Tecno has different devices targeting different consumers. Most people know about the Camon series that is made up of camera-centric devices and the Phantom series, the company’s flagship line. There is also the Spark line that is supposed to be an affordable line from the company. One device under this line, the Tecno Spark K7, is available in Kenya for Ksh 9,999. This device was unveiled last year but the company is getting ready to upgrade it very soon with the Tecno Spark 2.
The Tecno Spark 2 will be unveiled next month, June, and it is going to be an interesting device from what I am meant to understand. The company has not confirmed anything about this device but I don’t need the confirmation, do I? I have some information about the device from different sources and I can bet any amount on their accuracy.
18:9 Display
In 2018, we expect to see more manufacturers embracing the 18:9 aspect ratio on their devices and Tecno definitely will not be left out. The company already has the Camon X that has this aspect ratio and we will also be seeing it on the Tecno Spark 2.
For those who may not be aware, a display with an 18:9 aspect ratio is taller and slimmer than what we are used to seeing on smartphones. These displays are twice as tall as they are wide and manufacturers are able to use a bigger screen size on the phone. Speaking of the screen size, the Tecno Spark 2 will have a 6-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. This is not so bad if you ask me.
Two Variants
Tecno will be bringing two variants of the Spark 2 to the market. One will have 1GB of RAM with 16GB of storage space and the other one with 2GB RAM with 16GB of internal storage space too. Both variants will have support for a 32GB MicroSD card.
The 1GB model will be an Android Oreo (Go Edition) device. It will come with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with HiOS 3.3 on top. The 2GB model will not be an Android Oreo (Go Edition) device but will come with Android 8.1 too.
8MP Selfie Camera with Dual Flash
Even though the Tecno Spark 2 is not primarily a camera-centric phone, it will come with some decent cameras. The back camera will have a 13MP sensor with Auto Focus and triple LED flash. The front facing camera on the other hand will have an 8MP sensor with dual flash.
You will also be getting portrait mode on the Spark 2 if that is something you have always wanted. For those in the dark, portrait mode is the feature where you take photos and have the background blurred with the subject in focus. For years, this was possible to do with professional cameras and just recently we started seeing it on smartphones and the Spark 2 will have it.
Face Unlock
When it comes to unlocking our smartphones, we used to have patterns, PINs and passwords but then the fingerprint option was introduced. To make things even better, we started seeing manufacturers introducing iris and face unlock on their devices and Tecno will not be left behind.
The Tecno Spark 2 will have Face unlock as one of its key selling points. The fingerprint scanner will still be there and Face unlock will be an extra feature.
MediaTek Processor
As expected, the Tecno spark 2 will come with a MediaTek processor. This will be the 1.3GHz Quad-Core MT6580WP processor. This is not that different from what we saw last year with the Spark K7.
No 4G Support
If you have been expecting 4G support on the Tecno Spark 2, I am sorry to tell you that it will not be there. I am meant to understand that the company plans to have support for 2G and 3G only. This is a bit disappointing as in Kenya all the service providers have 4G support in Nairobi and its environs. Safaricom has the widest coverage in the country with almost all the major towns covered.
For connectivity, we do have Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2.
3,500 mAh Battery
Tecno has always had devices with reliable batteries and I hope the 3500 mAh unit on the Spark 2 will not disappoint. This battery is 500 mAh bigger than the one we saw on the Tecno Spark K7 from 2017 and should be appealing for those who own that device and have always wanted a bigger battery.
This is all we know about the Tecno Spark 2 so far, I will update you on this device if and when I get more information.
Tecno Spark 2 Specifications
Display Size: 6.0 inches with a resolution of 720 X 1440 Pixels
Processor: 1.3GHz Quad-core MediaTek MT6580WP
RAM: 1/2GB
Storage Space: 16 GB, can be expanded to 32GB using a microSD card
GPU: Mali-400 MP
Android Version: Android 8.1 Oreo
Main Camera: 13MP with triple-LED flash
Selfie Camera: 8MP with dual flash
Battery: 3500 mAh battery
Also Read: The Tecno Camon CM Review
