Tecno Spark Go 1: A Budget Friendly Smartphone

The Tecno SPARK Go 1 is an entry-level smartphone that packs a range of features designed to meet the everyday needs of users, all at a very affordable price point. While it may not have all the high-end specs of premium devices, the SPARK Go 1 offers an impressive balance of performance, design, and functionality. Whether you're a first-time smartphone user or someone looking for a reliable backup phone, the SPARK Go 1 provides excellent value for money.

In this in-depth review, we’ll explore the device’s design, display, performance, camera quality, battery life, and software, highlighting why this phone stands out in the budget segment.

Design and Build Quality

Despite its budget-friendly price, the Tecno SPARK Go 1 doesn’t compromise on design. The phone has a sleek and modern look, with a water drop notch that maximizes the display area and gives it a premium feel. The plastic back panel may not be as luxurious as glass or metal, but it has a glossy finish that mimics more expensive devices. The edges are smoothly curved, making the phone comfortable to hold for extended periods.

The build quality of the SPARK Go 1 is solid, with minimal flex when pressure is applied, indicating a sturdy construction. The device feels durable enough to withstand daily wear and tear, making it a good option for users who need a smartphone that can keep up with their active lifestyle without breaking easily.

Key Design Highlights:

- Waterdrop notch for a more immersive display

- Glossy plastic back with a premium look

- Curved edges for a comfortable grip

Display

The Tecno SPARK Go 1 features a 6.67-inch HD+ IPS LCD display. While the resolution is HD+ (720p), which may not be as sharp as higher-end devices, it’s more than sufficient for everyday tasks like watching videos, browsing social media, and light gaming. One of the standout features of the display is its 120Hz refresh rate, which is quite rare in budget smartphones.

This higher refresh rate ensures smoother scrolling, faster animations, and an overall more responsive experience. Whether you’re navigating through menus or swiping through social media feeds, the display feels fluid. The colors are vibrant, and the brightness is adequate for both indoor and outdoor use, although it may struggle slightly in direct sunlight.

Display Features:

- 6.67-inch HD+ IPS LCD display

- 120Hz refresh rate for smoother user experience

- Good brightness and color accuracy

Performance

The Tecno SPARK Go 1 is powered by a Unisoc T615 octa-core processor. Combined with up to 8GB of RAM, this chipset delivers reliable performance for a budget smartphone. It handles day-to-day tasks such as browsing, messaging, and media consumption with ease. App loading times are quick, and you can switch between apps without significant lag.

For gaming, the SPARK Go 1 can handle light to moderate games, though it may struggle with graphically demanding titles. Still, for casual users and those primarily using their phones for social media, email, and web browsing, the performance is more than sufficient.

The phone also comes with 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card. This allows users to store plenty of apps, photos, and media files without worrying about running out of space.

Performance Summary:

- Unisoc T615 octa-core processor for smooth multitasking

- Up to 8GB of RAM for decent performance

- Expandable storage via microSD card

Camera

The camera setup on the Tecno SPARK Go 1 is basic but functional, which is expected for a budget phone. The device is equipped with a 13-megapixel rear camera that performs reasonably well in well-lit conditions. It can capture decent shots with accurate colors and good detail, especially outdoors. The camera app also offers a few useful modes like portrait mode, night mode, and AI scene detection, helping to enhance your photos in different scenarios.

On the front, the SPARK Go 1 has an 8-megapixel selfie camera, which is suitable for video calls and casual selfies. It’s equipped with AI beauty mode to enhance selfies by adjusting skin tones and removing blemishes.

While the camera system isn’t designed for professional photography, it’s good enough for everyday snapshots, social media posts, and video chats.

Camera Features:

- 13MP rear camera with AI scene detection and portrait mode

- 8MP front camera with beauty mode for selfies

- Suitable for casual photography and social media use

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the Tecno SPARK Go 1 is its 5000mAh battery, which provides excellent battery life. With this large battery capacity, you can easily get through a full day of moderate usage, including web browsing, messaging, and watching videos, without needing to recharge. Even with more intensive use, such as gaming or streaming, the battery can last most of the day.

The device also supports 15W fast charging, allowing for quicker top-ups when you’re in a hurry. While it may not offer the ultra-fast charging speeds of premium devices, the 15W charger gets the job done efficiently.

Battery Highlights:

- 5000mAh battery for all-day use

- 15W fast charging support for quick recharges

Software

The Tecno SPARK Go 1 runs on Android 14 Go Edition, which is a streamlined version of Android designed for devices with lower RAM and processing power. Android Go Edition offers a lightweight and fast experience, ensuring that the phone runs smoothly even with its budget hardware.

In addition to Android Go, the device comes with HiOS, Tecno’s custom user interface. HiOS offers some customization options, including themes and gestures, but it’s relatively minimalistic, which helps the phone maintain good performance. Some users may find the pre-installed apps (bloatware) unnecessary, but they can easily be disabled or uninstalled.

Software Features:

- Android 14 Go Edition for a lightweight and efficient experience

- HiOS skin with customization options

- Minimal bloatware for a clean user interface

Conclusion

The Tecno SPARK Go 1 is an excellent budget smartphone that offers impressive features for its price. With its large display, smooth performance, reliable camera, and long-lasting battery, the SPARK Go 1 delivers great value for money. It's ideal for users who want a functional and stylish phone without spending a lot.

Whether you’re a student, a first-time smartphone buyer, or someone looking for a budget-friendly option, the Tecno SPARK Go 1 is definitely worth considering. It checks all the boxes for everyday tasks while maintaining an affordable price point.