The smartphone landscape is constantly evolving, and choosing the right device can be overwhelming. Today, we're pitting a modern budget contender, the TCL 306, against a seasoned veteran, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro. Can a newer, cheaper phone truly compete with a device known for its endurance and features?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei Mate 10 Pro, despite its age, still holds a significant advantage thanks to its superior chipset, faster charging, and exceptional battery life. While the TCL 306 offers a more modern design and potentially a slightly better display, the Mate 10 Pro's overall performance and longevity make it the winner.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA, APAC | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - EMEA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 66 - LATAM | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, January 31 | 2017, October. Released 2017, November |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.50 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.07 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) | OLED, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | Kirin 970 (10 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G72 MP12 |
| OS | Android 12, TCL UI | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10.2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF, OIS
20 MP B/W, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/2.7" |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP | 4.2, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 22.5W wired, 58% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Atlantic Blue | Midnight Blue, Titanium Gray, Mocha Brown, Pink Gold |
| Models | X668, 6102H | BLA-L29, BLA-L09, BLA-AL00, BLA-A09, BLA-TL00 |
| Price | About 40 EUR | About 450 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 96h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinity (nominal), 4.096 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 70dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 84dB |
| Performance | - |
GeekBench: 6783 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
TCL 306
- Modern Design
- Potentially better display color accuracy
- Lower Price
- Weaker Processor
- Slower Charging
- Shorter Battery Life
- Less Capable Camera
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
- Exceptional Battery Life
- Powerful Kirin 970 Chipset
- Fast Charging
- Excellent Camera (for its time)
- High Contrast Display
- Older Design
- Outdated Software (potential security concerns)
- No Google Services (without workarounds)
Display Comparison
The TCL 306 likely features a more modern LCD panel with potentially better color accuracy and brightness compared to the Mate 10 Pro's OLED. However, the Mate 10 Pro's contrast ratio, especially in sunlight, was exceptional for its time, offering excellent visibility. The TCL 306's resolution is likely higher, resulting in sharper images.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Mate 10 Pro's camera system was highly regarded upon release, featuring a dual-lens setup with impressive image quality and depth sensing. The TCL 306's camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots but won't match the Mate 10 Pro's capabilities in low light or for portrait photography.
Performance
Here, the Mate 10 Pro shines. The Kirin 970 chipset is significantly more powerful than the Helio G25. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Mate 10 Pro. The TCL 306 will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Mate 10 Pro's legendary 96-hour endurance rating is a major selling point. Coupled with 22.5W fast charging (58% in 30 minutes), it offers unparalleled battery life. The TCL 306's battery is smaller and charges at a slower 10W, resulting in significantly shorter battery life.
Buying Guide
The TCL 306 is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize a modern design and basic smartphone functionality. The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is a great choice for those seeking exceptional battery life, a powerful processor for its time, and a reliable camera, even if it means accepting an older device.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Huawei Mate 10 Pro still safe to use?
While the Mate 10 Pro no longer receives official software updates, it can still be used safely with caution. Be mindful of potential security vulnerabilities and consider using third-party security apps.
❓ Can I use Google services on the Huawei Mate 10 Pro?
Officially, no. However, there are workarounds like installing Gspace or using third-party app stores to access Google apps and services, but this is not officially supported and may have limitations.
