TCL 30 SE review

TCL should be most well-known for its TVs however the Chinese language producer has been producing smartphones beneath its personal model since 2020. Its units reside on the cheaper finish of the Android spectrum, with its 30 sequence of telephones for 2022 all comfortably coming in at beneath £250 (or €300).

This contains the TCL 30 SE, which is the second-cheapest within the 30 sequence after the TCL 30 E (and earlier than the TCL 30, 30+ and 30 5G). At £139.99, it affords a high-stamina 5000mAh battery, an enormous 6.52in LCD show, and an ostensibly highly effective 50Mp major digicam lens.

Is it cellphone for the worth? The reply is sure, however with a good few caveats. On this evaluate we look at the TCL 30 SE’s design and efficiency, and think about the way it compares to different Android telephones in its value vary.

Design & Construct

• Squared-edged design
• Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor
• No IP score
• Plastic body and again

The TCL 30 SE is a presentable sufficient cellphone so far as low-cost Androids go, even when it isn’t astounding. Its 6.52in show includes a teardrop selfie digicam at top-centre with comparatively slim bezels on the perimeters and high, however a little bit thicker on the backside.

There’s a tidy digicam module within the top-left rear nook, the place the cellphone’s three rear lenses are arrayed in an unfussy vertical line. There’s additionally a fingerprint sensor panel on the again of the cellphone, which punctuates the system’s shiny plastic.

Sure, though the 30 SE’s body and rear are made of cheap plastic, the fabric does have a glassy sheen to it, making it look a little bit extra premium than it truly is. The colors on supply – House Grey (reviewed), Atlantic Blue, and Glacial Blue – even have a sexy subtlety, offering character with out being too strident or garish.

The plastic additionally would possibly make the cellphone extra sturdy than units product of glass, insofar because it received’t crack or shatter if dropped. That stated, the cellphone lacks an official IP score, so customers must be cautious with it round water and dirt.

Display & Audio system

• 6.52in IPS LCD panel
• HD+ decision, 1600 x 720 pixels
• Stereo audio system

The TCL 30 SE homes a 6.52in IPS LCD show with a decision 1600 x 720 pixels. This provides it a 20:9 ratio and a pixel per-inch density of 269, which isn’t particularly excessive, however works nicely sufficient for shopping web sites and viewing images. Alternatively, regardless of qualifying as a HD display screen the IPS LCD panel doesn’t lead to high video high quality.

Simon Chandler / Foundry

For example, the sides of objects in movies or TV exhibits aren’t fairly as easy or clearly outlined as these you’ll see when watching one thing on a pricier various. Comparable applies when enjoying video games, though the standard is mostly adequate, regardless of there being a noticeable distinction between the 30 SE’s display screen and people of extra premium telephones

Brightness can also be fairly good, with the cellphone posting a mean of 450 nits. I’ve, nevertheless, caught myself needing to up the brightness degree on a few events when watching one thing, though turning on the adaptive brightness characteristic does assist enhance issues.

There are a few audio system on the backside of the cellphone, providing stereo sound that’s greater than ample for watching movies and TV. That stated, anybody hoping to hearken to music on their cellphone without having earphones could also be dissatisfied, since audio high quality shouldn’t be nice when the amount is pushed past midway.

Simon Chandler / Foundry

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB or 128GB of storage (expandable as much as 512GB)

The TCL 30 SE’s specs are decidedly humble, which is maybe not shocking for a cellphone formally priced at £140. It’s handled to a MediaTek MT6762G Helio G25, which in distinction to chips now benefitting from a extra environment friendly 7nm or 5nm manufacturing course of, makes use of a 12 nm one. This principally signifies that fewer transistors may be fitted into it, which in flip means it really works extra slowly than extra highly effective processors.

Mixed with solely 4GB of RAM, the Helio G25 is a sluggish performer. Apps and web sites can typically take longer than common to load, whereas extra graphically demanding video video games undergo from distinct lag. The cellphone is actually usable for extra informal and older video games, but when gaming is the principle factor you need to do with the system, you should purchase one thing extra succesful.

Storage can also be fairly modest, with the 30 SE’s base mannequin having solely 64GB of inner reminiscence. This may be upgraded to 128GB, and whereas the latter mannequin must be costlier, yow will discover it for roughly the identical value because the 64GB model in case you store round sufficient. Both means, all variations of the cellphone include a microSD card slot, letting customers improve to 512GB of storage.

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MicroSD card slots are at all times welcome, however there’s no denying that the TCL 30 SE isn’t the quickest Android cellphone on the market. That is confirmed by its benchmarks, that are principally decrease than these posted by related telephones on this value bracket such because the Redmi Be aware 11 and Realme 9i.

Cameras

• 50Mp f/1.9 major digicam
• 2Mp f/2.4 macro
• 2Mp f/2.4 depth
• 8Mp f/2.0 entrance digicam

The TCL 30 SE’s digicam might be its major promoting level. The cellphone includes a triple-lens rear setup, with a 50Mp major lens doing the lion’s share of labor. The 2Mp depth and macro lenses supply a little bit selection.

The absence of an ultrawide lens on the 30 SE is disappointing, particularly when such lenses have gotten more and more frequent. Nonetheless, price range smartphones not often boast respectable ultrawide cameras, so leaving out this lens frees up TCL to supply a greater major digicam expertise.

