Tecno Spark 30 review: Bumblebee buzz!

Special edition phones like those born out of collaboration are a rare sight in themselves but almost nonexistent in the budget segment. So, the Tecno Spark 30 Bumblebee edition generated quite a buzz when it debuted recently. But looking past the hype, is it actually worth buying? How does it hold against the competition and does it offer more than just a flashy design? Well, find out more in this full review of the Tecno Spark 30.

Tecno Spark 30 Specifications:

• Display: 6.78-inches FHD LCD, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G91 (12nm)
  • CPU: Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • GPU:  Mali-G52 MC2
• Memory: 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 14 with HiOS on top
• Rear Camera: Dual-camera; – 64MP primary sensor – 2MP depth lens
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (punch hole)
• Audio: Dual Loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
• Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging (Charger in the box)
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 22,490 (8/256GB, Stellar Shadow) | Rs. 22,990 (8/256GB, Bumble Bee)
• Learn the full specifications of the Tecno Spark 30 here

Tecno Spark 30 Review:

Unboxing and Design 

I rarely talk about the unboxing experience in my reviews but this one's special. The retail box is like a little kid's dream box. The transformer head acts as an anchor revealing another box that opens sideways and out pops Bumblebee, the fan favorite.

The Bumblebee Spark leans into it completely. It's bright, stripy, looks mecha, and screams geek...I mean I absolutely love it but won't take you long to find people whose taste buds turn sour looking at such a blazing box. In my small and unscientific survey, transformer fans definitely digged the aesthetic, while most others were intrigued as well. But some, understandably, thought that it was a bit too bright...

It's too much

Nevertheless, there's also a 'Stellar Shadow' colorway for those folks that costs a few hundred rupees less. But should they consider the Spark 30 for their next purchase? If you strip it of all 'Transformer', can what's left standing justify the price? We'll come to that of course, but one of the things that impacts that conclusion is the display!

Display

• 6.78-inches FHD LCD, 90Hz

We see a large LCD screen with standard 1080p resolution and a fluid 90Hz refresh rate. On everyday use, I don't have many complaints. It's not the fastest out there but fulfills its streaming, scrolling, and swiping duties fine. Outdoor usability is decent too, with the screen going to up to 800 nits under sunlight.

Since it's a budget phone, I do not expect every feature under the sky but an AMOLED screen would have been nice to have. It's not unheard of at this price bracket, but was likely saved for its Pro sibling with the Optimus bling. So if you're dead set on having completely black pixels, the Redmi Note 13 (4G) is a better option given you are willing to compromise on your base storage (6/128GB vs 8/256GB) and pay a few thousand extra (+Rs. 2,000).

Speaker and Haptics

• Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos

Watching YouTube videos and your occasional Netflix show is enjoyable on the Spark 30. Despite having stereo speakers, the loudness isn't very high and neither does it sound very full. But it's still a good set of speakers for a budget smartphone. There's Dolby Atmos support for supposedly a more immersive listening experience but as I said before, the loudness and volume limit it in that regard. Similarly, haptic feedback isn't super polished or precise but it's not terrible either.

Performance

• Octa-core MediaTek Helio G91 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• 8GB LPDDR4 RAM, 256GB eMMC 5.1

Now, we've reached the crux: how bright is the 30's spark? Well, I would say it's a solid 8/10 for a light/medium user. There are some situations where the smartphone feels a little sluggish like after a restart or while exiting a big game but for the most part, it's relatively fluid.

My testbench including Geekbench 6, Antutu V10, and CPDT yielded pretty average results so some part of me was a little disappointed given the geeky aesthetics. The smartphone could definitely do with a stronger chip, faster RAM, and a UFS-based storage solution but the price-to-value is still good enough for recommendation. How well can it game though ? ? I ran a range of light and heavy titles and the Spark performs OK! Easy ones like Clash Royal, Subway Surfers, and Alto's Adventure feel smooth without any kind of stuttering but games like Call of Duty, and PUBG Mobile do get hiccups once in a while. Moreover, the touch response feels just a tad bit slow, and the lack of a proper gyroscope really stings for gyro players like me.

