Budget smartphones under 20K in Kenya have gotten so good. We got our hands on two of the latest entry-level devices from TECNO and Xiaomi – the Spark 10 and the Redmi 12C. Both are really good phones under 20K but how do they compare in terms of performance?
UNBOXING
Differences start showing from the packaging with the Spark 10 box coming with more accessories which include the earphones and silicon case that are absent in the Redmi 12C.
DESIGN
Coming to the design, the Redmi 12C has a plastic back while the Spark 10 has a more premium-looking matte finish.
Both phones sport 720p screens but the Spark 10 goes for a 90Hz refresh rate while the Redmi 12C uses the regular 60Hz refresh rate.
Also, the Spark 10 uses an 18W type-C charging port while the Redmi 12C has a 10W micro-USB port.
Overall, the Spark 10 looks more attractive than the Redmi 12C.
PERFORMANCE
When it comes to performance, the Spark 10 gets left behind as it uses a relatively less powerful chipset. TECNO goes for the Helio G37 while the Redmi 12C uses Helio G85.
The Spark 10 redeems itself by packing up to 8GB of RAM while the Redmi 12C has 4GB of RAM. TECNO adds up to 8GB of virtual RAM while the Redmi adds up to 3GB of virtual RAM.
| Specification | TECNO Spark 10 | Xiaomi Redmi 12C |
|---|---|---|
| LTE support | Yes | Yes |
| Screen | 6.6" HD 550 nits 90Hz Refresh rate | 6.71" HD 500 nits 60Hz Refresh Rate |
| OS | Android 13, HiOS 10.6 | Android 12, MIUI 13.0.5 |
| Chip and CPU | Mediatek Helio G37 | Mediatek Helio G88 |
| GPU | IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| RAM | 8GB + 8GB virtual RAM | 4GB + 3GB virtual RAM |
| Memory | 128GB MicroSD card support -1TB | 128GB MicroSD card support -1TB |
| Main camera | 50MP AI Lens 1080p video 30fps | 50MP AI Lens 1080p video 30fps |
| Selfie | 8MP selfie camera Video: 1080p at 30fps | 5MP selfie camera Video: 1080p at 30fps |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
| Battery and charging | 5000 mAh 18W fast charging USB Type-C | 5000 mAh 10W charging Micro-USB |
| Colours | Meta Black, Meta Blue, Meta White and Meta Green | Graphite Black, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Lavender Purple |
| Price | Ksh 19,300 | Kshs 13,999: 3GB RAM/32GB Kshs 14,999: 3GB RAM/64GB Kshs 17,299: 4GB RAM/128GB |
It’s great that we have extra RAM with the Spark 10 but when it comes to real-life use, the Redmi 12C is still a champ thanks to the faster processor.
Multitasking and even playing games are handled better on the Redmi 12C. You’ll encounter the occasional lag when using the TECNO Spark 10.
TECNO one-ups the Redmi as it ships with Android 13 straight out of the box while the 12C ships with Android 12.
Overall, the Redmi 12C beats the Spark 10.
CAMERAS
For optics, both phones rock a 50MP dual main setup with an additional VGA camera.
For selfies, the 12C has a 5MP front facing while the Spark 10 has an 8MP front facing.
Both phones take amazing shots during the day and at night as well.
The photos come out with nice colors, decent saturation, sharpness, and details.
Selfie portraits also look good in low light.
Video recording is capped at 1080p for both phones.
It’s worth noting that the Spark 10 lacks a dedicated night mode present in the Redmi 12C. TECNO compensates for the lack of the night mode by making the photos relatively brighter so you will definitely get good-looking shots in lowlight.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with either pick as they both tie in when it comes to photography.
BATTERY LIFE
Both phones ship with 5000mAh batteries with TECNO supporting 18W fast type-c charging while Redmi 12C has 10W micro-usb charging.
The Spark 10 juices up in a little under 2 hours while the Redmi 12C will need close to 3 hours to go from empty to full.
Both phones will give you up to two full days of use with light tasks and a full day with heavy tasks.
When it comes to battery performance, the two phones are equal but the TECNO Spark 10 is more modern with fast type c charging.
PRICE
The Spark 10 and the Redmi 12C exchange blows during this comparison review but the pricing is where they split paths.
The TECNO Spark 10 goes for Ksh Ksh 19,300 while the Redmi 12C goes for Ksh 17,300. And at that price, the Redmi 12C offers more value for the price.
Redmi 12C
- Kshs 13,999: 3GB RAM/32GB
- Kshs 14,999: 3GB RAM/64GB
- Kshs 17,299: 4GB RAM/128GB
