Pros
Decent digital camera for the worth
Light Android pores and skin
Matte design
Cons
No main Android updates
Sluggish efficiency
Two years of safety updates
The $180 TCL 40 X 5G could be certainly one of my favourite price range 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 value of $126 would possibly make it deal for somebody who simply needs a telephone for a 12 months or two. But 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 purposeful model of Android 13. It will get two years of safety updates, which is able to preserve it shielded from vulnerabilities. This is very notable in comparison with the 2 years of software program updates and 5 years of safety updates provided 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.But if you happen to’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 digital camera takes good images in a wide range of gentle situations for the worth, whether or not it was on Manhattan streets or within the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its 6.5-inch 720-pixel display runs at a 90Hz refresh charge making animations and scrolling look clean. It additionally consists of TCL’s NxtVision HDR characteristic, which provides a slight colour enhance when viewing movies or enjoying video games. Its 5,000-mAh battery sometimes 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.Read extra: Best Cheap Phones of 2023All instructed, it could possibly be possibility if you happen to want a telephone proper now — however that does not justify the restricted software program assist when comparably priced telephones promise extra. The TCL 40 X 5G is barely obtainable within the US market, however related TCL 40 sequence telephones can be found internationally. The 40 X’s value converts roughly to £145 or AU$275. The again of the TCL 40 X 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETTCL 40 X 5G design, efficiencyThe 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 offers a businesslike look to the handset, despite the fact that the telephone’s physique is in any other case comprised of plastic. The telephone makes use of a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for unlocking and has a headphone jack. There’s a single audio speaker on the underside, which was loud once I performed music, nevertheless it sounded tinny. While headphones helped enhance that sound high quality, the display is usually muted when it comes to colour 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. TCL’s NxtVision mode provides a slight colour enhance to media and video games. Mike Sorrentino/CNETWhen watching Netflix’s Surviving Paradise as an example, the colours of the present’s villa decor and ocean views appeared misplaced on the TCL 40 X’s display even once I had NxtVision turned on. The characteristic is meant to assist differentiate colour temperature like when I’m studying versus watching a TV present, nevertheless 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 employ the digital camera — 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 exhibiting you ways a lot is out there on the multitasking menu. It was capable of deal with my traditional multitasking regiment of listening to music whereas studying the information and texting. But if 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 has a 6.5-inch 720p show that runs at a 90Hz refresh charge. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThe TCL 40 X 5G’s Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor is similar one discovered within the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G and may 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 check, the TCL 40 X 5G was recharged from 15% to 45%. That’s sufficient to get via a day, as a 100% cost would sometimes took me a few day and a half to run right down to 20%. The TCL 40 X 5G has a 50-megapixel foremost digital camera, a 2-megapixel macro digital camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Mike Sorrentino/CNETTCL 40 X 5G camerasThe TCL 40 X 5G’s 50-megapixel foremost digital camera is accompanied by a 2-megapixel macro digital camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The digital camera, particularly for a $180 telephone, performs effectively sufficient, although it lacks any telephoto or ultrawide functionality. I took it on a day journey to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the place I took some good avenue images alongside some displays indoors. None of the images are notably detail-rich, however even in crowded settings movement blur was minimal. Outdoor picture taken on the TCL 40 X 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Indoor picture taken by the TCL 40 X 5G inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mike Sorrentino/CNETTo 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 digital camera did not brighten up particularly darkish areas it nonetheless illuminated the setting and my horchata cocktail. A photograph of the within of Vers, taken on the TCL 40 X 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Horchata cocktail taken on the TCL 40 X 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThere’s additionally a 50-megapixel digital camera mode, which multiplies the file dimension of the picture to accommodate. My comparability pictures throughout a nighttime stroll in Tampa are under. While I can see among the extra enhanced particulars, I do not assume the distinction is sort of definitely worth the file dimension improve — on this case a 9.3MB picture versus a 3.8MB picture, particularly when there’s solely 64GB of onboard storage. This is a 50-megapixel picture taken on the TCL 40 X 5G of a Tampa avenue. Mike Sorrentino/CNET This is a 12-megapixel picture of the identical Tampa avenue taken on the TCL 40 X 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETI do discover the TCL’s images to seize roughly the identical high quality because the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. This consists of selfies, with each telephones taking fuzzy front-facing digital camera images. The TCL telephone has an 8-megapixel front-facing digital camera whereas the Galaxy A14 5G has a 13-megapixel digital camera. Front-facing digital camera picture taken on the TCL 40 X 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Front-facing digital camera picture taken on the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Outdoor picture of Astor Place, taken on the TCL 40 X 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Astor Place picture taken on the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThe TCL telephone’s video high quality is OK, recording at 1,080p decision at 30 frames a second. Like the images, it is not notably detail-rich nevertheless it’s purposeful for capturing a scene. The TCl 40 X 5G consists of an 8-megapixel front-facing digital camera. Mike Sorrentino/CNETTCL 40 X 5G backside lineThe $180 TCL 40 X 5G is a succesful telephone that largely stands as much as my favourite present decide beneath $200, the $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. When trying 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 assist, two years of software program updates and 5 years of safety updates.However, 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 assist ends in two years. You’ll even be lacking out on Android 14, which is already arriving to telephones which are receiving main software program updates.So if you happen to go along with the deal, simply know that this is not a telephone you ought to be holding onto for a very long time. But if the TCL 40 X is not drastically discounted, I might think about related telephones that can get extra years of assist just like the Galaxy A14 5G.Read extra: Is It Safe to Use an Old or Used Phone? Here’s What You Should KnowTCL 40 X 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus (2023) TCL 40 X 5GSamsung Galaxy A14 5GMoto G Stylus (2023) Display dimension, decision 6.56-inch; 1,612 x 720 pixels; 90Hz6.6-inch FHD+ LCD show, (1,400 x 1,080 pixels), 90Hz6.5-inch IPS LCD; 1,600×720; 90Hz refresh ratePixel density 269 ppi268 ppi269 PPIDimensions (inches) 6.47 x 2.97 x 0.35 in6.6 x 3.07 x 0.36 in6.41 x 2.91 x 0.36 in Dimensions (millimeters) 164.46 x 75.4 x 8.99 mm167.6 x 77.9 x 9.1 mm162.9 x 74.1 x 9.2 mmWeight (ounces, grams) 195 g (6.9 oz)203 g (7.19 oz)195 g Mobile software program Android 13Android 13Android 13Digicam 50-megapixel (foremost), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth)50-megapixel (foremost), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth)50-megapixel (foremost), 2-megapixel (macro)Front-facing digital camera 8-megapixel13-megapixel8-megapixelVideo seize 1080p at 30fps1080p at 30fps1080p at 30 fpsProcessor MediaTek Dimensity 700MediaTek Dimensity 700MediaTek Helio G85RAM/Storage 4GB + 64GB4GB + 64GB4GB + 64GB; 4GB + 128GBExpandable storage YesYesYesBattery/Charger 5,000 mAh5,000 mAh5,000 mAh (15W charging)Fingerprint sensor SideSideSideConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack YesYesYesSpecial options 5G, 18W wired charging, TCL NxtVision5G-enabled, NFC, 15W chargingStylus, Moto GesturesPrice off-contract (USD) $180$200$200Value (GBP) Converts to £145£179Converts to £158Value (AUD) Converts to AU$275AU$379Converts to AU$295 How we check phonesEvery telephone examined by CNET’s evaluations group was really utilized in the true world. We check a telephone’s options, play video games, and take images. 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 the cameras are examined in a wide range of situations, from vibrant daylight to darkish indoor scenes. We check out particular options like night time mode and portrait mode and evaluate our findings towards equally priced competing telephones. We additionally try the battery life by utilizing the telephone day by day in addition to operating a sequence of battery drain exams.We bear in mind extra options, like assist for 5G; satellite tv for pc connectivity; fingerprint and face sensors; stylus assist; quick charging speeds; and foldable shows, amongst others that may be helpful. And we stability all this towards the worth to provide the verdict on whether or not that telephone, no matter value it’s, really represents good worth. Though these exams could not at all times be mirrored in CNET’s preliminary overview, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.