HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) Review
So, TECNO just dropped the POVA 7 Ultra and if there’s one thing clear from the get-go, it’s that this phone is built for gamers. You’ve got high-end specs, tons of AI tools, a flashy gamer-centric design, and a big battery to back it all up.
Let’s break it down and see what it’s all about.
The TECNO POVA 7 Ultra comes in with what TECNO calls an “Interstellar Spaceship Design.” Basically, it looks futuristic, a little flashy, and very gamer-core. If you’re into devices that stand out, this one definitely does.
It even comes with a customized phone case card, a magnetic power bank, and the usual SIM ejector tool. It’s subtle, but that’s what it’s trying to be: simplistic but it can still stand out.
It’s a bit on the larger side with a solid weight to it, which makes sense since there’s a big battery and a cooling system inside. The phone also has IP64 dust and water resistance, so it can handle some splashes and dusty environments without breaking a sweat.
One thing that the POVA 7 Ultra comes with is its upgraded Mini-LED Status Light. It lights up when users get incoming calls, text messages, app notifications, file transfer, and even when increasing or decreasing the volume.
It can dynamically flash in-sync with the ringtone you’re using while the screen is off. Other nifty use cases for this is starting the timer, launching games, while charging, and even acts as a low battery indicator.
For buttons and ports, you have the volume rocker and power buttons on the right side, the dual-SIM card tray, USB-C port, and one of the stereo speakers at the bottom while the top has the other speaker and an IR Blaster.
Overall, it’s a clean design with a futuristic touch to make it stand out from the rest.
WIth the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra, you are getting a 6.67-inch AMOLED display here with a sharp 1.5K resolution and a super smooth 144Hz refresh rate. It’s crisp, colorful, and very responsive which is great for gaming and media.
Brightness isn’t an issue either since it goes all the way up to 4,500 nits peak, which is wild. Even in direct sunlight, this screen stays readable.
Audio’s solid too as the stereo speakers are tuned with Dolby Atmos. While the highs and mids are decent, it seems that its bass is a bit lacking for my taste. It is not the loudest out there, but it makes up for it with adequate clarity.
Add in the IR blaster and you’ve got a feature you don’t see often anymore. It’s great for controlling TVs or other gadgets.
For biometrics, you get an on-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock which are pretty snappy, being able to open the device the moment it registers my print or face.
On paper, the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra comes with a 108MP main sensor which sounds impressive. There’s also an 8MP ultrawide to give you some versatility. Up front, there’s a 13MP selfie shooter inside a clean-looking punch-hole.
It can generally take shots with near-accurate color reproduction, though there are some cases where it can come out a bit more saturated after you take the shot.
There are times when photos come out a little soft especially in low light conditions, but that’s to be expected. Nonetheless, it still covers a decent amount of dynamic range especially in bright environments.
It’s not the most capable camera setup out there, BUT it will do just fine for casual shots and social media sharing. For video recording, it shoots up to 4K at 60 frames per second at the rear while the front goes up to 4K at 30 fps.
You can see more of our shots right here.
Rear camera:
Front camera:
Now here’s where the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra really shines. It’s powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate chipset, which is a 4nm processor with a clock speed of up to 3.35GHz.
Paired with up to 12GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM, plus another 12GB of extended memory, this thing is like The Flash. You also get 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, which is super fast.
Gaming-wise, it supports up to 120FPS in games like PUBG Mobile and Pokémon Unite. It also comes with the Hyper Gaming Engine, Precise Touch Control, and SquadNet Boost for more stable and responsive gameplay.
Lighter games like Umamusume run great right out of the gate. Heavier titles such as Wuthering Waves and Persona5: The Phantom X might stutter a bit at the start, but once TECNO’s Hyperboost kicks in, things smooth out and stay stable.
The cooling system also helps as TECNO’s using a 12-layer structure with a big vapor chamber to keep temps down. They say it can drop the heat by about 3-degrees Celsius, which helps when you’re playing for longer periods.
If you’re interested in the numbers, here’s what we got from the device:
Running on HiOS 15 Special which is based on Android 15, the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra isn’t just about hardware. If you’ll notice, the new icons matches the overall aesthetic of the device. You have a wide range of choices to choose in customizations too.
It’s packed with a lot of AI-powered features that you’ll probably find handy whether you’re working, studying, or just browsing.
There’s the TECNO AI portal, where you can quickly access all your tools and shortcuts. Ask Ella is the built-in smart assistant that can help you schedule things, rewrite or summarize text, and more. The AI Call Assistant handles things like call translation, noise cancellation, auto answering, and call summaries, which is actually pretty cool if you’re taking calls on the go.
