Pova 8 Overview: Daring Design, Huge Ambitions

Price tags for smartphones have solely been going up because the AI-driven reminiscence disaster started. Not solely are smartphone producers launching gadgets at ridiculous value factors, however these costs additionally get revised just a few months after launch. This has left many patrons confused and debating whether or not it is even value upgrading to a brand new smartphone in 2026. The new Pova 8 (from Tecno) is now making an attempt to do the inconceivable, which is to promote a tool which was launched as a funds smartphone final 12 months (Rs. 12,999 for the 8GB + 128GB possibility) at a staggering Rs. 29,999, which is mainly mid-range territory.

The model believes it’s justifying this greater value by including a dot-matrix show to the again and adopting a brand new design. But as with each new non-premium smartphone launched this 12 months, firms have trimmed issues elsewhere. While the Pova 8 will get a bolder design and an additional show, its core {hardware} stays the identical. But can it compete with the brand new gadgets from OnePlus and Motorola this 12 months? Read on to search out out!

Pova 8 Design: Cool however Heavy!

• Dimensions – 165.66 x 78.46 x 8.8mm
• Weight – 225g
• Durability – IP64

The Pova 8 will get a refreshing and new design route in comparison with the Pova 7, which the model claims is now impressed by the youth. There is a cyber theme happening, on the again of the 16 Bit White end we acquired. It gives the look of layers with a circuit board-like semi-industrial design. This is all specified by the centre with tiny orange accents and glossy white dots that resemble a land grid array socket on a processor, bordering the perimeters of the rear panel.

The Pova 8 has an IP64 ranking for mud and water resistance

Despite its new design theme, the telephone stays chunky and fairly heavy. This is probably all the way down to the model’s use of a regular lithium-ion battery tech versus trendy silicon-carbon (anode) know-how. Given the intensive use of polycarbonate in its body and rear panel, the telephone by some means manages to realize an official IP64 ranking. This is not pretty much as good as competing gadgets, which provide an IP69 ranking, but it surely appears adequate. As with different manufacturers, harm from water ingress is not going to be lined below guarantee by the corporate.

The new Alive Matrix Display is displaying a notification for a WhatsApp message

 

What has remained the identical is the cornered (or triangular) rear digital camera module, but it surely has a brand new, mini dot-matrix fashion LED panel nestled in one of many digital camera cutouts, which Tecno has branded because the Alive Matrix Display.

The new Alive Matrix Display comes with a ton of customisations

The tiny (as massive as a fingernail) LED panel can reply to music, present random animations, react to sure gestures (flip to flash the time), and present incoming calls, notifications (by flashing app icons) and even a timer countdown. There are even two mini video games (rotating microphone and fortunate quantity), which might be managed utilizing the quantity management buttons. One can even create customized gentle kinds by drawing them out within the Custom Light Effects software. Indeed, it’s fairly apparent the place the inspiration for the Alive Matrix Display comes from, on condition that Pova 7 additionally had flashing lights round its digital camera module final 12 months.

While this mini show is sort of customisable, I discovered it a bit too small or cramped (it matches inside a digital camera cutout in spite of everything). It might have been extra helpful if it tapped into Google’s Live Updates API, however even in its present implementation, it’s helpful for flashing notification icons from completely different apps. Regardless, the mini-games are amusing and have enjoyable sound results to accompany the on-screen animations.

Pova 8 Display: The Display that Could

• Display measurement – 6.76-inch, 1,080 x 2,344 pixels, FHD+, 381 PPI
• Display sort – 144Hz, IPS LCD
• Display safety – Panda Glass

The show is sort of primary, although the model claims that it affords a really excessive 144Hz refresh fee. Unlike some manufacturers that declare to have a 144Hz refresh fee, this one can really hit it. But the 144Hz refresh fee is just out there within the Messages, Phone and Settings apps. And it’ll solely contact 144Hz when the brightness is maxed out. With video games, you may be restricted to 120Hz, which is not unhealthy in any respect, however on condition that it hardly ever features at 144Hz, it finally ends up turning into a gimmick.

