TECNO Spark 40 Pro+: Slim design meets powerful performance

As a tech enthusiast in Nigeria, where smartphones need to handle everything from bustling Lagos commutes to late-night side hustles, the TECNO SPARK 40 Series stands out as a compelling option for young professionals and students. I’ve been testing the SPARK 40 Pro+ for a week, and it lives up to its slogans: “Think Lighter” with its ultra-slim build and “More Power” through robust features. This entry-to-mid-tier lineup—including the SPARK 40 Pro+, SPARK 40 Pro, and SPARK 40—redefines value by packing flagship-grade elements like a vibrant AMOLED display, advanced AI, and innovative charging into a lightweight package. Priced competitively, it’s designed for those who hustle hard and stay connected, making it a smart companion for your grind, goals, and growth.

Sleek and Vibrant Design: Lightweight Yet Premium

The SPARK 40 Pro+ is remarkably slim at just 6.49mm thick and weighs around 160g, making it one of the thinnest devices in its segment with a 5200mAh battery. Holding it feels effortless—it slips into my jeans pocket without bulging, unlike chunkier competitors. To visualise, it’s as slim as stacking four bank cards, perfect for on-the-go Nigerians juggling public transport and daily errands.

The design exudes understated luxury with a symmetrical arc frame and NCVM matte finish on the composite high-molecular back panel. Select models, like my Tundra Green unit, feature silicone leather that’s skin-friendly, anti-stain, and maintains its pristine look after prolonged use. The one-piece aluminium metal deco around the lens module adds a seamless, high-quality touch, blending metal and glass for a luxurious feel. Colour options cater to Gen Z vibes: Nebula Black for classic elegance, Aurora White for modernity, Moon Titanium for a desaturated silver-grey sophistication, and Tundra Green for a natural greyish-green appeal. In everyday scenarios, like snapping photos at a market or scrolling during a danfo ride, it looks stylish and feels comfortable to grip.

The SPARK 40 Pro, at 6.69mm and ~170g, offers a flat display with similar premium tactility, including a precision-machined triple-metal-ring camera design and gentle sandblasted texture. Its vibrant hues—Ink Black, Moon Titanium, Lake Blue (crystal aqua-blue), and Bamboo Green (soft fresh green)—embody youthful energy, with a high-luminous frame that glitters subtly.

Immersive Display: Bright and Smooth for All-Day Use

The 6.78-inch AMOLED curved screen on the Pro+ delivers a flagship-level experience with 1.5K resolution (2720×1224), a 144Hz refresh rate, and up to 4500 nits peak brightness. Scrolling through Instagram or gaming feels silky smooth—captured in slow-motion, the fluidity outshines rivals in the same price range. The 2160Hz instant touch sampling rate ensures ultra-responsiveness, even in fast-paced games like PUBG Mobile.

Outdoor visibility is exceptional; under harsh Nigerian sunlight, the HBM 1600 nits keeps visuals crisp without glare. Ultra-narrow bezels maximise the screen-to-body ratio for immersion, and SGS Low Blue Light certification (hardware solution) makes long sessions eye-friendly. Wet or oily hands? No issue—the touch remains reliable, handy for multitasking while eating amala or cooking during the rainy season. Compared side-by-side with the Galaxy A16, the SPARK 40 Pro+’s higher resolution and contrast make colours pop more vividly.

Performance: Smooth and Reliable for Multitasking

Powered by the world’s first MediaTek Helio G200 (a cutting-edge 6nm 4G platform), the Pro+ scores around 470,000 on AnTuTu—up to 10% better than the G100. It handles heavy multitasking effortlessly, from editing videos to running multiple apps. The SPARK 40 Pro uses the Helio G100 Ultimate Edition, optimised for all-day gaming and enhanced battery life.

Both models earn TECNO Lab’s 5-year smooth performance certification, with up to 16GB RAM (8GB physical + 8GB extended), ensuring lag-free switching and stable frame rates. In my tests, it managed global connectivity reliably, with enhanced camera capabilities and fluid display experience, balancing power and efficiency.