You’ve also got AI Writing tools to help clean up emails or generate content. And there’s Circle to Search where you just draw a circle around anything on the screen and it’ll pull up relevant results instantly.
For creatives, there’s AI Studio. You can use it to retouch photos, expand images, or even generate new visuals using AIGC Portrait 2.0, AI Eraser, and more. Everything’s built-in and easily accessible.
Battery life is another big win here. The POVA 7 Ultra packs a 6,000mAh battery, and based on the PCMark test, it lasts about 11 hours and 32 minutes. That’s a solid runtime, especially for a phone that’s pushing a 144Hz refresh rate.
Charging is quick too as you get 70W wired charging and 30W wireless, plus 10W reverse wired charging if you need to top up other devices like wireless earbuds and the like.
For connectivity, it’s got the works: dual SIM, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, and USB-C. One standout feature is something called Free Link. It lets you make calls and send messages peer-to-peer with no signal, within a 1 kilometer range. It’s super handy for outdoor use, events, or in areas with bad reception.
Now, we’ve come to one of the most important factors: the price. The TECNO POVA 7 Ultra has an SRP of PHP 16,999. There’s an Online First Sale exclusive on TikTok Shop available starting August 08-14 which is TECNO Super Brand Day. The POVA 7 Ultra will go for:
Pre-Orders:
Meta: http://bit.ly/3UVKNBP
TikTok：http://bit.ly/3GZiL5q
X：http://bit.ly/4lkUAfR 16
YTB: http://bit.ly/4lhuc6n
TikTok First Sale: https://bit.ly/POVA7UNTRA5G
Lazada: https://bit.ly/LZDPOVA7ULTRA
Starting August 8 to 21, users who pre-order the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra can get PHP 1,000 Off + freebies from the freebie policy. Buyers who use Sykro can enjoy additional 500PHP additional discount or Home Credit to enjoy up to 18 months 0% interest for PHP 24 per day.
For freebies, both online and offline, they are worth PHP 1,999 where users can get a POVA wireless powerbank (5000mAh), customised Dito UNLI PUBG Prepaid Gaming SIM card and 1 Special Edition PUBGM case card.
TECNO really went all-in with the POVA 7 Ultra. It’s made for gamers and power users, no question. Between the 144Hz AMOLED screen, the high-end Dimensity chip, the cooling system, and all the smart AI features, it covers a lot of ground. Even the camera, while not its strongest suit, is good enough for daily use.
What’s most impressive is how many features TECNO packed in here: wireless charging, built-in AI tools, Free Link, and a unique look that stands out. If you’re looking for a phone that can game hard, last all day, and still feel futuristic in daily use, the POVA 7 Ultra definitely fits the bill.
What we liked about it:
* Nice, futuristic design
* Decent chipset
* Competitive price point
What we did not like:
* Subpar camera system
* Lacking bass
TECNO POVA 7 Ultra specs:
6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED @ 2800 x 1260 pixels, 144Hz refresh rate, 460 ppi
1600 nits (typical), 4500 nits peak brightness
MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate 5G (4nm)
Octa-core, up to 3.35GHz
8GB (+8GB extended), 12GB (+12GB extended) LPDDR5X RAM
256GB UFS 4.0 storage
108MP main (Samsung HM6)
8MP ultrawide
13MP selfie shooter (punch hole notch)
Dual SIM
5G, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.4
GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
USB Type-C
NFC
Under display fingerprint sensor
IP64 dust and splash resistance
Dual stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos; IR blaster
HiOS 15 Special (Android 15)
6000mAh battery, 70W charging (wired), 30W wireless, 10W reverse wired
160.9 x 75.2 x 8.87 mm (dimensions)
201 grams
Geek Black, Geek White (colorways)
Apple, Asus, Cherry Mobile, Huawei, LG, Nokia, Oppo, Samsung, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, Lenovo, Infinix Mobile, Pocophone, Honor, iPhone, OnePlus, Tecno, Realme, HTC, Gionee, Kata, IQ00, Redmi, Razer, CloudFone, Motorola, Panasonic, TCL, Wiko
Best Android smartphones between PHP 20,000 - 25,000
Smartphones under PHP 10,000 in the Philippines
Smartphones under PHP 12K Philippines
Best smartphones for kids under PHP 7,000
Smartphones under PHP 15,000 in the Philippines
Best Android smartphones between PHP 15,000 - 20,000
Smartphones under PHP 20,000 in the Philippines
Most affordable 5G phones in the Philippines under PHP 20K
5G smartphones in the Philippines under PHP 16K