A device category that has barely changed in a decade is finally getting a serious upgrade. During Computex 2026, E Ink and MediaTek announced a collaboration that could push e-readers to the next level with the help of artificial intelligence. MediaTek’s new MT8115 and MT8126 processors, both custom-built for ePaper hardware, include dedicated neural processing units. On-device AI means future e-readers may handle translation, transcription, and summarization without needing the cloud, while preserving the weeks-long battery life that makes e-readers appealing in the first place. The use cases are compelling. A student could pull up a dense academic chapter and walk away with a clean synopsis in seconds. A journalist at a press conference could let the device capture and organize quotes automatically. A lawyer reviewing a brief could ask the e-reader to surface key passages on demand. None of this is science fiction — it’s simply what a capable on-device AI model can deliver...
Superb photography, sophisticated design, and a competitive price tag — that’s what the predecessors of the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra are known for, and what this new model will try to live up to.
As the first “Ultra” in the series, it replaces the CAMON 40 Premier as the most premium CAMON smartphone, starting at Php19,999. Naturally, our expectations are high.
But does it actually deliver? Find out in our TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra review.
TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra Specs
- Android 16, HiOS 16 (up to 3 OS upgrades)
- Dual SIM, Dual Standby
- 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display, 2644 x 1208 pixel resolution, ~429ppi
- 144Hz refresh rate, 2160Hz PWM dimming, HDR10, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
- 2.6GHz MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate octa-core processor
- Mali-G615 MC2 GPU
- 8GB/12GB RAM
- 256GB/512GB internal storage, non-expandable
- 50-megapixel front camera, PDAF
- 50-megapixel (LYTIA-700C, f/1.8, PDAF, OIS) + 50-megapixel (3x telephoto, PDAF, f/2.4) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) rear camera, dual-LED flash
- Stereo speaker, Hi-Res Audio
- IP66/68/69/69K dust and water resistant
- HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G
- WiFi 6, dual-band
- Bluetooth, NFC
- GPS, IR Blaster
- USB-C
- Dimensions: 162.4 x 77 x 7.4mm
- Weight: 178g
- Colors: Luminous Orange, Misty Purple, Nebula Titanium, Cypress Green, Moonshadow Black
- 6,500mAh battery non-removable battery, 45W wired charging
Design and Build Quality
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra features a sleek and elegant design. It’s only 7.4mm thin, weighs just 178g, and has curves on the front, back, and all four corners, making it very comfortable to hold.
We really like how slim and refined it feels, although it can get slippery at times. We also kind of miss the flat-frame design that most smartphones use today. That’s subjective, though, as some prefer the curves.
TECNO calls the design “swan-inspired elegance,” highlighted by the curved camera module at the back that emphasizes the phone’s main attraction: the cameras. Our review unit comes in Moonshadow Black, but it’s also available in Nebula Titanium, Misty Purple, and Luminous Orange.
Beyond the looks, TECNO also made the CAMON 50 Ultra impressively durable. It has IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance, allowing it to survive full submersion for up to 30 minutes, withstand 100-bar high-pressure 80°C water jets, and even survive washing machine conditions.
It is also MIL-STD-810 military-grade certified for added durability against accidental drops. The device already feels solid on its own, but we still preferred using the included hard-plastic case for extra protection.
TECNO absolutely nailed the design and build quality of the CAMON 50 Ultra. It’s easily one of the best-looking smartphones in its price segment.
On the front, we have a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with ultra-thin bezels and a punch-hole cutout for the 50-megapixel selfie camera.
The phone uses a solid metal frame, with the One Tap shortcut key placed on the left side. It has textured ridges, making it easy to distinguish from the power button.
Speaking of which, the lock/power button sits on the right alongside the volume controls. Both buttons are tactile and clicky.
Up top, there’s the speaker, microphone, IR blaster, and Dolby Atmos branding.
The SIM tray at the bottom accommodates two nano SIM cards, another microphone, the USB-C port, and the loudspeaker.
At the back, the 50-megapixel main camera sits on top, while the 50-megapixel telephoto camera, flicker sensor, and 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera are positioned below it.
Display and Audio
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra sports a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 2644 x 1208 resolution, ~429ppi, 144Hz refresh rate, 2800Hz touch sampling rate, and 2160Hz PWM dimming.
Display quality is good for its asking price. As expected from an AMOLED panel, colors are vibrant and contrast is deep. Outdoor brightness is also ample.
The screen feels smooth, although we honestly couldn’t notice a significant difference between 90Hz and 144Hz in daily use. It also supports Widevine L1 for FHD streaming on apps like Netflix, although HDR support is sadly absent.
For audio, the CAMON 50 Ultra comes with stereo speakers. Thankfully, TECNO skipped the artificial volume boosters and simply delivers the full speaker volume right away. Dolby Atmos support is also included.
The speakers can get very loud, although the sound can be slightly muffled at times. Bass presence is decent but limited, while the treble sounds a bit hazy especially at high volume.
Hardware and Performance
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra is powered by a 4nm 2.6GHz MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate octa-core processor, paired with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage. Unfortunately, our review unit is the base 8GB variant.
TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra Benchmark Scores
While it may not have the strongest chipset in its price range, day-to-day performance remains fast and responsive, and it comfortably met our expectations.
As for gaming, Genshin Impact is best played on the Lowest preset with the frame rate set to 60fps for smoother gameplay. Occasional dips happen but it’s still playable for the most part.
PUBG Mobile ran well under HD graphics with Ultra frame rates, while Call of Duty Mobile handled Very High graphics at Max frame rates. Farlight84 also performed smoothly under HD graphics with High frame rates.
Lighter games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ran flawlessly under Ultra settings, while Asphalt Legends Unite was smooth at High Quality with 60fps enabled.