Battery and Charging: Power That Lasts and Adapts

The 5200mAh battery with 45W Super Flash Charge powers up swiftly—a 0–100% test took under an hour, keeping me connected through long days. Bypass charging draws power directly from the charger during gaming, preventing drain.

Class-first features shine: The Pro+ supports 30W magnetic wireless charging (the only curved-screen phone in its range to do so), snapping effortlessly with TECNO’s charger or power bank—in lab tests, it hits 50% in about 47.9 minutes. Reverse charging includes 5W wireless (great for topping up earbuds or an iPhone) and 10W wired. Enabling these in settings (Battery & Power Saving > Battery Health & Charging) turns it into an emergency power hub, ideal for Nigeria’s unpredictable outages.

Durability: Built to Handle Everyday Challenges

With IP64 water and dust resistance (6-level dustproof, 4-level waterproof), the Pro+ resists splashes and light rain from all directions. I simulated rain by spraying water at multiple angles; post-test, touch, screen, and camera functioned normally. Drop-tested up to 2m with the included case (1.5m for Pro), it survived falls from pocket (0.9m), chest (1.5m), and head height (2m with case) onto wood, tile, sand, and grass—strengthening its dustproof/sandproof claims.

Corning Gorilla Glass 7i enhances scratch resistance; using keys/coins for pocket wear simulation showed no marks after light-to-medium pressure. High-strength design ensures worry-free use in dusty markets or bumpy okada rides.

TECNO AI: Smart Tools for Efficiency and Creativity

TECNO AI adapts to life, targeting students with features like AI Problem Solving (snap math problems for solutions), AI Image to Doc (convert photos to editable docs), AI Record Summary (recap lectures), One-Tap AI Query (screen analysis for instant summaries), and AI Writing (generate emails/captions).

On Pro models, AI Call Assistant offers live translation, noise reduction, call summaries, and auto-answer. Smart Visual Edit includes AI Eraser 2.0 (remove objects), Image Extender (expand backgrounds), and Circle to Search (draw a circle for instant results on images/text). Ella assists with queries, Hi Translate breaks barriers, Sketch to Image turns doodles into art, and AI Call Translation enables real-time chats.

In practice, Circle to Search helped identify products while browsing, and AI Writing drafted quick social media posts—boosting productivity for my freelance work.

Connectivity and Camera: Seamless and Clear

Super FreeLink enables offline voice/file sharing via Bluetooth up to 200m (theoretical 2km), tested between SPARK 40 and POVA 7 in a park—stable calls and transfers without data. GPS 2.0 provides precise navigation, Super WiFi 2.0 + Gaming Antenna ensures strong signals in low-coverage areas, and 4.5G optimises speeds for downloads/video calls.

The 50MP ultra-clear main camera with EIS (Pro+) and RAW processing captures crisp, natural photos in low light. Multi-functional NFC switches access cards via double-press, Infrared Remote controls appliances, and Dual-System Space separates work/personal data securely. Privacy Screenshot Blur auto-hides sensitive info, Outdoor Enhancement Mode boosts usability in tough environments, and dual speakers with Dolby Atmos deliver immersive audio.

Day-to-Day User Experience: A Nigerian’s Journey

Starting my day in Ikeja, the Pro+ wakes me with vibrant alarms on its bright screen. During commute, FreeLink shares files offline in traffic, while AI Call Assistant handles noisy calls with noise reduction. At work, One-Tap Query summarises docs, AI Writing drafts emails, and 144Hz smoothness aids multitasking. Lunch break: Wet-touch works with oily hands for quick snaps via 50MP camera. Afternoon errands use NFC for access and GPS 2.0 for navigation. Evening gaming bypasses battery drain, reverse charging powers my earbuds, and Dolby Atmos enhances Netflix. By night, IP64 durability shrugs off rain, and 5-year fluency ensures no slowdowns. It matches my energy seamlessly.

In conclusion, the TECNO SPARK 40 Pro+ sets a new benchmark with its slim design, powerful AI, and durable build—all at unbeatable value. For Nigerians seeking a device that fuels ambition without weighing you down, it’s a winner. #SPARK40Series #ThinkLighterMorePower

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