The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the TCL 306 and the Xiaomi Poco C40. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Poco C40 takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster charging, slightly more efficient chipset, and larger battery. While the TCL 306 is a decent option, the Poco C40 offers a more compelling package for the price, especially for users prioritizing battery life and quicker top-ups.
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - EMEA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/75 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, January 31 | 2022, June 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February | Available. Released 2022, June 17 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.50 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 169.6 x 76.6 x 9.2 mm (6.68 x 3.02 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 204 g (7.20 oz) |
| | - | Dust & splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1650 pixels (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 400 nits |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | JLQ JR510 (11 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G57 MC1 |
| OS | Android 12, TCL UI | Android 11, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Atlantic Blue | Power Black, Coral Green, Poco Yellow |
| Models | X668, 6102H | 220333QPG |
| Price | About 40 EUR | About 110 EUR |
TCL 306
- Affordable
- Simple Interface
- Decent Display
- Slow Charging
- Underpowered Chipset
- Basic Camera
Xiaomi Poco C40
- Long Battery Life
- Faster Charging
- Slightly Better Performance
- Larger Battery Capacity
- Less Known Chipset
- Basic Camera
- Design may not appeal to everyone
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large, HD+ displays, likely around 6.5 inches. Expect decent viewing angles and color reproduction for everyday use, but don't anticipate flagship-level quality. The Poco C40 might have a slightly brighter panel, but this is difficult to confirm without specific testing data.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality on both devices will be modest. Expect decent daylight shots, but low-light performance will be a struggle. The Poco C40 might offer a slightly higher resolution main sensor, potentially leading to marginally better detail in good lighting conditions. Software processing will play a significant role in the final image quality.
Performance
The Poco C40's JLQ JR510 chipset, while less known, generally outperforms the Helio G25 in the TCL 306. The Cortex-A55 cores in the Poco C40 are more efficient than the Cortex-A53 cores in the TCL 306, leading to smoother multitasking and app loading. Gaming performance will be basic on both, but the Poco C40 will likely handle it slightly better.
Battery Life
The Poco C40 boasts a significantly larger battery (likely 6000mAh) compared to the TCL 306. This translates to noticeably longer battery life, easily lasting a full day or more with moderate usage. The 18W fast charging on the Poco C40 is a major advantage over the TCL 306's 10W charging.
Buying Guide
The TCL 306 is a good choice for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize a simple, straightforward experience. The Xiaomi Poco C40 is ideal for those needing longer battery life, faster charging, and a slightly more responsive performance, even within the budget category.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Poco C40 is slightly better for gaming due to its more efficient chipset, although neither phone is a gaming powerhouse.
❓ How long does the battery last on each phone?
The Poco C40 offers significantly longer battery life, easily lasting a full day or more. The TCL 306 will likely require charging before the end of the day with moderate use.
❓ Which phone has faster charging?
The Xiaomi Poco C40 has 18W fast charging, while the TCL 306 is limited to 10W charging. This means the Poco C40 will charge much faster.
