outperforms with cleaner results, enhanced detail, and more consistent exposure. Tecno does a decent job too, but falls slightly behind in the above terms and colour accuracy.
Video
You can shoot 4K 30fps videos from both the front and rear cameras on the Tecno POVA 7. The footage comes out more detailed, better exposed, and noticeably more stable. While the OPPO K13x delivers slightly more natural colours and skin tones, the overall video quality on the POVA 7 feels more pleasing to watch.
In short, the Tecno POVA 7 performs better in standard low-light shots, but the OPPO K13x offers a more refined night mode experience with truer colours and cleaner processing.
Capable in gaming and everyday performance
Tecno is powering the POVA 7 with a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultimate chipset. This is a 4nm chip with a clock speed of up to 2.5GHz. It is a tried-and-tested mobile processor, a variant of which is also found on the iQOO Z10x. Meanwhile, the OPPO K13x is powered by a Dimensity 6300 SoC with a top clock speed of up to 2.4GHz.
The POVA 7 is equipped with 8GB LPDDR4 RAM and 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage, which falls short of the iQOO Z10x’s LPDDR4x RAM standard and UFS 3.1 storage standard. The smartphone also lacks a dedicated slot for a microSD card to expand storage, unlike the OPPO K13x.
Here’s how these specifications translate to our in-house synthetic tests like AnTuTu and Geekbench:
The Tecno POVA 7 scores higher on Geekbench, likely due to its strong CPU, but scores lower on AnTuTu. This could point to a need for better overall optimisation.
Even in the Burnout benchmark, the Tecno POVA 7 5G’s performance when throttled is slightly behind that of the OPPO phone, but better than the iQOO Z10x. The Tecno phone performs decently when pushed, but may exhibit more performance drops than the OPPO.
While playing demanding games like BGMI, the Tecno phone delivered better frame rates with support for Extreme FPS, unlike the iQOO Z10x, which was limited to Ultra. In Call of Duty, the iQOO had slightly better frame rates, but the Tecno smartphone remained more power-efficient overall.
This suggests that the Tecno POVA 7 is a capable device for gaming and everyday tasks. That said, with better optimisation, the handset could perhaps get more out of the Dimensity chip.
AI-packed software, limited support
The Tecno POVA 7 runs HiOS 15 out of the box, which brings a few practical features, including a sidebar for recent files and favourite apps, a Dynamic Island-style pill (called Dybamic Port) for timers and ongoing activities, and multitasking tools like mini floating windows and split screen. There’s also App Twin, which lets you use two instances of apps like Facebook or WhatsApp. And let’s not forget the Status Light widget on the homescreen or the menu in the settings page, which allows you to adjust the light effects of the Delta Interface on the back of the phone.
Since this is a 2025 phone, you also get a range of AI-based tools, including the Ella chatbot, a wallpaper generator, an object eraser, a math solver, a translator with a transcription feature, and a writing assistant. Some users may find these features helpful, while others may not. Moreover, the AI voice assistant, Google Gemini, and Circle to Search further enhance usability.
The POVA 7 also gets an “Intelligent Hub System” via the FreeLink app, which enables you to make calls to nearby Tecno phones without a mobile network. It works like a short-range communication tool, similar to a walkie-talkie. While interesting, it’s only helpful if you have another supported device within range.
You might not be able to remove or disable some of these features, but the phone has fewer preinstalled apps than rivals like the iQOO Z10x and OPPO K13x. Whether you tweak the setup or stick with defaults, the interface feels responsive and straightforward.
However, software support is underwhelming. You get just one major OS update and two years of security patches, which are below average for the segment.
Dependable battery and charging support
Moving on, the Tecno POVA 7 is equipped with a massive 6,000mAh battery with a 45W fast wired charging speed. It’s a dependable setup that should keep battery anxiety away for the majority of users. The handset lasted for nearly 12 hours in our PCMark battery endurance test. That’s more than what we could get out of a 6,000mAh battery-powered OPPO K13x. The charging time is also comparable to that of the OPPO smartphone. So, no problem here.
In Call of Duty: Mobile, the POVA 7 is the most efficient, dropping just 6 per cent of battery, less than both OPPO (8 per cent) and iQOO (7 per cent). In a slightly heavier game like BGMI, the POVA 7’s battery drop is higher (7 per cent) than the OPPO K13x’s 5 per cent and the iQOO Z10x’s 6 per cent, but that drop is perhaps the price for achieving smoother frame rates (as mentioned in the performance section). In the 30-minute YouTube playback test, the POVA 7’s battery drop is slightly higher (4 per cent) than the iQOO and OPPO phones (both 2 per cent), but it’s acceptable given the large battery capacity and the more pixel-dense display.
Final verdict: Is this a good sub-Rs 15,000 phone?
The Tecno POVA 7 5G is visually distinct with a unique cyber-inspired design and LED lighting. The handset also offers a smooth and lively display, a fairly capable camera setup with 4K video recording from both sides, a reliable chipset and a large battery with fast charging support. The Tecno phone offers significant value for the sub-Rs 15,000 price segment.
That said, some things could’ve been better. Software support is limited to just one OS upgrade. The colour science, albeit attractive, isn’t close to reality. And while it performs well in everyday use and demanding tasks like gaming, better system optimisation could perhaps yield even better performance from the chipset.
Still, the positives far outweigh the negatives. For buyers seeking a budget phone with standout looks, capable performance, and an all-around package, the Tecno POVA 7 5G is a worthy contender in its class.
Editor’s rating: 8.1/10
Reasons to buy:
- Bold cyber-inspired design with LED lighting
- High-refresh-rate LCD with sharp visuals
- Handles daily tasks and gaming smoothly, with good thermal control and sustained performance.
- Long-lasting 6,000mAh battery with fast charging support
Reasons not to buy:
- Only one major Android update is promised
- Colours on the camera output appear slightly oversaturated and aren’t the most natural
