Alright, alright, alright… we’re back once again with another UD Versus article, this time, we’re going down the rabbit hole and digging deep into the entry-level segment. Today’s contenders consists of the TECNO SPARK Go 2 and the REDMI A5.
These two are top most bang-for-the-buck smartphones under PHP 5,000, so the fight won’t be easy… Nevertheless, we’re here to give you the brass tacks and help you choose which one’s the right one for you! So, without further adieu… let’s get it on!
Round: Design & Display
You would think that for a phone under PHP 5,000, the design part would be the least of the manufacturer’s concern and you’d be wrong. Smartphone designs, even budget ones, have come a long way since smartphones became a thing.
Of course, most of these entry-level feature a plastic build to cut costs and focus more on the internals. Design-wise, the TECNO SPARK Go 2 features a flat-edge textured or matte design that enhances durability and grip. Impressively, the SPARK Go 2 boasts an IP64 dust and splash resistance rating, even going as far as claiming drop resistance of up to 1.5m.
On the other hand, the REDMI A5 opted for a more refined look compared to its predecessors, it now sports a new, modern pill-shaped camera island. It’s not going to back down either in protection as the A5 carries an IP52 dust and splash resistance rating, slightly less robust than the SPARK Go 2 but still decent for its class.
Display-wise, both phones feature an HD+ IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate but differ slightly in some aspects, these aspects include:
- Size: The TECNO SPARK Go 2 features a 6.67-inch display compared to the REDMI A5’s larger 6.88-inch.
- Peak brightness: The SPARK Go 2 can only go as bright as 560 nits but the A5 can go slightly brighter at 600 nits.
- Adaptive refresh rate: Although both phones feature a 120Hz refresh rate, only the A5 has an adaptive refresh rate feature that changes refresh rate based on what’s displayed.
- Feature: The REDMI A5 edges out the SPARK Go 2 by including a TÜV Rheinland certification for eye protection.
Winner: It’s just round 1 but already these two go pound-for-pound. We’ll give the W to the REDMI A5 for offering a bigger and brighter display, adaptive refresh rate, and a TÜV Rheinland certification. Still, the SPARK Go 2 manages to pull one win with the improved durability rating.
Round 2: Camera
Considering that these are budget smartphones, camera performance is at the bottom of our priorities. Still, having a camera that ticks all the basic functionalities is still a plus.
The TECNO SPARK Go 2’s camera includes:
- 13MP main camera (with LED flash): Capable of decent photos in good lighting conditions, suitable for social media sharing.
- 8MP front camera: Good for basic selfies and video calls. The camera system aims for simplicity and reliability for everyday snaps.
While the REDMI A5’s camera consists of:
- 32MP main camera (with AI features and LED flash): While a higher MP count doesn’t always guarantee better photos, it can offer more detail in ideal conditions and more room for cropping. It also includes “film filters” for creative effects.
- 8MP front camera: Matches the Spark Go 2 for selfies. The Redmi A5 emphasizes its “super-clear cameras” for sharper snaps.
Winner: Again, numbers don’t tell the whole story, but if we’re just relying on megapixel count, the REDMI A5 takes the win.
Round 3: Performance
Listen up… You probably won’t win any competitive gaming tournaments with these phones. These phones are like the Toyota Wigo or Vios of the smartphone world, giving you the essentials at an affordable price.
With that in mind, both of these phones feature the UNISOC T7250 chipset but with varying configurations. The TECNO SPARK Go 2 is configured with up to 4GB of RAM which you can bump to 6 or 8GB with the additional 3 or 4GB Extended RAM and up to 128GB of storage.
On the other hand, the REDMI A5 is configured with up to 4GB of RAM which you can also bump to 8GB via the additional 4GB Virtual RAM. Storage can reach as far as 128GB but if that’s not enough, you have the option to expand it to 2TB via the microSD slot.
Winner: There’s really not much to compare with these two in terms of performance, both feature the same processor but with slight variations in RAM and storage. Heck, we couldn’t even pull data from both AnTuTu and Geekbench. Nevertheless, this chip is still highly capable, just don’t expect groundbreaking speeds from it. So, we’ll call it a draw.
Round 4: Battery & Charging
If performance is really not at the top of budget smartphones’ priorities, battery and charging should be. Thankfully, both of these are kitted with large batteries that can get you through the day, maybe even longer.
The TECNO SPARK Go 2 features a 5000 mAh battery with 15W wired charging. TECNO claims it can reach 50% in about 40 minutes and a full charge in under 100 minutes. This should easily provide a full day or more of moderate usage.
Meanwhile, the REDMI A5 packs a slightly larger 5,200mAh battery with 15W fast charging support. REDMI states its massive battery is ideal for extended reading and video watching, with over 1,000 charging cycles endurance.
Winner: Spec-wise, we’d have to give the win to the REDMI A5 for having a slightly larger 5,200 mAh battery. Apart from that, both phones were about the same, especially in charging speeds.
Round 5: Price & Software
We’re not gonna lie, we’re having a bit of a conundrum with this one as both phones offer aggressive pricing. Not to mention the sudden promotions that drive the price even lower. The prices you’ll see here are the prices during writing.
As of this writing, the TECNO SPARK Go 2 retails for ₱4,049 for the 3GB/128GB variant but again, this isn’t the final pricing as prices may change due to ongoing promotions. Meanwhile, the REDMI A5 retails for ₱3,599 – ₱4,099 depending on which variant you opt for.
Software-wise, the TECNO SPARK Go 2 runs a full-pledge Android 15 with a custom HIOS 15 skin on top and is slated to receive 2 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches. You’ll also find the SPARK Go 2 with stereo speakers and an IR blaster, which is rare at this price.
On the other hand, the REDMI A5 runs the Go edition of Android 15 with a custom HyperOS skin. REDMI too offers up to 2 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches.
Winner: We feel that for the price, the TECNO SPARK Go 2 offers a lot more value with the full-blown Android 15 and stereo speakers. Although the REDMI A5 does still put up quite the fight.
UD Verdict: Which Ultra-Budget Phone is For You?
This was definitely a hard comparison to make, the variables are just too close. Which is why we decided to just call it a tie. Why? Because both of these phones offer compelling packages in each of the 5 aspects that we judged it on. It mainly depends on you, the user, on which aspects you prioritize the most.
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Let us know what you think!