Tecno Pop 5 (BD2/BD2P) Price, Review And Specifications.

Tecno Pop 5 (BD2/BD2P) Quick Specs:

6.1" HD+ (1560×720) Drop-notch Display (Both).

282ppi, 19.5:9 Aspect Ratio (Both).

Unisoc SC7731E Chipset (BD2).

MediaTek MT6580 Chipset (BD2P).

Android 10 (Go Edition).

Dual-lens (5MP+0.3MP) Back Camera (Both).

Single-lens (5MP) Front Camera (Both).

1GB of RAM (BD2)

2GB of RAM (BD2P).

16GB Internal Storage (BD2).

32GB Internal Storage (BD2P)

Face Unlock (Both).

Rear-mounted Fingerprint reader (Both).

Network Supported (3G) (Both).

4,000mAh Battery (BD2).

5,000mAh Battery (BD2P).

Price: 

1GB/16GB: 46,000 Naira, KSh 8,600.

2GB/32GB: 53,000 Naira, KSh 10,800.

Tecno Pop belongs to the segment of entry-level smartphones phones. And it's meant for those who are looking for a low-cost android phone to buy. As a result of its cheap price, however, this model of Tecno phone is often equipped with basic components and features.

Therefore, like the Tecno Pop 4 and previous models, Tecno Pop 5 also packed basic components and features. In fact, most of the features of the Tecno Pop 4 are also present in the Pop 5.

Still, compared to the earlier phone, Tecno Pop 5 wear a more recent and stylish looks. The latest phone spots a drop-notched display and a hair's bigger 6.1-inch screen. The display also features a 720p or HD+ resolution, instead of FWVGA resolution like that of the Pop 4.

But, as i said earlier, and except for its prettier looks and 720p display, almost all other features of the Pop 5 are like those of the Pop 4.

For instance, despite that the latest phone features dual-lens back camera and has a 5-megapixel front camera (which is a little lower than the 8-megapixel front camera of the earlier phone), the main back camera of the phone still has a 5-megapixel sensor like the single back camera of the Pop 4.

Also like its predecessor, Tecno Pop 5 is powered by 1.3Ghz quad-core CPU and it's also running on the Go Edition of the Android 10 OS alongside the previous version of the Tecno HiOS.

This phone also doesn't support 4G (LTE) networks, i.e., Tecno Pop 5 is a 3G phone and it comes with dual Nano SIM card slots.

Tecno Pop 5 Is Available In Two Variants:

However, unlike the Tecno Pop 4 that is available in one variant, Tecno Pop 5 is available in two variants; and these are Tecno Pop 5 (BD2) and Tecno Pop 5 (BD2P). Tecno Pop 5 (BD2) is the base variant and it is fitted with  Unidoc SC7731e processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB inbuilt storage and 4,000mAh battery. On the other hand, Tecno Pop 5 (BD2P) is the standard variant and it packed a slightly better MediaTek MT6580 processor, an higher RAM of 2GB, 32GB storage capacity and a stronger 5,000mAh battery like the Tecno Pop 4.

Price And Colours:

The price of the 1GB/16GB variant of the Pop 5 is around 46,000 naira while the standard or 2GB/32GB variant attract a little higher price of 53,000 naira. This phone comes in three colour options of Obsidian Black, Ice Blue and Ice Lake Green.

Verdict: Though, Tecno Pop 5 is not a sluggish phone, yet, when you compared its performance to those of other entry-level phones with better CPUs, the phone is slightly on the slow side. Therefore, you'll have to be patient with the Pop 5, especially, the 1GB/16GB variant.

By the way, Itel P37 is another contender in this category, you might want to check it out.

Note: Tecno Pop 5 Go (BD1) is another variant of the Tecno Pop 5. This variant even attract lower price, compared to the base variant of the Tecno Pop 5.

Tecno Pop 5 Wear A More Recent Looks:

Tecno has ditched the dated design of the Pop 4 (and earlier Pop phones) for a more stylish looks in Pop 5. Nonetheless, the latest phone still look like the Pro version of the Tecno Pop 4.

In other words, instead of having thick bezel (like the Pop 4), Tecno Pop 5 sports a drop notch on the top of its screen. The bottom bezel on the latest Pop also looks slimmer and has curved edges. These few modifications make Pop 5 to have an higher screen-to-body ratio than the Pop 4. And they also make the phone to look more trendy and stylish than its predecessor. 

Still, like that of its predecessor, the chassis of the Pop 5 is made of plastic, and its back cover also has a semi-glossy finish. But the back cover of the latest Pop is decorated with different design pattern. Also as i mentioned earlier, Tecno Pop 5 comes with dual back camera.

Yet, in spite of its dual back camera, the camera bump on this phone still look like that of the Pop 4.

In addition to that, the single speaker of the phone is also located towards the bottom end of its back cover. And its fingerprint reader is also found in the same spot as that of the Pop 4. All these make the back of the Pop 5 to still look like that of the Pop 4.

Apart from those ones mentioned above, other visible features of the Tecno Pop 5 are also exactly like those of the Pop 4. For instance, the 3.5mm audio Jack of the Pop 5 is located on its top edge. Which also means that you only have the microphone and microUSB port on the bottom edge of the phone.

Also, like the Pop 4, you'll have to open the back cover of the Pop 5 before you can have access to its dual Nano SIM card slots and MicroSD card slot.

And in spite of its higher screen-to-body ratio, the 157x75.7x9.55m dimensions of the Pop 5 shows that the phone has almost the same size and the same thickness as the Pop 4.

