Highlights
- Tecno recently unveiled the SPARK 50s 5G for the Indian market in the sub-Rs 20,000 segment.
- The phone is priced at Rs 19,999 for the 6GB + 128GB model and Rs 22,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model.
- The sale will start exclusively via offline retail stores in India starting October 20, 2026.
So, does the new Spark 50S offer enough to stand out in a competitive Indian smartphone market? We used the phone to find out what works well and where it falls short. So, here’s our hands-on Tecno Spark 50S Review.
TECNO Spark 50s 5G – Key Features
- 78-inch (720 x 1576 pixels) HD+ screen with 120Hz refresh rate
- MediaTek Dimensity 6400 6nm processor
- 6GB / 8GB LPDDR4x RAM
- 128GB (UFS 2.2) storage
- Android 16 with HiOS 16
- 50MP Rear camera
- 8MP Front camera
- 6500mAh Battery with 45W fast charging
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
- IP64 Pro rating, MIL-STD-810H Military-grade durability
- 5mm audio jack
Unboxing TECNO Spark 50s 5G
Design and Build Quality
The Tecno Spark 50S 5G has a sleek and minimalist design that looks quite premium at first glance. We received the Burgundy Red colour variant, which comes with a deep, rich finish that makes the phone stand out. Hard to miss that this shade is also becoming quite popular with smartphone brands this year.
The back panel has a smooth surface but it can pick up smudges and scratches quite easily. So, if you want to keep the phone looking clean, using a protective case would be a good idea.
The phone comes with a slim, horizontal camera module. It gives the back panel a neat look and Tecno has used aerospace 6-series aluminium for the camera deco.
It weighs 210g, so it might not feel the lightest phone around but it is overall fairly sleek with 8.18mm in thickness. The phone also comes with IP64 Pro and MIL-STD-810H protection. This should offer some peace of mind against everyday dust, water splashes and accidental drops.
Display
The Tecno Spark 50S 5G features a large 6.78-inch IPS LCD display with an HD+ resolution of 720 × 1576 pixels. This screen is big for everyday tasks such as browsing the web, scrolling through social media and watching videos.
The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through apps, websites and social media feeds feel smoother. We also didn’t face any noticeable issues with touch interactions.
The phone has a peak brightness of 567 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM). This is sufficient for indoor use and most everyday situations, although viewing the screen under bright sunlight at times becomes difficult.
Overall, the Tecno Spark 50S 5G offers a large display and smooth scrolling, making it suitable for everyday use.
Performance
The Tecno Spark 50S 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6400 processor built on a 6nm process. It has two performance cores clocked at 2.5GHz and six efficiency cores running at 2.0GHz. The phone also uses LPDDR4X RAM and offers up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, with support for expandable storage.
For everyday use, the hardware is suitable for tasks such as browsing, messaging, watching videos and using social media apps. The Dimensity 6400 is primarily for regular use and unless you tend to push it with several demanding apps or heavy gaming, it is a reliable smartphone. We also tested the phone on leading benchmarking platforms and below are all the results.
We also tried our hands on some of the popular games on this device to measure its real-world performance. The experience largely depends on the type of games and graphic settings. While the phone can handle casual gaming perfectly, users who prefer demanding games should keep their expectations in check.
The phone also comes with a few useful AI features. AI Noise Cancellation is designed to reduce background noise during calls including regular phone calls, WhatsApp calls and online meetings. It also supports Google’s Gemini AI assistant as well and can help with tasks such as finding information, writing and planning. You also get the popular Circle to Search feature in Spark 50S, which lets you search for something on your screen without having to switch between apps.
Camera
The Tecno Spark 50S 5G comes with a 50MP rear camera with an f/1.85 aperture and autofocus. For selfies, there is an 8MP front camera with an f/2.0 aperture and screen flash.
The rear camera performs well in good lighting conditions. Photos have decent colours and the camera does a good job of keeping them looking natural. The images do not look overly processed and maintain a more realistic look. The camera definitely has a good output for everyday photography when you are clicking pictures outdoors or capturing moments with friends and family.
However, lighting plays an important role in the results. The camera performs best when there is enough light, so you should not expect the same level of detail in low-light conditions. The front camera is suitable for basic selfies and video calls.
Overall, the Tecno Spark 50S 5G offers a decent camera experience for its target audience. The camera should get the job done if you mainly use your phone to capture casual moments and share pictures on social media.
Battery and Charging
Spark 50S 5G packs a large 6,500mAh battery and it can easily get through a full day of calls, browsing, social media and video streaming. The phone also supports 45W fast charging and the good thing is, Tecno includes the adapter inside the box. We timed the exact charging time and it takes around one hour to get the phone from under 20 per cent battery to over 90 per cent.
Verdict – Should You Buy TECNO Spark 50s 5G?
The new TECNO Spark 50s 5G is definitely worth considering if your priorities are a stylish design, long battery life, fast charging and reliable everyday performance. However, if display quality and gaming performance matter more to you, it may be worth looking at alternatives in the same price range.
All in all, the Tecno Spark 50S 5G covers the basics well but its HD+ display makes it harder to recommend without doubt in the Rs 20,000 segment. Whether it is the right choice for you will depend on which features matter most in your daily use.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Sleek design with a premium finish
● Large 6,500mAh battery ● 45W fast charging support ● 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling ● IP64 Pro and MIL-STD-810H protection ● Useful AI Features |
● Limited camera versatility
● Can pick up smudges and scratches easily ● Bloatware |
Alternatives
- Vivo T5 Lite 5G – Rs 20,008
- Samsung Galaxy M17 5G – Rs 19,999
- iQOO Z11 Lite 5G – Rs 19,497
