Tecno Pova 5 & Pova 5 Pro Review: Budget Gaming Phones With Attitude

Dee P. • Software Developer • Aug 14, 2023

The Tecno Pova series has always been known as the “performance-for-the-price king” in the budget market. The Pova 4 generation was insanely popular, sold like crazy, and became a go-to recommendation.

But the smartphone battlefield has changed.
Now the competition is tougher than ever, especially thanks to their “cousin” Infinix Note 30 series that shook the market.

So Tecno strikes back with:

  • Tecno Pova 5
  • Tecno Pova 5 Pro (5G)

Are they worth it? Let’s find out.

💵 Price & Variants (USD)

Pricing usually sits around:

Tecno Pova 5

  • Around $149 – $169
  • 8GB RAM + 256GB storage
  • Helio G99 chipset

Tecno Pova 5 Pro (5G)

  • Around $199 – $219
  • 8GB RAM + 256GB storage
  • Dimensity 6080 (5G)

For what they offer, both are aggressively priced. But the big question is… which one gives better value?

✨ Design — One Flashy, One Classy

Both phones look bold, but in different ways.

Tecno Pova 5 Pro

  1. Futuristic gaming look
  2. LED backlight like “budget Nothing Phone”
  3. Glass-like shiny back
  4. Feels thick but not too heavy
  5. Triple-slot SIM tray
  6. Stereo speaker

The LED effects light up for:

  • Charging
  • Notifications
  • Music
  • Calls
  • Gaming

Is it useful? Not really.
Is it cool? Absolutely yes.

It grabs attention instantly — in dark rooms, it actually looks awesome.

Tecno Pova 5

This one keeps it cleaner:

  • More mature and calmer design
  • Still gamer-ish, but not too flashy
  • Triple-slot SIM tray
  • Stereo speaker

Honestly, many people might prefer this design simply because it feels less “over the top”.

📺 Display

Both phones bring solid upgrades.

  • 6.78-inch Full HD+
  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • Punch-hole selfie camera
  • Good brightness
  • IPS panel (not AMOLED)

The screen is smooth, enjoyable for daily use, scrolling, and gaming. Sure, AMOLED would be nicer, but at this price, 120Hz Full HD+ IPS is already great.

⚙️ Software

Both devices run:

  1. Android 13
  2. Updated UI
  3. Cleaner icons
  4. Gaming features built-in

Good news: No outdated Android here.

🔥 Performance — This Is Where It Gets Interesting

Now the real battle begins.

Tecno Pova 5 Pro

  1. Dimensity 6080
  2. Supports 5G
  3. Decent gaming

But… surprisingly not stronger than Helio G99 in many tests

In Genshin Impact:

  1. Around 40 FPS
  2. Occasional stutters
  3. Still playable
  4. It’s fine, but not mind-blowing.

Tecno Pova 5

  1. Helio G99
  2. No 5G

But gaming performance… is actually slightly BETTER than Pro! Yes.
The cheaper “non-Pro” version actually performs a bit better in gaming.

Genshin:

  1. Around 41–42 FPS
  2. More stable

Helio G99 is simply a legendary budget chipset. Smooth, reliable, efficient.


🎮 Gaming Verdict

For gaming:

Pova 5 = better raw performance

Pova 5 Pro = almost same performance + 5G bonus

If you don’t care about 5G, the regular Pova 5 is actually the smarter choice.


🔊 Speakers

Both:

  1. Stereo speakers
  2. Loud enough
  3. But lack strong bass

⭐Score: 5/10

Not bad, not amazing.

📷 Camera

Both phones use 50MP main camera.

Tecno Pova 5 Pro

  1. Better dynamic range
  2. Sharper daylight shots
  3. More consistent colors

Tecno Pova 5

  1. Daylight photos slightly weaker
  2. But surprisingly better low-light results
  3. So they kind of balance each other.

Camera verdict:

  • Both are good for the price
  • Not flagship level

But definitely usable and social-media ready


🔋 Battery & Charging
Tecno Pova 5 Pro

  1. 5000mAh
  2. 68W fast charging
  3. Very fast charging

Tecno Pova 5

  1. 5000mAh
  2. 45W fast charging

Both deliver excellent endurance with solid fast charging. No complaints here.


🏆 Final Verdict — Which One Should You Buy?
✔ Tecno Pova 5 Pro (5G)

Buy it if you want:

  1. Stylish LED lighting
  2. 5G future-proofing
  3. Fast charging
  4. Flashy looks

But remember:

Gaming performance isn’t massively better than Helio G99


🥇 Tecno Pova 5 — The Real Value King

This one is honestly the better deal.

Why?

  1. Cheaper
  2. Better gaming stability
  3. Tons of upgrades from previous generation
  4. Huge storage
  5. Powerful Helio G99
  6. 120Hz + Full HD
  7. Triple slot SIM
  8. Great value for money

For budget users, this is a monster deal.


⭐ Final Score

Tecno Pova 5: 9 / 10 – Value Beast
Tecno Pova 5 Pro: 8 / 10 – Cool, but overshadowed

Is Tecno Pova 5 good for gaming?
Yes. Helio G99 delivers smooth performance in most modern games.

Is Tecno Pova 5 Pro worth buying?
Yes if you want 5G and flashy LED design. Otherwise, regular Pova 5 gives better value.

Which one is better for camera?
Pova 5 Pro slightly better in daylight, Pova 5 performs well in low light.

Battery life good?
Absolutely yes.