TECNO Spark 3 Pro

It was just the first quarter of the year 2019. But guess what! The Battle of Budget Smartphones was already on with TECNO being in the frontline with three (2 really) new additions to its Spark line with the Spark 3 which comes in two versions and this, the Spark 3 Pro which I shall focus on in this article. Together with many other smartphones you can read descriptive articles of the Spark 3 at Phone Place Kenya.

TECNO Spark 3 Pro features

• 2G, 3G, 4G LTE network technology
• 6.2 inches, 19:9 aspect ratio
• IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
• 1500 x 720 pixels resolution
• Android 9.0 Pie with HiOS
• MediaTek Helio A22 chipset
• Quad-core 2GHz CPU
• 2GB RAM, 32 GB storage
• Dual 13MP + 2MP primary camera
• 1080p@30fps, video recording
• 8MP front facing camera
• G-Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor
• 3500 mAh non-removable battery
• Colors: Champagne Gold and Midnight Black

Okay so that is that. Although I have to say, TECNO should really consider reserving names like Pro for High End smartphones. I mean, when you hear TECNO Spark 3 Pro, boy you get your hopes flagship high. Yes, but that is that. Below are my thoughts concerning it.

Design and build

It’s not just me who thinks that TECNO’s design and build team is doing a great job at mimicking the designs of other (Huawei) smartphones which by the way is not a bad thing. We all want to have good and great looking smartphones which is just the case here. Imagine a glass back on a budget smartphone, intriguing right? So is TECNO Spark 3 Pro for just that same reason.

It has a vertical camera orientation on the top right corner with TECNO branding on the bottom right. We also see a rear mounted fingerprint scanner on the back and TECNO reports that it can scan your finger even when it is oily. Well, I do not know how to fee about that but oh well, it sure is good to know.

The front has a wide notch (can be hidden under settings to assume an un-notched bezel) that houses the front facing camera, sensor and call speaker as well. We also see its display panel which I shall talk about momentarily.

The RHS has power button below the volume rocker while the LHS has a SIM tray that houses two SIMS and a memory card. The top has been left untouched so it follows that the 3.5 mm jack is down low besides the micro USB port (really TECNO?).

I think for its looks, TECNO Spark 3 Pro may be considered a Pro smartphone.

Display and camera

Display

This phone’s display is a 6.2 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with a 19:9 aspect ratio and 1500 x 720 pixels resolution. It looks okay to me, not the brightest display at its price yes but it is okay. And as already mentioned, in case you are not a fan of the notch (like I) then you do not have to live with it, under settings that can be ‘corrected’.  At 6.2 inches it is a tall display so brace yourself for two handed usage especially when reaching to the top of it.

Camera

I love to talk about smartphone camera because cameras on our phones are very essential. Before I comment I want to say this is a smartphone of its kind that allows you to adjust the brightness of the LED flash that flickers when you snap a photo- cool.

And its 8MP selfie camera also allows for intelligent exposure mechanism that enhances your image and video quality. I fancy the front facing camera of the Spark 3 Pro more than I do its Dual 13MP + 2MP primary camera of 1080p@30fps video recording.

Performance and memory

Platform

This bit blew my mind. That TECNO Spark 3 Pro runs on Android 9.0 Pie straight out of its package with HiOS. Now that (as at time of review) is some Pro move TECNO, include the latest software update.

Great! It has a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset with a Quad-core 2GHz CPU and runs on 2GB RAM with an expandable 32 GB internal storage. What I see here is a power efficient smartphone.  And the internal storage can be expanded up to 32GB using an SD card.

Battery

It has a 3500 mAh non-removable battery the Spark 3 Pro that lasts and lasts and lasts.

Verdict

Okay for the list below, I would consider TECNO Spark 3 Pro a “Pro” smartphone:

• -Great build quality and design
• -Great battery performance
• -Arguably intelligent camera(s)
• -Good user experience (Latest software update installed)
• -4G network (for its price)

It is a smartphone you can consider if you want a solid smartphone but cannot spend money bags on a phone. With the TECNO Spark 3 Pro you get a good bargain. Buy it in color Champagne Gold (premium) or Midnight Black (subtle).

Get more Tecno phones in kenya from here!