TECNO POVA 7 Ultra 5G
Gamers want strong performance, bold looks, and modern extras like wireless charging on their gaming smartphone, and these are all covered by one phone at a price that undercuts many rivals. This is the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra 5G.
It brings a 144Hz AMOLED, a large battery, MediaTek’s Dimensity 8350 Ultimate, and a 108MP camera, with software tuned for gaming and AI features that feel genuinely useful for day-to-day use in this segment. And while it won’t dethrone premium gaming flagships, it gets surprisingly close for a midranger.
Here’s our full review.
Build and Design
The POVA 7 Ultra 5G has a loud, gamer-forward design with geometric lines, a chunky camera island, and a status LED around the camera that adds flair without going overboard. It’s IP64-rated for dust and splash resistance. The phone comes in Geek Black or Geek White and uses a glass front with a plastic back, which keeps weight in check and helps thermals under load. What we got as review unit is the Geek Black variant. The rear LED ring is both functional and aesthetic, which I find handy for notifications and game status cues. Thhe color isn’t customizable, which feels like a missed chance for personalization in a gaming phone. Hopefully, we will find that in the next iteration.
If toned-down looks are a priority, a full-cover case solves it, though it would hide the styling that makes this phone stand out, especially that camera-ring light. The good news is TECNO’s magnetic-friendly case means wireless chargers latch on securely, including many MagSafe-style accessories, even if some third-party chargers are physically larger than the phone and look a bit awkward; functionally, they still work for charging.
Display
The 6.67-inch, 1.5K AMOLED panel is built for speed and clarity, pushing up to 144Hz for smooth scrolling and swift gaming visuals. Peak brightness is up to 4,500nits, which helps with sunlight visibility for maps and outdoor play, and the panel uses Gorilla Glass 7i for improved durability. The combination of resolution, refresh rate, and peak brightness puts it among the best displays in its price class, particularly for competitive gaming where frame clarity matters.
Color tuning out of the box is punchy, and the 144Hz mode keeps animations and UI transitions smooth across the system and supported games. As with most midrange gaming phones, not every title will drive 144FPS, but the screen’s high ceiling pairs nicely with the chipset’s headroom to push 90–120FPS in supported titles, depending on developer caps and settings.
Hardware
At the core is the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate, which is a customized take on MediaTek’s popular upper-midrange SoC, paired with Mali-G615 MC6 graphics and up to 12GB RAM with 256GB storage. TECNO advertises a 12-layer cooling solution to keep clocks stable during extended sessions, and the phone supports modern connectivity like 5G, NFC, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, and an under-display fingerprint sensor. It also supports TECNO’s FreeLink, a peer-to-peer feature with up to 1km range for calls and texts between compatible phones in low-signal scenarios, which is niche but novel.
In daily use, the chipset is more than capable of handling multitasking and heavy games at high frame rates, especially when paired with POVA’s gaming software suite for tuning performance per title. Compared to its closest competitor, the Infinix GT 30 Pro—which features the same CPU/GPU combo—the TECNO’s advantage comes from a bigger battery and faster wired charging, while Infinix counters with shoulder triggers and JBL-tuned speakers on some variants.
Benchmark
Here are measured scores provided for this unit compared to other midrange units we reviewed:
- Antutu: 1,421,580
- Geekbench Single Core: 1,212
- Geekbench Multi Core: 4,093
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 2,939
- PCMark 3.0: 16,504
These numbers line up with expectations for Dimensity 8350 Ultimate devices and back up the claim that the phone can handle competitive play and heavy workloads reliably. TECNO’s own marketing sometimes cites >1.53M on AnTuTu in ideal conditions; actual results often vary based on thermals, storage fill, and background processes. What matters is consistency, and with its cooling stack and Bypass Charging support, the POVA 7 Ultra 5G stays steady under pressure.
Software and other software features
Running Android 15 with HiOS 15, the POVA 7 Ultra 5G packs practical tweaks for gamers and strong AI integrations. Ella returns as TECNO’s assistant and now connects more users to DeepSeek R1-powered features like translation, writing aids, and smarter on-device tools, which we’ve also seen on recent TECNO Camon models. Google’s Circle to Search is present, and TECNO’s AI Studio tools include creative photo features like AI Eraser and portrait enhancements.
Gamespace is where players will spend a lot of time: it lets performance tuning per game, eye care toggles, Esports Mode, Off-Screen gaming, and crucially, Bypass Charging to power the phone directly from the charger and reduce battery heat and wear over long play sessions. There’s also an AI Magic Box overlay for contextual tips in supported games and Game Filters to change the visual look if a title’s default style isn’t to taste. The suite feels gamer-first without being too bloated.
