We unboxed the TECNO Spark 5 over a week ago and on the face of it, the device was a good one. By “good one,” we mean the design/aesthetic was brilliant and the overall build was sturdy & impressive. We used the device for approximately 10 days and detailed below is our review of the TECNO Spark 5.
Let’s get right into it.
Perfomance
Before anything, let me just put this out here: the TECNO Spark 5 is NOT built for the heavy stuff. And by ‘heavy stuff’, we mean long hours of heavy gaming, having too multiple browser tabs opened, heavy multi-tasking, etc. While surfing the internet (using Google Chrome), there was a lag in page-scrolling and overall speed of the browser as tab-count reached 20-30.
CPU-intensive games like PUBG and Call of Duty were barely enjoyable. And this is attributed to the meagre amount of RAM available out-of-the-box. For context, the TECNO Spark 5 ships with 2GB RAM but only 800 – 900 MB is available for usage. Some system files and pre-installed apps preoccupy more than 1GB of the device’s RAM.
If you need a smartphone for lightweight usage (social media, movie streaming, instant messaging, etc.), the TECNO Spark 5 handles that perfectly, without lag or shuttering. For heavy, long-hours of gaming or intense multitasking, however, the Spark 5 isn’t cut out for that.
Game Mode
Despite not having the hardware to handle heavy gaming, it’s interesting to see TECNO try to make up for it via software enhancement. The Spark 5 boasts of a bunch of settings, tools, and customizations that are dedicated to making gaming enjoyable.
According to TECNO, activating ‘Game Mode,’ for example, enhances overall game experience. On paper, this mode sounds like it will ‘boost’ and make gameplay faster, but that’s not the case.
Quick Tip: Swipe from the left-hand side of the display while playing a game to reveal the Game Mode Panel.
We didn’t notice any significant boost in speed while playing “Shadow Fight 3” with Game Mode enabled. Playing with Game Mode enabled and disabled provided similar experiences.
What we liked about the Game Mode, however, is that it allows you to fully immerse yourself in your games without any distractions. For example, Game Mode can enable “Message Do Not Disturb,” which blocks reminders and message notifications during gameplay. In the Game Mode panel, you can also enable “Incoming call reject” to instruct your device to automatically block incoming phone calls while playing games.
TECNO Spark 5 Review: Game Mode
Game Anti-Addiction
Battling game addiction? Game Mode boasts of some advanced features that can help keep you in check when your gaming hours go overboard. Navigate to Settings > Game Mode > Game Anti-Addiction to configure how you want the Spark 5 to help you curb game addiction.
Toggling on “Health Reminder” will send you a notification each time you’ve played a game for 2-hours non-stop. Also, when your overall/accumulated daily gaming hours hits 4 hours, you’ll be sent an ‘healthy’ reminder to take a break from gaming.
There’s also a “Parental control” mode that lets parent curb smartphone and gaming addiction for their kids. The TECNO Spark 5 Parental control mode allows you to lock certain apps/games for specified periods using a 4 – 6 digits PIN or password.
When a game/app is locked under the Game Mode Parental Control, your kids will not be able to launch the game for the set period. You can choose to set a lock period for weekdays or weekends. When a game is launched during the lock period, an error message that reads “The game cannot be opened because it’s not in the set game period.”
TECNO Spark 5 Review: Parenatl Control
Game Data
To further help curb game addiction, the TECNO Spark will also display your gaming duration and data usage per game. It also shows your most played game in a 7-day period. Interestingly, you can hare your gaming
TECNO Spark 5 Review: Game Data
HiOS
The TECNO Spark 5 runs the latest version of its’s native HiOS — HIOS v6.1. This is based on Android’s latest operating system, Android 10 .
This was my first experience with TECNO’s HiOS, and I should mention that I was as equally impressed as I was disappointed. And I’ll tell you why. Let me start with some features of the HiOS that threw me right off the bat.
The Bad
–Too Many Bloatware
The TECNO Spark 5 comes with about 15 bloatware installed out-of-the-box. The majority of these pre-installed apps ( BoomPlay , PalmPay, Palm Credit, Palm Store, AHA Games, Vskit, Scooper News, Recharge King, SIMO, Ficool Books, etc.) are owned by TECNO’s parent company (Transsion Holdings), there were also some third-party apps like Facebook, PHX Browser, YouTube, YouTube Music, Messenger, Danger Dash, etc.
