In the world of smartphone photography, technological advancements never fail to impress. The focus has shifted from simply “capturing a shot” in the early days to now “capturing it perfectly,” with competition moving away from hardware specs to algorithm optimization and user experience. The TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G aims to make waves in high-speed photography with its FlashSnap Mode and BestMoment AI frame selection. But can it truly compete with flagship rivals like the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra? Let’s dive into the tech and real-world performance to find out.
FlashSnap Mode: A breakthrough in shutter speed
The CAMON 40 Pro 5G’s FlashSnap Mode boasts a shutter speed up to 1/11235 seconds, a standout figure on paper. To put that in perspective, the average human blink lasts 1/4 second, meaning the CAMON’s shutter speed is 2600 times faster. This allows the device to effortlessly capture high-speed moments, such as jumps, dunks, or splashing water. While faster shutter speeds may slightly compromise image quality, the difference is negligible in well-lit conditions. Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G delivers a higher success rate in high-speed photography, particularly excelling in capturing fast-moving subjects.
BestMoment AI: Revolutionizing photography with algorithms
The BestMoment AI feature is a standout in the CAMON 40 Pro 5G’s imaging system. Within a 0.5-second window both before and after the shutter press, the AI algorithm analyzes the scene and selects the best frame. This is ideal for action shots, like basketball dunks or table tennis strikes, ensuring the expressions are natural.
BestMoment AI’s frame selection is impressively smart. For example, it captures subjects mid-smile rather than mid-blink or on awkward expressions. This attention to detail gives the CAMON 40 Pro 5G an edge over the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra in action photography.
FlashSnap Auto Mode: Effortlessly capture the perfect moment
For everyday users, getting the timing right is usually the biggest challenge in photography. The CAMON 40 Pro 5G’s FlashSnap Auto Mode is designed to help users overcome this challenge, automatically snapping photos when the AI detects the perfect moment. This is particularly useful for sports like basketball or badminton, where it captures peak action effortlessly.
While not flawless—occasionally misjudging complex scenes—the feature lowers the barrier to entry, making it easier for anyone to take great shots. Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G’s FlashSnap Auto Mode is more intuitive for everyday users, especially in dynamic scenarios.
AI RAW Multi-Frame Noise Reduction: Retaining image quality
The CAMON 40 Pro 5G leverages AI to enhance RAW data through multi-frame synthesis, effectively balancing highlights and shadows in tough lighting conditions while maintaining detail and minimizing noise. This advanced technology is particularly noteworthy in mid-range devices and excels in low-light scenarios.
When it comes to night photography, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G performs at a level that rivals flagship models. While the iPhone 16 Pro captures a bit more detail, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra distinguishes itself with superior dynamic range and even finer detail retention, making it the standout in this regard, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G overall holds its own against these high-end competitors, showcasing impressive capabilities in its class.
Universal Tone: Portrait for everyone
TECNO’s Universal Tone full-spectrum skin tone imaging technology elevates the CAMON 40 Pro 5G’s skin tone capture accuracy with a color card of 372 skin tone patches and an enhanced Multi-Skin Tone Color Restoration Engine. This ensures natural, true-to-life skin tones for users with diverse skin tones including in South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G focuses more on localized optimization. For instance, a brand-new region-specific 186-tone color card will be customized for Saudi Arabia, ensuring more precise skin tone reproduction for users in the country, giving the CAMON 40 Pro 5G a competitive edge in this area.
AI imaging features: The standout capabilities of CAMON 40 Pro 5G
The CAMON 40 Pro 5G showcases impressive innovation and advanced technical capabilities in its AI imaging features. It focuses on accessibility and user-friendly innovation, particularly for its price segment, offering high-end features in a more affordable package.
Equipped with AI Eraser 2.0, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G intelligently detects and removes distracting elements from photos, such as passersby or clutter, allowing the subject to stand out more prominently. This feature greatly enhances the visual impact of photos, especially when shooting in busy tourist spots or crowded public spaces. By effectively cleaning up the image, it helps users achieve cleaner, more professional-looking shots with ease.
The CAMON 40 Pro 5G also introduces the AI Image Extender feature, which uses intelligent algorithms to extend the edges of a photo, providing a wider field of view without altering the original composition. This feature is especially useful for capturing landscapes or architectural shots, offering users greater compositional flexibility and enhancing the spatial depth and narrative of their photos. The ease of use and effectiveness of this feature make it a standout addition, enhancing the overall photo-taking experience for users.
Conclusion
In side-by-side comparisons, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G stands strong against the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in both action and night photography.
For daytime action shots, the CAMON’s faster shutter speed and AI frame selection often outperform its competitors. In low-light conditions, it delivers flagship-level performance in color and tone, with the iPhone 16 Pro capturing slightly more detail and the S24 Ultra excelling in dynamic range. Additionally, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G shines in sensitivity and frequency band performance, which are critical for night photography.
Overall, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G proves to be a strong contender in the mid-to-high-end market, offering unique imaging features and localized optimizations.
