Little known in Europe, this smartphone brand is preparing its photo revolution

The brand is poorly known in France, and for good reason: it carries out most of its activity in Asia – naturally, since it originates from China – but also and above all in Africa, where it sells more than Apple and Samsung, claiming 37% market share in West Africa. Tecno, since that’s what we’re talking about, is part of the Transsion group, which will take the place of world number 4 in smartphones in the 3rd quarter of 2025 (according to IDCwith 29.2 million devices sold), combining its various brands; among them, Infinix, whose more or less well-known new features we discover at each MWC in Barcelona.

A new market in sight

Tecno, therefore, has no shortage of ideas at a time when most technophiles are focusing on Samsung Galaxy Z TriFolda telephone UFO folding into three parts which will also soon be marketed in China. The firm does not formalize his G Foldwhich could have established itself as an alternative to the South Korean terminal, but with new photo technology.

Will we see it one day in Europe? The question remains unanswered, since if Tecno is seeking to make a place for itself in France, it is first of all by launching into the PC market. A challenge, at a time when, still according to the firm IDCfive brands alone account for more than 75% of sales (in the world, certainly), and in a market which leaves little room for new entrants. Still, the PC represents a first attempt to reach, if not the heart, then at least the wallet, the land of incorrigible complainers, and that smartphones could follow if successful. In the meantime, Tecno is working hard to demonstrate its ability to innovate.

Redesigned telephoto lenses

Innovation therefore comes through photography, where the brand is today presenting two innovations. The first is based on the principle of a periscopic zoom with two mirrors instead of one (Dual-mirror Reflect Telephoto). The benefit is simple: this zigzag inside the photo module makes it possible to reduce its size by half, and therefore to free up space within the flagships who will be equipped with them, or even reduce the thickness of said modules by 10%. The associated optics nevertheless have every interest in offering a very large aperture, the brand confirming that the associated loss of brightness reaches 50%.

In addition to its refined zoom, Tecno presents its Freeform Continuum Telephoto, another telephoto lens for smartphones promising continuous magnification between x1 and x9. This is also a question of freeing up space in the smartphone case, but also of zooming during video capture without a visible “jump” when changing lenses. As Tecno does not currently show a prototype equipped with its optics, we must be satisfied with its theoretical explanations: its Freeform Continuum Telephoto, he tells us, is based on a system of groups of lenses moving vertically according to the desired focal length.

When will these technologies be integrated into finished products? The question remains unanswered: the Dual-mirror is (almost) ready, which gives hope for implementation in the short term, perhaps as early as 2026. On the other hand, the Freeform Continuum Telephoto project still seems very distant: Tecno does not envisage production in 2026, and the 2027 horizon seems just as uncertain. The zoom revolution is undoubtedly on its way, but the road will be long.

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