Price tags for smartphones have only been going up since the AI-driven memory crisis began. Not only are smartphone manufacturers launching devices at ridiculous price points, but those prices also get revised a few months after launch. This has left many buyers confused and debating whether it's even worth upgrading to a new smartphone in 2026. The new Pova 8 (from Tecno) is now attempting to do the impossible, which is to sell a device which was launched as a budget smartphone last year (Rs. 12,999 for the 8GB + 128GB option) at a staggering Rs. 29,999, which is basically mid-range territory.

The brand believes it is justifying this higher price by adding a dot-matrix display to the back and adopting a new design. But as with every new non-premium smartphone launched this year, companies have trimmed things elsewhere. While the Pova 8 gets a bolder design and an extra display, its core hardware remains the same. But can it compete with the new devices from OnePlus and Motorola this year? Read on to find out!

Read complete Pova 8 Review

Pova 8 Summary

The Pova 8 gets a youth-centric design with a cyber-theme. Despite being made primarily of plastic, the phone still manages an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. Its high-capacity battery does make the phone heavy and bulky to hold.

The phone has a basic IPS LCD panel, which lacks sufficient brightness and is not clearly visible outdoors. The Pova 8 also lacks stereo speakers. The single speaker is sufficiently loud but does not sound rich.

HiOS is well-optimised to run on the budget hardware that powers the phone. It looks quite snazzy and resembles Apple’s iOS 26. Performance is one of the other areas where the phone isn’t at its best. The 6nm chipset just isn’t as powerful for gaming even though the phone is equipped with a VC cooling system.

Camera performance is average at best, you can get decent images in daylight and low-light but video recording is mediocre. Battery life is good for casual users. Charging speeds are fast given the high-capacity battery.

Pova 8 Price in India

Pova 8 price in India starts from ₹ 29,999. The lowest price of Pova 8 is ₹ 29,999 at Flipkart on 9th September 2026.

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Available Variants

6GB RAM

128GB STORAGE

Pova 8 (6GB,128GB)

8GB RAM

128GB STORAGE

Pova 8 (8GB,128GB)

Pova 8 Full Specifications

General

Brand	Tecno
Model	Pova 8
Price in India	₹29,999
Release date	11th June 2026
Launched in India	Yes
Form factor	Touchscreen
Body type	Polycarbonate
Dimensions (mm)	165.66 x 78.46 x 8.80
Weight (g)	225.00
IP rating	IP64
Battery capacity (mAh)	8000
Removable battery	No
Fast charging	45W Fast Charging
Wireless charging	No
Colours	16 Bit White, Plasma Orange, Terminal Green

Display

Refresh Rate	144 Hz
Resolution Standard	FHD+
Screen size (inches)	6.76
Touchscreen	Yes
Resolution	1080x2344 pixels
Pixels per inch (PPI)	381

Hardware

Processor make	MediaTek Dimensity 7100
RAM	6GB, 8GB
Internal storage	128GB
Expandable storage	No

Camera

Rear camera	50-megapixel
Rear flash	Yes
Front camera	13-megapixel
No. of Front Cameras	1

Software

Operating system	Android 16
Skin	HiOS 16

Connectivity

Wi-Fi	Yes
Wi-Fi standards supported	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
GPS	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes
NFC	Yes
Infrared	Yes
USB Type-C	Yes

Sensors

Face unlock	Yes
Fingerprint sensor	Yes
In-Display Fingerprint Sensor	Yes
Compass/ Magnetometer	Yes
Proximity sensor	Yes
Accelerometer	Yes
Ambient light sensor	Yes
Gyroscope	Yes