TECNO Spark 5 Review: Bloatware-filled Homepage
Pre-installation of excessive bloatware on new devices seem to be Transsion Holding’s M.O. We recently unboxed the Infinix S5 and the device equally had too many redundant bloatware pre-installed.
Back to the TECNO Spark 5, there’s just too many apps that we didn’t need. And that you most likely don’t need, as well. Even worse, some of this bloatware cannot be uninstalled.
– HiOS Launcher is Data-Intensive
The HiOS launcher is pretty clean and easy-to-navigate, no doubt. The search section of the launcher, however, is quite the data hog. The section occasionally updates and refreshes with new content from many widgets and pre-installed apps like Vskit, Visha, Themes, etc.
The Good
– Bike Mode
Swiping down from the Spark 5’s status bar reveals the Bike Mode. You can picture this as a dedicated Do-Not-Disturb mode for bikers.
When enabled, Bike Mode automatically rejects all incoming calls and sends the caller(s) an auto-generated SMS informing them that you’re unavailable to receive calls. This mode is designed to last for 2 hours after which it will be automatically disabled.
You can re-enable it if you want. When in Bike Mode, you’d see a motorbike icon at the top-left corner of the screen, next to the device’s clock.
– Flashlight Design
The TECNO Spark 5 comes with a Quad-LED light setup on the rear and a single LED light upfront. What’s interesting about the device is the “360 Flashlight” feature. When you tap the Flashlight icon on the notification panel, the rear-facing flashlight comes on. Tap and hold the flashlight icon to reveal more options: Front flashlight, 360° flashlight, Rear flashlight.
- Front Flashlight: Enables/Disables front-facing flashlight.
- Rear Flashlight: Enables/Disables rear-facing flashlight.
- 360° Flashlight: Enables both rear & front-facing flashlight simultaneously.
– Micro Intelligence
Another thing we loved about the Spark 5’s HiOS are the customizable gestures, which TECNO calls “Micro Intelligence”. You can access and customize the device’s gesture from the settings menu (go to Settings > Micro Intelligence). Some available customization on the TECNO Spark 5 include:
- Flip Mute: flip the phone over to mute incoming calls.
- Cover silence: cover the phone’s screen (with your hands) to mute/silence incoming calls.
- Answer with a gesture: Use customized gestures to accept/reject incoming calls.
- Smart Screen Lightning: This lights up the display when the device is picked up and, interestingly, turns off the screen when you drop the phone.
Camera
The TECNO Spark 5 boasts of four (4) cameras on the rear and a single 8MP selfie camera infused within the display — TECNO calls it a Dot-In camera. The four cameras on the rear are configured as follows:
- A primary 13-megapixel AI camera
- A 2-megapixels Macro lens for close-up shots.
- Another 2-megapixels (Depth) Lens for Bokeh/Portrait Mode, and
- A dedicated AI Lens.
Regular shots captured in regular AI mode were decent but not top-quality. The resulting images are of lower quality when compared to premium high-end flagship devices with 13-megapixels lenses (or less). Additionally, we noticed that images were a little grainy in low-light and a little too bright when shooting outdoors.
- Portrait Mode Shot
- AR Shot on the TECNO Spark 5
- Portrait Mode on the TECNO Spark 5
- Regular AI Shot (at @X Zoom)
- AI Cam Shot (@Macro Mode)
- AI CAM Selfie
- Regular AI CAM Shot
The Portrait Mode also didn’t add enough Bokeh effect (i.e. Background Blur) to the subject. The ‘AR shot’ mode also lets you add Snapchat-like filters to your pictures.
Security
The TECNO Spark 5 embodies all the security mechanisms you’d find on the latest Android-powered devices. PIN, Pattern, Password, Swipe, Fingerprint, Face ID, and Smart Lock. A PIN/Pattern/Password is a prerequisite to activating the device’s biometric authentication features. This means that without a PIN, or password, or pattern, you cannot use the device’s Face ID and Fingerprint security features.
