Tecno Spark Go 1

The Tecno Spark Go 1 makes the most sense in its lower-priced versions. In Pakistan it comes as 3GB/64GB (sold only on Daraz), 4GB/64GB and 4GB/128GB, and store prices vary widely, so check the price of the exact version before buying.

For a budget phone, the package is generous. You get a 120Hz screen, dual stereo speakers with DTS, an IR blaster, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a side fingerprint sensor and a dedicated slot for two SIMs plus a memory card. The box includes a 10W charger, a cable, a transparent case, a pre-applied screen protector and 13 months of warranty, and the phone is manufactured in Pakistan.

• Buy it for: smooth everyday use, strong speakers, a full day of battery and home-remote convenience.
• Skip it if: you play demanding games, take a lot of photos or want fast charging.

Verdict: a well-rounded basic phone. The Honor X6c offers more RAM, a 50MP camera and much faster charging for buyers who need more than the basics.

The Tecno Spark Go 1 has a 6.67-inch IPS LCD with 720 x 1600 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which is rare at this level. Scrolling, swiping and app animations feel smooth, and touch response is quick.

Colours look good for social media and video. Brightness is comfortable indoors, but opinions differ outdoors: some find visibility fine, while others find the screen harder to read under harsh direct sunlight.

The main limitation is sharpness. At 720p, text and videos look softer than on a Full HD screen. The display uses a centred punch-hole, and a plastic screen protector comes pre-applied.

The phone runs on the Unisoc T615 with a Mali-G57 MP1 GPU and 3GB or 4GB of RAM. It scores around 200,000 points on AnTuTu, which is decent for this class. Calls, messaging, social media, browsing and video run smoothly without hangs or heating, helped by the lighter Android Go edition software.

Gaming is possible only at low graphics settings, and the phone has no hardware gyroscope; it uses a software-based one, which makes motion-aiming in games less accurate.

• Choose the 4GB RAM version if you keep many apps open.
• A microSD card adds storage space but does not add memory for multitasking.

The rear camera is a 13MP f/1.8 sensor with autofocus, and the front camera is 8MP. Both have a dual-LED flash, and both record video at up to 1080p at 30fps. The rear camera also offers 2x zoom.

In daylight, photos are decent, with acceptable colours and detail for the price. Low-light photos are average; Super Night mode helps on both cameras but takes time to process, and in one low-light test the front camera did better than the rear. Portrait mode is weak, so the normal photo mode usually gives better results, and video has no background-blur option.

• Modes include Dual Video (front and rear at once), Super Night, Pro, AR Shot, Time-lapse, Panorama and an adjustable beauty filter.
• The front flash helps selfies and video calls in dim rooms.

The Tecno Spark Go 1 has a 5000mAh battery. With normal use it lasts a day to a day and a half, and heavy users can expect a full day. Reports differ on the exact figure: around 8 to 9 hours of screen-on time is reported, and light users may stretch it to two days.

Charging is the weak point. The phone supports 15W charging, but the charger in the box is only 10W, so a full charge takes around two hours. Buying a separate 15W charger shortens this.

The phone runs Android 14 (Go edition) with HiOS 14. The Go edition uses lighter apps and fewer background tasks, so the phone feels fast and snappy for its hardware.

Useful extras include a remote-control app for the IR blaster, a volume-boost mode for louder speakers and fast face unlock alongside the side fingerprint sensor.

No official software update commitment was found for this model. Tecno's box claims the phone stays smooth for four years, but that is a manufacturer claim about performance, not an update promise.