Camera
The main camera is a 108MP shooter paired with an 8MP ultrawide, and a 13MP selfie camera up front. Photos are sharp in daylight, with good detail and punchy colors, though default AI Cam contrast can be a a bit aggressive. Dialing it down would yield more natural-looking shots. The ultrawide delivers acceptable results for the class, useful for travel scenes and big group shots, and the selfie cam is solid for social posts and video calls.
Video capture goes up to 4K60 on the rear and 4K on the front, which is standout at this price. There’s a noticeable preview delay on the display when shooting 4K60, which can be distracting if framing fast-moving subjects; it doesn’t tank the final footage but is something to note while recording. HDR video is limited to 1080p30, a clear trade-off, but overall video quality is serviceable for social media and everyday clips.
Audio
Here’s the one consistent sore spot: volume. The dual speakers with Dolby Atmos can sound clear, but they don’t get as loud as expected for a gaming phone, especially in noisy spaces or when hands muffle one of the grilles in landscape. Competing devices like the Infinix GT 30 Pro push louder output and, in some variants, have tuning partnerships that give them a slight edge in fullness and punch at the top end. Using headphones or a gaming headset is the easy fix, but for those who rely on speakers during play, expect to raise volume to near-max often.
Battery
Battery life is a strong suit thanks to a big 6,000mAh cell and 70W wired charging with 30W wireless charging support—rare in this segment. Wired top-ups are quick, and wireless adds convenience at home or on a desk, especially with magnetic cases that snap onto chargers reliably. TECNO also includes reverse wired charging at 10W on some retail listings, which can help juice accessories in a pinch. The new phone also supports 10W reverse charging (10W for Transsion products, and 5W for other supported smartphones).
Bypass Charging is the star for gamers, letting power flow directly from the charger to the system while leaving the battery out of the loop during long sessions, reducing heat buildup and improving long-term battery health. It’s a feature often found in pricier gaming phones, and it makes a real difference here during marathon runs of Genshin Impact or PUBG.
Gaming Experience
Real-world gaming is where the POVA 7 Ultra 5G shines for its price. With the Dimensity 8350 Ultimate and 144Hz AMOLED, it handles popular titles like Genshin Impact, Diablo Immortal, and PUBG at high frame rates with smart tuning through Gamespace. Performance Modes allow balancing battery life and thermals versus raw speed, and Esports Mode mutes distractions while optimizing resources per title.
Eye Care mode softens the strain on long sessions, Off-Screen mode can keep certain tasks active, and Bypass Charging keeps temperatures and battery cycles in check during extended play. The AI Magic Box overlay feels thoughtful, offering context in supported games; Game Filters let players personalize visuals if a game’s color palette or contrast isn’t a fit. Altogether, the UX shows TECNO understands what gamers expect, not just on paper but during use.
Price and Positioning
This is one of the best-priced gaming smartphones in the country relative to performance and looks. It won’t out-style ROG or RedMagic, but it’s a close attempt for a midrange device going toe to toe with those brands’ appeal, minus the ultra-premium internals. The closest rival is the Infinix GT 30 Pro, which promises nearly the same level of performance with the same chipset, slightly smaller battery, slower wired charging, and comparable wireless charging. Transsion (the parent company of both TECNO and Infinix) is clearly pushing aggressive pricing that puts pressure on other Chinese brands like Xiaomi and OPPO in this tier. It does raise a fair question: are margins razor-thin now? If so, buyers benefit.
Local pricing in the Philippines is positioned aggressively, with an official tag and frequent promo dips around launch windows, making the value case even stronger—especially with bundle freebies like a magnetic wireless power bank and themed case card that reinforce the gamer pitch.
Verdict
The TECNO POVA 7 Ultra 5G nails the fundamentals for a gaming-focused midrange phone: fast AMOLED at 144Hz, strong sustained performance, useful gaming software, modern AI features, and a big battery with both 70W wired and 30W wireless charging. The design has personality without being overbearing, and the camera is good for the class with a 108MP main that delivers sharp daytime shots, though the AI contrast could be toned down and HDR video is limited to 1080p30.
The biggest gripe is speaker loudness as it just isn’t as loud as it should be for a phone aimed at gamers who often play without headsets. And while the rear status light is a nice touch, the lack of color customization feels like a missed opportunity for a phone that otherwise embraces personalization. Still, these are manageable trade-offs given the price.
TECNO’s offer sets a high bar for value in 2025 midrange gaming phones, and it sends a clear message to the rest of the field to keep up.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
