Tecno Spark 30C review: Budget phone done right?

Although not a big fan of the segment itself, I found myself quite enjoying using the budget Tecno Spark for the last few days. That can possibly be attributed to many factors, but I think it's the amalgamation that's most crucial. Hence here in my full review, I will walk you through my experience with the Tecno Spark 30C, its strengths, and drawbacks, and why I think Tecno might have got the formula down for a role budget device with this one!

Tecno Spark 30C Specifications:

• Display: 6.67-inches HD+  IPS LCD, 120Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G81 (12nm)
  • CPU: Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • GPU:  Mali-G52 MP2
• Memory: 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 14 with HiOS on top
• Rear Camera: Dual-camera; – 50MP 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. 16,490 (6/128GB) | Rs. 19,990 (8/256GB)
• Learn the full specifications of the Tecno Spark 30C here. 

Tecno Spark 30C Review:

Design

• Glass front, Plastic back/frames

Budget phones are getting better and better at hiding their class in recent times. I mean a single glance was all you needed to tell apart a sub-100 USD smartphone from one ten times pricier. Well, I don't think it's that simple anymore. Be it this Tecno Spark that I am reviewing, the Hot 50 from Infinix, or even the Redmi 14C, these budget devices have started pushing the boundaries of what it means to "look" above your weight class. Sure, it can go sideways pretty fast with shimmery gimmicks and reflective backs, but this Orbit Black Spark 30C in my hands has the perfect blend of taste and elegance. It doesn't give away and that's what I like the most about its design.

Yes, it looks good with that circular island and silver ring but there's no obvious glimmer that would dampen the shine. Tecno provides a transparent case in the box with a set of paired earphones too, but the black is just too sexy to cover up. Besides, the Spark is pretty lightweight and has a pre-applied screen guard, so going commando wasn't really a concern. To see if I was the only one enchanted, I asked some of my (techy) colleagues and (non-techy) friends, and the consensus was...

Yeah, (it) ... looks pretty good!

Display

• 6.67-inches HD+ IPS LCD, 120Hz

While not as deceiving, the front is relatively modern as well with a punch-hole screen and ok-ish bezel chin combo. The panel is a 720p 120Hz LCD which is surprising given the price. We are used to seeing 90 and 60Hz panels but some of those are Full HD resolutions. I would rather have had a 1080p 90Hz or even a basic 60Hz panel to be honest. I do see the angle Tecno is taking here, and the 120Hz does make the Spark 30C feel a lot quicker than most budget phones but trading in return are those pixels. 1080p has somewhat become the baseline for media today but after using the Spark for a bit, I think 720p is still definitely workable.

Just a quick note if you are considering picking the Spark 30C for its 120Hz display alone..don't! To no one's surprise, you can't lock the phone at that refresh rate and it only goes that far on System UI and navigation. The majority of the time, you are either going to be working with 90 or 60 Hertz depending on the application and optimization. The colors are a bit cool and visibility under direct sunlight isn't the best either but I'd give the display good marks for the price. Could have made different choices, but it's a well-packed offering.

Speaker and Haptics

The dual speakers are not terrible but not as good as I expected. They are fairly clear but don't go super loud or have much fullness. Perfectly fine for watching YouTube videos, scrolling reels, and playing your favorite tune once in a while but nothing more. The haptics are fine too, buzz buzz sometimes,  nothing out of the ordinary.

Performance

• Octa-core MediaTek Helio G81 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB eMMC 5.1

On the helm is the Helio G81 chipset from MediaTek which while sounds different is basically the ever-popular Helio G85 but with a slightly weaker GPU. So, performance-wise, you are getting almost the same amount of horsepower as most of the competition. For day-to-day struggles, the G81 is competent enough to push through most of your needs without too many hitches. There are going to be stutters once in a while, and that 120Hz (or should I say 90Hz) does dip in frames here and there but that's the budget experience I got used to during my review.

