A white TECNO Spark Slim smartphone is shown standing upright next to its orange and white retail box. The box has a large stylized "S" and highlights key features like "256GB + 16GB RAM," a 5160mAh battery, 45W charging, and a 5.93mm "World's Slimmest" design. The bottom of the image has a text overlay that reads "TECNO Slim Review: A Featherweight Phone That Packs a Heavy Hit.

TECNO Slim Review: A Featherweight Phone That Packs a Heavy Hit

Before thin and light became the newfangled thing in today’s smartphone market, TECNO beat the others to the punch at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) by showing off their TECNO Slim concept phone. 

TECNO Slim, which includes the TECNO POVA Slim (5G) and TECNO SPARK Slim (4G), represents the brand’s new line of ultra-thin smartphones. The one launched in the Philippines — and the one we’re putting to the test — is the TECNO SPARK Slim.

When it was first shown off to the world, people (myself included) were understandably skeptical as to the logistics of the TECNO SPARK Slim. People were quick to brush it off as no more than just an engineering exercise built to show off TECNO’s engineering prowess.

But lo and behold, TECNO walked the talk and here in front of us today is the TECNO Slim.

Unboxing

Full view of the orange retail box for the TECNO SPARK Slim smartphone, showing key specs like 256GB + 16GB RAM and 5.93mm thickness.

The TECNO Slim may be thin but the box it comes in isn’t. But don’t be fooled because it still comes with all the necessary inclusions that you need to get up and running with the TECNO Slim.

Looks-wise, the TECNO Slim’s box doesn’t stray too far from the flock. The box features a shiny dual-colored design with a gold band separating the top bright orange part and a white bottom part. Your eyes will be quickly drawn to the large S written at the front.

For the inclusions, you’ll get the following:

  • A 45W fast charger
  • USB Type-C cable
  • Plastic case
  • SIM ejector tool
  • A Screen Protector
  • Guide on how to apply said protector
  • Documentation including the Safety Information and Quick Start Guide
Flat-lay shot of the full unboxing contents of the TECNO SPARK Slim, including the white phone, charger, USB cable, clear case, SIM ejector, and documentation on a light wooden table.

Slim but Strong

The first thing you’ll notice is just how impossibly thin the TECNO Slim is. At only 5.93mm thick and weighing just 156g, this is officially the world’s slimmest 3D-curved AI smartphone.

TECNO was able to pull off this engineering marvel with its Honeycomb Space Stacking technology, which reorganizes eight core components for maximum space efficiency without sacrificing durability or battery life.

You’ll find both the volume rocker and the power button on the right side of the phone while the left side remains clear. At the top, you’ll find one part of the stereo speakers, a small microphone opening, and a Dolby Atmos logo. Meanwhile, at the bottom, there’s the other speaker grille, the USB Type-C port, another microphone, and lastly, the SIM tray slot.

Close-up of the white TECNO SPARK Slim held in a person's hand, highlighting the large, sleek, dual-ring camera system on the back.

Adding flair to its already futuristic look is the Mood Light Design, which makes the rear side of the TECNO Slim look like a certain personal healthcare companion *wink wink*.

This feature not only spices up the look of the TECNO Slim, it also serves a more practical purpose depending on what you’re doing. Incoming call? Charging? Low battery? The Slim communicates with you in a fun, almost lifelike way. The TECNO Slim is available in two colors: Cool Black and the one we have on our hands, Slim White.

The white TECNO SPARK Slim phone stands upright on a wooden surface against a bright yellow background, showcasing the full back design.

Despite the thin and light design, the TECNO Slim is no slouch when it comes to durability. Boasting a US Military-Grade Shock Resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, and an IP64 dust and water resistance.

Tests even show that it can withstand 5kg bends, 1.5m drops without a case, and even harsher conditions with one. Simply put, this isn’t just a slim phone that you need to baby all the time, it’s a slim phone you’re not afraid to use every day.

Sharp, Fluid, and Bright

Up front, the TECNO Slim features a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a silky-smooth 144Hz refresh rate and an eye-searing 4500 nits of peak brightness. It’s not just sharp, it’s one of the brightest panels in its class.

Extreme close-up of the top edge of the TECNO SPARK Slim screen, showing the minimal bezel, punch-hole selfie camera, and vibrant wallpaper.

Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or scrolling social media, the high refresh rate keeps everything looking fluid. The curved edges add to its premium feel, giving you that flagship vibe at a more accessible price point.

The Best of 4G

Although the TECNO Slim wasn’t really built to break performance records, it still puts up quite a respectable fight with the MediaTek Helio G200 underneath. Coupled with up to 16GB RAM (8GB + 8GB expansion) and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage, multitasking feels effortless, and load times are quick.

Close-up of the TECNO SPARK Slim screen showing the AnTuTu Benchmark result of 598977, indicating the phone's performance score.

