Every once in a while, a device comes along that challenges what we think is possible, especially at a low price point. Enter the TECNO SPARK Slim.
At just 5.93mm thick, the SPARK Slim is incredibly thin, yet it packs a massive battery and a 144Hz display. The price? Under ₱10,000, delivering a sleek smartphone at a fraction of what others cost.
But does it live up to the hype? We spent time with the device to find out.
Design & Display
The SPARK Slim lives up to its name with an ultra-slim profile, measuring just 5.93mm thick. It is impressively thin yet feels comfortable in the hand, thanks to good ergonomics. To put that into perspective, it’s thinner than three ₱5 coins at its thinnest point.
Granted, it’s not the slimmest smartphone on the market. But at ₱9,499, it’s easily the most affordable. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air come in thinner at 5.8mm and 5.6mm, respectively, but both have significantly higher price tags by far.
TECNO was able to achieve this sleek design using a honeycomb space stacking technique, which allowed the internals to be densely packed and efficiently arranged. This also made room for a sizable 5160mAh battery despite the slim frame.
Our review unit is the Cool Black variant. It’s also available in Slim White. Both color options are clean, so you can’t go wrong with either option.
The unit also came with a hard shell case that snaps onto the back. It’s hard to remove once in place, but it still keeps the phone’s slim profile.
At the back, the phone features a dual-camera system housed in an elongated island that spans the width of the device. This section is slightly thicker, resulting in a modest camera bump that protrudes just enough to still maintain the slim profile.
The SPARK Slim also features the Mood Light around the camera lenses, reminiscent of Baymax from Big Hero 6. The Mood Light flashes for notifications and other service reminders when the phone is face down on a table.
Up front, the device features a 6.78-inch display with a crisp 2720×1224 resolution, a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. Despite the screen’s high refresh rate, the MediaTek Helio G200 chip only supports up to 120Hz.
To get around this, the phone has a dedicated TECNO T1 Chip that helps upscale resolution and manage refresh rates. This could bypass the chip’s limitations. Still, most apps and games are capped at 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz. Out of the box, only three apps support 144Hz: Settings, Messages, and Phone.
That said, the display looks great overall, with vibrant colors and deep blacks. Its high brightness means you get good visibility even under direct sunlight.
In terms of layout, the volume rocker and power button are on the right side. At the bottom, you have the SIM tray, microphones, USB-C port, and a bottom-firing speaker. Up top, there’s a secondary speaker and an IR blaster.
For durability, the SPARK Slim has Gorilla Glass 7i protection and a “flagship-level” fiberglass back cover, which TECNO claims offers high toughness and heat resistance. The back is smooth to the touch and feels reassuringly solid. It also has an IP64 rating, adding resistance against dust and splashes from rain or water.
Cameras
The SPARK Slim features a 50MP main camera paired with a 2MP auxiliary lens on the rear. For selfies, it’s equipped with a 13MP front shooter. Due to its ultra-thin design, the phone doesn’t include an optical zoom lens. Instead, it relies on in-sensor cropping for zoomed-in shots.
The camera app is easy to use. It’s straightforward, with all the essential modes front and center. Additional options like Time-lapse, Panorama, Pro, and Dual Video are tucked under the “More” tab.
Imaging performance is decent. It’s not the best in this price range, but it’s enough for everyday use and social media. Our test shots showed good detail and vibrant colors. Low-light and night shots were average, but usable with limited dynamic range.
Sample Photos
Zoom
Again, there’s no optical zoom lens here. Instead, the SPARK Slim relies on in-sensor zoom, which is essentially a lossless crop from its high-resolution image. The results are usable, but detail and sharpness lean soft, especially at higher zoom levels.
Selfies
Selfies are generally pleasant with good skin tones and details. Again, it’s enough for social media.
Performance
The SPARK Slim is powered by the MediaTek Helio G200 processor. Our review unit came with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with support for RAM expansion.
It runs HiOS 15 on top of Android 15 and includes AI features like Circle to Search and Google Gemini. As with most devices these days, it ships with a fair amount of bloatware. Just remove or uninstall what you don’t need.
One of the phone’s limitations is 4G-only connectivity. A 5G modem would likely push the price higher, but it is what it is. That said, during testing, 4G speeds were more than enough for browsing, YouTube streaming, and social media.
In benchmarks, the SPARK Slim scored 590,767 on AnTuTu. On Geekbench 6, it posted 732 in the Single-Core test and 1,923 in Multi-Core. In 3DMark Wild Life, it managed 1,363. These are respectable scores given the price, which translate to solid real-world performance.
Basic operation is smooth and snappy, with no noticeable lag or stutter. Apps launch quickly, and games are stable. For best results, keep graphics settings at low or medium when gaming. The phone also supports bypass charging, allowing you to stay plugged in without stressing the battery.
Moreover, the in-display fingerprint sensor is responsive and works reliably. The stereo speakers sound decent overall, though there’s a slight tinge of distortion at maximum volume.
Battery Life
For a thin smartphone, the SPARK SLIM packs a massive 5160mAh battery and supports 45W wired fast charging, 10W wired reverse charging, and bypass charging. With light to moderate use, it lasted a full day on a single charge.
Battery life was impressive, given the phone’s slim design. In the PC Mark Work 3.0 Battery Life test, it scored 10 hours and 21 minutes. The test started at 100% battery, with brightness at 80%, volume muted, and airplane mode turned on. That result translates to roughly 8 hours and 50 minutes of screen-on time.
Charging was fast. It took 1 hour to go from 20% to full. While a quick 15-minute charge brought the battery up to 41%.
Wrap Up
The TECNO SPARK Slim is the latest smartphone to deliver an ultra-slim design without the expensive price tag. At just ₱9,499, it measures only 5.93mm thick and offers solid performance, a massive battery, and a smooth display.
One thing to keep in mind is its 4G-only connectivity. It’s not a deal breaker, but it could be a sore spot for some users.
So we ask: do we need an ultra-slim smartphone? The answer is “probably not.” But TECNO’s SPARK Slim makes a very strong case. It’s a great device that shows us what’s possible by delivering an all-around experience wrapped in an incredibly slim design, at a price that’s accessible to everyone.
Price & Availability
The TECNO SPARK Slim is now available in the Philippines for ₱9,499. It comes in Slim White and Cool Black colorways.
TECNO SPARK Slim specs
- Display: 6.78-inch 1.5K display, 2720×1224, 144Hz refresh rate, 4500 nits, Gorilla Glass 7i
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G200
- RAM/Storage: 8GB+256GB, extended RAM
- Rear Camera: 50MP main + 2MP auxiliary lens
Dual rear flash - Front Camera: 13MP
- Network: 4G LTE
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, IR port
- Others: In-display fingerprint scanner, USB-C, Dolby Atmos Stereo Speakers, Mood Light Design, vapor chamber, FreeLink, IP64 rating
- OS: HiOS 15, Android 15
- Colors: Slim White, Cool Black
- Battery: 5160mAh battery, 45W fast charging, 10W wired reverse charging, bypass charging
