This is the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition, and it’s far more impressive than I expected it to be.
Ginevra Lamborghini, vice president of the Tonino Lamborghini brand, spoke about the partnership at MWC 2026 and set the stage, and while the smartphone I saw afterward was cool, it wasn’t all that memorable.
This morning I unboxed the real thing, and had a bit of a wow moment. This is more like it.
What’s the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition about?
A unique partnership
The Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition is the first smartphone collaboration between Tecno and Tonino Lamborghini. It’s worth saying this isn’t Lamborghini the car brand, but Tonino Lamborghini, the lifestyle design brand.
Dr Tonino Lamborghini says this about the limited edition phone:
The Tecno Pova 8 Pro 5G Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition captures my bold spirit: precision, energy, craftsmanship and an unmistakable design attitude.
It is not a style applied on the surface, but a character running through the product itself. Created for those who are not satisfied with ordinary technology, it is a smartphone with a story, with spirit and with a clear statement of lifestyle.
The 7.39mm thick phone is slim and lightweight at 194 grams, with a metal chassis and what feels like a glass rear panel, and a design I’d call stealthy-stylish with its black and red color scheme.
What you can’t escape is the Tonino Lamborghini branding, which makes sense as this is going to be the primary reason people decide to buy this phone.
The Tonino Lamborghini effect
It’s the details that impress
The Tonino Lamborghini brand name is etched under the surface of the glass, but the metallic shield next to it is stamped into the body, giving the phone texture and tactility.
It’s packed with little details that only emerge in the right light and angle. A subtle black geometric pattern is almost invisible until the light hits it, when it turns to a vibrant red.
The Pulse Line running down the center of the phone has the same treatment, while the bezel around the edge of the rear panel repeats a smaller version of the hexagonal pattern, which is visible mostly only at different angles to the red.
It’s all very eye-catching and different. Getting the pattern to change color this way gives the phone an identity without the need for a solid bright color or use of a material like leather or denim.
It means the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition retains some class, and won’t split opinion between those who like colorful phones, and those who only ever buy the black model.
Alive Matrix shows up the Pixel HiLight.
Another phone doing notification lights right
Inside the camera module is the Alive Matrix, which is Tecno’s version of Nothing’s Glyph Lights.
The LED matrix display shows notification icons for different apps, missed calls, charging status, and interacts with games too. An L for Lamborghini shows up when you first switch the phone on too.
Tecno has installed a custom theme over Android 16 to match the phone’s color scheme and design, complete with a widget to control the Alive Matrix. It’s easy to customize, and does a lot more than Google’s disappointing HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro.
What else does the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition have?
A deeper dive into the specs
The design and Alive Matrix make the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition special, but what about the rest of the specs?
It has a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate processor and Tecno’s custom P1 Graphic Chip, 8GB or 12GB of RAM, plus Tecno’s IceShield VC Cooling System to avoid any overheating.
The screen is a 6.78-inch, 144Hz AMOLED screen with a 4,500 nit peak brightness, and a 6,500mAh battery. On the back is a 50-megaixel main camera and an 8MP wide-angle camera, plus a 13MP selfie camera.
An hour with the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition
Giving the phone a try
I’ve spent a short time with the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition. I love the design, which is bold and unusual, how slim the phone is, and also how carefully considered the shape is, as it doesn’t overly dig into your palms despite the thin frame.
Corning Gorilla Glass 7i covers the screen, and it continues to be a magnet for smudges, spoiling the look of the phone from the front.
The One Tap button on the side works with a long press, and can be customized to open different apps. By default, it opens the camera. It does not have any functionality for a double tap, which is a shame.
I’ve taken a few photos with the camera, and I like the tone and strong HDR effect. Colors appear natural but don’t lack punch. It’ll be worth trying out more, even if the set-up is quite simple.
Inside the box is a special Tonino Lamborghini case for the phone, with red accents, a fake carbon fiber-like effect, and Tonino Lamborghini branding. It adds plenty of grip to the phone, but it does cover up the beautiful hexagonal effect on the back of the phone.
Can you go and buy the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition?
It’s not going to be easy to get
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Tecno has not announced where or when the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition will be available to buy, or how much it will cost. Android Police has asked Tecno for more information, and will update here when we hear back.
Tecno does not sell its smartphones in the US or the UK, so it may turn out to be difficult to buy anyway, unless you’re keen to import. It’s also unclear exactly how limited the run will be, although the device is not numbered, so expect a decent amount to be put on sale.
Alongside the Pininfarina-designed Infinix phone, the Tecno Pova 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition is further proof phone brands can do great things when they partner with the right design house.
