The TECNO SPARK 30 is a new offering that brings novelty to entry-level smartphones. It provides users with the design language of the Transformers franchise along with a capable device.
It was certainly a pleasant surprise that the device could excel in other areas. Looking past the surface, we found that the phone offers reliability in multimedia, cameras, and fluency.
It doesn’t even stop there, as readers can get the device under just PHP 7,000. If this managed to catch your attention, let’s dive into what’s great about the new TECNO SPARK 30.
Table of Contents
Autobots-Inspired Design
After unboxing, I’m sure we can agree that the Bumblebee Edition colorway is really cool if you’re a Transformers fan. Mixing Black and Yellow offers a combo that isn’t really used for most smartphones.
Plus, I believe it’s a rare case where users wouldn’t want to use a case for this device at all. If you’re concerned about drops and such, I’m happy to inform you guys that the phone has a plastic back. It even has an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance as well.
The phone feels good to hold with its 7.7mm profile. Since it’s made of plastic, it feels lightweight too. These are both complemented by how flat the edges of the device are.
The back panel features a circular camera module with three sensors and TECNO’s rear four flash. Up front, the phone has a 6.78-inch screen that we’ll unpack later.
For I/O, the volume rocker and the power button which doubles as a fingerprint sensor on the right side. On the left, we’ll find the dual SIM card slot.
At the bottom, you’ll find a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm audio port, and one of two speakers. The other speaker is situated on the top of the device.
Overall, it feels quite nice for an entry-level device. The material doesn’t take anything away from the experience and makes the smartphone feel both premium and practical.
Great Cameras
Taking into account how much this smartphone costs, the cameras took us by surprise. For context, the SPARK 30 is only equipped with a 64-megapixel Sony IMX682 main camera and a 13-megapixel selfie shooter.
The cameras perform quite well even when lighting isn’t optimal. The colors are fairly accurate and don’t skimp on detail.
Since the weather’s been a bit bipolar recently, we took our shots with low expectations. Luckily enough, it didn’t become an issue! We’ll leave our sample shots for readers to judge.
Aside from that, this device offers a reliable AI Eraser for your post-processing needs. It’s easy to use and is quick to render your edited photos. Suffice it to say, clutter and photobombers won’t be an issue for users.
The device also comes with a Supernight shooting feature as well. The difference between toggling the mode on and off is huge. The clarity and lighting are appreciated, but the amount of noise absent after processing is insane.
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- Supernight OFF
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- Supernight ON
The image above is a direct comparison for when Supernight is off and on.
Bottomline, the TECNO SPARK 30 does really well under this segment for an entry-level device. Users will surely appreciate how intuitive and user-friendly the features are too.
Flexible Multimedia Experience
For multimedia, we have to cover how display and audio work together. Honestly though, the fixed variable lies with the device’s 6.78-inch screen. It caps at a refresh rate of 90Hz and has a peak brightness of 800 nits.
Audio-wise, it’s a bit flexible. On its own, the phone has dual symmetrical speakers with DTS audio. However, users may opt for wired earphones via its 3.5mm audio port or wireless earbuds via Bluetooth.
From our time with the device, we found that multimedia consumption is enjoyable with any option. The screen size feels just right, and most streaming videos cap at 60Hz anyway.
Most of my time with the device was spent catching up on my favorite YouTubers. Aside from that, I watched The Platform 2 on Netflix. Admittedly, colors weren’t as vibrant as I’d have liked. Then again, it didn’t take away from the experience as a whole.
As for the speakers, they fared pretty well. The mids are up there, and how loud the device can be is evident with max volume. However, users probably won’t notice this unless you switch from different devices a lot.
Additionally, users may also opt to use the device as a universal remote. That’s right, the device has an IR Remote Control feature even as an entry-level device. Smart home users will definitely appreciate this if ever batteries run out or physical remotes end up misplaced.
Future-Proof Fluency
Wrapping up, this device is insanely future-proofed, rated for five (5) years of lasting fluency. Among the driving parts of this device is its Helio G91 chipset and modest 5,000mAh battery.
Activities like browsing, video streaming, and such are certain to do well. For gaming, it gets a tad bit tricky for those who want to look into it.
From experience, our TECNO SPARK 30 can handle casual games like Mobile Legends and Teamfight Tactics with ease. With more graphic-intensive games like Genshin Impact though, it can provide around 30 frames under low settings. I’ll deem this as a “play for dailies” kind of device at best.
Of course, the chipset it has isn’t one to pump huge numbers in Antutu. People often look past that it’s a reliable performer in terms of everyday tasks and even casual gaming. At the end of the day, this device is centered on efficiency over power.
Final Thoughts
The TECNO SPARK 30 is more than meets the eye. It’s a reliable entry-level device that has a unique, premium design. And for a gadget for around PHP 7,000, the performance is quite acceptable.
All in all, it’s a good find for users who are conscious about longevity, budget, and standing out design-wise. This Autobots-inspired smartphone reminds us that there are accessible options in the market that blend function and form.
For those interested, the TECNO SPARK 30 retails for PHP 6,999 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Readers should get this by the end November 11 via TECNO Philippines’ TikTok Shop for a discounted price of PHP 5,599.
TECNO SPARK 30 specs:
6.78-inch FHD+ (2460 x 1080) Hole Screen
90Hz refresh rate, 800 nits
MediaTek Helio G91
8GB RAM (+8GB Extended RAM)
128GB, 256GB internal storage
64MP Sony IMX682 main camera, rear four flash
13MP front camera, dual color temperature flash
2K at 30 fps video recording
Dual symmetrical speakers
DTS audio
3.5mm audio port
Dual SIM
4G
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
FM Radio
USB Type-C
HiOS (Android 14)
IR Remote Control
Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
5,000mAh battery
18W fast charge support
168 x 76.43 x 7.7mm (dimensions)
Stellar Shadow, Astral Ice, Magic Skin 3.0, Bumblebee Edition (colors)