However, the latest Pop is on the heavier side. While the earlier phone has a weight of 186g, the 1GB/16GB variant of the Pop 5 weigh 194g, which also implies that the 2GB/32GB variant of the latest phone will be slightly heavier than that, due to its bigger battery.

Better Display Than The Pop 4:

On the specs sheet, the 6.1-inch screen of the Pop 5 is said to have a resolution of 1560x720 or a pixel density of 282ppi. Which means the screen ought to be much clearer than the 6.0-inch screen of the Pop 4 which has a resolution of 960x480 or a pixel density of 179ppi.

Though, for a phone within this price range, the screen of the Pop 5 is okay, it even looks better than that of the Pop 4, but i doubt that the screen has a pixel density of 282ppi. Because, compared to those of other phones with the same 720p resolution (or similar pixel density), Tecno Pop 5's display is not that sharp or clear. The white balance of the screen also has bluish tint; which may affect those people with sensitive eyes. Fortunately, the phone comes with Eye Care mode; which masks the bluish tint and gives the screen a more warmer tone (or colour).

Almost The Same Camera:

Like the rest of its features, the camera systems on the Tecno Pop 5 are also basic. Therefore, the pictures taken with the phone's cameras can only be called decent.

Tecno Pop 5 comes with a dual-lens back camera, while the primary back camera is fitted with a 5-megapixel sensor, the sensor inside the secondary back camera is not disclosed. And just like its primary back camera, the front-facing camera of the phone also has a 5-megapixel sensor. 

Also like those of the earlier phone, the front back and cameras of the Pop 5 are capable of recording only 720p videos, at 30fps (frame per second).

Same Processing Power And Same Software:

While Tecno Pop 5 (BD2P) is fitted with the MediaTek MT6580 CPU, the same processor that powered Tecno Pop 4, Tecno Pop 5 (BD2) , on the other hand, comes with a different Unisoc (Spreadtrum) SC7731E processor.

Though both of them are low tier Quad-core CPUs, with the same maximum clock speed of 1.3GHz.

But Unisoc SC7731e is a 32-Bit Cortex-A7 chipset, while MT6580 is a 64-bit Cortex-A53 chipset.

Each of them is also fitted with different GPUs. While the MT6580 is fitted with the Mali-T400 MP2 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), Unisoc SC7731e is fitted with  Mali-T820 MP1 GPU. Still, both of these GPUs are suitable for light games.

Both variants of the Tecno Pop 5 are also running on the Android 10 (Go Edition) OS like their predecessor. Also running on top of the OS is the Tecno HiOS 6.2v; which also came with the earlier phone.

Whether standard or base variant, the internal storage of the Pop 5 can still be expanded, via microSD card, up to 64GB.

The 2GB/32GB Variant Offers The Same Battery:

Apart from its pretty looks, another selling point of the Pop 5 is its high battery capacities. As a i said earlier, the 2GB/32GB variant of the Pop 5 is fitted with a 5000mAh battery, while the base or 1GB/16GB variant of the phone comes with a 4000mAh battery. Yet, the 4000mAh battery of the base variant is still more than okay.

But, like others in these segment, Tecno Pop 5 comes with a 5W charger, instead of 10W charger that usually accompany midrange and other slightly expensive entry-level android phones. So, it might take you about 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes (depends on the variant) to fully charge this phone's battery when its drops to 1 per cent.

Full Specifications Of The Tecno Pop 5 (BD2/BD2P):

GENERAL

Maker: Tecno Mobile.

Name: Tecno Pop 5 (BD2/BD2P).

Year Announced: April, 2021.

Dimensions: 157x75.7x9.55mm.

Weight: 194g.   

Colour: Obsidian Black, Ice Blue & Ice Lake Green.

DISPLAY
Screen Type: IPS-LCD Capacitive Touchscreen.

Size and Resolution: 6.1-inch, HD+ (1560x720) pixels.

Aspect ratio & Pixel Densities: 19.5:9, 282PPI.

Protection N/a.

PERFORMANCE

Chipsept:

MediaTek MT6580, 28nm Cortex-A53 Quad-Core Processor, @1.3GHz. (BD2P).

Unisoc (Spreadtrum) SC7731E, 32nm Cortex-A7 Quad-Core Processor, @1.3GHz. (BD2).

GPU: Arm Mali-T820 MP1 /Mali-400 MP2

RAM: 1GB/2GB.

Operating System: Android 10 (Go Edition), HiOS 6.2.

STORAGE

Internal Storage: 16GB/32GB.

Micro-SD card slot: Yes, up to 64GB.

SIM AND NETWORK

SIM: Nano, Dual SIM slots.

Network:  GSM, WCDMA, HSPA+.

CAMERA

Rear camera: Dual-lens; 5MP+0.3MP, LED Flash.

Front camera: Single-lens, 5MP.

VIDEO RECORDING:

Rear Cameras: 720p @ 30fps.

Front Camera: 720p @ 30fps.

CONNECTIVITY

3.5mm Audio Jack: Yes.

MicroUSB port: Yes.

Google Assistant Button: N/a.

USB Type-C Port: N/a.

Lightning Connector: N/a.

Others: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, HotSpots, USB-OTG.

SENSORS AND BIOMETRIC

Security: Face Unlock, Rear-mounted Fingerprint Reader.

Sensors: Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, G-sensor, Accelerometer And

Barometer sensor.

Others: GPS, Location (Geo, Glonass), Radio.

BATTERY

Battery Capacity: 5,000mAh /4,000mAh.

Qi Wireless-Charging: N/a.

Fast Charging: No.