For years, TECNO’s Camon series has been a favourite among Nigerian smartphone users, known for its affordability, battery size, and camera strength.
At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in 2025, TECNO launched the Camon 40 series, focusing on AI-powered photography and sleek design, continuing its “camera-first” strategy.
About a year later, TECNO returned to MWC 2026 with the Camon 50 series, featuring enhanced AI processing, larger batteries, AI processing, and smoother displays, the Camon 50 represents TECNO’s plan to bring the series closer to flagship territory.
The Camon 50 lineup includes three models:
- Camon 50
- Camon 50 Pro
- Camon 50 Ultra
With the Camon 50 series now available, many Nigerians are asking if it’s worth upgrading from the 40 series. In this review, we compare both series across the key factors that are most important for users.
Design and Display
One of the most noticeable improvements in the TECNO Camon 50 lineup is the display technology, mainly the refresh rate and curved display.
Camon 40 Series
- 78-inch AMOLED display
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Slim design with curved options on Pro models
Camon 50 Series:
- 78-inch AMOLED display1
- Upgraded 144Hz refresh rate
- Curved display on Pro model
- More premium design finish
Although the 144Hz refresh rate on the Camon 50 series is not far from the 120Hz on the previous 40 series, it still makes scrolling, gaming, and animations smoother than before. The curved display on the Camon 40 Pro didn’t change on the 50 Pro.
Performance and Chipset
In terms of performance, the Camon 50 lineup wins with the more recent MediaTek Helio G200 chipset. Although both lineups come with the same RAM configurations, the MediaTek Helio G200 is optimised for better AI performance and graphics for gaming.
Camon 40 Series
- Powered by MediaTek Helio G100 Ultimate
- Up to 8GB RAM
- Optimised for everyday performance
Camon 50 Series
- Powered by MediaTek Helio G200 processor
- 8GB RAM
- Better graphics and efficiency
Camera and AI Photography
Generally, the Camon product lineup is known for camera excellence, and both the Camon 40 and Camon 50 series emphasise photography.
Camon 40 Series
- Up to 50MP main camera
- AI FlashSnap and AutoSnap photography features
- Strong selfie camera with autofocus and eye tracking
Camon 50 Series
- 50MP Sony LYTIA sensor
- Telephoto lens with 3× optical zoom
- Up to 60× AI SuperZoom
- AI RAW image processing engine
The Camon 50 series has the processor advantage because its models come with better AI efficiency, powered by the newer Helio G200 chipset.
Furthermore, the built-in telephoto zoom combined with the AI photography tools makes the Camon 50 series a much better option for content creators.
Battery and Charging
Battery size and power efficiency are very important factors that influence buying decisions in Nigeria. Both the Camon 40 series and 50 series are good options when it comes to battery, with battery sizes above most flagships.
Camon 40 Series
- Around 5200mAh battery
- 45W fast charging
Camon 50 Series
- 6150mAh battery
- 45W fast charging
- Better power efficiency
The 50 series comes with a bigger built-in battery size that fits the demanding processor and AI features, although both series have similar charging speeds. The Camon 50 lineup wins in this category because the battery upgrade means longer usage time.
AI Features and Smart Tools
Within the last 3 years, TECNO has focused heavily on AI features in its smartphones, from cameras to voice assistants.
The Camon 40 series launched with early AI photography features, but the Camon 50 models expand this significantly with:
- AI Auto Zoom
- AI RAW image processing
- AI Art tools
- AI assistant improvements
These features are specially designed to help content creators, social media users, and mobile photographers.
Price Comparison in Nigeria
Pricing is one of the core factors that influence buying decisions in emerging markets like Nigeria, where most tech buyers look for the best balance between performance and affordability. This is where the differences between the Camon 40 and 50 series become more obvious.
When TECNO launched the Camon 40 series last year, it was positioned in the upper-mid-range category but still relatively affordable compared to flagships.
Camon 40: roughly N275,000 – N355,000, depending on its storage configuration.
Camon 40 Pro: around N390,000 – N470,000 depending on the RAM or storage variant.
The arrival of the Camon 50 series in 2026 came with some price increments, mainly because of its improved specs like bigger battery and better processor.
Camon 50: around N380,000 – N430,000
Camon 50 Pro: around N450,000 – N520,000
Camon 50 Ultra: roughly N600,000 – N650,000
This implies that the price gap between the Camon 40 and 50 series sits between N80,000 and N200, 000, depending on the model or configuration.
For most Nigerians, the Camon 40 is still a good option because it is just one generation behind and still delivers reliable everyday performance.
However, the price of the Camon 50 series is justified because it comes with feature improvements such as:
- A newer chipset
- Advanced AI photography tools
- Telephoto Zoom feature
- A larger battery size
Overall, the Camon 40 series targets users with budget constraints, while the Camon 50 lineup is ideal for users who want newer technology.
Examining the TECNO Camon 40 and 50 series, both are strong smartphones designed for emerging markets like Nigeria’s, however, the latest Camon 50 series comes with noticeable upgrades in different areas.
You should get the Camon 40 Series if you want:
- A cheaper smartphone
- Good camera performance
- Smooth 120Hz display
- Reliable everyday performance
Buy the Camon 50 Series if you want:
- Better for AI photography
- A much smoother 144Hz display
- Bigger battery size
- A more powerful processor
Basically, the Camon 50 series has the best features, but for Nigerians who want an affordable option that still delivers good performance, the Camon 40 series remains a very good choice.
