TCL 30 XL Comprehensive Review of Specs Price Pros & Cons

Design and Build Quality

The TCL 30 XL features a modern design that blends practicality with a touch of elegance. Its dimensions of 172.2 x 77 x 9.1 mm make it comfortable to hold despite its large display size. Weighing in at 204.4 grams, it's a robust device yet retains a sleek profile. The build quality combines a glass front with a plastic frame and back, offering durability while keeping the device lightweight. The dark blue color variant adds a professional look, giving it a distinguished appearance.

Display

The 6.82-inch IPS LCD screen dominates the front of the TCL 30 XL, providing an expansive view ideal for multimedia consumption and gaming. With a resolution of 720 x 1640 pixels, the display delivers clear and vibrant images, although it doesn’t reach the pinnacle of pixel density with 263 ppi. The size-to-body ratio of approximately 83.3% ensures a more immersive viewing experience, while the IPS technology guarantees wide viewing angles and consistent color reproduction.

Performance

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Mediatek MT6762V Helio A25 chipset. This 12nm processor includes an octa-core CPU with a configuration of 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53. While it may not be the most powerful processor on the market, it is capable of handling day-to-day tasks efficiently. Accompanied by a PowerVR GE8320 GPU, the TCL 30 XL provides satisfactory graphics performance for casual gaming and video streaming. The 6GB RAM ensures smooth multitasking capabilities, allowing users to switch between applications with minimal lag.

Storage

The device comes with 64GB of internal storage, which is quite adequate for most users to store apps, photos, and media files. However, for those who require extra space, the TCL 30 XL supports microSDXC through a dedicated slot, offering flexibility to expand storage according to users’ needs.

Camera

The photography experience on the TCL 30 XL is defined by its quad-camera setup. The primary sensor is a 50 MP lens with an f/1.9 aperture. This wide lens with PDAF enhances detail capture and low-light performance. Additionally, a 5 MP ultra-wide lens with a 115° field of view enables users to take expansive shots, perfect for landscapes and group photos. The dual 2 MP lenses cater to macro and depth functionalities, allowing for creative close-ups and portrait shots with bokeh effects. Video capabilities are set at 1080p@30fps, a decent offering for capturing moments in HD.

On the front, a 13 MP wide selfie camera ensures good quality self-portraits and video calls, also supporting 1080p video recording at 30fps.

Battery Life

The TCL 30 XL is equipped with a Li-Ion 5000 mAh battery that is non-removable. This capacity provides ample power to last through a full day of heavy use without frequent recharging. Supporting 18W wired charging, it offers a reasonably quick way to top up the battery, ensuring minimal downtime.

Software

Operating on Android 12 with TCL's custom UI 3.0 layer, the user interface of the TCL 30 XL is intuitive and user-friendly. Android 12 introduces various new features such as enhanced privacy settings, dynamic theming, and improved notifications, making the experience fluid and seamless. TCL UI adds a few customization options and apps that enhance the overall functionality without excessively bloating the system.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Connectivity options on the TCL 30 XL include support for GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, making it versatile across different regions and networks. It features standard connectivity options such as WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and USB Type-C 2.0. While it does not support NFC, it accommodates dual speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack, catering to audio enthusiasts.

The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, along with accelerometer and proximity sensors, adds an extra layer of functionality and security, ensuring ease of access and usability.

Pricing and Availability

As of its announcement and subsequent release in June 2022, the TCL 30 XL was priced at around 150 EUR, making it an attractive option in the budget smartphone segment. Its availability may vary across different markets, but TCL's growing distribution network ensures that it is accessible to a wide range of potential buyers globally.

Conclusion

The TCL 30 XL presents itself as a solid choice for users seeking a large-screen device with reliable performance and comprehensive features without breaking the bank. Whether it's the expansive display, adequate processing power, versatile camera setup, or long-lasting battery, the TCL 30 XL caters to a wide audience looking for value for money. While it may lack some high-end features like NFC or an ultra-high-resolution display, these trade-offs are justified given its affordable price point. In summary, the TCL 30 XL stands as a testament to TCL’s commitment to delivering quality and functionality in the competitive smartphone market.