TCL 30 SE vs ZTE Nubia Neo 5G: If you are thinking of buying a phone around ₹ 15,000, then two options can be in front of you – ZTE Nubia Neo 5G and TCL 30 SE. Both are budget-friendly, but their purpose is different. TCL 30 SE is made for basic needs, while Nubia Neo 5G is a performance-focused smartphone. There is different thinking and technology behind both the phones, and today we will compare them in a our style.
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Design & Style
The body of TCL 30 SE is made of plastic, the front is glass, and the overall build is simple. With the waterdrop notch, this phone gives an old type feel.
The design of ZTE Nubia Neo 5G looks modern. Its punch-hole cutout and gamer aesthetic give it a completely new feel. With a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and plastic build, its look falls in a slightly bold category.
Display & Visuals
The TCL 30 SE has a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a refresh rate of 60Hz. It is fine for daily basic usage but lacks clarity and smoothness.
The Nubia Neo 5G has a 6.6-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display with 1080 x 2408 resolution. The biggest thing – its refresh rate is 120Hz, which gives noticeable smoothness while scrolling and watching visuals. This display also has a punch-hole cutout which makes the screen-to-body ratio better.
Performance & Processor
The TCL 30 SE gets the MediaTek Helio G25 processor. This processor is entry-level and is good only for basic tasks like calling, WhatsApp, light browsing etc. It proves to be very weak in multitasking and gaming.
The ZTE Nubia Neo 5G gets the Unisoc T820 processor which is built on 6nm. This is a mid-range processor and handles daily usage, multitasking and moderate gaming well. It also comes with 5G connectivity which makes it future-ready.
Camera Setup
The TCL 30 SE has a 50MP main camera at the rear, along with a 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensor. But the 2MP sensors are mostly just for show. The front camera is 8MP which gives average selfies.
The Nubia Neo 5G also has a 50MP main rear camera, along with a 2MP depth sensor. The front has an 8MP camera. Features like PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) can improve its rear camera performance.
Features & Tech
The TCL 30 SE has dual SIM support, 3.5mm headphone jack, side-mounted fingerprint sensor and some variants also have NFC. It has a dedicated microSD card slot, through which you can increase the memory along with the SIM.
Nubia Neo 5G also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm jack, NFC, dual SIM (hybrid slot) and gamer design. It has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, along with the option of virtual RAM expansion. You can put a microSD card in place of SIM 2.
Battery & Charging
TCL 30 SE has a 5000 mAh battery which supports 15W fast charging, but only a 10W charger is available in the box. This means that charging time will take a little longer.
Nubia Neo 5G has a 4500 mAh battery which supports 22.5W fast charging. The battery size is a little small but it charges fast, so there will be no special problem in daily usage.
Price & Variants
TCL 30 SE was launched in February 2022 and is now available in the market for a little less. Its price ranges between ₹11,000 to ₹12,000. It comes in 64GB or 128GB storage with 4GB RAM.
ZTE Nubia Neo 5G came in July 2023 and it is available in the range of ₹15,000 to ₹16,000. It has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage which is a big deal in this budget.
FAQ
Is it still right to buy TCL 30 SE today?
If your budget is very tight and you only do things like calling, WhatsApp, then you can buy it. But this is an old model and software support will not be available further.
How is ZTE Nubia Neo 5G for the future?
This phone is 5G ready, comes with Android 13 and performance is also good. It is a good option for daily use, some gaming and long term.
Final Verdict
If you just need a cheap phone for basic usage and are not much interested in performance, then TCL 30 SE will do the job. But due to its age, do not expect software updates.
But if you want to buy a solid performance, modern look and 5G ready phone by paying a little extra price, then ZTE Nubia Neo 5G is the best choice. Its display quality, processor, RAM/storage and fast charging – it is far ahead of TCL in everything. You will get a better experience in the long term and this phone will also prove to be more durable for the future.
