TCL 30 SE vs Samsung Galaxy A04s: The Ultimate Budget Battle

Looking for a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank? The TCL 30 SE and Samsung Galaxy A04s are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you make the right choice.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A04s edges out the TCL 30 SE thanks to its more powerful Exynos 850 chipset, brighter display, and impressive battery life. While both offer solid value, the A04s provides a smoother experience overall.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 30 SE	Samsung Galaxy A04s

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	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 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 66 - LATAM	-

Launch
Announced	2022, February 27	2022, August 31
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 20	Available. Released 2022, September 22

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	165.2 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.50 x 2.97 x 0.35 in)	164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.36 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	190 g (6.70 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~80.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ)	PLS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Mali-G52
OS	Android 12, TCL UI 4.0	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

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

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm	-
Triple	50 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	720p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (6165H/6165H1 only)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	Unspecified	No
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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer
	-	Virtual Proximity Sensing

Battery
Charging	15W wired	15W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Atlantic Blue, Space Gray, Glacial Blue	Black, Green, White, Copper
Models	6165H, 6156H1, 6165A, 6165A1, 6165S	SM-A047F, SM-A047F/DS, SM-A047F/DSN, SM-A047M
Price	-	€ 133.89
SAR EU	-	0.52 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 114h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1614:1
Loudspeaker	-	-30.3 LUFS (Below average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 145123(v9) GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1) GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

TCL 30 SE

Compact design
Potentially lower price
Decent display

Weaker processor
Lower brightness display
Shorter battery life

Samsung Galaxy A04s

More powerful processor (Exynos 850)
Brighter display
Excellent battery life
Samsung's UI

Larger size
May be slightly more expensive

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A04s boasts a brighter display (389 nits vs. likely around 350 nits for the TCL 30 SE) and a similar contrast ratio (1614:1). While both offer decent visuals, the A04s provides a more vibrant and easily viewable experience, especially outdoors. Both likely use IPS LCD panels.

Camera Comparison

Camera specs are not fully detailed for either device, but the A04s is generally expected to have a more capable main camera sensor and potentially better image processing. Both likely offer standard camera features like portrait mode and HDR. Expect the A04s to perform better in low-light conditions.

Performance

Here's where the A04s truly shines. The Exynos 850 (8nm) significantly outperforms the Helio G25 (12nm) in the TCL 30 SE. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user interface on the A04s. The A04s' CPU architecture is also more efficient.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A04s takes a clear lead in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours. The TCL 30 SE's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the A04s' longevity. This makes the A04s a better choice for heavy users.

Buying Guide

The TCL 30 SE is a good option for users prioritizing a slightly more compact design and a potentially lower price point. The Samsung Galaxy A04s is ideal for those seeking better performance, a brighter screen, and extended battery life for everyday use.