Execs

• Respectable digicam for the value
• Gentle Android pores and skin
• Matte design

Cons

• No main Android updates
• Sluggish efficiency
• Two years of safety updates

The $180 TCL 40 X 5G can be certainly one of my favourite funds telephones in 2023 if it solely was set to obtain any software program upgrades. I loved my two weeks utilizing the telephone, and its Black Friday price of $126 would possibly make it a great deal for somebody who simply needs a telephone for a yr or two. However that is additionally its greatest downside.

The TCL 40 X 5G will not obtain any main software program updates, so when Google updates its Android working system, this telephone will keep on an in any other case useful model of Android 13. It’ll get two years of safety updates, which can maintain it protected against vulnerabilities. That is particularly notable when put next with the 2 years of software program updates and 5 years of safety updates supplied for the $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, which the TCL 40 X 5G in any other case matches as much as in lots of areas.

However in the event you’re OK with this telephone’s quick lifespan, there’s quite a bit to love about utilizing the TCL 40 X 5G. Its 50-megapixel foremost digicam takes good pictures in a wide range of mild situations for the value, whether or not it was on Manhattan streets or within the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork. Its 6.5-inch 720-pixel display screen runs at a 90Hz refresh charge making animations and scrolling look easy. It additionally consists of TCL’s NxtVision HDR characteristic, which gives a slight shade enhance when viewing movies or enjoying video games. Its 5,000-mAh battery usually lasts me a few day and a half with typical use. And whereas its 4GB of reminiscence and sluggish Mediatek Dimensity 700 do not allow a lot multitasking, it is in any other case dealt with my texting, video calls, music enjoying, information studying and video games.

Learn extra: Best Cheap Phones of 2023

All instructed, it might be a great choice in the event you want a telephone proper now — however that does not justify the restricted software program help when comparably priced telephones promise extra. The TCL 40 X 5G is just obtainable within the US market, however related TCL 40 series phones can be found internationally. The 40 X’s value converts roughly to £145 or AU$275.

TCL 40 X 5G design, efficiency

The TCL 40 X 5G is available in starlight black, which is a matte end, with a noticeable line sample on the again of the telephone. It provides a businesslike look to the handset, despite the fact that the telephone’s physique is in any other case made out of plastic. The telephone makes use of a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for unlocking and has a headphone jack. There is a single audio speaker on the underside, which was loud once I performed music, however it sounded tinny. 

Whereas headphones helped enhance that sound high quality, the display screen is usually muted when it comes to shade depth. I perceive having a lower-resolution 720p show at this value, however since TCL touts its NxtVision characteristic for higher colours, I anticipated barely extra pop once I swapped from studying an article to watching movies. 

When watching Netflix’s Surviving Paradise as an example, the colours of the present’s villa decor and ocean views seemed misplaced on the TCL 40 X’s display screen even once I had NxtVision turned on. The characteristic is meant to assist differentiate shade temperature like once I’m studying versus watching a TV present, however it did not make any miracles occur on the 720p show.

The telephone consists of 64GB of storage — which could really feel small relying on how a lot you utilize the digicam — although it may be expanded as much as 1TB with a microSD card. The 4GB of reminiscence feels insufficient, although the telephone tries to profit from it by displaying you the way a lot is obtainable on the multitasking menu. It was capable of deal with my standard multitasking regiment of listening to music whereas studying the information and texting. But when I threw a recreation or Duolingo into that blend, my net browser app wanted to reload no matter I used to be studying.

The TCL 40 X 5G’s Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor is identical one discovered within the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G and might deal with most straightforward duties — albeit with some sluggishness. I by no means felt like I used to be ready for the TCL telephone to load an app, and its 5G compatibility allowed me to obtain a recreation throughout my commute inside minutes. 

The telephone helps an 18-watt wired charging velocity. In my 30-minute charging take a look at, the TCL 40 X 5G was recharged from 15% to 45%. That is sufficient to get via a day, as a 100% cost would usually took me a few day and a half to run all the way down to 20%.

TCL 40 X 5G cameras

The TCL 40 X 5G’s 50-megapixel foremost digicam is accompanied by a 2-megapixel macro digicam and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The digicam, particularly for a $180 telephone, performs nicely sufficient, although it lacks any telephoto or ultrawide functionality. I took it on a day journey to the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork, the place I took some good avenue pictures alongside some displays indoors. Not one of the pictures are significantly detail-rich, however even in crowded settings movement blur was minimal.

To check out the TCL 40 X 5G in a darker setting, I took it to Vers in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, and whereas the digicam did not brighten up particularly darkish areas it nonetheless illuminated the setting and my horchata cocktail.

There’s additionally a 50-megapixel digicam mode, which multiplies the file dimension of the photograph to accommodate. My comparability pictures throughout a nighttime stroll in Tampa are beneath. Whereas I can see among the extra enhanced particulars, I do not assume the distinction is sort of well worth the file dimension enhance — on this case a 9.3MB photograph versus a 3.8MB photograph, particularly when there’s solely 64GB of onboard storage.

I do discover the TCL’s pictures to seize roughly the identical high quality because the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. This consists of selfies, with each telephones taking fuzzy front-facing digicam pictures. The TCL telephone has an 8-megapixel front-facing digicam whereas the Galaxy A14 5G has a 13-megapixel digicam.

The TCL telephone’s video high quality is OK, recording at 1,080p decision at 30 frames a second. Just like the pictures, it isn’t significantly detail-rich however it’s useful for capturing a scene.

TCL 40 X 5G backside line

The $180 TCL 40 X 5G is a succesful telephone that largely stands as much as my favourite present pick under $200, the $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. When wanting on the telephones at their full retail value, the $20 distinction does purchase a variety of significant advantages. Samsung’s telephone consists of contactless fee help, two years of software program updates and 5 years of safety updates.

Nevertheless, at TCL’s $126 Black Friday value, I might see the telephone being a tempting deal so long as you perceive that it will not be viable to make use of after safety help ends in two years. You may even be lacking out on Android 14, which is already arriving to telephones which might be receiving main software program updates.

So in the event you go together with the deal, simply know that this is not a telephone you ought to be holding onto for a very long time. But when the TCL 40 X is not drastically discounted, I might contemplate related telephones that may get extra years of help just like the Galaxy A14 5G.

Learn extra: Is It Safe to Use an Old or Used Phone? Here’s What You Should Know

How we take a look at telephones

Every phone tested by CNET’s reviews team was really utilized in the true world. We take a look at a telephone’s options, play video games, and take pictures. We look at the show to see if it is vibrant, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and construct to see how it’s to carry and whether or not it has an IP-rating for water-resistance. We push the processor’s efficiency to the extremes, utilizing standardized benchmark instruments like GeekBench and 3DMark in addition to our personal anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution movies and enjoying graphically intense video games at excessive refresh charges.

All of the cameras are examined in a wide range of situations, from vibrant daylight to darkish indoor scenes. We check out particular options like evening mode and portrait mode and evaluate our findings towards equally priced competing telephones. We additionally take a look at the battery life by utilizing the telephone every day in addition to working a sequence of battery drain exams.

We have in mind further options, like help for 5G; satellite tv for pc connectivity; fingerprint and face sensors; stylus help; quick charging speeds; and foldable shows, amongst others that may be helpful. And we steadiness all this towards the value to provide the verdict on whether or not that telephone, no matter value it’s, really represents good worth. Although these exams could not at all times be mirrored in CNET’s preliminary evaluation, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.