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There is a bad screen, skimpy storage, lackluster camera, and a version ofAndroid that is nearly two years behind the rest. It is a slightly worse version of the A13 5G that only works on T- Mobile. It is the best phone you can buy for $200.
The day-to-day performance of the 30 XE 5G is not as good as I thought it would be. That is a good price to pay for 5G service on T- Mobile. The 30XE does what a good budget phone should: it works. It is the best you can get on T-Mobile if you want 5G and need to keep costs low. There is a better option if you are eligible for one of the phone offers.
Even though it's a budget phone, the TCL 30 XE uses a low-end processor and RAM. It's easy to jump from one app to another. There are occasional but noticeable hesitations here and there. I don't notice the 30XE getting in my way as I scroll and type. The phone has a low amount of built-in storage, so spend an extra $25 for a microSD card.
The battery life is good. Overall, the 30 XE is a fairly power- efficient device. Light users who spend most of their time on the internet will get good performance, even on a single charge. I would only expect it to last a single day.
The low-resolution screen is likely to have a negative effect on the battery's lifespan. The 30 XE has a 6.52-inch screen, which would be fine if you were looking for a phone with anOLED screen, but it isn't and it's a bad screen. It is only 720p resolution, which is not enough for a screen of this size. The icons and images look rough. It isn't very bright. On a cloudy day, the automatic brightness was sent to 100 percent to keep the screen clear.
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The 90Hz refresh rate is more smooth than the 60Hz. It makes the phone feel more responsive. I would rather have a screen with a standard refresh rate than a low-res one.
Most of the pre-downloaded T-Mobile apps can be removed from the 30 XE, which is a carrier lock. That was not the case with the TCL 30 V 5G. T-Mobile has a very good mid-band Ultra Capacity 5G network, which is included on all of the carrier's 5G plans, but it is not included on the 30XE.
The 30 XE ships with an outdated version of the operating system, which is why it's behind the times. The phone will get an update, but it isn't clear when. Two years of security updates are promised for the 30 XE. It isn't completely unexpected for a $200 phone.
The 30 XE 5G has a triple rear camera system according to the manufacturer. There are three cameras: a main camera, a depth camera, and amacro camera. The only purpose of the depth camera is to give more information for portrait mode, and the macro camera is mediocre.
TCL claims the 30 XE has a “triple rear camera system,” but that’s being a little generous
The main rear camera and front facing camera do enough to get a passing grade. They produce bright colors in bright light. The native camera app doesn't have any filters that Tone this down very much, so you'll have to either prefer or make peace with it. There are weird-looking results in mixed lighting due to this.
Low light and dim indoor lighting make it difficult to take a picture. A combination of the above causes shots to be blurry. You can get usable shots of static subjects, but don't forget about pets and kids, because moving subjects in low light are a challenge for even the best smartphones cameras. The quality of the video is not great.
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It gets out of your way for the majority of the time, and that's what a budget phone should do. If you want to live your life with as little frustration as possible from your mobile device, a phone at this price is a great option. You have other options if you want to get more from your phone.
The 30 XE 5G has the same processor, RAM, and storage as the A13 5G, but it has a smaller screen. It's a bit more expensive, but it has a bigger battery and a better camera. It means a little more pre-downloads and a little more space for things to go wrong. It is also an option from T-Mobile if you buy it on a contract. If my upgrade was at stake, I would go for the South Korean electronics company.
If T-Mobile is going to give out free phones, then it is even better. It has an excellent screen and fast charging. It is in a different price range if you are paying for it on a piece of paper.
If you can leave 5G and buy an unlocked phone, the unlocked Moto G Stylus is a good choice. There will be an additional year of security updates. It is still quite a bit pricier with a $299 price tag, but it is usually marked down to $250 at the time of writing.
The TCL 30 XE 5G is a budget phone that will get you through your day without much hassle. If you want to keep costs low, it is a good option. You can do better if you sign a wireless contract.
Allison Johnson is a photographer.
Every smart device has a set of terms and conditions that you have to agree to before you can use it. It is not possible for us to read and analyze all of them. We started counting the number of times you have to agree to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people can't negotiate.
You must agree to use it.
You will need to agree to the following in order to create a new account.
If you don't use the assistant, you can skip the two optional agreements.
Some carrier specific agreements are included in this locked phone.
You have to accept and read among the last steps.
You have to accept seven agreements in order to set up the TCL 30 XE 5G.
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