The Face ID was pretty easy to set-up. However, it is not the fastest and most effective facial recognition I’ve used on a smartphone. On multiple occasions, there was a delay in recognition of my face, both during the day and night. It was particularly worse in low-light conditions. Oh, FYI, it (Face ID) doesn’t work in the dark. Another thing I disliked is that, with Face ID, you cannot enable/use either of the device’s flashlight from the lock screen. Face ID blurs out the Flashlight option on the system bar.
To recommend, you’re better off securing the device with the fingerprint sensor; it is faster and much easier to use.
Fingerprint Multipurposeness
Asides the basic security functionality (device unlock) of the sensor, the TECNO Spark 5’s fingerprint can also be used for a bunch of other things. Navigating to Settings > Security > Fingerprint lets you configure what the fingerprint sensor can be used for — based on the active app that’s being used.
In the call interface, you can configure the fingerprint sensor to accept incoming calls. Simply tap/press the sensor to pick a call. Long-pressing the fingerprint sensor during a call will also start recording the conversation. Long-press the sensor again to stop the call recording.
Touching the fingerprint sensor while the device is blaring an alarm also dismisses the alarm.
Battery
The TECNO Spark 5’s 5,000mAh battery is a beast! There’s no doubting that. We subjected the Spark 5 to several intensive tasks and it proved its worth as a device that can comfortably provide a day’s usage on a full charge. In the first 2-3 days of usage, for example, I majorly used the Spark 5 as a router (i.e., mobile internet hotspot ) to power my PC, streaming stick, and other devices. This round-the-clock hotspot usage only used about 40%-50% of the device’s battery juice. And this was accompanied by occasional internet surfing, minimal gaming, and usage of social media apps (Twitter, Instagram, etc.).
Final Words
Although the TECNO Spark 5 is latest entrant in the Spark series, its predecessor (the Spark 4 with higher RAM & equally decent CPU) seems to perform better in terms of multitasking, gaming, and overall usage. However, with regards to battery life, OS-related features, and camera quality (which, despite the hype and marketing gimmick, is of average quality), the TECNO Spark 5 outclasses its predecessors. That doesn’t make it a worthy upgrade, though. At best, the device is suitable for low/minimal everyday usage — phone calls, texting, minimal usage of social media apps, etc. Anything more will cause the device to lag. So, you should have these in mind before purchasing the TECNO Spark 5.
Sodiq Olamide is a tech writer based in Nigeria, covering the latest reviews, how-tos, and news on consumer tech trends with a unique African perspective. Whether analyzing emerging technologies or offering practical guides, Sodiq brings a deep understanding of how technology shapes lives across the continent.
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Talkio Mobile , Uganda’s newest telecommunications service provider, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Banana Life Investments, a leading chain of mobile phone and retail shops. This strategic alliance aims to bring Talkio’s innovative telecom services closer to Ugandans.
This collaboration will leverage Banana Life Investments’ extensive retail network of 26 stores strategically located across Uganda in major malls, towns, and cities to provide customers with unparalleled convenience. Through this partnership, Talkio Mobile will offer its full suite of services, including SIM cards, airtime, and exclusive product offerings at any Banana Life Investment location.
This partnership is more than a business initiative—it’s a shared commitment to transforming lives. By integrating Talkio Mobile’s forward-thinking services & nationwide reach with Banana Life Investments’ retail footprint, the two brands are setting a new standard for customer convenience and inclusivity.
READ ALSO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Talkio Mobile: New Telecom Company in Uganda
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting Ugandans to innovative and transformative telecom solutions,” said Vianne Allan Ahura, CEO of Talkio Mobile. “By leveraging Banana Life Investments’ trusted presence and nationwide footprint, we are not only expanding our agent network but also bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. This collaboration ensures that our online customers can now enjoy a seamless offline experience right at their doorstep. Together, we are empowering Ugandans with the tools they need to stay connected, grow their businesses, and unlock new opportunities.”
Solomon Ssemuyaba, the assistant general manager at Banana Life Investments, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to join hands with Talkio Mobile to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. This partnership represents our shared vision of fostering a connected future for Uganda. Together, we are redefining what convenience and accessibility mean for our customers.”
The partnership goes beyond retail distribution, introducing joint initiatives aimed at value addition and personalized service. Customers can expect seamless access to:
- SIM Card Sales : Available at all Banana Life Investments locations.
- Talkio phone number bookings : Book your preferred Talkio number at any Banana Life Investments location.