Positive, the 30 SE isn’t the perfect digicam cellphone anybody goes to come across this 12 months, but it surely’s surprisingly efficient for a tool in its value vary. Its major lens permits pics with good dynamic vary and stability of colors, with sufficient element and readability for many functions.

In line with the dearth of an ultrawide and telephoto lens, there are few additional options added to the TCL 30 SE’s setup, with optical picture stabilisation additionally lacking from the equation. That stated, it does supply phase-detection autofocus (PDAF), which means you may typically simply level the cellphone at your supposed goal, hold it regular for a second, and hearth away.

Given the inclusion of a 2Mp macro lens there’s additionally a Tremendous Macro mode. This takes some very good closeups in the appropriate setting, with textures popping out strongly and using AI software program smarts means the cellphone can recognise the kind of object you’re capturing (assuming it’s an ‘archetypal’ object, akin to a plant or tree).

The cellphone fares variably nicely with less-than very best environments. There’s no devoted night time mode, though the auto mode will make use of the cellphone’s flash to make sure that low-light conditions are portrayed in (principally) adequate element. Alternatively, I had a couple of nighttime photos the place the flash and processing resulted in some objects (within the background) being both blackened or whitened out.

The TCL 30 SE’s video capabilities are fairly rudimentary. The very best it could supply is 1080p video at 30 frames per second. That is fairly normal for a cellphone costing beneath £150, with the Moto G22 and Realme C35 additionally going solely as far as 1080p at 30fps.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 14W quick charging
• 100% cost in 3 hours

Massive batteries on inexpensive telephones have develop into fairly frequent and the TCL 30 SE doesn’t disappoint on this space. Its 5000mAh battery is definitely able to surviving nicely over a day beneath heavier use, and might even make it into a 3rd day in case you use it just for the fundamentals.

Its longevity is helped by the actual fact the cellphone doesn’t assist a sooner refresh charge or some other perks that may drain it extra quickly, so you may actually get your cash’s price when it comes to every day utilization in case you don’t go loopy with it.

It is a superb factor, since the perfect the cellphone can supply when it comes to charging is 15W ‘quick charging.’ In fact, 15W isn’t quick anymore, and in my expertise the 30 SE took simply over two hours to recharge from beneath 10% to 100%.

Software program & Apps

• Android 12
• TCL UI 4.0
• Person-friendly interface

Utilizing Android 12 as its core OS with TCL UI 4.0 operating excessive, the TCL 30 SE affords a user-friendly tackle inventory Android. This features a few good touches that make the cellphone simpler to navigate, such because the app drawer on the backside of the display screen being organised by default in response to class of app.

Simon Chandler / Foundry

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There’s additionally a handy sidebar (aka the Edge Bar), which is swipeable from the appropriate of the display screen. It allows you to add a number of key apps, contacts and capabilities for fast entry (it even has a digital ruler, in case that you must measure something in a rush).

Likewise, usability is enhanced by a variety of gestures that may be employed to carry out a couple of capabilities extra rapidly, akin to swiping down with three fingers so as to take a screenshot.

One slight draw back is that there isn’t a lot scope for customisation, however this arguably enhances the simplicity of the software program. Yet another unavoidable draw back, nevertheless, is that the software program can appear considerably sluggish at occasions, one thing which is basically the product of getting a less-than highly effective processor on board.

A fair larger draw back is that TCL has solely dedicated to 1 core software program replace, in addition to two years of safety updates. That is positively an personal purpose for TCL.

Worth & Availability

The TCL 30 SE is now out there within the UK and Europe, with costs beginning at £139 within the UK for the mannequin with solely 64GB of inner reminiscence. You should buy it from Carphone Warehouse, Argos, Amazon, Very, and Currys.

Amazon France has it for 159€ whereas Amazon Spain has it for 129€. It’s additionally out there in a choose variety of different international locations and areas, together with India.

Standout rivals in its under-£200 value vary embrace the Moto G22 (£149), Realme C35 (£149), Poco M4 Professional (£189), Redmi Be aware 11 (£179), and Samsung Galaxy A13 (£179). Every of those has its personal strengths and weaknesses, with customers in search of extra energy probably being higher off investigating the Be aware 11 or Galaxy A13.

Verdict

For the worth, the TCL 30 SE is a good smartphone, even when it has a couple of cons that stop it from being a very nice inexpensive cellular.

Its digicam could be very serviceable whereas its battery will hold you going for a few days in case you don’t use the cellphone an excessive amount of. Different plus factors embrace its clear design and easy, easy-to-use software program.

That stated, its efficiency leaves loads to be desired, as does its charging speeds, whereas the truth that it solely affords one core software program replace could flip a couple of folks off.

Specs

• Android 12 with TCL UI 4.0;
• 6.52in HD+ (1600×720) 20:9 IPS LCD, 90Hz;
• MediaTek MT6762G Helio G25 processor;
• 4GB RAM;
• 64/128GB inner storage;
• microSD card slot (upgradeable to 512GB);
• 50Mp, f/1.9, PDAF rear digicam;
• 2Mp macro, f/2.4;
• 2Mp depth, f/2.4;
• 8Mp, f/2.0 entrance digicam;
• Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner;
• 2D Face Recognition;
• 11ac dual-band Wi-Fi;
• Bluetooth 5.0;
• GPS;
• NFC;
• 4G;
• Headphone jack;
• USB-C;
• 5000mAh non-removable battery;
• 15W quick charging;
• 165.2×75.5×8.9 mm;
• 190g