TCL 30+ vs Samsung Galaxy A04: Which Budget Phone Reigns Supreme?

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the TCL 30+ and the Samsung Galaxy A04. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The TCL 30+ edges out the Galaxy A04 thanks to its slightly faster chipset and faster charging. While both are budget options, the TCL offers a marginally better performance and a more convenient charging experience, making it the slightly better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 30+	Samsung Galaxy A04

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM)	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA/APAC	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - EMEA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 38, 40, 66 - LATAM	-

Launch
Announced	2022, February 27	2022, August 24
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 20	Available. Released 2022, October 10

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	164.5 x 75.2 x 7.7 mm (6.48 x 2.96 x 0.30 in)	164.4 x 76.3 x 9.1 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.36 in)
SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	184 g (6.49 oz)	192 g (6.77 oz)

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 650 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak)	PLS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6765V/CB Helio G37 (12 nm)	Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	PowerVR GE8320
OS	Android 12, TCL UI 4.0	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI Core 5.0

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM	32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Dual	-	50 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, AF Auxiliary lens
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash
Single	-	5 MP, f/2.2
Triple	50 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	13 MP, f/2.3, 19mm (ultrawide), 1/3", 1.12µm	5 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/5", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	Yes

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	-	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with dual speakers	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (T676K only)	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	Unspecified	Unspecified
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity

Battery
Charging	18W wired	-
Type	Li-Po 5010 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Tech Black, Muse Blue	Black, Green, White, Copper
Models	T676K, T676J	SM-A045F, SM-A045F/DS, SM-A045M
Price	About 220 EUR	About 70 EUR
SAR EU	-	0.32 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body)

TCL 30+

Slightly faster chipset (Helio G37)
Faster 18W charging
Triple camera setup with macro lens
Generally better value for performance

Plastic build quality
Software updates may be less frequent than Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A04

Samsung's One UI interface (familiar to Samsung users)
Reliable brand reputation
Good battery life

Slower charging (likely 10W)
Less powerful chipset (Helio P35)
Dual camera setup lacks versatility

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.5-inch display, likely with an HD+ resolution. While the TCL 30+ might have slightly better color accuracy due to TCL's display technology, the difference will be minimal for everyday use. Samsung's display might benefit from their experience in display manufacturing, but both are likely to be adequate for the price point.

Camera Comparison

The TCL 30+ typically features a triple camera setup (50MP main, 2MP depth, 2MP macro), while the Galaxy A04 usually has a dual camera setup (50MP main, 2MP depth). While megapixels aren't everything, the TCL's additional macro lens offers more versatility. Image quality will be decent in good lighting conditions for both, but expect noise and limited detail in low light.

Performance

The TCL 30+ utilizes a Mediatek Helio G37, while the Galaxy A04 uses a Helio P35. The G37 generally offers a slight performance advantage, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks. Expect smoother multitasking and slightly better gaming performance on the TCL 30+. Both will struggle with demanding games at high settings.

Battery Life

Both phones likely have a 5000mAh battery, providing all-day battery life for moderate users. However, the TCL 30+ supports 18W fast charging, while the Galaxy A04 likely supports standard 10W charging. This means the TCL 30+ will charge significantly faster.

Buying Guide

The TCL 30+ is ideal for users prioritizing a bit more performance and faster charging within a tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy A04 is a good option for those deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem and prefer a familiar user interface, even if it means sacrificing a little performance.