The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Tecno Pova Neo and the Infinix Hot 12 Play. Both promise impressive features at affordable prices, but which one truly delivers?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Tecno Pova Neo edges out the Infinix Hot 12 Play thanks to its faster charging and slightly more powerful chipset. However, the Infinix Hot 12 Play's potential Unisoc processor variant could offer a performance boost, making it a close call. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 09 | 2022, May 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 09 | Available. Released 2022, May 30 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 171.4 x 77.3 x 9.1 mm (6.75 x 3.04 x 0.36 in) | 171 x 78 x 8.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 209 g (7.37 oz) |
| | Splash resistant | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density) | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~259 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.82 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 480 nits | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) - X6816Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - X6816C |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6765V/CB Helio G37 (12 nm) - X6816Unisoc T610 (12 nm) - X6816C |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 - X6816Mali-G52 MP2 - X6816C |
| OS | Android 11, HIOS 7.6 | Android 11, XOS 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF
Secondary unknown camera | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | Dual-LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | Yes |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 6000 mAh | 6000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Geek blue, Powehi | Racing Black, Horizon Blue, Daylight Green, Champagne Gold |
| Models | LE6, LE6h | X6816C, X6816 |
| Price | About 160 EUR | About 60 EUR |
Tecno Pova Neo
- Faster Charging (18W)
- Slightly More Powerful Chipset (Helio G25)
- Larger Screen (Likely 6.8 inches)
- Generally Good Value
- Smaller Battery Capacity (Likely 5000mAh)
- Average Camera Performance
- Plastic Build Quality
Infinix Hot 12 Play
- Longer Battery Life (Likely 6000mAh)
- Potential Unisoc Processor Variant for Improved Performance
- Affordable Price
- Large Display
- Slow Charging (10W)
- Helio G37 Chipset (Potentially Slower)
- Average Camera Performance
- Plastic Build Quality
Display Comparison
Both phones likely feature large, HD+ displays, prioritizing screen real estate over high resolution. Expect vibrant colors and decent viewing angles, suitable for media consumption. The Tecno Pova Neo might have a slightly brighter display, but this is speculative without specific brightness measurements.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely similar on both devices, featuring a primary sensor and potentially a depth sensor. Image quality will be adequate in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance will be a challenge. Expect both to offer basic camera features like portrait mode and HDR.
Performance
The Tecno Pova Neo's Helio G25 offers a modest performance advantage over the Infinix Hot 12 Play's Helio G37. However, the Infinix Hot 12 Play's potential Unisoc T610 variant could significantly close the gap, potentially even surpassing the Pova Neo in certain benchmarks. Expect both phones to handle basic tasks smoothly but struggle with demanding games.
Battery Life
The Infinix Hot 12 Play boasts a larger battery capacity (likely 6000mAh) and slower 10W charging, prioritizing longevity over speed. The Tecno Pova Neo has a smaller battery (likely 5000mAh) but supports faster 18W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Tecno Pova Neo is ideal for users prioritizing faster charging and a bit more processing power for everyday tasks and light gaming. The Infinix Hot 12 Play is a good choice for those seeking a long-lasting battery and a potentially more efficient processor (depending on the variant), prioritizing battery life over raw speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Tecno Pova Neo likely has a slight edge in gaming due to its slightly more powerful chipset, but both phones will struggle with demanding titles. Lowering graphics settings is recommended.
❓ Is the Infinix Hot 12 Play's Unisoc variant significantly faster?
Potentially, yes. The Unisoc T610 is a capable processor and could offer a noticeable performance improvement over the Helio G37, making it a more competitive option.
