The Tecno Spark 20C has every feature you would anticipate from a high-quality low-cost phone: twin DTS-enabled speakers, a 5,000mAh battery, a 6.56-inch 90Hz display, a 50MP primary camera, and 18W fast charging. The phone’s feature list is impressive, and it is priced at Rs 8,999 on Amazon. Does it perform well enough to justify the money it asks for? In this Tecno Spark 20C review, let’s discover out.
Rating: 7 / 10
Verdict
The Tecno Spark 20C‘s stereo speakers with DTX compatibility are its best feature; at maximum volume, they produce remarkably powerful sounds with no distortion. Aside from its intriguing design, the smartphone is also reasonably priced and has features like a smooth 90Hz display, a dependable battery backup, and good daytime cameras. But in terms of performance, the phone is a little bit lacking, and it isn’t 5G capable.
Design
The design of the Spark 20C is appealing. I acquired the Magic Skin Green model, which is particularly notable because of its imitation leather back. This material contributes to its distinctive charm in addition to doing a great job at hiding smudges and fingerprints. The rear panel can become a little dirty with use, but all it takes is a short wipe with a little damp cloth to bring it back to its original state. With a weight of 189g, it is well-balanced and pleasant to handle.
The 50MP primary lens, an AI lens, and a flash unit are all housed on the back panel. The gadget has a pleasing appearance because of the gold metallic coating on the camera design, which balances the flat corners. In addition to the Type-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack, there are two stereo speakers. The SIM card tray is on the left, and the power and volume controls are on the right edge. The power button doubles as a fingerprint reader, which unlocks the phone quickly and effectively.
Display
Regarding the display, the phone has a 6.56-inch LCD panel with an HD+ (720 x 1,612) resolution, a refresh rate of 90Hz, and a touch responsiveness of 180Hz. As is common for this price range, the panel has small bezels around the corners and a slightly protruding bottom chin. Although the display offers a good visual experience, its low brightness levels make it difficult to see. Even at its highest setting, the brightness is only suitable for indoor usage because it further reduces vision in brightly lit areas or direct sunlight.
On the other hand, the two speakers greatly enhance the device’s multi-media experience. The speakers are said to provide 400 percent high-quality loudness output and enable DTS. I was naturally eager to try these out after reading such a claim, and I wasn’t let down. Yes, the speakers have a really loud sound. At maximum volume, there is some distortion, but it is tolerable and doesn’t take away from the experience. Using this device to watch videos and TV episodes was a blast.
Cameras
Tecno Spark 20C comes with a 50MP primary lens paired with a 0.08MP secondary lens. On the front, there is an 8MP camera for all your photo and video needs. When it comes to photography, the camera performs well with good colors during the day, although it is slightly louder and acceptable. Although some detail is lost around the edges, the overall output is impressive. The lens also has 2x digital zoom, which works well. In bright light, the images are smooth and of noticeable size. The AI camera detects low light and switches to ‘Night Sight’, but images are often inconsistent and require multiple tries to get acceptable results. Since there is no special night mode, the images are not as interesting as long images.
The Tecno Spark 20C’s portrait mode exhibits irregularities, including inappropriate backdrop blurring and marginally subpar edge recognition. Skin tone becomes somewhat orange, and colors seem too enhanced. The selfie camera provides good results during the day and functions similarly to the primary camera. The camera produces photographs that have slight softness and a decent representation of skin tone. Selfies taken in poor light include a lot of softness, loss of details, and graininess. The device can record films at 30 frames per second (FPS) and can capture videos as high as 1080p. The produced videos have a hazy appearance and frequently have slightly distorted audio.
Both software and performance
At the heart of the Tecno Spark 20C is the MediaTek Helio G36 SoC, which drives all of its performance requirements with the help of 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Additionally, users can increase the capacity up to 1TB. The CPU handles daily chores like browsing and using apps with ease, although it occasionally lags and experiences performance issues, especially when you scroll quickly or move between multiple apps.
The gadget runs HiOS, which is based on stock Android 13.0, on the software front. There are a few pre-installed apps on the OS; some can be uninstalled, while others can only be disabled. The operating system is user-friendly and has features to improve your experience, such as a smart panel, game mode, Dynamic Port (a feature Tecno refers to as its “Dynamic Island-like function), and more.
Battery and charging
The smartphone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W rapid charging. The smartphone has a strong battery that easily lasts a whole day, especially considering that it is designed for simple daily use. You may need to plug your device in at the end of the day if you use it extensively.
In the PC Mark battery test, the Tecno Spark 20C received a score of 14 hours and 9 minutes, which is acceptable considering the price. It takes roughly two hours and twenty minutes to fully recharge the smartphone with the included 18W charger, which is average for the price range.
Final Verdict
At Rs 8,999, the Tecno Spark 20C offers many important features that make it a competitive option in the market. The phone’s lack of 5G capability, screen brightness settings, and performance output are its weak points. More performance is provided by rivals like the POCO M6 5G, which also has 5G connectivity, and the Moto G24 Power. For just Rs 500 more, the itel P55 5G is another gadget that provides 5G capability along with improved performance over the Spark 20C. However, compared to the Tecno Spark 20C, the Realme C53 and Moto G24 Power offer 30W charging, which is faster.
However, many factors support the Spark 20C. These include a unique textured faux leather design, decent battery backup, a smooth 90Hz display, and adequate daytime cameras. But the smartphone’s amazing stereo speakers—which significantly improve multimedia enjoyment—are its most notable feature.