- Airtime Services : Recharge easily through in-store purchases.
- Customer Support : Friendly and knowledgeable staff trained to assist with Talkio Mobile products and services.
Additionally, the two companies plan to launch promotional campaigns and expand services to even more locations, ensuring no Ugandan is left behind in the digital transformation.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona , the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, has just concluded. This annual event gathers leading technology brands to unveil groundbreaking mobile, AI, and digital solutions innovations. At MWC 2025, TECNO showcased a range of AI-driven products, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology.
The key launches included:
- CAMON 40 Series – AI-powered smartphones with One-Tap FlashSnap and advanced mobile imaging features.
- MEGABOOK S14 – The world’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring AI-enhanced multitasking and Snapdragon® X Elite.
- MEGABOOK T14 Air & K15S – Lightweight ultrabooks with AI capabilities and extended battery life.
- TECNO AI Glasses Series – Smart eyewear integrating AI imaging, translation, and AR display.
Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, shared, “In the past year, we have observed significant advancements in the field of AI. AI will continue to drive transformative changes in our daily lives. In this critical period for the economic development of emerging markets, TECNO’s AI technologies are unlocking potential for diverse needs.”
“The application of AI technologies is crucial and urgent in emerging markets. We’re committed to bridging the digital gap between emerging and mature markets,” said TECNO CMO, Laury Bai. “TECNO is taking a practical approach to make AI more accessible, ensuring users in emerging markets can access AI and cutting-edge technologies.”
Laury Bai, TECNO CMO
Driven by its commitment, TECNO has forged a robust partnership with MediaTek, establishing a joint AI laboratory dedicated to accelerating advancements in AI. At the event, James Chen, Vice President of Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek, emphasized, “The synergistic R&D efforts between TECNO and MediaTek are set to democratize AI technology. Our collaboration powers a seamless, interconnected AI experience, bringing users a future of truly connected intelligence.”
James Chen, Vice President, Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek
CAMON 40 Series Powered by AI One-Tap FlashSnap Revolutionizes Smartphone Snapshot Photography
TECNO’s Global Product Launch Officer, Olivier Mas, officially unveiled TECNO’s next-generation AI-driven products. Attendees at TECNO’s launch event witnessed the highly anticipated debut of TECNO’s new CAMON 40 Series, a device that embodies TECNO’s legacy of excellence in mobile imaging. Featuring One-Tap FlashSnap Mode and TECNO AI, the series sets a new benchmark in smartphone photography, delivering exceptional snapshot capabilities and AI-enhanced user experiences.
Olivier Mas, TECNO Global Product Launch Officer
The CAMON 40 Series exemplifies a commitment to innovation that transcends hardware and software, extending into strategic partnerships that deliver cutting-edge AI solutions to emerging markets. Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud, remarked, “Our collaboration with TECNO on the CAMON 40 Series is a standout example. Leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, we’ve introduced groundbreaking features such as Ask Ella, AI Image Generator, AI Writing, and AI Translate. I am particularly impressed by the industry-leading and competitive edge of some of these innovations. For instance, TECNO’s AI supports text translation in 136 languages, voice translation in 44 languages, and photo translation in 51 languages. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with TECNO, unlocking limitless potential to bring advanced yet practical AI capabilities to emerging markets in a convenient and secure manner.”
Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud
The CAMON 40 Series’ innovative One-Tap FlashSnap leverages AI to enhance imaging capabilities, revolutionizing mobile photography. AI optimizes camera startup and continuous shooting for instant captures, while AI-powered multi-frame processing intelligently reduces noise and enhances details, delivering sharper, more refined images. Additionally, the BestMoment algorithm analyzes motion patterns, automatically selecting the optimal frames for precise, high-quality shots in dynamic scenarios, ensuring users an unparalleled mobile imaging experience.
TECNO CAMON 40 Demonstrates the Cutting-Edge FlashSnap Capability
To delve deeper into the imaging prowess of the CAMON 40 Series, TECNO invited Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK, to share the image performance of CAMON 40 Pro. Frédéric highlighted, “The CAMON 40 Pro 5G has demonstrated exceptional imaging and performance capabilities in our rigorous evaluations. We’ve been particularly impressed with photo performance being the best for devices under 600$, and the 1st eligible device to our Smart Choice Label.”
