Review of TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+

These days, most firms choose to provide a range of devices rather than just one phone. We have the highest-end phone out of the three, the TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+, and this is all true with the new TECNO SPARK 20 range. With a curved screen, a lightweight design, and an amazing features list, it's an exquisite piece of gear.

Still, the TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+'s cost is what really sticks out about it. With a price tag under $200, this phone falls in the centre of the budget phone category. ballpark, but using it often doesn't feel like that. Throughout this assessment, I had to remind myself many times that I wasn't working with a mid-ranger but rather something much more reasonably priced. But it isn't the full story; in testing, some aspects performed better than others. For now, however, that preamble is sufficient. Let's examine the specifics.

Cost and accessibility

The TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+ is available for a relatively reasonable $180, making it a great budget option. The smartphone is presently only accessible in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and South and Southeast Asia, so if you're reading this from the US or Europe, you may have trouble getting your hands on one of these phones. In light of this, you may need to consider importing one and may have to spend a little bit more.

The 20 Pro+ is available in Temporal Orbit, Lunar Frost, Radiant Starstream, and Magic Skin 2.0 Green hues. For such a cheap price, the green version of the phone I have with the silicon leather back seems really expensive. Examining all of the options can help you choose the design that best fits your style.

Specifications

Features

The Pro+ comes with Android 14 preinstalled, in contrast to the other phones in the SPARK 20 line. With this update, you can take advantage of several amazing features, such as AI wallpapers, as well as enhancements to accessibility and security. The TECNO HiOS UI skin makes the user experience a little bit distinct from other Android 14 smartphones. While it's not completely different, this Android skin is a little more refined than the stock one.

Another standout feature of the 20 Pro+ is its audio system, which has two speakers and DTS-enhanced stereo sound. With this feature, the movie and music are louder and of higher quality than with less expensive options. It's just one of the numerous features that, while being five times more expensive than the most recent iPhone basic model, gives you the impression that you're using a mid-range smartphone. You may always insert the USB-C earbuds that come with the gadget if you'd want to listen in private.

Even though it's not a software feature, the SPARK 20 Pro+'s packaging is another selling factor. You also receive the USB-C earbuds, a plastic shell cover, a glass screen protector, charging cable, and USB-C plug with the 20 Pro+. Indeed. Everything. It's similar to purchasing an iPhone in 2008.

Design

One word sums up the TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+'s design the best: sleek. It's my work, so of course I'll use other terms, but this is the dictionary meaning of sleek. Although it seems a little bit flimsy at first, being lighter and thinner than any previous phone I can recall evaluating does contribute to the overall futuristic vibe. One of the many ways that TECNO sets this phone apart from the competition is that it doesn't feel or seem cheap, especially in light of the fact that manufacturers often introduce low-cost handsets with bulky bodies and few design amenities.

Even though it's been said that this smartphone seems a little flimsy, it might be a little misleading. Although it seems weak, it isn't. Sure, the SPARK 20 Pro+ isn't a robust phone, but if you put on the plastic cover and screen protector that come with it, you won't have to worry about it breaking in your hands—though this isn't likely to happen often, particularly with the case on.

However, there is one drawback to the SPARK 20 Pro+'s elegant design. It is rated IP53 only. This certification is only one notch below the highest possible, therefore it's not completely dustproof. Waterproofing, however, is a bigger problem. The 20 Pro+'s chances of withstanding any form of submersion are comparable to those of a paper towel at this level. Though it's worth mentioning, I'm not going to test this by submerging my review device in the bathtub.

Display

Given its cheap price, the curved AMOLED display of the 20 Pro+ performs well when it comes to playing high-quality mobile games. It can also stream video material from YouTube or Netflix. With a 6.78-inch screen that uses an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz, it's also a very huge display. In my opinion, it's best to go with the "auto-switch refresh rate" setting in the options, since most games seem better at 60 frames per second, even if it can handle most things at 120. Later, more on it.One thing to notice about the display is that, after the start-up routine is complete, you should switch off adaptive brightness. However, this isn't a problem that just affects the 20 Pro+. I've noticed that most adaptive brightness capabilities, even on flagship smartphones from other companies, have trouble performing well. You may adjust the brightness manually after turning off this feature, and while a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits isn't much in comparison to certain other devices, you shouldn't notice it. I was able to find a comfortable setting for both when I tried the brightness scope in various settings, including outdoors in the daylight and at night with no lights on.

