I have used the Phantom V Flip 5G for many months now. As such, I have a special interest in its successor, the Phantom V Flip2. I have had some hands-on time with the Flip2 and share some photos and my thoughts about it in this review article.
Actually, this review article will sound more like a comparison of the two devices. And that makes sense. Owners of the original V Flip will like to know whether the Phantom V Flip2 is a worthy upgrade.
Table of Contents
Phantom V Flip vs Phantom V Flip2
The V Flip2 is mostly the same as its predecessor. The dimensions are similar and it weighs only 2g more.
The big inner display is the same size and has the same features. There is practically and technically no difference. However, the crease is less visible and noticeable on the Flip2, when compared to the Flip. I really like that.
On the inside, the Flip2 has a Dimensity 8020 chipset which is like 99% the same as the Dimensity 8050 in the V Flip. In some respects, it is a 1% downgrade. Not that I noticed it in use. You won’t notice any difference in performance either.
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The GPU in both phones is the same. The RAM is the same. And the built-in storage is the same.
The selfie camera is the same 32MP lens in the older model. Other similarities include stereo speakers, lack of 3.5mm headphone jack, side fingerprint scanner, etc.
Now, on to the differences. There is a significantly bigger battery – 4720mAh up from the 4000mAh in the V Flip. Charging standards has also been bumped up from 45W to 70W, so the phone will charge faster.
The rear camera configuration is another area of difference. Gone is the 64MP wide angle lens + 13MP ultra-wide lens that we have in the older device. In its place is a technically more potent 50MP wide angle lens + 50MP ultrawide angle lens combination.
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We will have to wait for real life camera samples to tell whether the Flip2 shoots better photos and records better videos than its older sibling does.
The Cover Display is the major difference
Now, let me get to the cover display, because it is easily the biggest and most visible difference between the V Flip and the Flip2. Let me kick this section off by saying that despite the odd naming scheme, both devices are 5G smartphones.
The Phantom V Flip2 has a 3.64-inch AMOLED rectangular cover display with 1056×1066 pixels resolution. It has a layer of Gorilla Glass protecting it. This is the biggest visual difference between the two.
With a rectangular cover display, the advantage is that finally we have a display that is really usable. The circular cover display on the V Flip is as useless as displays come. So, I dived into seeing how useful the new cover display is.
It is gorgeous and great! I was able to run different apps on it – YouTube, messages, email, camera, name it. When you launch an app on it, you get this notice that says that the app may have compatibility issues resulting in the phone heating, incomplete display of content, unavailability of some features, etc.
You have an option to set it to not remind you again of that warning or notice, so that apps launch directly. In the very short time I had the phone to play with it, none of the possible side effects happened. I can’t guarantee that with prolonged usage, they won’t show up. The warning is there for a reason, you know.
Of course, the new improved cover screen also displays time, date, weather, and the other usual stuff you expect to find on a phone display. I really do like this new cover display. It makes the Phantom V Flip2 a much better clamshell foldable than its predecessor.
What of software updates?
TECNO has gotten better at rolling out software updates to its smartphones in recent years. However, they are pretty slow at executing those updates. The Phantom V Flip from last year is still running Android 13 till today, despite the promise of software updates. At this point, I have given up.
If you are buying the Phantom V Flip2, buy it for the value that it has right now and don’t get your hopes up about software updates, so you don’t feel disappointed if they show up late or don’t show up at all. It runs HiOS 14 based on Android 14 out of the box. Take it like that and treat any updates it may get as treats or bonuses.
Is it worth upgrading?
Personally, seeing as the cover display is the only real upgrade of the Phantom V Flip2 over its predecessor, and as an owner of the said predecessor, I am personally not convinced that the V Flip2 is a worthy upgrade.
The processor is essentially the same. RAM is the same. The bigger battery and faster charging are solid improvements though, but with the bigger cover display, I am not sure that battery life will be significantly better. But time and testing will tell on that.
However, if you are looking to own a clamshell foldable and don’t want to rob a bank or spend your house rent money getting one, the Phantom V Flip2 is the most affordable foldable phone you can buy in 2024. For example, it is a few hundred thousand naira more affordable than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6.
As at today when I checked, the V Flip2 costs ₦1,041,000. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 costs ₦1,670,000. You can expect the Z Flip6 to cost even more than that. Another competitor – which is really not a competitor is the Infinix Zero Flip. It is a carbon copy of the Phantom V Flip2, so…. Anyway, it costs ₦1,065,000, just about ₦20,000 costlier than the V Flip2.
Author: Mister Mobility
Master storyteller and founder of Mobility Nigeria, Mister Mobility, has used and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.
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