The Tecno Camon 11 is the latest smartphone from the company that has made its way to Kenya. The phone is available in retail stores for Ksh 14,999, a reasonable price and one that competes directly with what Huawei is offering with the Y7 Prime 2018 and OPPO with the A3S.
The Tecno Camon 11 is the third Camon device the company has launched in Kenya this year. The phone’s key selling points are its three cameras, two at the back and one in front and the display. For the cameras at the back, Tecno has used a 13MP and 2MP sensors while for the selfies the company has gone with a 16MP sensor. The company says these are AI cameras but I am yet to see what value these cameras add but I will share that in the full review.
Below are some of the key specifications of the Tecno Camon 11.
Display Size: 6.2 inches with a resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels
Processor: 2GHz Octa-core MT6761 Helio A22
RAM: 3GB
Storage Space: 32 GB, can be expanded to 256GB using a microSD card
GPU: PowerVR GE8320
Android Version: Android 8.1 Oreo
Main Camera: 13MP + 2MP
Selfie Camera: 16MP
Battery: 3750 mAh battery
Read Now: Tecno Camon 11 Specifications
Unboxing the Camon 11
You do get some of the usual accessories when you unbox the Tecno Camon 11. Below is a list of things you get:
- Phone
- Screen protector
- 2-in-1 Back Cover
- Warranty Guide/User Manual/specifications manual
- Earphones
- Wall adapter and USB Cable
- SIM removal Pin
Tecno has finally changed the earphones it is using and has gone with differently styled ones but the sound quality is still the same. As for the 2-in-1 cover, it allows you to protect the back, the sides and the front section of the phone. This is a tiny addition but is pretty cool and differentiates the Camon 11 from other devices it is competing with.
First Impressions
Now to the phone, I got the one in red that is currently one of my favorite colors on a smartphone. The phone has a 6.2-inch display but does not feel that big. Maybe it is because I am coming from the Huawei Y9 2019 which has a 6.5-inch display. The display on the Camon 11 has a HD+ resolution (720 x 1520 pixels), nothing exciting about it. It gets the job done and is bright enough to use in different lighting conditions.
As for the build and design, the Tecno Camon11 has a boxy style with a flat back. We are used to very curvy smartphones from Tecno so this one changes things a bit and I love it. The design Tecno has gone with is the same one we saw on the OPPO A3S. If you have used that phone, then you will feel right at home with this. The back is made of plastic but feels far from it, it feels solidly built and is comfortable to hold.
Still on the back is where we have the fingerprint scanner and the two cameras and the quad LED Flash. The fingerprint scanner is quick to set up and works all the time. In addition to the fingerprint scanner, Tecno has also included Face unlock which is also easy to set up and works very well. Face unlock works well in most conditions and I have not had any issues so far.
The Camon 11 comes with the usual ports, Micro USB and the headphone jack that you will find at the bottom. The company is still not using USB Type-C for reasons known to them. Also at the bottom is where the speaker grille is. On the sides are the volume and power buttons on the right and the SIM tray that can hold 2 4G SIM cards and a 256GB MicroSD card. Speaking of the 4G SIM slots, Tecno partnered with Faiba 4G to launch this phone so my guess is that it supports the network. I was in a hurry to post this article so I did not test this out but will do so and share that here and in the full review.
There is a notch at the front but you can hide it if you are not a fan. Hiding the notch provides a clean look but I will keep it just for the sake of it.
Initial Thoughts
So far, the Tecno Camon 11 has impressed me. Probably it’s because it is a new phone or it may have something to do with the new design the company has gone with. The cameras are really good especially the selfie one. I am still confused about the AI feature as I am not sure if it is really there or not. You cannot switch it off as with other smartphones and the company says it helps by scene recognition but to be honest I am not sure about any of that. I will be using this phone for the next two weeks and tell you if the AI cameras add any value or not.
The Tecno Camon 11 is a serious addition to the Ksh 15,000 category and will definitely ruffle some feathers. Come back for the full review in a couple of weeks.
Also Read: The Huawei Y9 2019 Unboxing And First Impressions
