TCL 30 XE 5G and TCL 30 5G Review

That isn’t to say there isn’t some power under the hood of the TCL 30 phones – just not as much power as with some other phones. Ultimately, that isn’t what TCL wants for their devices. They are looking to create budget level phones that more than meet the needs of the people using them. The more I speak with friends and family about their cell phone needs, the more I realize they are spending 100s of dollars more on phones with specifications they don’t need, and probably would be more than happy with a TCL phone.

At the most basic, the TCL phone does everything you want a phone to do. You can text, make calls, load up your favourite social media apps, and even access a few key websites. You can load your Gmail with ease, and do so much more. For basic phone users, there is a lot here to love.

I could go over the various specifications of the phone, tell you what the processor is, and all that jazz. That being said, for the consumer purchasing this phone, none of that information will matter. So let’s focus in on the things people do want to know about.

Because of a slower processor, the likelihood of playing a lot of games on your phone is probably minimal. All told, I was able to manage nearly 36 hours of phone use before requiring a charge.

During that time I made calls, texted with my wife and close friends, scrolled through social media for a few hours, watched an episode of Downton Abbey on Netflix, and wrote dozens upon dozens of emails. 36 hours is pretty impressive. That’s was really great, but I wanted to test it further. How long would the phone last on a charge WITHOUT using it except for the odd call or text?

After 2.5 days, I gave up with the test and plugged it in, but I bet I could have gotten over 3 days!

And for those looking to play the odd game, the phone can hold up. You won’t be playing demanding games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and the like. I was able to load up a few puzzle games, including Disney’s Emoji Blitz. I was able to play Rollercoaster Tycoon as well, with very little hiccups or issues.

Where the phone might prove to be a bit of a disappointment is how many applications can be kept open in the background. On my iPhone 10, I can have a dozen or more applications open and swap between them with relative ease. Unfortunately, the processing power of the TCL 30 just isn’t quite enough to keep multiple of your favourite apps open and easily accessible. It isn’t the biggest issue when you factor in the price of the device, but one worth noting for those that love to multitask.

Still, at the end of the day, the TCL 30 5G is a great phone for the majority of people. While many might overlook it because it doesn’t have a giant Apple on the back, or come from two of the biggest tech companies in the entire world, it would be a mistake to do so.

When it comes to an entry level phone – whether for someone who doesn’t use a phone often, for an elderly friend or family member, or just someone who wants to try something new – the TCL lineup is great. The camera on the 30 5G is more than good enough for those looking to snap the odd picture or grab a quick video to remember a moment. Couple that with a great battery and more than acceptable processing power, and you have a fantastic device!