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra is definitely capable of gaming, although other smartphones at a similar price can offer a better overall gaming experience.
| Game | Graphics Settings |
| Genshin Impact | • Render Resolution: Lowest • Visual Effects: Low • SFX Quality: Lowest • Frame Rate: 60 |
| PUBG Mobile | • Graphics Quality: HD • Frame Rate: Ultra |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | • Graphics Quality: Very High • Frame Rate: Max |
| Farlight84 | • Graphics Quality: HD • Frame Rate: High |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | • Resolution: HD • Map Quality: Ultra • Frame Rate: Ultra |
| Asphalt Legends Unite | • Visual Quality: High Quality • Frame Rate: 60 |
Software and User Interface
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra runs on Android 16 with TECNO’s HiOS 16 interface. TECNO promises 3 Android upgrades and 5 years of security patches, which is commendable for a value-oriented smartphone.
Like many modern Android skins, HiOS features transparent UI elements for a more current look. It also includes a categorized app drawer, extensive customization options, a Find My Phone feature, and more.
Naturally, AI features are heavily integrated. You get TECNO’s Ella assistant, AI Writer, Circle to Search, and more.
The Gallery app also includes several AI-powered tools, with shortcuts conveniently placed at the top of the interface.
Features include AI Eraser, AI Auto Zoom for better framing, AI Image Enhancer, AI Extender, and AI tools for removing flares, shadows, and reflections.
Of course, there’s also the customizable One-Tap AI Key. By default, a long press launches the Ella assistant, but you can reassign it to functions like Do Not Disturb, flashlight, screen recording, or even any app of your choice.
The single press, however, is exclusive to FlashMemo. This instantly captures a screenshot, analyzes the content on-screen, and provides intelligent recommendations. It’s pretty useful if you frequently search for things.
There’s also a small red LED light at the back that activates for notifications, photo timers, video recording, charging, voice assistant activity, and smart device usage.
For security, both the optical fingerprint scanner and face unlock worked seamlessly throughout our testing.
Cameras
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra features a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-700C main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. It is paired with a 50-megapixel 3x telephoto lens and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera without autofocus. Selfies are handled by another 50-megapixel sensor.
Special camera features include FlashSnap, which automatically captures a photo once a subject starts moving — useful for pets, kids, and sports photography. AI Art Gallery can also apply artistic filters live.
For video recording, both the main and selfie cameras support 720p@30fps, 1080p@30fps/60fps, and 4K@30fps. Video Steady and Ultra Steady stabilization are also available. Meanwhile, the ultra-wide camera maxes out at 2K@30fps.
Daylight photos are generally impressive for the price. Images are sharp with minimal signs of over-processing. Colors look realistic, while the dynamic range is wide.
Even 2x shots, which rely on cropping the main sensor, still look clean and detailed.
Low-light and indoor shots from the main camera also look very good. There’s naturally some loss in detail, but sharpness remains respectable. Colors stay pleasing, and dynamic range remains solid.
The 50-megapixel 3x telephoto camera produces decent results as well. Photos are sharp and reasonably clean. Going beyond 3x still delivers sharp images, although AI processing becomes noticeably aggressive.
On the bright side, colors and dynamic range remain respectable, while low-light shots are still usable.
The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera gets the job done, but it’s nothing particularly impressive. As expected, detail retention and low-light performance are poor, and dynamic range could still be better.
Selfies from the 50-megapixel front camera are good overall. Colors look pleasing, details remain decent even at night, and while dynamic range can occasionally struggle, performance is generally solid.
As expected, the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra delivers excellent camera performance for its price point.
Battery and Charging
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra shares the same 6,500mAh battery found on the CAMON 50, paired with 45W wired charging support.
It achieved one of the best battery scores in its segment and even outperformed the CAMON 50 in our YouTube battery test.
In our testing, the CAMON 50 Ultra lasted 21 hours and 29 minutes in our 1080p YouTube Video Loop Test, and 16 hours and 25 minutes in our PCMark Synthetic Battery Test.
The 45W charger can fully charge the device in around 1 hour and 25 minutes. It’s not the fastest charging speed available, but still good enough considering the price.
- 15mins: 0-19%
- 30mins: 37%
- 45mins: 56%
- 1hr: 72%
- 1hr 15mins: 87%
- 1hr 28mins: FULL
Vedict
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra successfully delivered on what the CAMON series is known for: great cameras, premium design, and strong value for money.
For its price, you get a sleek and durable smartphone with impressive battery life, capable cameras, a vibrant AMOLED display, and polished software features packed with useful AI tools. The design alone already makes it feel more premium than most competitors in its segment.
Of course, it’s not perfect. The Dimensity 7400 Ultimate performs well enough for daily use and casual gaming, but power users and hardcore mobile gamers may find stronger-performing alternatives at a similar price point. The ultra-wide camera also feels noticeably weaker than the main and telephoto sensors.
Still, those compromises are relatively minor considering everything else the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra gets right. If you prioritize photography, battery life, durability, and premium aesthetics without spending flagship money, this is easily one of the strongest options in its category.
TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra pricing and availability
The TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra 8GB/256GB has a price of Php19,999, the 12GB/256GB for Php21,999, and the 12GB/512GB for Php25,999. You can get it at physical stores and retailers nationwide, and through Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.
Pros
- Premium, sleek, durable design
- Excellent main and telephoto cameras
- All-day battery life
- Useful AI features, extensive software support
Cons
- Mediocre chipset for the price
- Underwhelming ultra-wide camera
- No HDR support for streaming
- Curved design can feel slippery
This article, TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra Review, was originally published at NoypiGeeks | Philippines Technology News, Reviews and How to's.
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