Tecno POP X
Tecno POP X Review (2026): The Best Budget Phone Under ₹9,000?
We put the Tecno POP X through its paces — display, battery, camera, gaming, and everyday use. Here's our honest verdict on whether this ₹8,999 phone is actually worth your money.
Budget phones in India have always been a compromise — you either get a good display or a good battery, rarely both. The Tecno POP X, launched in March 2026, breaks that pattern. At just ₹8,999 on Amazon, it offers a 120Hz HD+ display, 5,000mAh battery, IP64 protection, and even a no-network communication feature — things you'd normally see on phones costing ₹15,000 or more.
We tested the Tecno POP X for two weeks across WhatsApp, YouTube, casual gaming, photography, and outdoor use. This is our full, honest review — no sugarcoating, no hype.
The 6.74-inch HD+ IPS LCD panel with 120Hz refresh rate is the first thing you'll notice. At this price, most phones offer 60Hz — which makes scrolling look choppy. The 120Hz on the POP X makes everything feel noticeably smoother, whether you're scrolling Instagram or playing games.
Brightness is adequate for indoor use and manageable outdoors in the shade. Under direct afternoon sunlight it can get a little harder to read, but that's expected at this price. Colors are warm and punchy — great for watching YouTube Shorts and Reels. Overall, the display punches well above its price tag.
The phone runs on the Unisoc T7250 (12nm) paired with 4GB of RAM. This isn't a gaming powerhouse — and it doesn't pretend to be. For everyday tasks like calls, WhatsApp, YouTube, Google Maps, and light social media, the POP X handles everything smoothly without heating up.
We tested BGMI on Low settings — it ran at a stable 30fps with occasional stutters during intense team fights. Free Fire ran more comfortably. If you're a heavy gamer, this isn't your phone. But for students, senior citizens, or anyone who wants a reliable daily driver, the performance is more than enough.
The ELLA AI assistant with Indian language support is a genuinely useful addition — it can understand Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and other regional languages for voice commands, making it accessible for first-time smartphone users across India.
The 5,000mAh battery is a highlight. In our testing, moderate use — about 3–4 hours of screen-on time, calls, music, and messaging — easily lasted a full day with 20–30% remaining. Heavy users can comfortably get through a day without anxiety.
The 15W charging takes roughly 1.5–2 hours for a full charge. It's not the fastest, but for a phone at this price, it's acceptable. The charger is included in the box, which is a plus.
The 13MP rear camera takes decent photos in good daylight — colours are vivid, and detail is reasonable for social media use. However, in low light the photos get noisy quickly, and the dynamic range is limited. Don't expect DSLR-like bokeh or night photography.
The 8MP front camera is solid for video calls and selfies in good lighting. It softens skin slightly — which most users actually prefer for selfies. Outdoor selfies in daylight look genuinely good for an under-₹9K phone.
Bottom line: The camera is good enough for WhatsApp, Instagram, and memories. If photography is your priority, consider stepping up to the ₹12,000–₹15,000 range.
The most unique thing about the POP X is its "No Network Communication" feature — it allows walkie-talkie style calls and text messages between nearby Tecno POP X users up to 1.5km away, without any SIM card, Wi-Fi, or mobile data. This works via Bluetooth mesh networking.
This is genuinely useful in places with poor signal — rural areas, hills, construction sites, or large campuses. It's not a gimmick — it works as advertised. If someone in your family or friend group also has a Tecno POP X, this feature becomes a practical, daily-use tool.
The Tecno POP X has an IP64 rating — that means protection against dust and water splashes from any direction. This is extremely rare at under ₹9,000. Most phones in this range skip waterproofing entirely.
Tecno also claims the phone has passed 25,000+ drop tests. We dropped it a few times onto a tiled floor (accidentally and intentionally) and it survived without a scratch. The plastic back has a nice matte texture that doesn't feel cheap and resists fingerprints well.
- 120Hz display — rare under ₹9K
- IP64 waterproof + 25K drop tests
- Strong 5,000mAh all-day battery
- No-Network Communication is genuinely useful
- Android 15 — latest OS out of the box
- ELLA AI in Indian languages
- USB-C + 3.5mm jack + IR blaster
- Expandable storage support
- 4G only — no 5G support
- Camera struggles in low light
- Not suitable for heavy gaming
- No-Network feature needs other POP X users
- 15W charging is average
- HD+ (not Full HD) display
We compared the POP X with the two most popular alternatives in the same price range:
| Feature | Tecno POP X Our Pick | Redmi A4 | Samsung Galaxy A06 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹8,999 | ₹8,499 | ₹9,499 |
| Display | 6.74" 120Hz HD+ | 6.88" 90Hz HD+ | 6.7" 60Hz HD+ |
| Battery | 5,000mAh 15W | 5,000mAh 10W | 5,000mAh 15W |
| Waterproof | ✅ IP64 | ❌ None | ❌ None |
| Rear Camera | 13MP | 13MP | 50MP |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Unique Feature | No-Network Calls | — | — |
The Samsung A06 has a better camera, but it lacks waterproofing, has only 60Hz, and costs more. The Redmi A4 is slightly cheaper but gives up waterproofing and runs on older Android 14. The POP X wins on overall value.
Check the latest price on Amazon India — deals change daily. Lock in the best price now.
🛒 Buy Tecno POP X on Amazon India →⚡ OtakuFinds is an Amazon Associate. We earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.