Onsite photo of Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK
Beyond its advanced rapid-capture functionality, the integration of TECNO AI further enhances the device’s capabilities. Intelligent imaging, a 360° AI Call Assistant, and productivity tools elevate creativity and efficiency. Powered by MediaTek’s latest chipsets, the series ensures smooth performance, fast processing, and extended battery life. With a sleek, durable, and water-resistant design, it seamlessly blends style with practicality for modern users.
MEGABOOK S14, the World’s Lightest 14-inch OLED Laptop, Inspires Creators and Game Lovers
The MEGABOOK S14 is TECNO’s first OLED laptop and the industry’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring a 2.8K OLED display and incredibly weighing only 899g (31.7oz). The laptop is equipped with the outstanding power of the Snapdragon® X Elite compute platform, the flagship chipset for AI PCs from Qualcomm Technologies, and integrates TECNO’s world’s first self-developed edge-side large-scale AI model, to achieve AI-enhanced multitasking.
World’s Lightest 14-inch Laptop MEGABOOK S14
Specifically designed for next-gen AI productivity, TECNO AI enhances the Ella AI Assistant, AI-powered PPT generation, AI-driven image search, smart albums, and offline meeting transcription with multilingual support. The External Graphics Dock, equipped with a powerful NVIDIA graphic card, delivers scalable, high-performance capabilities for design, gaming, and content creation. The laptop’s 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures exceptional visuals, while DTS:X Ultra dual 2W speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, fingerprint login, and PC Manager optimize connectivity and user experience.
TECNO’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies was a highlight of the TECNO AI Ecosystem Product Launch event, demonstrating a shared vision for the future of AI PCs. Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm, took the stage to discuss the integration of Qualcomm’s cutting-edge PC chipset into the new MEGABOOK S14 laptop, underscoring TECNO’s commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions.
Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm
In addition, TECNO also introduced several standout new products. The featherlight 999g (35.2oz) ultrabook MEGABOOK T14 Air, features high-speed storage and LPDDR5 memory, while the ultra-thin, all-metal MEGABOOK K15S, equipped with a powerful 70Wh battery and supported by a 65W PD GaN charger, offers a smarter and more long-lasting user experience. Both devices are empowered by TECNO AI with advanced AI capabilities such as AI Album and AI Voice Assistant, making them perfect companions for all aspects of life.
The Next Game-Changing Tech Innovation: See the World with the TECNO AI Glasses Series
TECNO’s new AI Glasses Series also took center stage with the introduction of TECNO AI Glasses Pro and TECNO AI Glasses, reimagining eyewear with cutting-edge imaging, intelligent interactions, and a sleek aesthetic. The TECNO AI Glasses feature an aviator design, while the Pro model showcases a browline style, both embodying timeless elegance and modern fashion.
TECNO AI Glasses Redefine the Way People See the Future
Equipped with a 50MP high-definition camera, the series integrates an OV50D sensor, a 100° ultra-wide-angle custom lens, and an AI ISP imaging chip, forming a mobile-grade imaging system. This system lets users capture stunning, high-resolution photos with advanced AI noise reduction and HDR capabilities. With real-time translation supporting over 100 languages, TECNO AI’s Ella empowers accurate translation even for less common languages, as well as voice control, AI-powered object recognition, and intelligent information summaries for ultimate convenience.
Additionally, the AI Glasses Pro features a MicroLED display with 7th-gen resin waveguide technology, offering a 30° field of view, over 1,500 nits of brightness AR display, and a lightweight, ultra-thin design. The AR display allows users to effortlessly enjoy features like translation display, navigation, information prompts, and teleprompting.
Equipped with a 250mAh battery, these glasses offer over 11 hours of music playback and 8 hours of mixed use with just 30 minutes of charging. An advanced ultra-linear speaker, bass enhancement, and spatial sound deliver an immersive audio experience, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure seamless connectivity.
With these innovative launches, TECNO is setting new standards in mobile imaging and AI-enhanced technology, shaping a more connected and empowered future for consumers in emerging markets. Once again, TECNO has showcased its cutting-edge innovation on the global stage at MWC. With the brand essence of “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO’s relentless pursuit of innovation is making AI-powered technology more accessible, allowing consumers to experience the future ahead of time.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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