In April of this year, Tecno released the successor of the Tecno Spark 2, the Tecno Spark 3. Now, in the tech industry, when you read “successor”, you expect “upgrade”, right? Well, in my opinion, I can’t call the Tecno Spark 3 an upgrade of the Spark 2, not completely at least. When it comes to marketing a new device, Tecno does not do not skimp on the means. But if you look closer, it is sometimes just one strategy to indulge you in buying a device that is not much of an upgrade as they want to make us believe. I took note of this fishy scheme in Tecno’s way of updating its entry and mid-range smartphones, which I will discuss in this blog, plus why I think you shouldn’t buy the Tecno Spark 3, follow me.
As mentioned above, it is only a normal practice to update a range of products with better iterations, in a way to add value and give reasons to customers to invest in the new device. However, on the other side of the coin, we have Tecno, who plays by a completely different game. Since the creation of its Spark range of phones, we can’t really say there has been an added value in each iteration. From the Spark 1, passing by the Spark 2 and finally the Spark 3, nothing really differentiates them if it not their designs. Just have a look at the table below to see by yourselves.
| Tecno Spark 3 Pro | Tecno Spark 3 | Tecno Spark 2 | Tecno Spark | |
| Operating system | Android 9.1 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie/Go edition | Android 8.0 Orea/Go edition | Android 7.0 Nougat |
| Screen size | 6.2 inches | 6.2 inches | 6.0 inches | 5.5 inches |
| Resolution | 1500 x 720 pixels | 1500 x 720 pixels | 1440 x 720 pixels | 1280 x 720 |
| Pixel density | 268 ppi | 268 ppi | 268 ppi | 267 ppi |
| Screen technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Chipset | 4x 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 4x 1.5 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) | 4x 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 4x 1.5 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7, MediaTek MT6580 | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7, Mediatek MT6580 |
| Graphic processing Unit | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 | ARM Mali-400 MP2 | ARM Mali-400 MP2 |
| RAM | 1GB, 2GB | 1GB, 2GB | 1GB, 2GB | 1GB, 2GB |
| Internal storage space (ROM) | 32GB | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB |
| MicroSD | yes, up to 64GB | yes,up to 32GB | yes,up to 32GB | yes,up to 32GB |
| Rear and front facing camera | 13MP, 8MP | 13MP, 8MP | 13MP, 8MP | 13MP, 5MP |
| Network | Wi-Fi, LTE, HSPA, GSM | Wi-Fi, HSPA, GSM | Wi-Fi, HSPA, GSM | Wi-Fi, HSPA, GSM |
| Finger print scanner | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Battery | 3500mAh | 3500mAh | 3500mAh | 3000mAh |
| Sizes | 75.8 x 155.3 x 8.15mm | 75.8 x 155.3 x 8.15mm | 76.2 x 159.4 x 7.8mm | 76.4 x 153 x 7.9 mm |
As you can see, nothing differs much between the Spark 1, 2, and 3. All are equipped with IPS LCD screens, though the resolutions differ a little bit. The pixel density is roughly the same, about 268 pixels per inch (ppi). Moving further, the CPUs don’t change much. We find a MediaTek MT6580, on the Spark 1 and 2, to a MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) on the Spark 3. As for the GPU, the same constant, we move from an ARM Mali-400 MP2, on the first two models, to a PowerVR GE8320 on the last model. 1/2GB RAM + 16GB ROM variants on all models (except the Spark 1), and approximately the same camera resolution on all models (though the quality becomes better as you move forward, but not that much). Finally, everything is powered by a 3500mAh battery on the last two models, against a 3000mAh battery on the first model. Thus, we can’t say there is a big lip between each model that can justify the PRICE DIFFERENCES, and purchase, if not the designs, which in my opinion are rather successful (but WHY the plastic chassis????).
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| From left to right! Tecno Spark 1(K7), Spark 2, and Spark 3 |
Also, don’t get yourself fooled by the mention “Pro” on the Spark 3 Pro, because it has nothing of a Pro device. Generally, when OEMs release a Pro variant of their devices, it is because that device offers a significant update in every aspect (design, performance, etc.) over the base version, which the price follows. However, in the case of Tecno, only the price follows...The Nigerian tech youtuber Fisayo Fosudo criticized the Tecno Spark 3 Pro of only offering 4G LTE connectivity as a REAL difference from the Spark 3 and an only good reason to upgrade, and he is right. In my opinion, the Tecno Spar 3 Pro should have been the Spark 3 and that’s all. I don’t advice to invest in it at all. Believe me, the phone will rapidly show its limits a couple of months later. Rather, I will recommend the Android Go variant of the Spark 3, for the reasons written in this post, or the Spark 3 Pro if you have 105,000 XAF to invest in a smartphone. But Jumia has this
The most probable reason why Tecno has been carrying out this scheme is sure to keep its prices low and offer continual well-balanced price-quality ratio devices. But let’s be real, until when can this continue? Not for long in any case. But bear in mind this does not apply for all the ranges of products offered by Tecno. If this is truly the case for its entry and mid-range of devices (like the Spark, Pouvoir or Pop), it is not applicable to its high-end line (Camon and Phantom). But despite this dishonest scheme, the Spark series remains a good choice in my opinion. The price/quality ratio offered by Tecno with this line remains interesting and should be considered by anyone on a budget wishing to get a more than decent smartphones.
You can buy the Tecno Spark 3 Pro on Jumia here, and the Spark 3 Android Go edition here (currently in promotion !).
Back in 2014, Google launched Android One. Through it, Google proposed a generation of affordable smartphones (less than $100), that was faster, provided more storage, had regular security updates and help reduce data consumption for emerging markets, all with the aim of conquering the next billion smartphone users. However Android One revealed not to be up to the task...
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