.::Tech Villa::.

Tecno has just introduced two new foldable smartphones—the Phantom V Fold2 and Phantom V Flip2—both featuring the company's new AI Suite. This marks the first time Tecno is offering pre-installed AI capabilities on their devices.

Phantom V Fold2:

Building on the success of its predecessor, the Phantom V Fold2 retains the powerful Dimensity 9000+ processor and the dual displays—a 7.85-inch inner display and a 6.42-inch cover screen. The most significant improvement, however, is its sleeker and lighter design. The phone measures just 6.1mm thin when unfolded and weighs a mere 249 grams, making it much more portable despite housing a larger battery.

One of the standout features is the Ella AI assistant, which is powered by Google’s Gemini AI. The assistant offers:

• Smart Q&A for real-time responses
• AI Translation during calls
• AI Writing for text summarization, content creation, and proofreading
• AI Wallpaper generation from text prompts
• AI Artboard for turning rough sketches into detailed designs.

The camera setup includes three 50MP sensors for wide, ultra-wide, and portrait shots, along with two 32MP selfie cameras—one on the inner display and one on the cover screen. Additionally, the 24GB RAM (12GB physical + 12GB virtual) and 512GB storage make it ideal for power users. It also features a 5,750mAh battery with 70W wired and 15W wireless charging support, all for an affordable price of $1,099. The Phantom V Fold2 will be available in Africa from September 23, followed by other regions like Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Phantom V Flip2:

The Phantom V Flip2 brings a fresh approach to Tecno’s flip-style foldables. The most noticeable upgrade is the 3.64-inch square cover display with 1,056 x 1,056 resolution, replacing the smaller circular screen from the previous version. The main display is a 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution.

Despite the improved display, the Flip2 remains lightweight at under 200 grams and has a compact design, measuring 7.6mm thin when unfolded and 16mm when folded. The cover screen can now handle over 2,000 apps without needing to open the main display and supports a full keyboard for quick messaging and dialing. Tecno also introduced fun interactive features like customizable pets and a desktop application center for multitasking.

Both devices demonstrate Tecno's commitment to offering high-quality foldables with competitive features and pricing, positioning them as strong contenders in the global smartphone market.

In an ongoing effort to combat iPhone theft, Apple has introduced a groundbreaking update with the release of iOS 18. According to reports, the new software extends the Activation Lock feature beyond the device itself to include individual components such as batteries, cameras, and displays. This move aims to deter thieves from reselling stolen iPhone parts by linking them directly to the original owner's Apple Account.

Tackling the Stolen Parts Market

Historically, stolen iPhones have been made useless due to Apple's Activation Lock, which prevents unauthorized access to the phone. However, a thriving gray market emerged where stolen devices were stripped down and their parts sold off. The latest iOS update closes this loophole, ensuring that components like screens and cameras are bound to the owner's Apple ID.

With iOS 18, any attempt to replace key components prompts the iPhone to request the Apple Account password of the original owner. If the correct credentials aren’t provided, the replacement part will have limited functionality, making it more difficult for thieves to profit from stolen devices.

Apple’s decision to implement this enhanced security feature comes in response to demands from both users and law enforcement, who have urged the tech giant to make iPhones less attractive to thieves. By adding this additional layer of protection, Apple hopes to further reduce the market for stolen parts.

Currently, the feature is being tested by developers and public beta users, with plans to roll out iOS 18 to the public on September 16. The new Activation Lock feature will be available on iPhone XR and later models, with iPads running iPadOS 18 unaffected.