Photographer

It's really uncommon for a manufacturer to introduce a new smartphone with a single rear camera and a single front camera in the world of contemporary smartphones. That is, however, what the TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+ offers you. On the front is a 32 MP selfie camera in addition to a 108 MP shooter with 10x digital zoom and 3x lossless zoom. Sure, it seems rather straightforward, but you know what? Sometimes keeping things simple is preferable.I took several pictures of my model, Floyd, my dog, as is customary when I examine a new phone's camera to assess the quality and contrast it with previous models. The outcome is stunning, capturing my cuddly little friend in all the fine details and appearing as distinct as he does in real life. The lighting is perfect for photos as well. When you transfer your picture shoots to your PC, they seem even more stunning. At first look, I wasn't all that impressed with the camera, but when you see the photographs enlarged, the results are amazing.Moreover, the front camera is rather reliable. But given that I'm already rather pale, it may not be entirely fair to state that it lacks definition in the photos I've taken of my skin tone. Even with the many dynamic settings, it's not the worst I've seen and can absolutely take pictures for your Instagram page, but it doesn't wow me as much as the main camera. Strangely, the Super Flash Light function makes it practically better in low light than rival companies' much more costly smartphones for nighttime selfies.

Performance

We should examine how the TECNO SPARK 20+ stacks up against other affordable handsets, such as the Samsung A14, rather than comparing its performance to that of the newest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy flagship. Even if the difference between the two is rather little, in my opinion, the TECNO prevails.This phone's performance is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 Ultimate chipset, a CPU that has been successfully used in previous low-cost handsets. In addition to the roomy 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM (you can increase the virtual RAM by an additional 8GB using the internal storage, though we didn't notice much of a difference doing so), it provides excellent performance and has no issues handling daily tasks like browsing the internet, streaming videos, and taking pictures.I tested the 20 Pro+ with Candy Crush Soda Saga and Honkai Star Rail, just as I do with other phones. It does Candy Crush flawlessly, as one could expect from a phone from 2024, providing a seamless experience comparable to that of my iPhone 13. With Honkai Star Rail, nevertheless, it has several issues, particularly with the animations. In HSR, a shattering animation fills the screen as soon as you enter a combat, and it should flow naturally into the action. It's not nearly as fluid with this gadget,There is a warning, however, since demanding games like HSR are not insurmountable on the SPARK 20+. Do you recall my previous discussion on the adjustable refresh rate? Make sure that's turned on for demanding games like Honkai Star Rail. Although this phone can handle certain 120Hz content, it struggles to play content that was designed for devices with more processing power. When I tried HSR with the preset refresh rate of 120 Hz, it got much laggier, even with the simple walking animation showing frame dips. So bear that in mind if you're thinking about purchasing this newest TECNO product.

Entry Level

For a low-cost phone, the 20 Pro+'s 5,000mAh battery is excellent. My research indicates that it often loses between 10% and 15% per hour while gaming or streaming, but considerably less when used seldom for emails, brief calls, and messaging. Thus, if you use it often, you should be able to count on charging it for at least a full day before using it again the next day. You should be able to get at least two full days of juice if you use it less regularly.If you use the official 33W Super Charger and plug that come with the TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+, charging takes place quickly. It took the gadget I'm using less than 30 minutes to go from 33% to 82%, thus a complete charge from flat should take you slightly over 60 minutes. Although wireless charging is a nice feature, really, you can't expect the world for less than $200. I give the SPARK 20 Pro+ a large double thumbs up in every single area except battery life.

Is the TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+ a good purchase?

All things considered, it's almost hard to believe that the TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+ is a low-cost phone. The performance is on par with many mid-range devices I've tried, the construction is elegant and robust, and the simple camera arrangement produces excellent images in every lighting condition. For its price range, it's a remarkable gadget, and it's a declaration of purpose from a maker that may not be as well-known as some of the major names in the Android industry. Simply put, I can't suggest the SPARK 20 Pro+ strongly enough if you want to pay budget costs for a phone that feels like it's in the mid-range in practically every way.There are a few disclaimers, however. Because of its rather dismal IP53 rating, you may want to reconsider purchasing the SPARK 20 Pro+ if you're as prone to accidents as I am. You may want to look elsewhere if you're not a fan of the curved screen's design shape since it's not exactly discreet. It's important to emphasise once again that the 20 Pro+ isn't the simplest gadget to obtain in the US or Europe, but it's ultimately up to you if the import tax is justified.

Substitutes

In the event that our TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+ isn't your first choice, consider some of the options listed below.

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

The Samsung A14 is the TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+'s most apparent rival at this price range. The A14 and Samsung's ONE UI, in our opinion, have a little superior user interface, but the 20 Pro+ excels in terms of performance, storage, and charging speed. Whichever option you choose will depend on how important those things are to you. However, if you'd want more information, you can read our review of the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G.

Samsung Galaxy S (2020)

The iPhone SE is a clear choice if you favour the iOS operating system. Even though it's been more than three years, this is the closest thing Apple has to offer in terms of affordability. It's more of a mid-ranger. My experience has shown that the 20 Pro+ has much more consistent battery life, but you lose out on certain iPhone features like Apple Arcade. Therefore, it really depends on what you value more and how you feel about the iPhone vs. Android debate.