At the end of 2023, Tecno released the Spark 20 Pro, an affordable smartphone. We have already received the new product, spent several weeks with it, tested it, took pictures, played with it, etc. I can say right away that the phone is worthy for the money and is a serious competitor to other popular budget models. And all the details, as always, are in the review below.
Pluses:
modern design; IP53 protection; large package; well-known, powerful (for the segment) and cold chip; a large amount of RAM and built-in memory; it is possible to add virtual memory; 108 megapixel camera; 32 megapixel front camera with separate backlight; 120 Hz screen; stylish software with wide customization options and functions; there is NFC; there is fast charging 33 W; there is stereo sound and support for many audio codecs and DTS
Minuses:
faded IPS screen, and most competitors have brighter AMOLED; mediocre battery life; someone will definitely not like the design a la Apple and large protruding modules; lack of any image stabilization when shooting
Content
Technical specifications of Tecno Spark 20 Pro
| Display | 6.78 inches, 2460×1080, IPS, 120 Hz, 396 ppi |
| Processor | 8-core MediaTek Helio G99 2×2.2 GHz + 6×2.0 GHz |
| Graphics | ARM Mali-G57 MC2 950 MHz |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR4x |
| Built-in memory | 256 GB UFS 2.1 |
| SD/TF card support | Up to 512 GB |
| Separate memory card slot | Є |
| SIM cards | 2 Nano-SIM |
| Communications | 4G (LTE), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
| Audio jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connector | USB Type-C |
| Fingerprint scanner on the body | Є |
| Main camera | 108 (Samsung ISOCELL HM6) +2 megapixels + 0.8 megapixels |
| Front camera | 32 megapixels |
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAh, 33W fast charging |
| Operating system | Android 13.0+HiOS 13.5 |
| Protection against dust and moisture | IP53 |
| Body material | Plastic + Magic Skin 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 163.7 × 75.6 × 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 206 grams |
Packaging and equipment
Tecno Spark 20 Pro comes in a large white and orange box.
Inside we have a phone with a film stuck to the screen, a transparent silicone case, wired headphones (!), a USB-A to USB-C cable, documentation and warranty, and a 33W power supply.
Design and ergonomics
The Tecno Spark 20 Pro is a classic modern phone with flat sides, rounded corners, and nods to the latest iPhone series. The body is plastic, and the bezels are made to look like metal. The model’s dimensions are 163.7×75.6×8.5 mm and it weighs 206 grams. The case is IP53 protected against water and dust. This means that the device is not afraid of moisture, rain, etc., but it should not be immersed in water.
The smartphone comes in four colors (gold, blue, black, and green). The first three have a plastic back cover, and the green one (in our review) has eco-leather, which the manufacturer called Magic Skin 2.0. This material is said to be 500% stronger than eco-leather and has 25% better UV protection. In fact, it is a pleasantly textured surface that prevents the phone from slipping in your hands.
On the front panel of Tecno Spark 20 Pro we see thick bezels and a «chin» at the bottom. The front module is built into the screen, and on the right, near the earpiece speaker, there is a dual flash. We will talk about it in the section on cameras.
The back is barely recessed into the body. It houses three large protruding sensors of the main camera with a flash on a glass island, as well as an engraved Tecno Spark inscription.
On the right side we see the lock button with a built-in fingerprint scanner and volume buttons. On the left is a slot for two SIM cards and a memory card. The top edge has a speaker, and the bottom has another speaker, a microphone, a USB-C port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Tecno Spark 20 Pro has more or less standard dimensions for a modern smartphone, so it fits well in the palm of your hand and does not slip. With my long fingers, it was convenient for me to use it with one hand, but I understand that many people will be more comfortable with two.
I’d also like to note the glossy end, which quickly collects fingerprints. Still, people will probably use the bundled case if they like the design of the model or buy something else, so it’s nothing.
The settings include light and dark themes, adaptive brightness, stay-on screen, eye protection, color temperature change, font size change, and more.
Sound and vibration response
Tecno Spark 20 Pro has stereo sound with support for DTS technology. We also have a popular sound enhancement technology with ready-made presets and an equalizer.
The sound of the speakers is loud and does not buzz. However, of course, there is no bass and the volume is so-so even with active DTS, but it would be strange to expect something more for this segment. The main thing is that there is stereo sound, and that’s all we need.
The smartphone supports popular codecs SBC, AAC, aptX HD, LDAC, LHDC V3 and V5, so this is enough for adequate sound in headphones. But, of course, it depends more on the model itself.
The vibration response is pleasant, but as simple as possible and without the possibility of detailed settings. You shouldn’t expect anything else from this segment either, because I remind you of the smartphone’s price tag of 7000 hryvnias.
Tecno Spark 20 Pro cameras
Tecno Spark 20 Pro has a triple main camera. The main module here is Samsung ISOCELL HM6 with 108 megapixels (f/1.8 aperture) with three times optical zoom and ten times digital zoom, a 2 megapixel macro sensor (f/2.4 aperture) and an additional 0.8 megapixel. The camera supports AI, with various beautifiers, modes, etc.
