The TECNO PHANTOM V Fold 2 is an affordable, feature-packed foldable smartphone priced at $940. It offers vibrant displays, excellent multitasking, impressive battery life, and a premium design, though limited software updates and older hardware may impact longevity.
Foldable phones are no longer reserved for those with deep pockets, and Tecno is proving that with its latest offering—the Phantom V Fold 2. At $940, it’s almost half the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or less than 40% of the cost of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and is possibly the most impressive generation leap in its category.
The PHANTOM V Fold 2 is slimmer, lighter (down from 299 grams to a hair under 250 grams), beautifully designed and gives users without deep pockets a chance at using a foldable smartphone without spending an arm and a leg. From large, vibrant displays to stylus support and impressive battery life, this phone has a lot going for it. But, of course, no phone is perfect. So, does the PHANTOM V Fold 2 deliver where it counts? Let’s dive in.
Big, Bold, and Lighter Than Before
The Phantom V Fold 2 makes an impression right out of the box. TECNO partnered with Spanish luxury brand Loewe to refine the design, giving it a premium feel that’s unexpected for its price. The circular camera module from its predecessor has been replaced with a sleek rectangular setup housing three 50MP cameras.
But the real game-changer? The weight. At 249 grams, it’s 50 grams lighter than the first Phantom Fold. For comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 weighs 239 grams, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes in at 258g. Despite being lighter, the Phantom V Fold 2 feels solid and premium in hand, with curved sides that make it easier to hold and unfold. It’s also rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, which is a nice touch.
That said, it’s still a big phone. The cover screen is a 6.42-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Unfold it, and you’re greeted with a massive 7.85-inch AMOLED display, also with 120Hz support. Both screens are sharp, bright, and colourful, though the folding display isn’t as bright as the cover screen. Still, it’s perfectly usable even in sunlight.
The bezels on the inner display are slightly larger than those of its competitors, but they’re not distracting. Plus, the phone supports the new Phantom V Pen for precise input and note-taking, though TECNO didn’t include the stylus with the review unit.
A Crease-Free Experience and a Sturdy Hinge
One of the standout features of the PHANTOM V Fold 2 is its almost invisible crease. You’ll only notice it if you actively look for it, which is a big win for a foldable in this price range. The hinge, made of “aerospace-grade high-strength” material, is rated for 400,000 folds. While it’s not as robust as the Galaxy Z Fold6’s hinge and doesn’t prop up easily at all angles, it gets the job done.
Packed With Features and a Battery That Lasts
Under the hood, the PHANTOM V Fold 2 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. That’s double the base storage of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6. It runs on Android 14-based HiOS 14.5, which is loaded with features. While the interface could use some polish, you’ll keep discovering new tools as you explore the device.
Multitasking is where this phone shines. Running two apps side by side is seamless, and a simple swipe down the middle splits the screen. Whether you’re juggling work apps like Slack and Teams or scrolling through Instagram and WhatsApp, the PHANTOM V Fold 2 handles it all effortlessly.
Battery life is another highlight. The phone packs a massive 5,750mAh battery—the largest in a book-style foldable. It easily lasts a full day, even with heavy multitasking. And when you do need to charge, the 70W fast charging gets you up and running quickly. It also supports 15W wireless charging, a feature missing on some pricier competitors like the OnePlus Open.
AI-Powered Tools and Capable Cameras
TECNO has gone all-in on AI features. From the AI Cam mode in the camera app to tools like object removal and sticker creation in the gallery, almost everything feels AI-driven. There’s even a ChatGPT-powered assistant called Ella, along with sketch-to-image tools and quick text summaries.
As for the cameras, the Phantom V Fold 2 sports three 50MP sensors: a primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), a portrait camera with 2x optical zoom, and an ultrawide-angle lens. On the front, there are 32MP selfie cameras on both the cover and folding displays.
The cameras perform well in daylight, delivering vibrant photos with decent dynamic range. Low-light performance, however, is a mixed bag, with details often getting smoothed out. Still, for the price, the camera setup holds its own against more expensive foldables.
Now, whether you’d want to spend that much on this device or choose a safer smartphone is entirely between you and your wallet. Should you, however, want to dip your toes into the wonderfully weird world of foldable smartphones, the PHANTOM V Fold 2 is an excellent choice. It is the perfect gateway device, proving that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a capable, feature-rich foldable phone.