Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ review

The competition

Tracking down a proper price for the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ wasn't particularly easy at the time of writing. As far as we can tell, it costs around € 170 for its singular 8GB/256GB variant. We decided to cast a slightly wider net when searching for competitors at around € 200. Even so, these are truly budget devices we are talking about here, so plenty of concessions are expected.

Let's start with the Samsung team, where the Galaxy A15 fits the bill. It is a similar device that uses the same MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. Unlike the Spark 20 Pro+, the Galaxy A15 has 128GB of storage in most variants. We would strongly advise against getting the base 4GB RAM version and go for 6GB or 8GB instead for futureproofing. Other than that, you get a nice AMOLED panel with the A15, though not technically as nice as the one on the Tecno. The camera setup is comparable to that of the Tecno, though you also get an ultrawide for more versatility. Video capture is limited to 1080p, though. You get notably better battery endurance out of the equally-sized 5,000 mAh battery. There are no stereo speakers, though. It is worth noting that you can also increase your budget slightly and get the 5G variant of the Galaxy A15 if you need modern connectivity.

Samsung Galaxy A15 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 4G • Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro

Xiaomi expectedly has at least a couple of viable devices of its own. The Redmi Note 13 4G is an excellent choice in this price bracket. Some of its features include a smaller, flatter, but brighter 120Hz AMOLED display. You also get a 108MP main cam on the Redmi and an 8MP ultrawide for better versatility. Battery life and charging are comparable across the two devices, as well as other things like the stereo speakers and ingress protection. The Snapdragon 685 chipset inside the Redmi is not quite as fast as the Helio G99.

Xiaomi also has a pretty viable candidate in the Poco M6 Pro. Again, you get the same Helio G99 chipset and a comparable 6.67-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display. The camera setup isn't quite as impressive on paper with a 64MP main snapper, but you do get an 8MP ultrawide. While the Poco and the Spark have pretty similar battery life, you get notably faster charging with the Poco.

Our verdict

The Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ is a surprisingly well-rounded device for its very budget price point. There are few compromises with the experience it delivers and its specs. Starting with the design, the Spark 20 Pro+ is eye-catching and punches above its weight. With its faux leather back, our green model, in particular, looks and feels very premium. The curved AMOLED display with pretty thin bezels only adds to the premium appearance. You even get decent IP53 ingress protection and Gorilla Glass 5.

Speaking of the display, it looks great in person and competently handles its 120Hz high refresh rate. Unfortunately, our unit has a brightness bug, but we imagine that shouldn't be the case with retail units.

The battery life is solid, and so is charging. We don't have any complaints about the stereo speaker setup. You get an FM radio receiver, NFC, and expandable storage. The sole configuration isn't even that bad, to begin with, offering 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. The Helio G99 Ultimate offers solid overall performance for the price, and the camera setup, while lacking an ultrawide, is very solid overall quality-wise.

Honestly, our sole noteworthy issue with the Spark 20 Pro+ is the lack of formal software support commitment, which makes us wonder about the phone's longevity. Besides that, the Spark 20 Pro+ offers incredible value and an excellent experience, making it an easy recommendation.

Pros

• Durable and good-looking design.
• Solid display performance and quality.
• Good battery life.
• Fast to charge.
• Very good stereo speaker setup.
• Solid overall performance for the price bracket.
• Solid performance from the main cam.
• Rich retail package with many accessories.

Cons

• Faux leather is available only on the green model.
• The Sunlight boost is not working just yet.
• No HDR support.
• Wi-Fi is pretty unstable on our review unit.
• Our review unit is not running the latest HiOS 14.
• Tecno isn't making any specific promises about software support duration.