The main module shoots in 12-megapixel mode, but there is a separate 108-megapixel mode. The photos are more than adequate with normal detail and white balance. There are problems with the dynamic range, but for a phone for 7000 hryvnias we have good quality photos.
The night mode, which is called Super Night, also stands out. Of course, the more light in the frame, the better, there is «noise» and poorer detail, but in general, the phone takes more than good pictures at night, as for its category.
The front module here is a 32-megapixel wide-angle camera (f/2.2 aperture). It has AI assistance, beautifiers, a portrait mode, and a separate backlight located to the right of the earpiece speaker. You can adjust it manually, change the light to «warm» or «cold», or leave it in auto mode, which puts it somewhere in the middle.
I have to admit that I’ve never seen such a thing, especially in a budget phone. This is an additional physical backlight that helps you take better selfies and record videos on the front camera. It’s a useful and rare thing that definitely adds points to a smartphone. In my opinion, it is a better substitute for the flash in the form of increasing the brightness of the screen, which is used in many other models.
Tecno Spark 20 Pro can shoot video in 2K at 30 fps, in 1080p at 60 fps, as well as in 1080p and 720p at 30 frames per second. Neither optical nor digital stabilization was noticed. And if the latter is available, it works poorly. But in general, although video recording is not the best part of this model, the quality is still adequate. The main thing is not to move too much.
Productivity, software and games
Tecno Spark 20 Pro is equipped with the popular 8-core MediaTek Helio G99 (2×2.2 GHz + 6×2.0 GHz) made on a 6-nm process. The graphics here are ARM Mali-G57 MC2. There is 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256 GB of UFS 2.1 internal storage. Interfaces include 4G (LTE), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC.
All stress tests and benchmark measurements can be found below.
In general, we can say that there is an affordable and, most importantly, cool processor on board that can handle heavy applications and popular games. The smartphone runs Wild Rift on high settings at 60 fps. World Of Tanks Blitz (high settings), PUBG Mobile (medium-high), and even Genshin Impact also fly at 30 fps, but on automatically minimum settings.
Tecno Spark 20 Pro runs on Android 13 with the proprietary HiOS 13.5 shell. It looks like a cross between iOS and One UI with widgets and a set of proprietary applications. The system is fast, as for this segment, which is greatly facilitated by the increased refresh rate.
HiOS 13.5 stands out for its split-screen feature, cheat «video assistant» that allows you to listen through a locked display without premium, anti-spying protection, and more. It is also worth highlighting the Dynamic Port feature, which is a variation of the Dynamic Island in the iPhone.
A virtual «island» appears around the front camera when charging is turned on/off, when there is a background call, when the phone is unlocked with your face, or when you are reminded of a low battery. If you don’t like this visualization, you can turn all or part of it off in the settings.
Autonomy of Tecno Spark 20 Pro
Tecno Spark 20 Pro has a 5000 mAh battery. There is support for fast charging with a power of 33 watts. Charging from 0 to 50% takes half an hour. It takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to fully charge.
With standard use with the Internet, watching videos, calls, instant messengers and a little gaming, Tecno Spark 20 Pro lasts a full day. Of course, you can either reduce this time to less or extend it to a day and a half or even two. But on average, you should count on a day. I expected more from a 5000 mAh battery.
In the PC Mark test, the smartphone showed a more or less normal result of 9 hours and 36 minutes.
User experience
The budget smartphone Tecno Spark 20 Pro makes a pleasant impression. It has a modern look, and although it is clear from the design that this is a plastic affordable model, its main advantages are inside.
The smartphone has a productive, proven, cool, and popular chip that competitors use. It can handle a lot and produces good results.
I liked the quality of the photos on the main and front cameras. They are more than adequate for this segment. An interesting solution with an additional backlight in the case, which is also customizable. I liked the shell, modes such as Dynamic Port, loud stereo sound and its presence in general. I was also pleasantly surprised by the number of supported audio codecs, which will contribute to good sound in different headphones.
I like the 120 Hz refresh rate, which, although it drains the phone faster, makes the experience as pleasant as possible. The screen here is a simple IPS, which fades when viewed from angles, and the brightness is not the best, but everything looks adequate. However, the display is still the weakest point of the device, because most competitors are already using AMOLED. Yes, some of them have a higher price tag, but usually it’s the same price plus or minus.
Tecno Spark 20 Pro has a good package. In addition to the film and case, we even have wired headphones. Yes, it seems to be an outdated thing, but it will definitely be a plus, especially for a certain category of people.
Price and competitors
Tecno Spark 20 Pro is sold at a price starting at UAH 6131. However, in large hardware chains, the price tag for this phone is 6999 UAH. This is definitely a good price, but there are plenty of competitors, most of which are already «armed with» AMOLED screens.
Pay attention to Poco M6 Pro (price from UAH 7,749), for Motorola Moto G54 with a price tag of UAH 7,500, as well as on Redmi Note 12 (price from UAH 5300) and Redmi Note 13 (price from UAH 6950). There are also Samsung Galaxy A24 with a price starting from UAH 6700 and Poco X5 (from UAH 6,450).