The Pova 8 has a noticeably thick border on the backside

While the show appears sufficiently sharp and the colors seem pure (there aren’t any display screen color modes to select from), it has a few unavoidable issues. For learners, it is not brilliant sufficient. While it is sufficiently brilliant indoors, it’s fairly dim and seems washed out outdoor or below direct daylight. In truth, I had hassle determining what I used to be capturing with the digital camera app below the afternoon solar, right here in Mumbai. Secondly, it is an LCD panel. In an age when most producers at this value level supply AMOLED shows, it’s odd to see an LCD panel right here. Viewing angles have been superb (due to IPS), however the blacks seem greyish (in darkish scenes), and distinction is nowhere within the neighborhood of an AMOLED display screen. Lastly, there is a very apparent chin, the results of utilizing an LCD panel, which supplies the entrance of this telephone a barely dated look.

Pova 8 Software: Liquid Glass All the Way!

• Android model – 16
• Software – HiOS 16
• Software dedication – 2 years OS + 3 years SMRs

If you’re in search of Liquid Glass expertise on Android, HiOS needs to be excessive up in your record. The customized pores and skin by Tecno has been out there on beforehand launched fashions just like the Pova Curve 2 as effectively, and I actually loved utilizing it. While the software program is clearly impressed by Apple, HiOS does have some enjoyable and distinctive additions like a depth impact on the homescreen (the place choose wallpapers) seem layered with icons neatly positioned behind sure parts. It does look fairly cool when a personality in your wallpaper sticks it head out in entrance of the icons. I did obtain just a few spammy notifications (from App Centre), however these might be turned off in Settings. You will even discover a bunch of preinstalled third-party apps that you may uninstall.

HiOS is enjoyable and fairly customisable

 

An FM Radio app is out there, supplied you will have a pair of wired Type-C earphones to plug in. There can be a number of built-in AI integrations powered by the model’s personal Tecno AI. Gemini can be out there in Google’s suite of apps.

Pova 8 Performance: Gets the Job Done

• Processor – MediaTek Dimensity 7100, 2.4GHz, 6nm
• RAM – 6/8GB, LPDDR5X
• Storage – 128/256GB, UFS2.2

Due to the continued embargo, which prevents us from displaying any efficiency comparisons with competing gadgets, we can’t put up our regular comparability desk. But we are able to let you know in regards to the Pova 8’s efficiency. The Pova 8 is obtainable in a 6GB RAM base variant, which is comprehensible given its funds roots, however is senseless on a tool that prices round Rs. 30,000. As anticipated, we have been supplied the 8GB RAM variant with 128GB storage for evaluate.

 

 

HiOS is optimised very effectively by default; its show’s refresh fee sticks to 90Hz for all apps and video games to avoid wasting battery life. The software program expertise is easy, however I seen stuttering and lag when viewing shorts within the YouTube app. Multitasking was not a difficulty, and apps remained in reminiscence as effectively.

I attempted out Genshin Impact for gaming, and the title defaults to the bottom graphics settings at 30 fps. Given the sport’s expansive panorama and wealthy visuals, I managed to get a most of 45 fps with the 60 fps setting enabled. The gameplay doesn’t run easily, and the body fee retains dropping to 35 or beneath throughout primary exploration. Switching gears to a extra visually interesting Medium graphics setting, the telephone began to warmth up, and the body fee dropped to 35 fps, with additional drops relying on the scene or throughout battles. Switching to Performance mode within the slide-out console can get you a further 5 fps, but it surely’s not value it because the telephone heats up fairly a bit after which slows down. Indeed, the Pova 8 is best suited to taking part in informal video games and never for critical gaming.

The Pova 8 is unusually ‘Dolby Atmos’ licensed

While software program efficiency is first rate total, the underlying {hardware} is not on par with the 2026 competitors and is much from final 12 months’s fashions, which nonetheless supply higher worth.

The single bottom-firing speaker is a shock given the telephone’s price ticket. It is loud sufficient for watching content material on OTT apps and whereas taking part in video games. However, it lacks bass, and since there’s just one driver, the audio sounds one-sided and never immersive, regardless of the daring ‘Dolby Atmos’ branding.

Pova 8 Cameras: A Mixed Bag

• Primary digital camera – 50-megapixel, f/1.79, PDAF (Sony LYTIA 600)
• Selfie digital camera – 13-megapixel, f/2.2, FF

The Pova 8 has a single user-accessible rear-facing digital camera

The triple rear digital camera module is simply beauty, as there’s just one user-accessible rear-facing digital camera. The second is the AI digital camera used to collect depth knowledge. The out there {hardware} may be very primary, which has been the development amongst smartphones launched at this value level (with some exceptions), however this major digital camera doesn’t even supply optical picture stabilisation (OIS) for higher low-light imaging. Meanwhile, video seize is proscribed to 2K at 30 fps. The model did inform us that it has reworked its imaging algorithms for the Pova 8. So, we must always count on enhancements over the Pova Curve 2 I reviewed beforehand.

