The Tecno Spark 10 was unveiled in Kenya earlier this year as the successor to the Spark 9 from last year. I did love the Spark 9 and was particularly impressed with its video recording capabilities at night. At its price, the Spark 9 was one of the best camera phones of 2022 and I expected its successor to be equally as good.
I have been using the Tecno Spark 10 for a while now and have really enjoyed the experience. It does some tasks really well and struggles with others and in this review I will be sharing all that.
I have the base model Spark 10 and you can get that in Kenya starting from Ksh 18,500. The phone is available on Jumia as well as other online and offline retailers. This isn’t cheap in any way but it is not the most expensive device Tecno has launched in Kenya this year
Before getting to the full review, let us highlight some of the ley specifications of the Tecno Spark 10 below.
Read: Tecno Spark 10 Specifications and Price in Kenya
Tecno Spark 10 Unboxing
When you buy the Spark 10, this is what you should expect in the box.
- The Spark 10
- Earphones
- USB Cable
- Wall Adapter for charging
- Silicone Case
- User guide and warranty information.
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Tecno Spark 10 feel quite different from the Spark 9. The design feels modern and the build quality is sturdy. The back has a camera is a triple-setup module but only two camera sensors at the back. This gives it an iPhone-like feel which is not particularly my cup of tea but I get that there are people who want this. I would have hoped for some originality here but that is what you get.
The back is still good and is made of plastic but does not feel cheap in any way. The sides are made of metal with the power and volume keys on the rights. The power button has the fingerprint sensor embedded underneath. The fingerprint sensor is easy to setup and work perfectly all the time, I have not had any issues when using it.
On the left side is the SIM tray that also houses the MicroSD card. The USB-C port, speaker grille and headphone jack are on the bottom section. The quality of sound you get from the speakers are quite good for most cases.
As for the display, it has a 6.6-inch display with 90Hz refresh rate. This is quite good to be honest for a phone within this price range. The display is very bright and you will not have any serious issues using it under direct sunlight. The high refresh rate offers smooth scrolling for a better user experience.
Display
In terms of display, the Tecno Spark 10 boasts a 6.6-inch screen with a resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels. What makes this display stand out is its 90Hz refresh rate, which ensures smooth scrolling and animations. Users have the option to set the refresh rate to 90Hz or 60Hz, or let the phone automatically adjust it based on their usage. It’s worth noting that a higher refresh rate may lead to faster battery consumption.
The resolution is not that high for a smartphone within its price range and I hope Tecno uses a Full HD display with the Spark 11. This display gets bright even under direct sunlight and I did not have any issues using it outdoors.
The display is very responsive and comes with a screen protector installed.
Software and Performance
The Tecno Spark 10 runs on Android 13 with HiOS 12, the latest version of Tecno’s custom user interface. HiOS 12 introduces some aesthetic changes compared to previous versions, including a control center accessed by swiping down the right section of the display. This control center provides easy access to important phone settings such as brightness, data and Wi-Fi toggles, Bluetooth toggle, and airplane mode.
In terms of performance, the Tecno Spark 10 is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G37 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage space. This configuration ensures smooth operation and allows the phone to handle various tasks without any issues. It’s worth noting that the Spark 10’s performance is commendable considering its price range.
Cameras
The camera setup on the Tecno Spark 10 is impressive. It features a 50MP main camera on the back that captures detailed shots with accurate color balance in different lighting conditions. The phone’s night mode is also noteworthy, as it excels at capturing clear shots even in low-light environments. Videos taken at night exhibit sharpness, minimal noise, and excellent color accuracy.
For selfie enthusiasts, the Tecno Spark 10 offers a 8MP front-facing camera that delivers exceptional image quality. The level of detail captured by this camera surpasses that of any previous Tecno Spark devices, making it the best selfie camera in the series so far.
Battery
Having a smartphone with a short battery life can be frustrating, as it requires frequent charging throughout the day. However, the Tecno Spark 10 comes with an impressive 5,000 mAh battery that sets it apart from other smartphones. With this battery capacity, I can comfortably use the phone for an entire day without worrying about running out of charge.
The Tecno Spark 10 supports 18W fast charging, which helps to reduce charging time. This feature is particularly useful for those who are always on the go and need their phone to charge quickly.
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