TECNO’s Spark series has long been a favorite among budget-conscious buyers, It offers good value for money and performance. With the Spark 20 Pro+, TECNO aims to raise the bar by giving you flagship-level features at an affordable price point. This device boasts an impressive 108MP main camera, a vibrant AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and TECNO’s Helio G99 Ultimate processor. It’s designed for users who want to step up their digital experience without breaking the bank. The list is endless. 

It is interesting to note that the phone comes in an orange and green box that is reminiscent of the just concluded AFCON which TECNO was a major sponsor.

Design and Build Quality:

The first thing that catches your attention about the Spark 20 Pro+ is its unique circular camera ring design, setting it apart from other phones found in the series.

The 6.67-inch display is another highlight, with pleasantly thin bezels enhancing the viewing experience. Although the frame is made of plastic, it doesn’t detract from the overall well-built feel of the device. 

The Spark 20 Pro + is  currently available in three color options – Magic Green, White, and Black – the Magic Green variant is particularly eye-catching,  

ALSO READ: TECNO SPARK 20 Pro+ Picks Up Dual Prestigious French Design Awards 2024

Measuring just 7.55mm in thickness, the Spark 20 Pro+ is slim and comfortable to hold. It packs impressive features like dual 4G SIM support, a generous 256GB of storage (without expandable memory), dual speakers for an immersive audio experience, and a USB-C port for charging and listening to your favorite song  (no! You do not have the  3.5mm headphone jack). Moreover, it boasts an IP53 rating for water and dust resistance, adding to its durability. A small LED flashlight at the front enhances its versatility, aiding in taking selfies in low-light conditions.

Display:

This is where the Spark 20 Pro+ shines. The 6.78-inch AMOLED display offers vivid colors, deep blacks, and a stellar 120Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth visuals. It also gives you an 89.0% screen-to-body ratio. The Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2436) results in sharp image quality. Viewing angles are excellent as well, with minimal color shifting at extreme angles. The device features a punch-hole cutout on the screen to accommodate the front-facing camera. This design choice ensures a seamless experience when consuming multimedia content. Users can fine-tune and personalize the display settings according to their preferences.   Whether you’re streaming content, browsing the web, or playing games, the display delivers an immersive visual experience that belies the phone’s budget pricing. This adds to its premium appeal   

Performance:

Powering the Spark 20 Pro+ is TECNO’s own Helio G99 Ultimate processor built on a 6nm process. Combined with 8GB of RAM (expandable to 16GB via memory fusion), this setup ensures a fast performance for all your daily tasks and multitasking needs. The phone can handle demanding games like Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG and I am willing to bet you would have no problem playing the new mobile version of Call of Duty Modern Warfare which launches soon without breaking a sweat. During my testing, everything from intense gaming sessions to heavy multitasking ran smoothly without any noticeable lags or stutters. The overall performance is impressive and on par with much pricier flagship phones.

Cameras:

If you are a mobile photographer or a photo enthusiast, the TECNO Spark 20 Pro+ is an impressive offering. The highlight is its quad-camera system, led by a remarkable 108MP primary sensor. This main camera captures stunning images with excellent exposure, contrast, and moderate saturation levels.

While low-light images exhibit minimal noise, the dedicated super night mode further enhances quality by allowing for longer exposures and impressive low-light performance.

Complementing the primary camera is a 2MP depth sensor and an AI lens for added functionality. The 8MP ultra-wide lens enables you to capture expansive scenes and landscapes with ease. The 32MP front-facing camera takes impressive selfies, with effective background blurring for portrait shots. It also benefits from portrait and night modes, further expanding its capabilities and delivering well-balanced colors with minimal oversaturation.

Additional features like panorama mode, pro mode, and both front and rear HDR provide plenty of creative options. It is interesting to note that the camera app offers up to 10X zoom. 

Overall, TECNO has equipped the Spark 20 Pro+ with capable cameras that punch well above their price class. The front-facing camera even includes a flash, allowing you to take better selfies in low-light conditions.

For the price, this smartphone delivers an exceptional camera experience, catering to both casual and enthusiast photographers with its versatile, feature-rich, and impressive camera setup.

Battery Life and Charging:

The 5000mAh battery inside the Spark 20 Pro+ is a champ, easily lasting over a day with typical usage. With casual use involving texts, calls, music streaming and some light gaming, you can even push it to two days. When it’s time to recharge, the included 33W fast charger can top up the battery from 0-100% in around 60 minutes, which is very good. 

Software:

On the software front, the Spark 20 Pro+ runs TECNO’s custom HiOS 14 skin based on Android 14. Right off the bat, the user interface impresses with its clean, responsive layout that avoids feeling bloated or overwhelming. You get a host of useful customization options and quality-of-life features like smart sidebar, game mode optimizations, and more.

But one unique software feature that blew us away is the innovative multi-window multitasking implementation. Rather than just splitting the screen between two apps like most phones, the Spark 20 Pro+ utilizes Display-in-Display technology to let you have up to three separate app windows running simultaneously! It’s a game-changer for power users who need to juggle multiple tasks at once.

Another software trick is the Spark 20 Pro+’s support for 3rd party apps call filters and beautification (Thanks to the social Turbo function) a feature I’ve yet to see on other brands. Now you can easily tune your appearance or apply fun AR filters during video calls on the go. 

For those who are on endless video calls, this is a godsend! As it makes video calls more fun for users 

Overall, the software experience is impressively smooth and sleek, undoubtedly aided by the ample 16GB of RAM and powerful Helio G99 Ultimate chipset. TECNO has gone the extra mile to provide a thoughtful, user-friendly software experience that adds real utility rather than gimmicks. The multi-window multitasking in particular is going to be tough to give up whenever I switch phones

Final thoughts 

With an expected price tag of around N291,000, the TECNO Spark 20 Pro+ offers exceptional value for its hardware package. You’re getting a vibrant AMOLED display, flagship-grade 108 MP camera, powerful processor, good battery life, and an overall premium design – features normally found on much pricier devices. For the asking price, it’s tough to find a better all-rounder in this segment.

The TECNO Spark 20 Pro+ delivers a remarkably well-rounded experience for its price point. With top-tier features like the 108MP camera, stunning AMOLED display, and robust performance courtesy of the Ultimate Helio G99 processor, it punches far above its weight class. While the cameras could use some more refinement, and the plastic frame may not appeal to everyone, these are minor nitpicks that don’t take away from the overall strong value proposition. 

If you’re looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn’t force you to compromise on core experience, the TECNO Spark 20 Pro+ deserves serious consideration. It gets you flagship specs and performance in a budget-friendly package that simply over-delivers on all fronts.