We tested three cell phones under 180 dollars that offer good design and a good battery at a low price

Over the years, not only has the high-end evolved, but mid-range and low-cost mobile phones have become increasingly capable, allowing Spanish users to access better features than before. TCL is one of the companies that usually opts for this format.

This year, the Chinese company has launched several 50 series mobile phones, all for less than 180 dollars, and the truth is that they seem to be excellent alternatives for users who do not want to spend a lot of money. These are the TCL 505, 129 dollars, the TCL 50 SE, 149 dollars, and the TCL 5G, 169 dollarsall now available in Europe.

These are alternatives that can be quite attractive at this price, especially for users who use their smartphone less. At EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre we have tested all these devices, and the truth is that although they are similar, There are some differences that make it a better option than the others..

Similar design

These are three mobile phones that belong to the same family of devices, which means that although they have some differences, they are similar in some aspects. One of them is the placement of the rear camera module, which In all three cases, it is at the top left of smartphones, and in each of them it is separated into two different rows.

The button panel also shares space on all three devices, being located on the right side, and the same thing happens with speakers and 3.5mm jackwhich is located at the bottom of the phones. For the front camera, the brand decided to place it in a hole in the screen located in the center of the upper edge of two of the models. From our point of view, a success.

From the TCL 505 onwards, it has a completely flat back, except for the photographic module. Its finishes are glossy, so, at least in dark colors, fingerprints will be slightly marked. On the plus side, the edges are the same color as the back, which gives it an aesthetic that is pleasing to the eye. This is the only one that, instead of a hole in the screen, has a notch

To easily differentiate itself, the TCL 50 SE mixes the finish of its two brothers, with a strip in a glossy finish and another strip in a matte finish. These align perfectly with that of the camera, which gives it a very interesting look.

Finally, the TCL 50, which leads this series, stands out because Its back is finished in mattecompletely. This makes it softer to the touch, but the good news is that it is not soft enough to peel off easily. The edges are also completely flat, following the current trend.

In this case, the camera module has two circumferences, one for the main camera and another for the secondary cameras and the LED Flash. This small module has a glossy finishwhich distinguishes it and gives it a certain contrast.

Screen

As for the panels, all three have different sizes, but none of them are compact. They are all a good size for consuming multimedia content, playing games or even browsing documents. What they share is technology, since All panels feature IPS LCD technologyso no one will be able to use functions such as active screen.

The TCL 50 SE is the most multimedia-oriented model, not only because it has the the largest size, at 6.78 inchesbut also for the presence of a dual stereo speaker compatible with DTS and offering greater volume and better sound quality, which makes it ideal for this purpose.

The resolution of all its panels is HD+, which is insufficient in some cases, but at least allows to extend the autonomy of mobile phones. The positive point is that all have a 90Hz refresh rate which will provide a great feeling of fluidity when moving around the interface.

On its part, the TCL 50 5G has the smallest size of the three, at 6.56 inches, making it the most comfortable in the pocket. The TCL 505, on the other hand, has a 6.75-inch panel. Of course, it has the fewest features of the three TCL devices.

Different power levels

It wouldn’t make sense for these three devices to share a processor, given how much they have in common, which is why each model has a different one. Starting with the TCL 505, the least powerful of all, it has a MediaTek Helio G35 with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. It is modest and can perform many daily tasks without too many problems. In heavy tasks and games it suffers a little more, making it the ideal choice for basic users, who want the mobile phone, essentially, to call and browse the Internet.

For its part, the TCL 50 SE goes up a notch in this sense by integrating the MediaTek Helio G88, which is a little more powerful than the previous model. It is capable of providing better performance in many situations and you will be able to move more games. This model is accompanied by 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, enough amounts to last for years at a good level. However, there are different models for each of them.

The most powerful model is the TCL 50 5G, which integrates a CPU compatible with this connection. Specifically, This is the MediaTek Dimensity 6100a model launched last year and aimed at affordable mid-range devices, but which maintains quite decent performance. If there is something in which all three stand out, it is the battery, since they have 5,010 mAh, with which they will be able to last more than the whole day.

Given their reasonable price, it is obvious that these are not devices designed to offer the same performance as a gaming mobile, but rather smartphones designed to go beyond basic use, but not too much either. The TCL 505, being the most modest, was able to move quite a few base games in a decent way, although with time and the greater number of open applications it can seem a little slower. However, if you are looking for performance that can last longer, it is better to opt for the model with 5G.

Photographic section

As for the cameras, these devices share the same resolution in their main sensor, since in all three cases it is 50 Mpx, however, the good performance of a camera goes beyond the number of megapixels, and this is a fairly clear case.

Starting with the cheapest model, the TCL 505, it has a 2MP secondary sensor dedicated to improving portrait modewhile its selfie camera is 5MP. It’s enough to take illustrative photos to send to family and friends, but it doesn’t go much further.

The middle model of the three, the TCL 50 SE, also has another 2MP sensor, but in this case it is a macro thanks to which The images can be taken from very close upalthough due to its low resolution it is not very attractive. In this case, its selfie camera goes up to 8 Mpx, and the improvement is notable.

In photos taken with its rear camera, the phone improves on its sibling, capturing a little more light and offering a little more detail. In addition, the camera app works a little better. However, it still sins by oversaturating the images and using too much sharpening in the processing, which gives some shots an artificial look.

Finally, the TCL 50 5G, which has a main sensor from Samsung, also integrates a 8MP wide-angle secondary sensorwhich will allow us to cover more from the same space, ideal for taking pictures of buildings.

In this case, it is more beautiful than its brothers, with a better capture of details in certain specific situations. However, there are Tomás in which there is also a bit of abuse of artificial increase in sharpness, although this is less evident than in other models. It is a somewhat better photographic section, but it does not stand out either.

Like the rest of its features, they go from least to most, so you have to evaluate the importance given to this section before deciding on one of the three. Without a doubt, the one that offers the best performance is the 5G version, and its wide-angle sensor gives it a little more versatility than the others.

Which one should I buy?

These three smartphones are the most competent alternatives in their price ranges, but it should be kept in mind that these are fairly basic devices, especially the TCL 505, which is the cheapest of all and there are times when you can find them in stores like Amazon for less than 100 dollars. Although the device does not stand out for its screen, power or camera, it is undeniable that it is an excellent option if you are looking to reduce the price as much as possible.

The design of all three devices follows a similar pattern, making them easily identifiable, and the fact that each has a different amount of each material on its back doesn’t make it difficult to tell them apart.

The TCL 50SE is a better option for people who, even with basic usage, are looking for a little more power for their daily tasks. As for the camera, it also improves slightly with the inclusion of an 8MP sensor for the front camera. The most recommended of the three, especially due to the presence of 5G connectivity, is the TCL 50 5G. It has the best processor and the best camera, and on top of that, its hardware will allow it to stand the test of time better than its brothers.