Tecno Spark 40 Pro Problems: Updates, Cracked Screen, Speaker

One owner in Pakistan paid PKR 53,000 for the 8 GB/256 GB Tecno Spark 40 Pro and is still waiting for HiOS 16. That wait is the most common of the Tecno Spark 40 Pro problems in GSMArena’s user reviews. Close behind are front glass that cracks within months and a loudspeaker callers can barely hear.

It’s one of the best-selling budget phones in Nigeria, Kenya and Pakistan, and plenty of owners love the battery life. It launched in 2025 with Tecno’s HiOS interface, and its successor, the Spark 50 Pro, is already on sale. That’s partly why 40 Pro owners are nervous about how long updates will keep coming.

What owners complain about

Still no Android 16? What’s actually going on

You check for updates and get a security patch or a small system update, while friends on other brands are already on Android 16. One owner noted a July system update did arrive, but not the big upgrade.

Tecno rolls out major Android versions model by model and region by region, and budget Spark phones usually come after the Camon and Phantom lines. In the sources we checked, Tecno hasn’t published a firm Android 16 date for the Spark 40 Pro. So any “leaked date” you see online deserves suspicion.

What you can do while you wait:

1. Check properly, on Wi-Fi: Settings › System update (on some builds Settings › About phone › System update), then Check for updates.
2. Install every smaller update. Security patches and system updates often prepare the phone for the next major version.
3. Ask in the Carlcare app. It’s Tecno’s official service app, with service centres, warranty details and support contacts, and you can ask about update timing for your model and region.
4. Back up photos and WhatsApp chats before any big update.
5. Don’t flash unofficial firmware. Downloaded “Android 16 ROMs” can brick the phone, void the warranty and expose your data.

A cracked screen after a short drop

Several GSMArena reviewers say their screens broke within a few months, one after about six, even though they expected Gorilla Glass to protect it. Another described a high Carlcare repair quote. It usually starts as a hairline crack from a corner, or a shattered front after a short fall, and touch can start misbehaving afterwards.

Thin bezels and a big display mean the corners take the force of a drop. Even toughened glass can crack when a phone lands on its edge on concrete or tiles. Once it’s cracked, it’s a hardware repair, full stop.

• Prevent it: fit a full-cover tempered glass protector (it cracks instead of the display) and a case with raised edges and reinforced corners.
• After a crack: back up straight away in case the touch layer fails.
• Get a quote at Carlcare, Tecno’s official service network, and compare it with a reputable local shop. Ask the shop whether its part is original.
• Check the warranty. Physical damage is normally excluded, but a screen that fails without any impact may be covered.

Cheap replacement screens are everywhere in Lagos, Nairobi and Karachi. They often have poor brightness, washed-out colour or unreliable touch, and an unknown screen makes the phone harder to resell later.

Callers can’t hear you on speakerphone

One owner in GSMArena’s reviews says everything else about the phone is fine except this. Before assuming the speaker is broken, rule out the simple stuff:

1. Brush the bottom speaker and microphone openings gently with a soft, dry toothbrush. Pocket lint is a common cause.
2. Take off the case and screen protector so nothing covers the mic or speaker.
3. Press volume up during a call. Call volume is separate from media volume.
4. In Settings › Sound & vibration, turn off sound effects that lower volume and try whatever audio enhancement your HiOS version offers.
5. Record a voice memo. If the recording is quiet, the problem is the microphone, not the speaker.
6. Restart and update.

If sound crackles, cuts out or stays quiet after cleaning, that’s a hardware fault for Carlcare.

Keeping it fast, and the battery healthy

Budget phones slow down as storage fills and apps pile up. Keep at least 10–15% of storage free by moving photos and videos to Google Photos or a computer. WhatsApp media is often the biggest hog; clear it inside WhatsApp under Settings › Storage and data › Manage storage. Uninstall or disable pre-installed apps you never use (Settings › Apps), restrict apps that run in the background, update apps from the Play Store and restart once a week.

The battery is one of the phone’s strengths. One GSMArena reviewer called it among the best they’d used. If drain suddenly gets worse, open Settings › Battery to see which apps used the most power, then update or uninstall anything with odd background use. Lower brightness and the screen-off timeout, and turn on power-saving mode for long days. Stick to the original charger and cable, because cheap chargers can slow charging and heat the battery.

A battery that swells, a back that lifts, or a phone that shuts off at 20–30% is a different situation. Stop charging it and take it to Carlcare.

Is the Spark 50 Pro worth switching to?

Owners comparing the two in GSMArena reviews describe similar performance, and some prefer the 50 Pro’s display. If your 40 Pro works well, there’s no urgent reason to upgrade. If the missing updates bother you, a newer model will usually be supported for longer.

Checking a used Spark 40 Pro before you pay

1. Dial *#06# to see both IMEIs. Our page on how to find an IMEI number shows other ways if the dialler won’t open.
2. Run a GSMA blacklist check. In Nigeria and Kenya, a blocked IMEI can stop the phone working on local networks.
3. Confirm the model with a manufacturer and model check and compare it with Settings › About phone.
4. Look up the Carlcare warranty status in the Carlcare app using the IMEI.
5. Run a free All-in-one Basic Info check, and read the Tecno, Infinix and itel check guide for brand-specific tips.
6. Look along the screen edges for hairline cracks, and make a speakerphone call before handing over cash.