Review: Tecno Spark 20

The Tecno Spark 20 is a fresh addition to the brand’s entry-level lineup, designed to deliver solid performance and essential features without reaching mid-range price points. It’s an excellent option for those seeking value for their money, offering more than just the basics for everyday use.

Tecno Spark 20 Quick Look

• 6.6-inch HD+ IPS display; 90Hz refresh rate
• 50 MP; f/1.6 wide main camera
• 256GB storage and 8GB RAM
• 5000 mAh battery

An affordable companion

As consumer tech becomes more powerful, it tends to become more expensive. That’s especially true if you look at smartphones – an essential addition to everyone’s pocket these days. Luckily there are brands tending to those who cannot fork out tens of thousands of Rands for a smartphone – enter Tecno.

The brand recently launched the Tecno Spark 20 smartphone in South Africa. One of the highlights of the Tecno Spark 20 is its sleek design, which defies its entry-level status. The phone sports a brushed metallic finish on the back, a glossy camera housing, and minimalistic branding making it look quite premium.

The flat sides and display add to its modern aesthetic, though the bezels are somewhat thick and you’re greeted with a substantial chin. But the dual speaker setup and the inclusion of a headphone jack are also welcome features for those who prefer wired headphones.

The Spark 20 features a 6.6-inch display with HD+ resolution. While some might find this a bit underwhelming compared to Full HD+ screens, the 90Hz refresh rate really makes a difference. For general media consumption, the display performs adequately and you don’t need much more than this.

Dive into some details

Under the hood, the Tecno Spark 20 is powered by the Helio G85 processor, a popular choice in this segment for its balance of performance and efficiency. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, expandable via microSD, the phone handles day-to-day tasks with ease.

Light gaming is possible, with games like Genshin Impact and COD Mobile running smoothly at lower settings. Heavier games like Diablo Immortal and Honkai: Star Rail are playable, albeit with occasional stutters at lower settings.

The Spark 20’s camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, delivering impressive results for its price. Daytime photos are sharp and colourful, and the camera holds its own in low-light conditions, capturing good detail and vibrant colours. While it won’t compete with flagship models, it’s more than capable for casual photography needs.

The battery life of the Spark 20 is okay. According to PCMark’s Work 3.0 benchmark, it should last a good 13 hours, but we found it to drain fairly quickly with a few apps running in the background. It’s a shame because you’d expect a 5 000mAh battery to hold its own.

Charging the phone from empty to full takes about 1.5 hours, which is decent but not exceptionally fast.

The overall Spark 20 experience

It’s refreshing to see brands consider good design in these entry-level handsets because the Spark 20 really looks far more premium than it actually is. The camera housing is large and impressive, and the flat edge sides make it feel all the more premium.

Even more impressive, is the sheer number of additional accessories you get in the box. Premium brands have opted to drop the included wired earphones, and shortly after the charging block. The Spark 20 sports a pair of wired earphones, a chagrin block and USB-C cable, a SIM tool, and a clear phone cover. You absolutely get value for money here.

You’re also getting the same amount of storage found on your typical Macbook Air, which is super valuable. Most users won’t need much more than 256GB of storage, especially with the addition of a Micro-SD slot and the option of cloud storage.