Initial Verdict: TNT makes 5G even more accessible with their Panalo Phone and its compelling Php 3,990 price tag. While it did cut more corners than the Smart 5G phone to make it as affordable as possible, it ticks all the boxes for a phone meant for those looking to own their first 5G phone. 

Pros

• Very affordable for a 5G phone
• Stock Android
• Decent processor performance

Cons

• Dated display design
• 64GB storage might not be enough for some
• No headphone jack

The Smart 5G Phone broke boundaries in making 5G accessible to the masses with a Php 4,999 price tag. TNT takes the price lower with the Panalo Phone 5G with an under Php 4k price tag. This makes it the most affordable 5G device that Filipinos can buy. It’s another gamechanger in making 5G available to the masses, and we were able to get our hands on a unit to see how TNT was able to pull it off:

TNT Panalo Phone 5G First Impressions: Design

Unlike the Smart 5G phone that’s based on the ZTE Blade A75 5G, the Panalo Phone 5G seems to be designed by an ODM with the TNT logo at the back and the bootup screen. The phone looks basic with its all-black colorway that has flat frame sides and a back panel that has a glossy accent strip right below the circular camera module.

Looking at the phone’s front reminds us of entry-level phones from 2018 with that thick chin and notch for a selfie camera. The phone is as basic as it looks, but we’re surprised at the panel used on the Panalo Phone 5G–more on that later.

There’s no fingerprint scanner to be found here, and the only ports you get are a SIM card slot and a USB-C port. There’s no headphone jack, but you get a MicroSD card slot to supplement the 64GB internal storage.

TNT Panalo Phone 5G First Impressions: Display and Speakers

You’re getting a 6.51-inch HD+ IPS display on the 5G Panalo Phone, and while those bezels are obnoxiously thick for 2024 standards, we were surprised that it does have a 90hz refresh rate, which is a nice feature to have for a phone that’s priced at under Php 4k.

While the colors are a bit washed out–which is expected at this price point, we were pleased to see that it can stream YouTube at 1080p. Netflix streaming is limited to SD resolution, and that’s fine for its intended audience. Being an entry-level device, you only get a single, bottom-firing speaker that has decent audio output–as long as you don’t max out the volume.

TNT Panalo Phone 5G First Impressions: Cameras

You get a 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera with the Panalo Phone 5G, which should be enough for its intended audience.

The output is typical of what we expect on entry-level devices: photos taken with it are usable as long as you shoot in good lighting, and it has difficulties managing highlights in high-contrast scenarios.

What surprised us, however, is that you can shoot 4K videos with it. We’re not expecting great quality even when shooting in 4K, but it is a novel feature to have for a phone that costs under Php 4k–pun not intended.

TNT Panalo Phone 5G First Impressions: Internals and Battery

Powering the Panalo Phone 5G is a Unisoc T765 processor that’s paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC 5.1 storage. The processor is a variant of the T760 that’s used on the Smart 5G Phone, so you’re getting relatively decent performance. Comparing benchmark numbers, we got lower figures with the Panalo Phone 5G compared to the Smart 5G Phone, which is expected given its lower price tag.

What can be concerning is the meager storage, though that can be offset with the presence of a MicroSD card slot. To TNT’s credit, they kept the bloatware to a minimum, with only two Smart apps, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Netflix, and Messenger being preinstalled on the phone. You do get Android 14 out of the box, which is nice to see on an entry-level device.

You only get a 4000mAh battery on the Panalo Phone 5G, along with 10w USB-C charging, and some might be concerned about its battery life. We got a little over 10 hours in PCMark’s Battery Life benchmark, which is decent considering the battery capacity and that you have a 90hz refresh rate for the display.

As for its 5G connectivity, we got download speeds of 363Mbps and upload speeds of 27.8Mbps when we tried the Panalo Phone 5G in Quezon City, further supporting TNT’s push to make 5G more accessible to everyone.

TNT Panalo Phone 5G First Impressions: Wrap-up and Initial Conclusions

Filipinos are given more affordable 5G phone options with the arrival of the TNT Panalo Phone 5G. While it has its fair share of compromises, its Php 3,990 asking price is enticing especially for those looking to own their first 5G device without breaking the bank.

TNT Panalo Phone 5G First Impressions: Price

The TNT Panalo Phone 5G is priced at Php 3,990.