TCL 30 SE

“The TCL 30 SE is a highly affordable Android that offers a good camera and great battery for the price. But while its software and design also deserve some praise, it’s let down by subpar performance and poor update support.”

“For the money, the TCL 30 SE isn’t a terrible bet, but nor does it really do anything to distinguish itself from a whole host of similarly mediocre cheap phones. Just like the Moto G22, there are major reservations with the sharpness and quality of the display, the distractingly sluggish performance, and the severely limited camera system on offer here. On the positive side, TCL’s design work is distinctive in an area of the market that typically plays it safe. Meanwhile the main camera, while sorely lacking a dedicated Night mode, is capable of decent results in good lighting. The TCL 30 SE’s battery life, too, is good enough to get you through a day or two of usage, though that’s not unusual at this end of the market.”

“By this point we’ve already established that the TCL 30 SE is a budget device meant for buyers looking for an easily-accessible Android phone, that purely focuses on getting users through a day of the essentials. While elements like display resolution, camera, and overall performance speeds are lacking, tried-and-tested features such as expandable storage, a large battery, and even perks like face unlock are undoubtedly welcome at this price point. Of course, the TCL 30 SE doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and there are other phones that offer similar prices with a slight advantage in performance, but on its own it is a no-nonsense budget phone.”

“I do think the 30SE is worth its price tag, while there are cheaper phones out there, the performance delivered versus the cost of this unit is amazing – it works smoothly with no real ‘deal breaking’ issues, it takes great photos and is affordably priced. Overall it’s great value for money and you can pick one up at all the usual online and in-store retailers.”