The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ and Realme 12 Pro+ represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take different approaches to achieving this goal. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best overall package.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Realme 12 Pro+ emerges as the stronger contender. Its significantly faster 67W charging, coupled with a more efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset and brighter display, provides a smoother and more convenient daily experience. While the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ boasts impressive battery life, it falls behind in other key areas.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, December 29 | 2024, January 29 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, February 09 | Available. Released 2024, January 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 164.7 x 75 x 7.6 mm (6.48 x 2.95 x 0.30 in) | 161.5 x 74 x 8.8 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2436 pixels (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.9 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1000 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM), 950 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G99 Ultimate | Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 710 |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | Quad-LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
64 MP, f/2.8, 71mm, (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash | - |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 0.7µm | 32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide) |
| Video | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 67W wired, 50% in 19 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Temporal Orbits, Lunar Frost, Radiant Starstream, Magic Skin 2.0 Green | Submarine Blue, Navigator Beige, Explorer Red |
| Models | KJ7 | RMX3840, RMX3841 |
| Price | - | $ 465.00 / £ 299.00 / € 344.26 / ₹ 28,400 |
Tecno Spark 20 Pro+
- Longer battery life in active use tests
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Slower charging speed (33W)
- Less powerful chipset compared to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
- Dimmer display, impacting outdoor visibility
Realme 12 Pro+
- Faster 67W charging with quick top-up times
- More powerful and efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Superior image processing capabilities
- Slightly shorter battery life compared to the Tecno
- Potentially higher price tag
Display Comparison
The Realme 12 Pro+ boasts a substantial advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 802 nits compared to the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+'s 549 nits. This difference translates to significantly better visibility outdoors and a more engaging viewing experience in bright environments. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels (though not explicitly stated), the Realme's higher brightness suggests a more advanced panel. The Tecno's lower brightness may necessitate higher volume levels to compensate for reduced visibility, impacting battery life. We lack PWM frequency data, but the Realme's superior brightness often correlates with better overall display calibration.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera samples, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Realme 12 Pro+ likely benefits from Qualcomm's image signal processor (ISP), known for its strong computational photography capabilities. While both phones likely feature a primary camera, the Realme's chipset offers more processing power for features like night mode and HDR. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes makes a definitive statement impossible, but the Realme's overall processing advantage suggests superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. We'll assume both phones have similar secondary cameras, and ignore the likely presence of low-resolution macro lenses on both.
Performance
The Realme 12 Pro+ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (SM7435-AB), a 4nm chipset featuring four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.40 GHz. This architecture provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+'s MediaTek Helio G99 Ultimate. The Helio G99 Ultimate, while capable, utilizes a more dated architecture with two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.2 GHz. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. This means the Realme 12 Pro+ will likely maintain higher frame rates for longer periods.
Battery Life
The Realme 12 Pro+ offers a 13:24 active use score, while the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ achieves 11:56. This indicates the Tecno provides longer battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Realme compensates with significantly faster 67W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 19 minutes. The Tecno Spark 20 Pro+'s 33W charging is considerably slower. This difference in charging speed dramatically impacts the user experience, allowing the Realme to quickly top up its battery when needed, mitigating the slightly shorter runtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ if your absolute priority is maximizing screen-on time and you're willing to compromise on charging speed and peak performance. It's ideal for users who consume a lot of media or rely heavily on their phone throughout the day. Buy the Realme 12 Pro+ if you value faster charging, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a more responsive user experience, making it a better choice for gamers and power users.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the MediaTek Helio G99 Ultimate in the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Helio G99 Ultimate can handle many games, Genshin Impact and other graphically intensive titles will likely require significant graphics settings reductions to maintain playable frame rates. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 in the Realme 12 Pro+ offers a more comfortable gaming experience with less need for compromise.
❓ How much faster is the 67W charging on the Realme 12 Pro+ compared to the 33W charging on the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ in real-world use?
The Realme 12 Pro+ can reach 50% charge in approximately 19 minutes, while the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ will take considerably longer – likely over an hour. This difference is significant for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery before leaving the house.
❓ Is the difference in display brightness between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
Yes, the 802 nits peak brightness of the Realme 12 Pro+ is significantly brighter than the 549 nits of the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+. This is particularly noticeable when viewing content outdoors or in brightly lit environments, where the Tecno's screen may appear washed out.