You might be quick to judge the MediaTek Helio G200, all because it’s a 4G chip, but it’s actually the fastest 4G chip available on the market. Garnering around 598,9777 points on AnTuTu Benchmark in our testing.

Hands holding the TECNO SPARK Slim horizontally while playing a mobile MOBA game, showcasing the display quality and thin bezels.

And, just to prove the haters wrong, we tested it in popular titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the TECNO Slim ran just fine without any hitch. Remember, this isn’t aiming to compete with heavy-duty 5G gaming phones, but for a 4G device this slim, it punches way above its weight.

Simple but Capable

High-angle shot of the white back of the TECNO SPARK Slim phone and its black camera module, resting on a green cutting mat.

Seeing as the Slim is a bit space constrained, it’s impressive that TECNO was able to squeeze in a simple yet capable shooter. On the back, you get a 50MP main camera paired with a secondary sensor, while the front houses a 13MP selfie shooter.

Close-up of the distinctive, elongated camera module on the white back of the TECNO SPARK Slim against a wooden and yellow background.

Photos come out crisp and detailed in good lighting, with AI optimization ensuring accurate colors and TECNO’s universal skin tone algorithm helping keep selfies natural. Video on the other hand maxes out at 2K @ 30fps or 1080p @ 60fps.

Here’s a few shots that we took with the TECNO Slim:

Here are some that we took using the 13 MP front facing camera:

And for fun, we also played around with the AI features baked into the Slim’s camera app.

With the AI Extender, Sir Vince’s torso was extended to feature his legs or at least an AI-generated version of his. While the AI Erase feature helped remove the white monoblock chair behind.

Slim Body, Big Power

Here’s where TECNO achieved the impossible triangle: ultra-slim design + big battery + durability. Despite its featherweight profile, the Slim packs a 5160mAh battery. Quite a feat considering thin and light phones from known name brands only reach around 3,000 mAh.

If that still isn’t enough for you then the 45W Super Charging can top you off from 0 to 50% in just 22 minutes or 0 – 100% in 55 minutes.

It also supports 10W reverse charging, so you can juice up your friend’s dying phone, plus Bypass Charging, which powers the device directly during gaming or video playback to reduce heat. TECNO promises up to 5 years of healthy battery life thanks to its anti-swelling and self-healing algorithms.

TECNO’s Smart Edge

Running on HiOS 15 (based on Android 15), the Slim comes loaded with TECNO AI features that make daily life easier.

Here are just a few features that the TECNO Slim can do:

  • Circle to Search – just draw a circle on screen to look things up instantly.
  • AI Writing & Summaries – great for emails, captions, and quick drafts.
  • Live Translation & Call Assistant – break language barriers and get call summaries automatically.
  • AI Visual Editing – remove unwanted objects in photos or expand images beyond the frame.

It also packs in dual-system space (separate work and personal modes), privacy screenshot blur, and 3 years of free 50GB cloud storage—a nice bonus for those who like to cling on to a lot of memories.

Other Notable Features

Despite being space-constrained, the TECNO Slim still features dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, delivering immersive sound whether you’re gaming or streaming.

Connectivity is also future-proofed with NFC (including GCash compatibility), Infrared remote control for appliances, and FreeLink, which allows communication and file sharing even in areas with no mobile signal. Instant Share, TECNO’s version of AirDrop, makes transferring files lightning-fast too.

Final Thoughts: Slim Yet Powerful

The TECNO Slim isn’t just about being thin—it’s about proving that you don’t need to compromise durability, power, or battery life for design. At 5.93mm, it’s a record-setting smartphone that also brings a 5160mAh battery, 45W charging, military-grade toughness, AI smarts, and a flagship-level AMOLED display.

It’s clearly not trying to compete head-to-head with iPhones or Samsung Ultras, but rather carve its own niche: a stylish, durable, AI-powered slim phone for those who want performance without bulk.

If you’ve ever wished your phone could feel lighter in the pocket without feeling underpowered, the TECNO Slim is one of the most exciting releases in 2025. And with its expected accessible pricing compared to “Air-thin” competitors, it’s shaping up to be a sleeper hit in the slim phone market.

Pricing and Availability

The TECNO SPARK SLIM is priced at ₱9,499 in the Philippines. It officially goes on sale starting October 8, both online and in physical stores.

During the First Sale event from October 8 to 10, you can grab it for only ₱7,999 on Shopee and TikTok Shop. From October 8 to 31, TECNO is also offering up to 20% off at select offline stores through Spaylater, dropping the price to ₱7,599. Financing options via HomeCredit, Skyro, and Kridevo are also available at 0% interest.

As a bonus, each purchase comes with a free TECNO x TM x HOK (Honor of Kings) co-branded SIM card, which includes exclusive free data for HOK.

Which TECNO Slim feature impressed you the most?

Let us know what you think!