Tecno Pova Curve 2 hands-on: Massive battery in a surprisingly slim package

Tecno has launched the Pova Curve 2 in India, and it's immediately clear what the phone's main selling point is: that massive 8,000mAh battery. But unlike many other phones with huge batteries that tend to be bulky and heavy, Tecno has managed to squeeze this power plant into an impressively slim 7.4mm body that weighs just under 200 grams.

The Pova Curve 2 comes in three colors - Mystic Purple, Melting Silver (the version we're looking at), and Storm Titanium. You can choose between 8GB RAM with either 128GB or 256GB storage. The starting price is INR 27,999, which converts to about €258 or £221. In the box, you get a case, a 45W charger, and a USB-A to USB-C cable.

What's particularly impressive about this battery is that it's not using silicon-carbon chemistry, which is often found in ultra-large capacity batteries. Instead, Tecno has used more conventional battery technology while still achieving this massive capacity in such a thin form factor. It's the kind of engineering achievement that makes you do a double-take when you hold the phone - it feels much lighter and slimmer than you'd expect given the battery specs.

The design follows a curvy, retro-inspired aesthetic that Tecno seems to be embracing with this series. Both the front and rear panels have significant curves, and the frame tapers down to a thin side rail. It's a design language that feels nostalgic in today's sea of flat, angular phones, and it gives the Pova Curve 2 a distinctive look and feel.

Under the hood, the phone runs on a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 7100 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM. The display is a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 1080p resolution and a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. It's protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, which should provide decent scratch and drop resistance.

The camera setup is straightforward but functional. There's a 13MP front-facing camera for selfies, and on the back, you get a 50MP main camera that also handles 3x zoom duties. There's also a 2MP dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. While it's not a multi-camera flagship setup, it covers the basics well.

Audio is handled by a single speaker, but it's a Dolby Atmos-capable unit that Tecno says sounds loud and crisp. In our brief time with the device, the audio quality was indeed impressive for a single-speaker setup.

Overall, the Tecno Pova Curve 2 feels like a phone that punches above its weight class. It combines a premium-feeling design with practical features like the huge battery and high-refresh-rate display, all while maintaining a reasonable price point. The combination of the curved design, slim profile, light weight, and massive battery capacity makes it stand out in a crowded mid-range market.

The phone is now available in India, and given Tecno's expanding global presence, we might see it in other markets as well. For users who prioritize battery life and don't want to carry a brick in their pocket, the Pova Curve 2 presents an interesting option that challenges the notion that big batteries always mean big, heavy phones.