Tecno Spark Plus

Tecno Spark Plus: A Detailed Look at the Budget Phablet That Changed the Game

In the crowded world of budget smartphones, the Tecno Spark Plus arrived as a refreshing and appealing choice for users who wanted a bigger screen, reliable camera performance, and long-lasting battery life, all without spending a fortune. Launched in July 2017, the Tecno Spark Plus (also known as the Spark Plus K9) quickly earned its place among the most talked-about affordable smartphones in Nigeria and other emerging markets.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this device, from design and build to performance, battery life, camera quality, pros and cons, pricing across global currencies, and how it stacks up against the standard Tecno Spark.

Overview: What Is Tecno Spark Plus?

The Tecno Spark Plus is a budget-oriented Android smartphone designed for users who want an affordable device without compromising essential features. It was launched with Android 7.0 Nougat, a large display, and a respectable camera setup, making it stand out from other entry-level devices in the same price bracket.

From its generous 6-inch screen to its 3,400 mAh battery, the Spark Plus was engineered for everyday use, whether you’re browsing social media, watching videos, or capturing moments with your friends.

Design & Build: Casual But Comfortable

Look & Feel

Right out of the box, the Tecno Spark Plus feels like a typical mid-range phone of its era, not too flashy, but solidly built. The device sports a plastic chassis with subtly curved edges that make it comfortable to hold despite its larger size.

Display

Its 6.0-inch IPS LCD screen offers a 720 × 1280 resolution, which was fairly standard for budget devices at the time. The screen is crisp enough for everyday content and large enough to enjoy videos and apps comfortably.

While it doesn’t rival higher-end devices, the display is bright and responsive, a bonus at this price point.

Comparison with the Standard Tecno Spark

When compared with the standard Tecno Spark, the Spark Plus clearly focuses more on a larger screen and a bigger battery. The original Spark sports a smaller 5.5-inch display and a 3,000 mAh battery, which means the Plus model delivers a more immersive viewing experience and longer battery life.

Beyond the screen and battery, both devices share a similar plastic build and simplistic design approach, nothing extravagant, but practical.

Performance & Software: Everyday Capable

Under the hood, the Spark Plus is powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor paired with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD card.

This configuration makes the phone capable of handling basic daily tasks such as messaging, web browsing, social media, and light multitasking. However, if you love heavy games or intensive multitasking, you might notice occasional slowdowns, which is expected in this category. The device came loaded with Android 7.0 Nougat and Tecno’s user-friendly HiOS skin.

Camera Performance: Good for the Price

One of the standout features of the Spark Plus is its camera setup.

• Rear Camera: 13 MP: a solid megapixel count for budget phones at the time.
• Front Camera: 5 MP: ideal for selfies and video calls.

While camera performance won’t match higher-end phones (such as those with dual lenses or advanced night modes), the Spark Plus captures decent shots in good lighting conditions. The rear camera produces detailed images in daylight, and the dual-LED flash helps with low-light photos.

Battery & Connectivity: Built for Long Days

Battery life is one of the Spark Plus’s most attractive features. With a 3,400 mAh battery, the phone comfortably lasts through a full day of use, including streaming, social apps, and calls.

Connectivity options include:

• Dual SIM support
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• 4G LTE (on some variants depending on region)
• Micro-USB charging port

These are all typical of budget smartphones of its time and match the expectations of first-time smartphone buyers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large screen ideal for videos and reading.
• Long battery life:  great for all-day usage.
• Affordable pricing for budget-conscious users.
• Decent camera setup for basic photography.
• Android Nougat with HiOS: user-friendly interface.

Cons

• Modest performance compared to mid-range or flagship devices.
• Limited internal storage without expansion.
• Plastic build feels basic.
• No fast charging: takes longer to recharge.

Pricing: How Much Did It Cost at Launch?

One of the biggest draws of the Tecno Spark Plus was its attractive price tag. At launch, the phone was positioned as a budget-friendly choice with pricing that made it accessible to many.

Here’s an approximate breakdown of its launch pricing at the time:

These figures are approximate and based on typical retail prices across relevant markets at launch.

Conclusion

The Tecno Spark Plus delivered great value for its price. It wasn’t a powerhouse, but it didn’t need to be, its real strength was bringing a bigger screen, reliable battery, and usable camera performance to buyers who wanted a dependable smartphone without paying flagship prices.

Whether you were upgrading from a feature phone or buying your first smartphone, the Spark Plus was an excellent choice, especially in markets like Nigeria where value and affordability are key.

Specs