And for all the gamers out there, yes this budget phone can indeed play some light games here and there. I ran a couple of my regular titles including Subway Surfers, Call of Duty, and Asphalt and they ran as well as I expected. You can go up to 'High' framerate in CODM with good stability and response.

Software and UI

• Android 14 with HIOS on top

Software is a tricky topic on the Spark 30C. On one hand, the skin is light and clean and I didn't receive any ads or recommendations which is surprisingly hard to get in this price bracket. On the other hand, Tecno makes no promise on the support side of things, so you are likely not going to get the latest Android updates for long (if at all). For now, the phone boots on Android 14 with the company's HiOS skin on top. There are many features like High Boost, Sidebar, ...... which was nice to see (at least some of them). And despite Tecno saying "4 years plus lasting frequency" on the box, don't be fooled, they are not talking about software support there, it's just arbitrary marketing about some optimizations by the company to ensure fluidity. With that all put out, I think I like the "it's good now, we'll worry about the future later" approach more than the "let's put ads in your face to keep costs down" route.

Camera

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

The camera setup is nothing steller on the Spark 30C but it does get the job done most of the time. The 50MP primary is all there to talk about since there is no ultrawide, and the depth lens can't do anything on its own.

Daylight

I like the colors of the shots from the Tecno, the details are fine too, and I think for a budget phone, you are not going to get something entirely different from the competition. I do wish the dynamic range were better even if it's just a little bit because overly bright or dark environments are just out of the question right now.

Portraits and Selfies

I think human subjects and portraits are areas that Tecno can still work on to deliver better results. As you can see from the samples I took during my review, the Spark 30C can indeed spew good-looking portraits, but it's somewhat inconsistent, the skin tones can veer off route, and the edge detection is wonky most of the time. Of course, I wouldn't expect a budget phone to nail everything, but its competition from Samsung and Redmi take better portraits.

The selfies are decent too but they are on the poor side for a modern smartphone. Given sufficient lighting, the details come out okay, but the range and the overall look feel compromised. The edge detection isn't the best either and your face might come off as a slightly pinker hue than normal. Overall, not un-usable but not very confidence inspiring either.

Nighttime and Video

Since the sensor inside the Spark is small and doesn't feature any Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), images in low light conditions often turn out soft lacking in detail. Light sources aren't handled properly hence highlights are overblown and shadows have no details. The 'Super Night' mode helps out on some of that, giving images a bit more backbone in terms of sharpness, and preventing overblows. But some might turn out a bit too punchy in terms of vibrancy and the added sharpness might feel a tad too unnatural.

On the videography side of things, you can surprisingly go up to 2K 30fps from both the front and rear cameras. And to Tecno's credit, the details are better, and the overall feed looks sharper than most budget smartphones. But don't expect much in terms of highlight management, good dynamic range, or stability.

Battery and Charging

• 5,000 mAh
• 18W fast charging

The battery life of the Spark 30C is also satisfactory. It's a standard 5,000 mAh that we see in most others but the endurance is slightly lesser likely due to the high refresh rate screen. Regardless I was getting around a day of use before feeling the need to plug it back in. That's around 6-7 hours of screen time with a usage pattern consisting mostly of the camera, social media, and a few games. The charging is a bit on the slower side at just 18W, but you'll completely fill up in under 2 hours. Or you can do what I did, and do quick 30-minute refills once in a while which will net you an additional 30% battery on average. Tecno Spark 30C Review: Conclusion All in all, I think the Spark 30C is a solid budget phone for under 20,000 rupees in Nepal right now. Its biggest competitors include the Nord N30SE which recently dropped nearly 30% in MSRP, the Redmi 14C with similar specs, and the standard Redmi 13. All of which compromise on one or more aspects of the Spark. The Nord for example has a faster chip but is limited to just 4 gigs of RAM (and 128GB memory), while the Redmis are plagued by ads and bloatware. So, if you are looking to get an all-round budget phone for under 20,000 rupees, the Spark 30C might be worth a second look!

Tecno Spark 30C Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Cons: