The Pros and Cons of Tecno Spark 40

Tecno has finally launched the Tecno Spark 40 as a new phone in the entry-level category. Interestingly, this phone brings some improvements that were missing in the older models. One of the biggest upgrades is the battery capacity and charging features.

Even though it is in the same class, the Tecno Spark 40 still comes at a low price. This makes it an attractive option, even for people who already use an older Spark model. Take a look at the pros and cons below.

Pros of the Tecno Spark 40

According to some reports, the Tecno Spark 40 is priced from $149. Here are some of its strong points:

1. Simple and Slim Design, with Good Durability

The Tecno Spark 40 has a very different look compared to the Tecno Spark 30. Whether this new design is better or not depends on personal taste, but I personally like the older model more. The Spark 40 has a simpler design, with fewer patterns and colors.

The back only shows a large camera module that looks a bit like the one on POCO phones. It includes three camera lenses and an LED flash. The camera part has the same color as the back of the phone, so it looks clean and simple. The Tecno Spark 40 is available in four colors; Mirage Blue, Ink Black, Titanium Grey, and Veil White.

The back of the phone uses a smooth matte finish. This makes it more comfortable to hold and keeps it free from fingerprint marks. It also feels nice to use because the phone is slim, only 7.67 mm thick, and weighs just 188 grams.

For durability, the Tecno Spark 40 has an IP64 rating. This means it is protected from dust and light splashes of water. Tecno also says the phone can survive falls from up to 1.5 meters, so you do not need to worry too much when using it outside.

2. Powerful Helio G81 Performance with Large Memory

In terms of performance, there is not much improvement. The Tecno Spark 40 uses the Helio G81 chipset, while the previous Tecno Spark 30 used the Helio G91. Even though the number looks higher, the performance is quite similar. In fact, both use the same processor.

The Helio G81 is built using a 12 nm process and has eight CPU cores. These include two Cortex A75 cores running at 2 GHz for stronger performance, and six Cortex A55 cores at 1.8 GHz for better power efficiency. For graphics, it uses the Mali G52 MP2 GPU with a speed of 950 MHz.

To support better performance, the Tecno Spark 40 has large memory options. You can choose between 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM. For internal storage, it offers 128 GB or 256 GB. However, it still uses eMMC storage, which is not as fast as UFS. But thankfully, there is a microSD slot if you want to expand the storage.

How about the benchmark score? According to the Nanoreview database, the Helio G81 in the Tecno Spark 40 gets an AnTuTu v10 score of around 250,000. This is a decent result when compared to other phones with the same chipset.

With this performance, the Tecno Spark 40 should be good enough for daily tasks and light gaming. In his review video, Fisayo Fosudo said that some games can run well with a few changes in settings. For example, Call of Duty Mobile can be played on Low graphics and Medium frame rate.

3. Smooth IPS LCD Screen with 120 Hz Refresh Rate

Compared to the Tecno Spark 30, the Tecno Spark 40 has both upgrades and some small downgrades in screen quality. The screen still uses an IPS LCD panel, which is common for phones in this price range.

The Tecno Spark 40 has a slightly smaller screen than before, going from 6.78 inches to 6.67 inches. This difference is not very noticeable, especially because the bezel design stays the same. With an 84.2 percent screen-to-body ratio, the display still feels wide enough.

However, the screen resolution is lower than the previous model. It only supports HD+ or 720 x 1600 pixels, while the Tecno Spark 30 could display Full HD+ or 1080 x 2460 pixels. You might see the difference clearly when watching videos or streaming content.

To make up for this, the Tecno Spark 40 now supports a 120 Hz refresh rate. This is higher than the 90 Hz found on the Spark 30. Because of this upgrade, scrolling through social media, browsing websites, and even playing games will feel smoother.

4. Loud and Clear Stereo Speakers with DTS Support

The Tecno Spark 40 comes with stereo speakers, which is quite special for a phone in its class. The second speaker is built into the earpiece at the top. Because of this, the phone can play sound from two directions to make the audio feel more immersive.

The stereo speakers use DTS technology to make the sound clearer and better. This feature is not easy to find in many budget phones. In fact, there are only a few entry-level phones that already have stereo speakers.

However, the sound quality is not the best. It still lacks bass or a strong punch. If you want to fully enjoy music or movies, it is better to use earphones. The good thing is that the Tecno Spark 40 still has a 3.5 mm audio jack. So, using earphones is still easy and convenient.

5. 50MP Main Camera Is Good for Daily Photos, Video Up to 2K

Compared to the Tecno Spark 30, the main camera on the Tecno Spark 40 has a lower resolution. It drops from 64 MP to 50 MP. But, the number of megapixels doesn't always mean better photo results. In fact, the camera is still quite good and fits well in its price range.

The main camera has an f/1.6 aperture and supports PDAF. It uses the same sensor as the previous model, only with a different resolution. It can record video up to 2K or 1440p at 30 FPS, which is good enough for this price.

The front camera also gets a downgrade, from 13 MP to 8 MP. Again, the resolution is not the only thing that matters. This camera can record 1080p videos at 30 FPS, which is quite basic.

The camera setup on the Tecno Spark 40 is not very different from the Tecno Spark 40 Pro. The only main difference is in video quality, where the Pro model supports HDR for better results. But when it comes to photos, both models are strong. They offer sharp pictures, good dynamic range, and clear details.

6. 5200mAh Battery That Lasts All Day with Fast Charging

The battery part has improved a lot compared to the previous model. The Tecno Spark 40 even has similar battery features to the Pro version, the Tecno Spark 40 Pro.

The battery capacity is now a bit bigger at 5200 mAh, while the Tecno Spark 30 only had 5000 mAh. What's nice is that the phone’s body is still slim, even though the battery is larger.

With this large capacity, the Tecno Spark 40 can last a full day. It is reliable for many daily tasks like multitasking, scrolling through social media, or playing games.

The charging speed has also improved to 45W. Charging is quite fast. According to Eugoson Quorch, it takes only about 65 minutes to fully charge. So you will not need to wait long before using your phone again.

Cons of Tecno Spark 40

As an entry-level phone, the Tecno Spark 40 is not a perfect device. There are still some things to consider before buying it.

1. Simple Camera Setup, No Ultrawide Camera

As mentioned before, the Tecno Spark 40 only has one main camera on the back. Even though there are three camera circles, the others are just depth sensors and design additions.

It would be better if the phone had an ultrawide camera instead. This type of camera has a wider view, so you can capture more objects in one photo.

Unfortunately, Tecno had to make choices to keep the phone price low. This is a common reason why many phones in this price range do not come with an ultrawide camera.

2. Still Uses eMMC for Internal Storage

The Tecno Spark 40 offers a large internal memory, up to 256 GB. However, it still uses the same memory type as the older Tecno Spark 30, which is eMMC.

This kind of memory has some limits. For example, it is slower when transferring or copying files compared to UFS. You may need to wait a bit longer when moving data from one folder to another.

The only real advantage of eMMC is that it is cheaper to produce. That is why many entry-level phones still use it, to keep the price more affordable.

Even though it still uses eMMC, the Tecno Spark 40 gives you a separate microSD slot. This means you can expand the storage up to 1 TB without losing the dual SIM card feature.

3. No Hardware Gyroscope and NFC Support Yet

The Tecno Spark 40 does not have many sensors. Aside from the side fingerprint sensor, it only includes the accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor, and compass.

One missing feature is the hardware gyroscope. Even though the phone runs games quite well, you cannot use gyro aiming in games like PUBG Mobile, COD Mobile, or other shooting games.

The Tecno Spark 40 also does not have the NFC (Near Field Communication) feature. NFC is useful for daily tasks, such as making digital payments, connecting to other phones, or using your phone as a toll card.

Conclusion

The Tecno Spark 40 has a simple design. Its large camera module might be a topic for discussion, but the smooth surface, thin body, and solid build are quite appealing for a phone around US$120.

One of the strong points of this phone is its battery, which is larger than the previous version. The fast charging is also a nice upgrade. On top of that, the screen feels smoother due to the 120 Hz refresh rate, which is rare for phones in this price range.

However, the Tecno Spark 40 still has some downsides to consider. These include a basic camera setup, the use of eMMC memory, and missing sensors and features like NFC. But if you can accept these limits, the Tecno Spark 40 is still a good deal for the price.