Tecno Spark 40 Pro+ review

Introduction

Tecno's Spark lineup has long been synonymous with budget-friendly smartphones that punch well above their price tag, and the new Spark 40 Pro+ is no exception. Announced in July 2025, this upper-tier Spark model aims to deliver a feature-rich experience that rivals more expensive competitors - all while maintaining an impressively low asking price of around $200.

Despite the entry-level pricing, the Spark 40 Pro+ comes across as anything but basic. It's built around a vibrant 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate and an impressive 4500 nits peak brightness - a spec sheet highlight that immediately sets it apart from the typical budget crowd. Protection duties are handled by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, while the body is IP64-rated and drop resistant up to 1.5m, offering durability rarely seen at this price point.

Powering the device is the MediaTek Helio G200 chipset, a relatively new 6nm platform paired with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. While it's not a 5G-capable chip, it promises solid 4G performance and good efficiency, especially when paired with the large 5,200 mAh battery and 45W wired plus 30W wireless charging - yes, wireless charging on a phone that costs only $200.

Tecno Spark 40 Pro+ specs at a glance:

• Body: 163.9x75.8x6.5mm, 160g; Plastic body, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i front; IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes), Drop resistant up to 1.5m.
• Display: 6.78" AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak), 1224x2720px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 440ppi.
• Chipset: Mediatek Helio G200 (6 nm): Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G57 MC2 (1.1GHz).
• Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM.
• OS/Software: Android 15, HIOS 15.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, PDAF; Auxiliary lens.
• Front camera: 13 MP, (wide), dual LED front-facing selfie flash.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
• Battery: 5200mAh; 45W wired, 100% in 55 min, 30W wireless, 5W reverse wireless, 10W reverse wired, Bypass charge.
• Connectivity: LTE; Wi-Fi 5; BT 5.3; NFC; FM radio; Infrared port.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos); Circle to Search.

Photography duties are handled by a 50MP main camera with PDAF and dual-LED flash, capable of recording up to 1440p@30fps, while selfies are captured via a 13MP front shooter, also with dual-LED flash. Both cameras benefit from gyro-EIS stabilization.

On the multimedia front, the Spark 40 Pro+ continues to impress with stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and support for Hi-Res Audio, both wired and wireless. You even get extras like an infrared port, FM radio, and reverse charging (wired and wireless) - features that have vanished from many modern midrangers.

The Spark 40 Pro+ may not be a flagship killer, but it brings an impressive set of features, performance, and versatility to the budget segment. Let's see if it holds up under closer inspection.

Unboxing

The Spark 40 Pro+ ships in a rigid cardboard box that looks quite reassuring. Plus, there is a cradle on the inside for the actual phone, so there is little possibility of damage during shipping.

Tecno's accessory package is extensive. You get a charger in the box - 45W, Tecno branded, plus a USB Type-A to Type-C cable. From what we can tell, the cable isn't proprietary and does not have extra pins, which is good. Also in the box is a grey soft TPU case for the phone, as well as a tempered glass screen protector and a kit to properly clean the display and apply it.

Honestly, short of a pair of earbuds, there's not much else that could have been included in the box.