If you’re curious about the coming wave of ultra-thin phones but not keen on paying premium-flagship prices, there’s already a compelling alternative. Tecno’s new Pova Slim is impossibly slender, genuinely all-day durable on a charge, and costs about $200. It’s the rare budget phone that nails the headline feature—thinness—without flubbing the basics.
Tecno, a brand that sells mainly across Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe, built the Pova Slim around a 6mm chassis yet still squeezed in a 5,160mAh battery. That’s more capacity than many mid-range competitors and even some slimmer flagships. Early availability pegged pricing at INR 19,999, converting to just under the $200–$230 bracket depending on market.
A wafer-thin design without the battery trade-off
How thin is 6mm in practice? Most modern flagships sit around 7–8mm, so this thing feels almost blade-like in the hand. Yet Tecno didn’t settle for a token 4,000mAh cell. At 5,160mAh, the Pova Slim matches or surpasses what many mainstream phones carry, helping it avoid the familiar ultrathin pitfall: frequent top-ups.
In day-to-day use, that capacity, paired with an efficient 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 6400, means a reliable full day for heavy users and a day and a half for lighter routines like messaging, social apps, maps, and streaming. MediaTek’s 6nm process emphasizes power efficiency, and it shows—screen-on time is competitive for the class, and standby drain is modest.
Everyday performance hits the essentials
The Dimensity 6400 is a sensible choice at this price: quick enough for daily apps, with 8GB of RAM to keep multitasking smooth and 128GB or 256GB of storage to avoid the “week three” space crunch. You won’t buy this to max out 3D games, but it’s more than capable for the way most people actually use their phones.
Up front is a 6.78-inch display that plays to the Pova Slim’s strengths: a tall, immersive canvas that still feels featherlight. The 13-megapixel selfie camera handles video calls and casual snaps fine, while the rear setup centers on a single 50-megapixel sensor. The design teases a twin-module layout, but only one is active; an LED light strip threads between the housings for notifications and flair.
Design cues that may foreshadow pricier phones
The back visor is a smart touch—think a blend of Google’s bar aesthetic with the playful lighting ideas popularized by Nothing—delivering instant visual identity. It also subtly echoes rumors that Apple’s iPhone 17 Air will adopt a slim visor-like silhouette. Well-sourced Apple watchers and supply chain chatter point to an even thinner “Air” model, potentially near the 5mm mark, albeit at a much higher price and likely eSIM-only in certain regions.
That context makes the Pova Slim more interesting: it democratizes ultra-thin design before the inevitable premium wave. We’ve already seen established brands chase the “thin-and-light without anxiety” brief with devices like the Galaxy S25 Edge. Tecno’s entry shows the concept can reach budget shoppers, not just luxury buyers.
The fine print: what you give up at $200
No shockers here: to hit this price, Tecno prioritizes look-and-battery over bleeding-edge extras. Expect a single main camera without optical stabilization, likely average low-light performance, and no wireless charging. Formal IP water-resistance ratings and robust stereo speakers are not guaranteed in this bracket.
Software support is another consideration. In this tier, brands often promise fewer Android version upgrades than top-shelf rivals. Industry trackers have long noted that update policies vary widely outside the premium class, so buyers should check local commitments. Network support is region-specific as well; Tecno primarily targets markets outside the U.S., and 5G band coverage reflects that focus.
Why this matters beyond price
Counterpoint Research and IDC have both highlighted how budget and mid-tier models drive the bulk of shipments in emerging markets. When design leadership shows up at $200, it nudges the entire market forward. The Pova Slim proves that “slim” doesn’t have to mean “sacrificed battery,” and that’s likely to influence competitors across price bands.
Bottom line
If ultra-thin hardware is what’s drawing you to the next iPhone, pause and look here first. Tecno’s Pova Slim delivers the eye-catching silhouette and the all-day endurance—without the premium sticker. It’s not a spec monster, but as a $200 everyday phone that looks and lasts far above its weight, it lands exactly where it counts.