Pova 8 major digital camera samples (faucet photos to develop)

Photos from the first digital camera come out superb in daylight. They are a bit overexposed, and so the main points within the shadows are correctly seen, however there’s some purple fringing within the brighter areas. Resolved element is a bit low, and the digital camera’s imaging algorithms have hassle processing complicated/intricate patterns or textures. I additionally seen some ghosting in photographs the place there was motion. 2X digitally zoomed samples are naturally a bit low on resolved element and might seem a bit mushy at occasions. Portrait photographs come out sharp and have first rate edge detection, however the software program bokeh tends to falter if the lighting is not beneficial.

Pova 8 major digital camera low-light samples (faucet photos to develop)

Low-light photos come out surprisingly effectively, on condition that this digital camera lacks OIS. There is a little bit of oversharpening, and the resolved element might have been higher (on condition that I used to be utilizing the devoted Night mode). In dimly lit scenes, the photographs (second picture above) come out mushy.

Pova 8 selfie digital camera pattern (faucet picture to develop)

The selfie digital camera does a superb job in daylight with good element and dynamic vary, however I seen that the pores and skin tones have been a bit off. In low gentle, particulars take successful and seem a bit mushy. Edge detection can be a bit hit-or-miss.

As for video, the telephone manages the perfect recording high quality at 1080p at 60 fps in daylight. The colors are pure, and the noise is below management, however the lack of stabilisation is clear, because the footage seems very shaky. There’s additionally a variety of clipped highlights, be it the background or white objects within the foreground. 2K recording affords higher element, however the video, other than being shaky, doesn’t have a steady body fee. Low-light video recordings aren’t good and look fairly noisy, with blotchy, mushy textures.

Pova 8 Battery: Good for Casual Users

• Battery capability – 8,000mAh, Li-ion
• Wired charging – 45W
• Charger within the field – Yes

The mixture of a 6nm processor, an LCD panel, and a large battery would lead to combined battery statistics, and we weren’t upset. Despite the 8,000mAh capability, PCMark’s Work Battery Life check returned 21 hours and 4 minutes, just like what we obtained from the Tecno Pova Curve 2, which had the identical chipset however an AMOLED panel. If you’re questioning why an LCD panel managed to empty the identical quantity of battery as an AMOLED panel, effectively, that is as a result of this LCD panel doesn’t get very brilliant and thus finally ends up consuming the identical quantity of energy because the brighter AMOLED panel.

Buyers will even get a clear arduous case within the field

21 hours within the PCMark check is not unhealthy, and real-world utilization (given that you simply will not be utilizing this to play demanding video games or file high-quality movies) is ok as effectively. With social media apps, messaging and extra, the telephone simply lasts 1.5 days of informal use. Charging speeds have been good with the bundled charger managing a 37 % cost in half-hour and a 73 % cost in an hour, reaching a totally charged state in 1 hour and 32 minutes.

Pova 8 Verdict

The Pova 8, in its new avatar, positive makes first impression with its youth-centric and industrial design language. The new and impressed Alive Matrix Display is beneficial for glanceable, icon-based notifications. While it is not a necessity, it might be on somebody’s guidelines, one who’s in search of one thing distinctive at this value level.

The Pova 8’s show falls wanting expectations by way of brightness and distinction. There’s just one bottom-firing speaker, and the telephone doesn’t supply the uncooked efficiency out there on competing gadgets, which makes it much less splendid for gaming. Its massive battery is the one actual function or improve over the earlier mannequin that stands out.

Unfortunately, you may get comparable battery life, higher efficiency and higher cameras from competing smartphones launched in 2026, just like the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion and the OnePlus Nord CE 6. And this additionally implies that there are a bunch of gadgets from competing manufacturers that have been launched final 12 months, just like the Motorola Edge 60 Pro, which is able to carry out even higher than the Pova 8 in each potential means (supplied shares have not depleted). And this makes the Pova 8 arduous to advocate except you actually just like the Alive Matrix Display, or if the telephone will get an enormous value lower.