Software and UI

• Android 14 with HIOS on top
• Transformer-themed icon packs

Now, as much as I liked the outer aesthetics of this Spark 30, Tecno fell somewhat flat on the software end. On your first boot, you are greeted with a Transformer-themed home screen with stylized icons but...it's just meh! Although many icons are tailor-designed, Google services, pre-installed games, and even first-party services are left as is, immediately breaking the illusion. A simple solution to this icon-ic (pun intended) problem could have been an automatic filter applied to any new app to keep harmony. Moreover, although the number of additional apps is acceptable for a device of this caliber, Tecno needs to up its software game both in terms of polishing and support. It's especially concerning when you shine light on the fact that the company doesn't promise any number of updates or security patches to this device which is underwhelming even for a budget phone.

Camera

• Dual camera setup at the back
• (50MP primary, 2MP depth)
• 8MP selfie camera (notch cutout)

Typical of other budget products, most rear cutouts are just for show on the Tecno Spark 30. In my review, I found its Sony IMX 682 sensor to spew satisfactory results but it's inconsistent and the color optimization could use an extra hand or two.

Regardless, the details are good for a budget phone thanks to its 64MP resolution and 4 in 1-pixel binning. Colors are a bit boosted and appear even more so on the vibrant screen of the device so dialing that back in the display's color slider might help keep it easy on the eyes.

Daylight

Here are some of the samples I clicked with my Spark 30 and for the most part it's a decent lens for point-and-shoot. Images are sufficiently bright, there isn't much noise or artifacts, and pictures turn out eye-pleasing. But keen eyes will surely notice that extra sharpness is looking a bit unnatural, those zoomed-in shots are looking a bit warmer, and those dark areas are not revealing much detail. These are some areas Tecno needs to direct their attention to improving to deliver a more refined and reliable camera experience.

Portraits and Selfies

Moving to people's portraits and selfies (which most folks are more keen on using the smartphone for anyway), Tecno does an ok-ish job here. I am happy that none of the shots turned out bizarre or unusable but there are varying levels of quality between different images. Most 1x portraits look appealing but have very vibrant colors and embellished skin tones while you also get horrid ones at times where the sky is all blown out or everything looks AI. You can also try out 2x portraits but those were subpar with poor edge detection and soft details due to sensor crop-in and lack of optimization.

I am happy with the selfie performance of the Spark 30. The 8MP sensor does fine given sufficient light and the portrait mode has decent edge detection and details as well. But again, it's not excellent and could do with better consistency when it comes to skin tones and color accuracy.

Nighttime and Video

Like most other budget phones with a small sensor, the Tecno Spark 30 isn't really ideal for low-light conditions or nighttime. Images come out noisy and lacking in sharpness due to the absence of a sufficient volume of light. There's no OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) either so be sure to keep your hands steady to get a usable picture. With that being said, the 'Super Night' mode helps artificially sharpen objects, keeps light sources in check, and spews brighter, more appealing images in general. On the video end, you can record up to 2k videos from both the front and the rear cameras with good detail, ok-ish stability, and satisfactory dynamic range. Do note that there is neither physical (OIS) or digital (EIS) stabilization even at lower resolutions like 1080p or 720p.

Battery and Charging

• 5,000 mAh
• 18W fast charging

Battery life on the Tecno Spark 30 is great. It's a relatively big phone with a typical big 5,000 mAh cell. Neither the Helio G91 nor the 90Hz panel consumes much power, so you easily get multiday battery life with the Spark 30. In my review, I was averaging around 2 days before needing to plug the device back in. The 18W charger did feel a little sluggish considering the fact that 25W and 33W have somewhat become the norm at the 20-25k price bracket in recent years. Regardless, you can go from 0-100% in around 2 hours, or save yourself some time by charging from 20-80% in around 60-70 minutes. Tecno Spark 30 Review: Conclusion Overall, the Tecno Spark 30 is a well-rounded budget phone propelled to the spotlight thanks to its flashy design. But, the 20-25k NPR segment is heavily competitive in Nepal and the Spark fails to leave a lasting impression that'd command a strong recommendation. If you want a reliable daily driver with lots of storage and decent photography abilities, the Tecno Spark 30 is a decent choice.

However, I think options like the Redmi Note 13 (review), the Realme 12X, and Tecno's own Camon 20 are better overall values. Two of those three sport better AMOLED screens, and most have a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. Moreover, they have faster charging speeds (33W or 45W) and offer stronger chipsets. Hence, unless Bumblebee really got you in his grasp, you might want to skip this one honey!

Tecno Spark 30 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Cons: