If you end up head to head with the TCL 30 V 5G, likelihood is you’re at a Verizon retailer or on Verizon’s web site considering its prospects as a “free” cellphone. Free is good! But free might even be too steep for the 30 V 5G.

The 30 V 5G’s full retail value, which few individuals will choose to pay upfront, is $299. That will get you a pleasant, huge full HD show, a wholesome 128GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, and a 4,500mAh battery that simply lasts over a day. Those specs are simply advantageous — even good for a finances cellphone the place lower-res 720p screens and paltry 64GB of storage aren’t unusual.

But I’ve one main gripe with the 30 V 5G: laggy efficiency in nearly each facet of utilizing this cellphone, from scrolling by means of menu screens to streaming video. On paper, the cellphone has the parts to carry out effectively sufficient, however the day-to-day use tells a special story. Life doesn’t have to be this manner, even when the cellphone is free.

One of TCL’s key promoting factors for the 30 V 5G is its display and the NXTVISION picture processing behind it. TCL says this AI-driven characteristic enhances coloration and distinction within the media you view in your cellphone and that it may convert customary definition content material to “HDR quality.” In actuality, the distinction in picture high quality with NXTVISION on or off may be laborious to identify. Streaming Chernobyl on the HBO Max app, I used to be means too distracted by the frequent framerate drops to care if what I used to be seeing was SDR or HDR.

The display itself is okay; it’s a 6.6-inch 1080p LCD that will get brilliant sufficient to make use of comfortably in sunny situations. It’s an enormous show with sufficient decision to maintain issues wanting sharp, which is nice in a $300 cellphone. But even at this value level, different producers are including options like increased refresh charges or contrast-rich OLEDs fairly than LCD panels. These aren’t essentially must-haves, however they’re extra compelling than NXTVISION.

The Snapdragon 480 5G utilized by the 30 V 5G is coupled with 4GB of RAM. This is definitely not the worst processor / reminiscence mixture within the finances class, however, for no matter purpose, it makes for noticeably sluggish efficiency on this machine. Apps shut within the background usually sufficient to harass me, and there’s noticeable stuttering when scrolling by means of app screens, knocking down the notification shade, and even enjoying video.

Battery life is a brilliant spot on the TCL 30 V 5G’s report card. I managed to eke out two days of light-to-moderate use on a single cost. With extra constant average or heavy use, that type of longevity can be a problem, however it might possible stand as much as a full day of even heavy use. There’s additionally a wall charger included within the field, which is more and more uncommon nowadays. There’s no wi-fi charging, which isn’t too frequent within the finances class, although not unparalleled.

The TCL 30 V 5G’s rear-panel fingerprint sensor is fast and dependable, and facial recognition additionally works effectively. I’m much less happy with the weak haptics. I’ll usually hear the cellphone buzzing with out actually feeling it vibrate in my pocket. There’s additionally no choice to regulate the power of the vibrations.

On the intense facet, you do get all flavors of Verizon 5G, together with C-band, which is considerably quicker than 4G with a wide-ranging sign. You additionally get millimeter wave (mmWave), which could be very quick however scarce. Verizon lumps these two quicker forms of 5G collectively and calls it Ultra Wideband, and also you’ll wish to examine in case your cellphone plan contains it — some solely provide entry to the C-bandless Nationwide 5G, which isn’t actually quicker than 4G. If your plan doesn’t embody Ultra Wideband and also you’d fairly not improve to 1 that does, then you definitely is perhaps simply advantageous with a 4G-only cellphone for now.

One of my least favourite issues about this cellphone actually isn’t TCL’s fault — it’s Verizon’s. Since it’s a carrier-locked cellphone, Verizon has taken the chance to load it up with all types of proprietary cloud storage and name filtering apps along with a bunch of pre-downloaded video games like Game of Thrones Slots Casino (why?). Some of them, like Word Trip and CrossWord Jam may be uninstalled, which suggests organising the cellphone is a bit more time-consuming, however the Verizon apps can’t be uninstalled, and that may be a actual ache.

None of that is shocking or uncommon on a carrier-specific machine, however Verizon takes it so far as setting its personal Message Plus because the default SMS app. Google Messages isn’t even pre-downloaded on the cellphone, however Apple Music is as a result of Verizon needs you to join a six-month free trial by means of your cellphone plan after which preserve paying for the service once you neglect about it after that. Apple Music! On this Android cellphone!

