Tecno Spark 40 Debuts in Nepal: But With Notable Trade-Offs

Tecno’s Spark series has been around in the Nepali market for quite some time now, and some of its offerings have managed to make a solid mark in the budget segment. Now, Tecno has added yet another device to its Spark lineup, the Tecno Spark 40.

On paper, the Spark 40 is the successor to the Spark 30. But in reality, it almost feels like the opposite. How so? Well, let’s find out.

Just like Nubia, it looks like Tecno is taking heavy design inspiration from the latest iPhone, and honestly, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. What really gets under my skin, though, is the spec sheet.

If you look closely, the Tecno Spark 30 actually feels more like the true successor, while the Spark 40 comes off as a step sideways, if not slightly backward. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few upgrades sprinkled in here and there. But taken as a whole, the Spark 40 simply doesn’t ignite the same excitement. Compared to its predecessor, it barely sparks at all.

Tecno Spark 40 Overview

From the back, the Tecno Spark 40 looks like a carbon copy of the latest iPhone. However, unlike the iPhone’s camera plateau, Tecno has gone with a raised camera bump that’s more reminiscent of Google’s Pixel phones. Compared to last year’s Spark 30, this is a complete redesign.

Tecno is advertising the Spark 40 as ultra-thin, coming in at 7.67mm. However, when you compare it to the Spark 30, which measures 7.7mm, the difference is practically negligible.

Flip it over, and the iPhone resemblance fades. You’re greeted with noticeably thick black bezels, especially at the bottom, which is pretty much expected from a budget phone. While we’re looking at the front, it’s also worth noting that Tecno has downgraded the display resolution. The Spark 40 now sports an HD+ panel instead of the FHD+ screen we got last year.

This drop in resolution means the pixel density has taken a significant hit, down to 263ppi from 396ppi. Even though the screen size has slightly shrunk from 6.78 inches to 6.67 inches, the reduction in sharpness is still quite noticeable. As a result, visuals may not look as crisp or detailed on the Spark 40, especially if you’re used to higher-resolution displays.

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The resolution downgrade was likely done to make room for a 120Hz refresh rate, which is now considered the bare minimum for many smartphones. To achieve this, Tecno seems to have sacrificed resolution, something that might not sit well with users who prioritize display quality over smoother scrolling.

On the inside, the Spark 40 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G81. It’s a fairly common chipset found in phones like the Redmi 15C, Moto G05, and Infinix Hot 60i. Unfortunately, at this price point, the Helio G81 feels underwhelming and doesn’t quite deliver the performance you’d hope for.

The camera situation is another letdown. Despite the phone looking like it has a triple-camera setup, it actually features just a single 50MP rear camera alongside an 8MP selfie shooter.

That said, it’s not all bad news. One area where the Spark 40 does improve is battery and charging. It packs a 5,200mAh battery paired with a surprisingly fast 45W charging, an impressive upgrade that helps soften the blow of the other compromises.

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Design-wise, Tecno has done a commendable job; the Spark 40 looks clean and modern. But design alone doesn’t sell a smartphone. What really matters is whether the phone offers good value for money.

And in my honest opinion, it doesn’t. The first and most obvious issue is that the raw specs are actually worse than those of its predecessor, which is already a bad start. To make matters worse, the pricing doesn’t help its case either.

The Spark 40 competes in the Rs. 20,000 segment, a price range packed with far better options that offer OLED displays and even ultrawide cameras. Yes, the 45W fast charging is genuinely impressive for this price, but sadly, that alone isn’t enough to compensate when the rest of the spec sheet feels questionable.

What are your thoughts on the Tecno Spark 40? Let us know in the comments below!