MWC 2025 is in full swing, and brands are showcasing their latest and greatest innovations. Honor unveiled a smartwatch that puts the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Google Pixel Watch 3 to shame with its long battery life, while HMD introduced a pair of earbuds with a case that doubles as a wireless charging power bank for your phone.
While Samsung and Apple are still gearing up for their slim phone launches, Tecno, at its MWC 2025 showfloor, has shown what a truly thin smartphone should be.
Slim phones are making a comeback in 2025
And the Tecno Spark Slim proves how it should be done
Slim phones are one of the biggest trends of 2025. Samsung teased the Galaxy S25 Edge alongside the S25 series in January, and it’s expected to launch in April, with availability starting in May. There are also strong rumors that Apple is working on a slim iPhone 17 model, reportedly called the iPhone 17 Air, that’ll cater to users who want an ultra-thin form factor.
Brands are betting big on lightweight, pocket-friendly devices that don’t sacrifice too many features, hoping they will appeal to customers this year. While Samsung and Apple have yet to launch their slim phones, Tecno has beaten them to the punch, showing what a truly thin phone should be.
At MWC 2025, Tecno unveiled its Spark Slim smartphone. While the company calls it a concept device (read: prototype), it is reportedly preparing for a “staggered launch” later this year. Regardless, after brief hands-on time with the phone, I can confidently say this is how thin phones should be done.
Tecno Spark Slim is setting the right example
A thin phone that doesn’t compromise usability
The Tecno Spark Slim lives up to its name, measuring 5.75mm thin. What impressed me during my brief hands-on time with the Spark Slim wasn’t only the thinness. It’s how great it felt in the hand. It has curved sides and a curved display, making it feel thinner than it is. It’s also incredibly lightweight. Tecno hasn’t revealed the exact weight, but the device felt lighter than the Google Pixel 9 Pro in my pocket.
For comparison, the Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to be 5.84mm thin, but due to its flat-edge design, it doesn’t seem as slim in person.
Thinness aside. What about the other aspects of the phone? Tecno seems to have nailed those, too. The Tecno Spark Slim features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 4,500 nits peak brightness. Combined with its lightweight build, the phone feels like you’re holding nothing but a screen.
Tecno hasn’t revealed the exact chipset, only that it’s an octa-core processor. However, in my brief time with the device, I didn’t experience any stutters or lag. The phone also features a dual 50MP camera setup, and the camera module reminded me of the Nexus 6P from a decade ago.
Slim phones don’t have to compromise on battery
The Tecno Spark Slim packs a 5,200mAh battery in a thin frame
One big drawback of slim phones has always been battery capacity. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to ship with a 3,900mAh battery, which might not be enough for a smartphone that is rumored to feature a 6.6-inch display. But Tecno’s Spark Slim proves that thin phones don’t need tiny batteries.
The Tecno prototype packs a massive 5,200mAh battery, which is larger than what most flagship Android phones offer, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Tecno is likely using silicon-carbon battery tech, the same innovation seen in the latest foldable phones like the Honor Magic V3 and Oppo’s Find N5, but something Samsung and Google have yet to adopt.
And that’s not all. The Tecno Spark Slim doesn’t compromise on charging speeds. It supports the same 45W wired charging speed as other latest Android phones.
Tecno also showed off a trifold at MWC 2025
The company showcased its futuristic foldable
In addition to the Spark Slim, Tecno showcased its trifolding concept phone at MWC 2025. While we didn’t get much hands-on time with it, it’s exciting to see more brands exploring the trifolding form factor. We recently saw the Huawei Mate XT, and Tecno’s take on it follows a similar concept. Still, it didn’t feel as slim as Huawei’s foldable.
Tecno isn’t planning to bring its tri-folding phone to market yet, but the company made it clear that it envisions doing so in the future. Meanwhile, Samsung is rumored to launch its trifolding phone later this year.
Related
Thinner smartphones are the last thing I want from Samsung or Apple
A slimmer phone is a distraction
Tecno is showing others how to make slim phones
While Samsung and Apple are still preparing to launch their slim phones, the Tecno Spark Slim proves that a thin phone doesn’t have to feel like a downgrade from flagship devices. The only downside of this device is that it’s still a prototype, and Tecno hasn’t shared an exact launch date. The company says it’ll be released in a “staggered launch” later this year, but if this is the future of slim phones, count me in.
