Tecno POVA Curve 2 5G Review

Quick Summary

The Tecno POVA Curve 2 5G is an upper mid-range 5G smartphone launched in India on 13/02/2026. It combines a 6.78-inch curved 144 Hz AMOLED display with the MediaTek Dimensity 7100 chipset and an unusually large 8000 mAh battery, in a body only 7.42 mm thick. It comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB storage, currently priced at ₹31,999 and ₹33,999. A 45 W charger is included, and the phone is rated IP64 for dust and splash resistance. It is aimed at buyers who want a stylish, long-lasting phone with a premium-looking screen.

Design & Build Quality

The POVA Curve 2 5G measures 162.68 × 77.15 × 7.42 mm and weighs 195 g. Fitting an 8000 mAh cell into a body this slim and light is the phone's main design achievement, because most phones with batteries above 6000 mAh are noticeably thicker and heavier. The curved display edges add to the slim look in the hand.

The back is polycarbonate, so it avoids the fragility of a glass back, though it will not feel as premium as glass. Three colours are offered: Melting Silver, Storm Titanium and Mystic Purple.

The IP64 rating means protection against dust and against water splashes from any direction. That is useful in monsoon rain or a wet kitchen, but it does not cover immersion, so the phone should not be dipped in water. Buyers who want full submersion protection need to look at phones rated IP68.

Display

The screen is a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 × 2364 pixels, giving about 429 pixels per inch. That is sharp enough for text and video at this size. AMOLED panels produce deep blacks and strong contrast, which makes films and photos look richer than on an LCD screen.

The refresh rate goes up to 144 Hz, which makes scrolling and gaming animations look very smooth, and the curved edges make the display feel larger and more modern. The panel is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, a reasonable level of protection against everyday scratches. The brightness figure listed for the panel is 4500 nits, and AMOLED screens of this kind are generally easy to read outdoors in Indian sunlight. Buyers should check it in a shop under bright light before deciding.

One practical note on curved displays: the edges can sometimes pick up accidental touches and reflections, and screen protectors and cases fit less snugly. The box includes a protective case, which helps at the start.

Performance

The MediaTek Dimensity 7100 is a 6 nm octa-core chipset, with four Cortex-A78 cores at 2.4 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz, paired with a Mali-G610 MC2 GPU. It is a capable mid-range processor that handles daily tasks such as UPI payments, social media, streaming and multitasking without strain, and it should manage popular games at sensible settings. It is not built for the heaviest graphics settings.

Memory is a strong point. The phone has 8 GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage in 128 GB or 256 GB versions, which helps apps open quickly and keeps multitasking smooth. There is no microSD card slot, so the storage you choose at purchase is final. Buyers who store many videos or large games should consider the 256 GB version.

Camera

The rear camera setup is a 50 MP main camera with an f/1.7 aperture, supported by a 2 MP secondary camera. The wide aperture helps in low light and indoor scenes. The 2 MP lens is typically used for depth information in portraits and adds little as a stand-alone camera, so this is effectively a single main-camera phone. There is no dedicated ultra-wide or telephoto lens.

The front camera is 13 MP with an f/2.2 aperture, which is enough for video calls and everyday selfies. Video can be recorded at 2K 30 fps and at Full HD 30 or 60 fps. The video options are adequate, though the phone does not list 4K recording.

Battery & Charging

At 8000 mAh, the battery is far larger than the 5000 mAh cells common in this price band. It should take a typical user comfortably through a full day and often into a second day, and heavy users who stream and game can still expect to reach the evening with charge left. Charging is 45 W, and the 45 W charger is supplied in the box. A battery of this size will take noticeably longer to fill than a 5000 mAh cell, even with 45 W charging, so overnight charging remains the easiest routine.

Software

The phone runs Android 16 with Tecno's HiOS interface. HiOS adds its own features, themes and pre-installed apps on top of Android. Buyers who like a plain, uncluttered interface should check the pre-installed apps when they set the phone up, and remove what they do not need.

Connectivity

The phone supports 5G and 4G VoLTE on dual Nano SIMs, with Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.2 and GPS. The USB Type-C port supports OTG. An infrared blaster is included, so the phone can control a TV or air conditioner. NFC is not available, which means no tap-to-pay and no tap-to-pair with accessories, a real gap for buyers who use contactless payments. There is no Wi-Fi 6 either.

Audio

The phone has stereo speakers, which give a wider and louder sound than a single speaker when watching video or playing games without earphones.

Features Assessment

The most useful features are the 8000 mAh battery, the curved 144 Hz AMOLED display and the stereo speakers. The in-display optical fingerprint sensor lets you unlock the phone without a visible sensor on the back. The infrared blaster is a handy extra. The missing NFC and the IP64 rating, rather than IP68, are the main feature gaps at this price.

Ease of Use

At 195 g, the phone is light for a device with an 8000 mAh battery, and the 7.42 mm body feels comfortable in the hand. The 6.78-inch screen is large, so one-handed use needs a shifted grip. The curved edges can occasionally cause an accidental touch. The charger, cable and a protective case come in the box, so a new buyer can start using the phone straight away. The manufacturer warranty is 1 year.

Value for Money

The phone is priced at ₹31,999 for 8 GB + 128 GB and ₹33,999 for 8 GB + 256 GB. The price has gone up since launch, and at this level it competes with phones that offer more advanced chipsets or IP68 protection. What sets the POVA Curve 2 5G apart is the combination of an 8000 mAh battery, a curved AMOLED display and a very slim body, which few rivals match. Buyers who value those three things will find the price fair. Buyers who want NFC, top gaming performance or full water resistance may be better served by other phones. The extra ₹2,000 for 256 GB is reasonable, given that there is no card slot.

Who Should Buy It?

• Buyers who want very long battery life in a slim, light phone.
• People who want a curved AMOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate.
• Video and music users who value stereo speakers and a bright screen.
• Buyers who want a charger and protective case included in the box.

Who Should Consider Alternatives?

• Buyers who rely on NFC for contactless payments should look at phones that include it.
• Users who want full water resistance should look for an IP68 rating.
• Photography-focused buyers who want an ultra-wide or telephoto lens should look at multi-camera phones.
• Heavy gamers who want a faster processor at this price should compare performance-focused phones.