Another software program observe: the 30 V 5G is pre-loaded with Android 11. There’s no replace to Android 12 out there proper now, and TCL hasn’t confirmed whether or not it can even get one. The firm additionally hasn’t confirmed how lengthy it can help this machine with safety updates, however two years has been the usual for the corporate in current historical past.

I seen a bizarre quirk with Google Maps, too: when operating navigation with the display turned off and the cellphone locked, it drops the GPS sign. Most affordable individuals most likely use Google Maps with the display on and their cellphone in a cradle or utilizing their automotive’s touchscreen. Me, I wish to play it quick and free — punch in my vacation spot, begin navigation, lock my cellphone, and depart it on the seat subsequent to me with nothing however good vibes and my digital co-pilot’s voice to information me. This is the primary cellphone I’ve encountered that gained’t work like this, and it’s a little bit odd. Strava does keep a GPS sign with the cellphone locked, so this appears to be a Google Maps subject.

There are three rear cameras on the 30 V 5G: a 50-megapixel f/1.9 broad angle, a 5-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 2-megapixel macro. Around entrance, there’s a 16-megapixel selfie digital camera. Photos in good mild from all of those cameras look advantageous, if a little bit oversharpened.

The fundamental digital camera is a little bit squirrely (that’s the technical time period) about selecting publicity. Often, I’d transfer the digital camera simply the slightest between photographs and find yourself with a noticeably darker or lighter picture although the subject material hadn’t modified materially. I typically like the alternatives the cellphone makes for publicity and coloration, but it surely typically takes a number of photographs to get to the correct reply.

Grid View

The 30 V 5G struggles in low mild however no extra so than every other finances cellphone. It’s probably not lower out for photographing shifting topics in low mild. Shutter speeds are sometimes too gradual, so topics seem blurry and smoothed over from noise discount, which isn’t a very good look. In very dim situations, an evening mode will kick in, and it does a advantageous job with topics that aren’t shifting.

Video decision is capped at 1080 / 30p, so there’s no 4K, which is turning into extra frequent in telephones in any respect value factors. Video high quality is okay, however the lack of any digital picture stabilization could be very noticeable, and there’s loads of distracting digital camera shake in my video clips.

The TCL 30 V 5G isn’t a dangerous cellphone. It does nearly every thing I would like it to do: make calls, run apps, take photos, and wake me up within the morning. It’s simply not excellent, and there are sufficient higher choices at this value level that it’s very laborious to advocate it to anybody. TCL is well-known for its good high quality TVs at nice costs. Maybe the corporate remains to be within the technique of determining what that value / high quality equation appears like for telephones.

As it stands now, issues aren’t including up. The display is sweet, but it surely’s laborious to take pleasure in when it’s hampered by uneven efficiency. It helps the 5G bands that matter, however your cellphone plan may not even embody them. The interface is cluttered with pre-downloads and Verizon companies, and NXTVISION is underwhelming.

Thus, the TCL 30 V 5G actually solely is smart for somebody who doesn’t desire a Samsung cellphone however does need all flavors of Verizon 5G, a wholesome quantity of built-in storage, and an enormous, high-resolution show. And additionally they don’t wish to pay something out of pocket for it.

Otherwise, on the time I’m scripting this, Verizon can be providing the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G without cost, and I believe that’s a better option. And, at the least proper now, that supply is sweet for a brand new line on any limitless plan, not “select” (learn: dearer) limitless plans required to get the TCL promotion. The A42 5G’s efficiency and digital camera high quality are a little bit higher, and its Android 12 replace is already out there. Buying an unlocked Galaxy A32 5G for $279 is one other good choice. The display isn’t as good and also you’ll have to broaden its 64GB of storage with a microSD card, however the digital camera system is healthier, C-band Ultra Wideband is supported, and it’s presently being up to date to Android 12.

And let’s be clear, there’s no such factor as a free cellphone. There’s a ton of worth in securing your enterprise for the following 36 months — Verizon is aware of that effectively. If that’s the forex you’re spending, then I believe it’s best to apply it to one other machine.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge