TCL Ion X vs. iPhone 11 Pro: A Clash of Titans (and Budgets)

The smartphone market offers a dizzying array of choices, from ultra-affordable options to top-tier flagships. Today, we're diving into a significant contrast: the TCL Ion X, a budget-conscious contender, versus the Apple iPhone 11 Pro, a proven powerhouse. Let's see how these two stack up.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 11 Pro unequivocally wins this comparison. While the TCL Ion X offers affordability, the iPhone 11 Pro's superior performance, camera quality, display, and overall ecosystem make it the clear victor, despite the significant price difference. It's a case of value versus premium experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL Ion X	Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	2, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2215
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE 1.6 Gbps DL, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2160, A2217

Launch
Announced	2023, January 26	2019, September 10
Status	Available. Released 2023, January 26	Available. Released 2019, September 20

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frame
Dimensions	156.5 x 75.2 x 8.9 mm (6.16 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)	144 x 71.4 x 8.1 mm (5.67 x 2.81 x 0.32 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight	177.4 g (6.24 oz)	188 g (6.63 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 4m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

Display
Protection	-	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~268 ppi density)	1125 x 2436 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size	6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio)	5.8 inches, 84.4 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)	Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)	Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OS	Android, TCL UI	iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	32GB 3GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	NVMe

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single	13 MP, (wide) 1/3.06", 1.12µm, PDAF	8 MP, f/2.0, AF
Triple	-	12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	5 MP, (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm	12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	Unspecified	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	Lightning, USB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer	Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	Virtual proximity sensing	Ultra Wideband (UWB) support

Battery
Charging	10W wired	Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
Stand-by	-	Up to 353 h (3G)
Talk time	-	Up to 18 h 30 min (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable	Li-Ion 3046 mAh, non-removable (11.67 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Black	Matte Space Gray, Matte Silver, Matte Gold, Matte Midnight Green
Models	-	A2215, A2160, A2217, iPhone12,3
Price	About 100 EUR	About 240 EUR
SAR	-	1.18 W/kg (head) 1.16 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -81.0dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 86h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 460784 (v7) GeekBench: 13829 (v4.4) GFXBench: 57fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

TCL Ion X

Affordable
Decent battery life
Basic functionality

Weak performance
Low-quality display
Subpar camera
Slow charging

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Exceptional performance
Outstanding camera
Vibrant display
Fast charging
Premium build quality
Apple ecosystem

Expensive
Older model
No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The iPhone 11 Pro boasts a Super Retina XDR display with an impressive 805 nits of peak brightness and an infinite contrast ratio, delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The TCL Ion X likely features a standard LCD display with lower brightness and contrast, resulting in a less immersive viewing experience. The iPhone's ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) is also absent on the Ion X.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 11 Pro's camera system is renowned for its image quality, offering excellent detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. It also features advanced video recording capabilities. The TCL Ion X's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots but will fall far short of the iPhone's capabilities in terms of image quality, features, and video recording.

Performance

Here, the iPhone 11 Pro's A13 Bionic chip utterly dominates. The Helio G25 in the TCL Ion X is a budget chipset, struggling with demanding tasks and multitasking. The A13 Bionic offers significantly faster processing speeds, smoother graphics, and better overall responsiveness. Expect noticeable lag on the Ion X when compared to the iPhone.

Battery Life

Both devices boast an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the iPhone 11 Pro benefits from faster charging with PD 2.0, reaching 50% in just 30 minutes, while the TCL Ion X is limited to 10W wired charging.

Buying Guide

The TCL Ion X is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize basic smartphone functionality like calls, texts, and light social media use. The iPhone 11 Pro is for users who demand top-tier performance, a fantastic camera, a vibrant display, and are invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the TCL Ion X a good phone for gaming?

No, the TCL Ion X's processor is not powerful enough for demanding games. You'll likely experience lag and low frame rates.

❓ How much does the TCL Ion X cost compared to the iPhone 11 Pro?

The TCL Ion X is significantly cheaper, typically costing under $200, while the iPhone 11 Pro can range from $500-$800 depending on storage and condition.