Budget-friendly smartphones often ride in the low range scape and with a few crossing to the mid-range tier that is usually dominated by impressive releases. Well, it seems the norm has changed in 2019 with AI-powered smartphones taking the lead for a low cost of making the digital age an affordable evolution for everyone. This is a testimonial notch from the TECNO Mobile latest release riding on Android 9 and dubbed as the TECNO Spark 3.
We received a dark blue gradient TECNO Spark 3 for review a few weeks ago and this is one of the best review kits that have never disappointed s per their default taglines. The Spark 3 comes with a “Light Up the best in You” tagline and for the time we’ve held this elegant release for proves it to be one the best affordable mid-range releases of all time when its price scale is balanced up with its launch quarter.
On unboxing the device, the device components didn’t raise our eyebrows higher, but the new TECNO Mobile headsets proved a bit of the company’s plans to peel off headphone jacks on future releases as Apple ignited the trend. So, for the entire 2 weeks, we’ve held this device for, a scent of advantages of owning one is much evident as its low lights cant raise a beep from the ground. Nonetheless, here is how the TECNO Spark 3 performed on our review desk, but first here is a recap of its sweet specifications to expect.
Announced: May 2019
Available: From May 2019
Model: TECNO Spark 3 (KB7)
Colors: Bordeaux Red, Charcoal Black
SIM: Dual Micro-SIM
OS: Android™ 9 Pie
Network: GSM, WCDMA, LTE
Display: 6.2-inch HD+ Super FULLVIEW, 1500 x 720px
CPU: Qualcomm SD430 Octa-core Up To 1.4GHz
Storage: 16GB ROM expandable up to 128 GB (Memory Card support)
RAM: 2GB RAM,
Rear Camera: 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras with quad-flash
Front Camera: 8MP front Camera with soft LED flash
Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Proximity, Fingerprint
Battery: Non -Removable Li-Ion 3500 mAh
The Spark 3 Design, Build and Display
The TECNO Spark 3 is designed with ease or usage and beauty in design as compared to its predecessors, the Smartphone ships a new navigations button layout riding on a revamped shiny backplate with a solid gradient feel similar to what the Camon 11 brought to life.
Besides the lovely shiny gradient back plate of the TECNO Spark 3, a top-notch display welcomes you to the front as a 6.0 close to bezzeless screen size guarantees a perfect viewing experience on a 720*1500 pixels resolution. As a fact, the Spark 3 is the 2nd TECNO Mobile release to carry a top-notch display and the customizable notch makes it a beautiful device by sight.
On the other hand, the Spark 3 charging port sits independently on the bottom plate only sharing sides with the device infrared sensor. As an improvement from the Spark 2, the Spark 3 packs its headphone jack to the top completing the physical access ports with the in-screen navigation buttons coming to life again.
The Spark 3 rear end has a well rounded close to 2px deep fingerprint sensor to its centerpiece as the top left corner houses its dual rear cameras and a quad flash finishing the device rear top. To the bottom, its where the Spark 3 external speakers swip in action as the vertical TECNO logo as well finishes the dotted gradient back cover.
Camera Perfomance
“Light Up the best in You” That’s what the TECNO Spark 3 craved to the market during its launch earlier this month, luckily the Smartphone cameras produce excellent pictures better than what we expected. On utilizing the camera’s 16+2MP zoomable lenses, the quality was still great to bring a perfect finish to the rear picture’s dialogue. As a test, here are some of the pictures taken during an evening Spark 3 testing spree.
An AI Auto Selfie with the Spark 3 front camera 
A sample HDR Spark 3 shot taken at 18:30 with evening shadows taking over the sky 
A Macro shot with the Spark 3 Dual rear camera, its duo formation forms a pro-grade camera like Aperture for some excellent quality 
Here comes the Rasta, An Augemented Reality (AR) mode Spark 3 selfie shot 
In the Portrait mode, the Spark 3 produces an excellent bokeh background making back elements close to invisible 
A Wide Angle view of the evening sky with all picture detail well visible through the Spark 3’s duo camera threat 
A 3X Zoom of our Wide Angle shot taken with AI HDR and still delivered full detail without coming close to the action 
A Bokeh mode Spark 3 rear camera shot 
A Spark 3 AR Camera Mode selfie shot 
The Spark 3 front camera also produces the full quality selfies in a one-shot by utilizing the device’s AI capabilities and modes including a bokeh/portrait mode that allows you to take professional grade pictures by simply utilizing the Spark 3 excellent capturing texture. On a low light test of the front camera which is powered by a soft duo LED flash, the quality still remains constant proving the device’s featured tagline a notch higher than how it actually sounds.
A Tale of the Spark 3 Perfomance levels
With Android 9 pre-installed to the TECNO Spark 3 and a provision to test the tales of Android Q, the Spark 3 performs better than any of its predecessors__thanks to the 2GB RAM and lightweight operating system. As an increment, 16GB is not enough for such an elegant release, but the Spark 3 performs, fortunately, continues its lighting fast spree even with the internal storage in the red zones.
Network-wise, the TECNO Spark 3 loads online content faster even on a 3G connection and only it’s pro version supporting 4G, this makes it a compatible with sleek weight browsers like Chrome and Over the TOP (OTT) taxed Smartphone apps for a prolonged uninterrupted experience.
However, on running heavy 3D arcade games, the Phone posed slight sluggish movements meaning a 3GB Pro version would pull off the gaming duty much faster than the regular version. On the contrary, Android 9 pie runs with a smooth structure to its formation on the Spark 3 and we didn’t have any low flares on running compatible normal resource apps. So, you don’t need to hide your joy in Lite apps like Uber Lite or even Facebook Lite, but instead, enjoy the full versions as the developers crafted them for usage.
Software and Security
From Facial Recognition to an effective 5 feature fingerprint sensor, the security layers of the Spark 3 are on the perfect heights with no chances of bypasses as we tried to full the face recognition feature with a photo but instead failed on our first attempt. So, its a thumbs up to the effective fingerprint sensor and Full AI recognition face recognition algorithms shipped to the TECNO Spark 3.
Software-wise, the TECNO SPark 3 is gifted with HiOS 5__TECNO Mobile’s custom firmware and Android 9 Pie operating as the top phone system. Both these developer pieces are the latest advancements from the respective corners as Android 9 has come to play before Android Q. So, the Spark 3 ships the latest mobile operating system riding on a low budget unlike any other smartphones coping with the same advancements on the market.
Our Verdict
We’ve had a couple of smartphones lying on our review desk, from the Camon 11 to budget-friendly podium finishers like the Itel S13 and P33, but the TECNO Spark 3 is the best release we have so far glittered within 2019. On the low lights, we only don’t appreciate the dedicated 16GB which is not really enough for such a latest release coupled with Android 9 to its MediaTek Chip.