Tecno Spark 50 vs Spark 40: Did Tecno Just Repackage the Same Phone?

Tecno has officially launched the Tecno Spark 50 in Kenya at a starting price of KES 15,999. However, after comparing it side by side with the Spark 40, I was surprised to find that the two phones are nearly identical on paper.

In fact, the only meaningful change appears to be a larger battery on the newer model and a slightly bigger display. That makes the Tecno Spark 50 feel less like a true successor and more like a refreshed version of the Spark 40 with a new name attached. 

So if you're expecting major upgrades in performance, cameras, or display technology, you may not find much separating these two devices.

Tecno Spark 50 vs Tecno Spark 40: What Has Actually Changed?

The Battery Upgrade Breakdown

In the battery front is where there is a huge jump; the Spark 40 packs a standard 5200mAh battery, while the Spark 50 has a huge 7000mAh battery. However, you are getting slightly slower charging speeds at only 18W compared to 45W on the Spark 40, but I guess you can't have it all.

The 7000mAh battery on the Spark 50 can last you an entire day of use for heavy WhatsApp, TikTok, and data users, depending on your usage, as compared to the 5200mAh battery on the Spark 40, which, depending on your usage, cannot get you through an entire day of use.

The Identical DNA: Performance, Display, and Cameras

Specification	Tecno Spark 50 (4G)	Tecno Spark 40 (4G)
Release Year	2026	2025
Display	6.78-inch IPS LCD, 120Hz	6.67-inch IPS LCD, 120Hz
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels (HD+)	720 x 1600 pixels (HD+)
Processor (Chipset)	MediaTek Helio G81 (12nm)	MediaTek Helio G81 (12nm)
Operating System	Android 16, HIOS 16	Android 15, HIOS 15
RAM & Storage	Up to 8GB RAM | 128GB/256GB	Up to 8GB RAM | 128GB/256GB
Main Rear Camera	50 MP (with auxiliary lenses)	50 MP (with auxiliary lenses)
Selfie Camera	8 MP	8 MP
Battery Capacity	7000 mAh	5200 mAh
Charging Speed	18W Fast Charging	45W Fast Charging
Durability	IP64 Water/Dust Resistant	IP64 Water/Dust Resistant

Same Processor, Same Daily Performance

Moving on to the performance side of things, these two phones are very similar; they both come with the same Mediatek Helio G81 (12nm) chipset, which closely resembles the Mediatek Helio G85, as they share identical core specifications and an underlying architecture.

Looking at benchmark results between the G81 and the G85, the performance is the same.

The G85 has a single core score of 420, while the G81has a single core score of 432. On the multi-core score, the G85 scores 1364 while the G81 scores 1416.

While the G81 may have slightly higher benchmark numbers on paper, the difference is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use.

For those using the Spark 40 and are looking for a performance bump, save that money for later because the performance is still the same.

Software

The only noticeable difference is in the software; the Spark 40 came with Android 15, and HIOS 16 skinned on top, while the new Spark 50 comes with Android 16 with HIOS 16 skinned on top.

The good news is that Tecno has promised 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patching on the Spark 40; however, regarding the Spark 50, we don’t have the official confirmation from Tecno, but we suspect it might fall under 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patching as well.

Display and Design Aesthetics

Display

The displays are almost identical, only differing in size. The Spark 40 comes with a 6.67-inch display, while the Spark 50 comes with a 6.78-inch display.

They both feature an LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the resolution on both is 720 by 1600.

The slight increase in the display size doesn’t justify it as an upgrade, and Tecno once again went super lazy on the display.

For those who want a slightly larger screen for consuming content, the Spark 50 will give you that immersive experience, but the quality is still identical to the Spark 40, with poor color contrast an less sharpened visuals.

Design Aesthetics

Tecno tweaked the design slightly on the Spark 50 and added a camera island, which looks exactly like the iPhone 17 Pro and the 17 Pro Max.

I have said this time, and again, that companies should stop copying the design of other brands. I am sure many people will see the design of the Spark 50 and buy it just to get the feel of having an iPhone; it's very lame, anyway, I digress.

Both have teh same IP 64 dust and water resistance, and they can survive falls of up to 1.5 metres. Don’t go swimming with this phone, though, because the warranty doesn’t cover its physical damage.

Camera Performance: A Copy-Paste Job

Switching gears to the cameras, both phones have the same cameras at the rear and at the front. It seems Tecno had some leftover camera lenses from the Spark 40 and decided to just slap them on the Spark 50.

They both feature a main 50MP shooter and an 8MP selfie camera, and that is it, no ultrawide or periscope, but we don’t expect anything more at this price range.

For your regular home videos, the cameras will be just fine, recording your pets, your kids, nothing too fancy. You might do some editing before posting your videos or photos on social media.

Keep in mind that under low light, you might get very murky results, so I highly suggest taking photos and recording videos in well-lit environments.

Pricing and Market Value in Kenya

When the Tecno Spark 40 launched in the Kenyan market, it was priced at around KES 17,000. You might be lucky to find it discounted, but many retailers like Phone Place Kenya don’t have it in stock.

The Spark 50, on the other hand, is retailing for KES 15,999, and you can buy it from official Tecno retail stores across the country, including third-party retailers such as Phone Place Kenya, Safariocom shops, online malls such as Jumia and Kilimall.

Conclusion & Verdict

If you are someone who already has the Tecno Spark 40, then there is no need to get the Spark 50, unless you want a bigger battery and a slightly larger screen; other than that, there is no good reason for you to get the Spark 50.

For those buying a new smartphone for the first time, or who are looking for a phone that is good for their grandparents or students, then get the Spark 50.