There are three models in the TECNO POP5 Series – POP 5, POP 5P and POP5 Pro. TECNO Pop 5P is what we got for review and it is a solid budget choice for Nigerians in terms of design, screen and battery life as long as you are not after 4G or have high taste when it comes to pictures. The Tecno Pop 5P is an entry-level budget device which was released earlier in January and is an upgrade to the previously released Tecno Pop 5. The Pop 5 series is a popular phone in the Nigerian market today with the high demand for the pop 5P and Pop 5 Pro because of its price and unique selling point which is the battery. We discovered that

Inside the TECNO Pop 5P Box?

1. TECNO Pop 5P phone
2. Protective case
3. White Earphone
4. 5W Charger
5. Micro USB 2.0 charging cable
6. User Manual
7. Warranty card

Tecno Pop 5P Specifications

• Dimensions: 157.7×75.7×9.55mm
• Weight: Approximately 200 grams
• CPU: 1.3GHZ Quad-Core processor
• GPU: Mali-T820
• Software: Android version 11 based on HiOS v 7.6.0
• Model and Hardware: TECNO BD3
• Memory: 2GB RAM, 32GB ROM
• External memory: Expandable via micro SD card up to 128GB
• Rear camera: Dual 5MP + 0.3MP main camera & Quarter video graphics arrays (QVGA) with LED flashlight
• Front-facing camera: 8MP selfie camera with LED flashlight
• Video: 720P @ 30fps
• Battery: 5,000 mAh
• SIM: Dual SIM ( Nano-SIM)
• Sensors: Rear fingerprint sensor, G-sensor, distance sensor, and ambient light sensor
• Security: Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and supports Face Unlock
• WIFI connectivity: Wireless FM, GSM, WCDMA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS connectivity options.

Design and Build

It is made of polycarbonate material and it comes in two colours rose gold and aether black. The design and build of the Pop 5p aren’t premium but feel good. We will advise users to put the phone in a case to protect it.

We received the aether black colour for review and doesn’t look that flashy but simple and attractive. The back panel of the Tecno Pop 5p has a curved line design, dual cameras setup with LED flashlight, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, mono speaker grille at the lower end and ‘TECNO pop’ branding engraved on it. The right-hand side of the phone includes three buttons, including volume control (Up and Down) and a power button to shut down the device. A micro-USB 2.0 port and microphone are located at the bottom of the device while the top has only the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The phone has a waterdrop-style notch and features a dual camera setup at the back. The display and brightness aren’t as good as that of the Spark 8P worth more than 150 dollars but not horrible for a budget phone of fewer than 100 dollars.

The non-removable 5,000mAh battery, dual sim slot and memory card can be located when you remove the phone’s back cover. There is a rear fingerprint sensor and the phone supports Face Unlock as well.

Display

It features a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS display with a 720 x 1600 pixels display with a waterdrop-style notch containing an 8MP selfie camera. It uses the IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display technology. The display is not quite bright and colourful for outdoor use but it has a larger display for watching movies, reading and texting.

Camera

The camera department of the TECNO Pop 5P has a dual rear camera setup that includes a 5MP + 0.3MP main camera with an LED flashlight sensor and an 8MP selfie camera with an LED flashlight. Only the main camera takes good detail pictures and decent portrait images but when zoomed in on any of the pictures, it looks blurred. The pictures taken with the selfie camera when viewed look noticeable. To shoot the best pictures while using any of the camera of the TECNO pop 5p, you need to be in an environment with good lighting.

The phone video can only record videos up to 720P with no image stabilization.

Tecno Pop 5P Software and Hardware Performance

Tecno Pop 5P was bought with the dated Android 10 ( Go Edition) out of the box based on HiOS v 7.6.0 software which at the time of writing this, runs Android 11 software dated December 5, 2021. Tecno HiOS v 7.6.0  operating system with its unique features is a bit clean and friendly to use.

It is powered by a 1.3GHz octa-core processor paired with 2GB RAM and internal storage at 32GB which is expandable up to 128GB via an SD card.

The Pop 5P unlocks with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, face unlocks, pattern and pin.

The overall phone performance completes regular tasks which a phone should like calling, testing using social media apps like WhatsApp, browsing the web, listening to music, and multitasking. However, the Tecno Pop 5p doesn’t have the capability to perform higher tasks such as gaming to avoid frequent lags.

Battery Life

The phone is packed with a 5,000mAh battery that claims to offer up to 22 hours of 3G calling, 11 hours of watching a video, 100 hours of listening to music, and 790 hours of 3G standby. After a week of review, we noticed the battery could last for 24 hours with heavy usage. On days with lighter use, the phone battery lasted two to three days. This to us is the strength of the device. 

Tecno Pop 5P Price and Availability

The TECNO Pop 5P is available for purchase at retail stores across Nigeria and the phone is priced at 44,000 (roughly $90) for the 2GB RAM + 32GB storage variant. It s also available online via AliExpress, Konga and Jumia.

Limitations

It takes time to respond to clicks and doesn’t have 4G connectivity. If you have good taste when it comes to taking pictures with a mobile phone then the Pop 5P might not be a good option but the Tecno Camon Series.

Conclusion

Considering the price of the TECNO Pop 5P which is less than $100, the device is meant for users with a limited budget who just need to get the work done pending till when they can afford a high-end device.

As with any phone, even the high-end one, not everything is perfect. The phone at a price under 100 dollars ticks the box if you need a basic smartphone for your children, parents or yourself.