Tecno Camon 40 Premier Review: The Si/C Battery Tech Falls Short of Expectations

After several months since its launch, we finally got our hands on the Tecno Camon 40 Premier, a $450 smartphone that positions itself firmly in the premium mid-range category. On paper, the Tecno Camon 40 Premier specifications are impressive, offering promising performance, flagship-level display tech, and a cutting-edge silicon-carbon battery. But as always, real-world usage tells a different story.

Design and Durability

The design is familiar; nothing groundbreaking here. A circular camera bump houses the triple rear camera setup, while the front sports a centered punch-hole selfie camera. It’s a large and slightly thick device (7.7 mm) that feels substantial in the hand. The build quality, however, deserves praise. With Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection and an IP68/IP69 rating, the phone offers solid resistance to both water and dust, a reassuring trait in this price range.

Display: Visually Impressive

Tecno didn’t cut corners on the display. The 6.67-inch LTPO AMOLED screen features:

• 1260 x 2800 resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio for crisp visuals
• 1B color support and HDR for lifelike colors and deeper contrast
• 144Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth interactions
• 1600 nits peak brightness (HBM) for excellent outdoor visibility

These specs combine to create a fantastic media experience, whether you're streaming HDR content or playing games. However, color calibration could be more accurate, and an adaptive refresh rate optimization would have further enhanced battery efficiency.

Security

The under-display fingerprint sensor was slow and occasionally unresponsive. While this isn't a deal-breaker, a faster optical or ultrasonic sensor would have elevated the experience, though understandably, that might have impacted the device’s price.

Performance and Software

Under the hood is the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 (4nm), a powerful mid-range chipset featuring

• Octa-core CPU (1x3.35 GHz + 3x3.20 GHz Cortex-A715 + 4x2.20 GHz Cortex-A510)
• Mali-G615 MC6 GPU

This setup delivers smooth multitasking, reliable gaming performance, and efficient power usage. It shines in regular usage and handles mid-tier games effortlessly. But push it too hard, and you’ll notice minor throttling and frame drops, typical for this chipset class.

The phone ships with Android 15 and HiOS 15, with a promised 3 years of major software upgrades. That’s a great long-term commitment from Tecno and gives the device some future-proofing.

Storage

While 12 GB RAM is more than adequate, the lack of storage options is disappointing. The device only comes with 256GB internal storage and no microSD slot, which could be limiting for users who store a lot of media or install large games. A higher storage variant would have been a welcome addition.

Camera Performance

The camera system is a mixed bag:

• 50MP main (wide) with OIS
• 50MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom
• 50MP ultrawide with a 114° field of view

The telephoto lens stands out for its clarity and reach, making it ideal for portrait and zoom shots. However, consistency across all lenses isn’t always perfect. Video is capped at 4K@60fps on the rear and 4K@30fps on the front, which is solid for the price range.

Battery—The Letdown

The 5100 mAh battery is based on silicon-carbon (Si/C) Li-ion technology, which is meant to offer:

• Higher energy density
• Faster charging
• Improved thermal efficiency

While it supports 70W wired charging, real-world battery life was underwhelming. Surprisingly, the Camon 30 Premier (its predecessor) delivered up to 2 hours more screen-on time—and it used traditional battery tech. This raises concerns about Tecno’s implementation of the Si/C battery, which may not have been fully optimized.

Tecno Camon 40 Premier: Final Verdicts

The Tecno Camon 40 Premier has a lot going for it: an outstanding display, solid performance, a versatile camera setup, and premium build quality. However, the battery performance fails to live up to expectations, and the lack of expandable storage may be a dealbreaker for some.

Pros:

• Excellent LTPO AMOLED display
• Solid performance with Dimensity 8350
• Strong build with IP68/IP69 rating
• Capable telephoto camera

Cons:

• Underwhelming battery life despite new tech
• Slow fingerprint sensor
• No storage variants or microSD support

If display, design, and camera versatility matter most to you, the Camon 40 Premier is still a solid buy for $450. But if battery endurance is your top priority, you might want to consider other options—or wait for Tecno to refine its Si/C battery tech in future releases.