Tecno Spark 8T vs. iPhone SE (2020): A Clash of Titans (on a Budget)

Choosing a new smartphone doesn't have to break the bank. Today, we're pitting two compelling contenders against each other: the Tecno Spark 8T, a budget-friendly option, and the Apple iPhone SE (2020), known for its compact size and powerful performance. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone comes out on top.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone SE (2020) wins overall thanks to its significantly faster A13 Bionic chip and iOS ecosystem. However, the Tecno Spark 8T offers a larger display and potentially better battery life for a considerably lower price, making it a strong value proposition for budget-conscious users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Tecno Spark 8T	Apple iPhone SE (2020)

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	LTE	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2296
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2275, A2298

Launch
Announced	2021, December 15	2020, April 15
Status	Available. Released 2021, December 15	Available. Released 2020, April 24

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	164.3 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.47 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)	138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	-	148 g (5.22 oz)
	-	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

Display
Protection	-	Ion-strengthened glass
Resolution	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)	750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)	4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)	Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm)	Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OS	Android 11, HIOS 7.6	iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM	64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	NVMe

Main Camera
Features	Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama	Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)	12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
Triple	50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens	-
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec.

Selfie camera
Features	Dual-LED flash	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)	7 MP, f/2.2
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	Yes	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	Yes	Lightning, USB 2.0
WLAN	Yes	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	-	18W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi)
Type	5000 mAh	Li-Ion 1821 mAh (6.91 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Atlantic Blue, Turquoise Cyan, Iris Purple, Cocoa Gold	Black, White, Red
Models	KG6p	A2275, A2296, A2298, iPhone12,8
Price	About 120 EUR	$ 120.00 / C$ 165.75 / £ 99.95 / € 130.89
SAR	-	1.17 W/kg (head) 1.16 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 59h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1544:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 462253 (v8) GeekBench: 3237 (v5.1)

Tecno Spark 8T

Large Display
Long Battery Life
Affordable Price
Expandable Storage (MicroSD)

Slower Processor
Less Powerful Camera
Plastic Build Quality

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

Powerful A13 Bionic Chip
Compact Size
Excellent Camera
iOS Ecosystem
Fast Charging (Wired & Wireless)

Small Display
Limited Storage Options
Higher Price
Older Design

Display Comparison

The Tecno Spark 8T boasts a larger 6.6-inch display, ideal for media consumption and gaming. The iPhone SE (2020) has a smaller 4.7-inch display, but its contrast ratio is excellent, and it offers a bright, crisp viewing experience. While both have similar contrast ratios, the iPhone's color accuracy and overall visual quality are generally considered superior.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone SE (2020) delivers consistently excellent image quality thanks to Apple's image processing. While the Tecno Spark 8T may offer more megapixels, the iPhone's dynamic range, color accuracy, and low-light performance are generally better. Video recording on the iPhone is also superior.

Performance

Here's where the iPhone SE (2020) truly shines. The A13 Bionic chip is significantly faster than the Helio G35, resulting in smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better gaming performance. The Tecno Spark 8T is adequate for everyday tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have excellent endurance ratings (59h). However, the Tecno Spark 8T's larger battery capacity (5000mAh) *potentially* translates to slightly longer real-world usage, although software optimization plays a crucial role. The iPhone SE (2020) supports faster wired and wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Tecno Spark 8T? Users prioritizing a larger screen, longer battery life, and a lower price point. Who should buy the Apple iPhone SE (2020)? Users seeking a compact phone with exceptional performance, iOS integration, and guaranteed software updates.