When talking about TecToy, the first thing that comes to mind for most consumers are video game consoles from the 80s and 90s. on the wave of nostalgia with new versions of these consoles.
However, did you know that TecToy also has smartphones in its portfolio? In fact, the TecToy On it is the company’s first attempt to enter this market. The model was launched in September 2020 at the hefty price of BRL 1,999. Little more than a year later it is already possible to find it in stores for values between R$ 600 and R$ 800.
So, is he now a good deal? When listing cell phones in search engines by ordering them by the lowest price, this is always one of the options that are there. Over more than 60 days, we used, tested and saw in practice how it behaves.
The time has come to know all the details of the TecToy On smartphone in our full analysis.
TecToy On: what’s in the box?
In times when manufacturers cut items to reduce cost [ou alegar preocupação com o meio ambiente]TecToy offers the consumer a complete “starter pack”. beyond the smartphonewhich comes with a USB cable it is a 10W chargerwe still have a clear plastic case is screen film.
And more: the kit also includes a pair of TWS wireless earbuds headphones – something rare to see in products in this price range.
Design and construction: an unattractive white-label version
The term white label refers to a product that is built in a standard way by one company and later branded by another company to be sold in the market. In this sense, the TecToy On does not bring any innovation, on the contrary: it resembles the models that hit stores between the beginning of 2018 and the end of 2019.
In a quick search on the internet you will find similar models, such as the Alcatel 3L or the Redmi Note 7. In this sense, the brand chooses to deliver the basics of the basics, without many attractions.
THE back cover is plastic painted with a gradient effect from blue to black, which results in an interesting look. The fingerprint reader is located there, right in the middle. There are two buttons on the right side – power and volume controls – and one more on the left side, which can be used as a shortcut to Google Assistant. The SIM card drawer is a hybrid type, and includes space for a micro SD card.
Despite the wireless headphones that come with the set, there’s a 3.5mm jack on top. The point of attention is the microUSB input – something that was already falling into disuse at the time of the device’s launch and, now, with so many USB-C options on the market, it seems even more inferior.
Finally, the device is compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC, which allows approximation purchases, but disappoints by offering only WiFi 802.11 b/g/n – which means that it is only compatible with 2.4 GHz networks.
Screen: features of an entry-level cell phone
Although TecToy has put the On on the market as an intermediate model, there are several aspects that denote that it is actually more of an entry-level device – something in keeping with the current price.
THE display is IPS LCD type with 6.22 inches. If the size is quite adequate, the same cannot be said for the resolution: 720×1520 pixels (HD+). The refresh rate is 60 Hz, enough for a model with these specifications.
This set delivers a reasonable look and requires a more intense brightness so that the view is not compromised. As a result, it will be possible to notice a certain pixelation at times and the most intense brightness can drain your battery a little more than expected.
Settings, performance and system: Android 10 “pure”, no updates
Although it does not make it clear to the consumer which SoC is used, TecToy On brings a MediaTek Helio P22 processorcombined with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. These settings smoothly run “pure” Android 10, ensuring that its performance is consistent with the product’s proposal.
However, even though TecToy has not customized the OS, there are places where it is possible to see some degree of customization, such as in the camera application, for example. There are still some pre-installed games and apps, which can be removed, probably the result of partnerships between the company and developers.
Another downside is: forget about updates. Since it was released in September 2020, the model has only received the November 2020 security patch – since then never again. Android 10 “out of the box” present on the phone should be the only OS version it will see.
In our tests, all the most used applications ran smoothly, without major problems. WhatsApp, Facebook, Gmail, Instagram, Twitter, Google Chrome, Google Maps… All of them will run smoothly.
Problems may appear when you try to run multiple apps simultaneously. When transitioning from one app to another it is noticeable that there is some delay. This delay is more evident when using the face reader, as it “thinks” a little before finalizing the recognition. Opt for the fingerprint reader that the result is more guaranteed.
For those who intend to use social networks and messengers, the performance is great. Already in certain games it will be noticeable that the device is making a great effort.
Games? The simplest ones, like Subway Surfers, Coin Master or Clash of Clans run smoothly. Now, titles that require more processing power, such as Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact, will experience frame drops and small stutters at times.
Cameras: When Numbers Aren’t Enough
The TecToy On smartphone has a triple set of cameras on the back:
- the main one, with 48 megapixels and f/1.8 aperture;
- the ultrawide, with 5 megapixels and f/2.2 aperture;
- and the macro, with 2 megapixels and f/2.4 aperture.
Unfortunately, none of them have eye-popping image quality., on the contrary. On the main camera, images appear more saturated than what we see before capture. At ultrawide, a light imbalance is noticeable, especially on the sides of the image. And the macro, also due to the low resolution, does not deliver such satisfactory results.
On the front camera – 8 megapixels of resolution and f/2.0 aperture – the results are satisfactory, as long as you don’t use portrait mode. This one, distorts the contours and hinders more than helps. It’s not a bad camera, it’s befitting the price range of the product, but don’t expect a high level of detail.
Sound quality: a pleasant surprise, another not so much
As we have already mentioned here, the TecToy On Comes with TWS Wireless Headphones – something very rare in smartphones in this price range, which is quite positive. The model has IPX4 protection, against water splashes, and a battery life of about 4 and a half hours. The sound quality is quite satisfactory.
Yet, the smartphone’s audio outputs themselves deliver mono sound, and not stereo. Only one of the outputs works and the feeling of muffled sound is quite noticeable when you watch a video on YouTube or even listen to an audio on WhatsApp. It is a weakness of the device.
Battery: good autonomy, but very slow recharge
The battery’s 4,000 mAh of charge storage capacity is enough for a full day’s use of autonomy. Of course, this time drops a lot with more intense use, especially in games that require greater processing power or video streaming.
Autonomy won’t be an issue for most users, but charging time does bother. It took more than 3 hours for the full charge to be applied, something unthinkable these days. If only 50% battery capacity is sufficient, have at least an hour available for it to complete.
Smartphone TecToy On: is it worth it?
Let’s be honest: for its price at launch, this was not a good buy. Now, if we take into account that today it costs less than half and still brings extra items such as a case, film and TWS wireless headphones, then things get more interesting.
Let’s be clear: this is a slightly outdated cell phone, which has not received updates for a long time and has problems in some aspects – portrait mode of the front camera, battery recharge time, lack of USB-C and audio outputs. However, if you’re looking for an entry-level model, this TecToy kit might still be interesting for at least a year or two.
Keep in mind that it will limit your usage if you want to run heavier games or abuse multitasking features. Its purpose is basically to serve those who use social networks, browse the internet and watch videos on YouTube (with headphones, preferably).
If you see the TecToy On on sale, consider the purchase already taking these aspects into account. Otherwise, it’s better to look for newer and more up-to-date models, even if you have to pay a little more to do so.