TCL 20S

The TCL 20S is one of the better $250 phones you can find today and if I was looking for a phone in this price range I would pay the extra $60 to purchase this one over the TCL 20SE. The 20SE has several compromises that are resolved in the 20S and I think over the life of the phone people will be happier with the 20S. The display looks wonderful, the speakers are loud, the UI is nearly stock Android, the battery life is solid, and there is a lot to like in the TCL 20S.

However, the overwhelming majority of the minor issues here are, summarily, to be expected. After all, TCL 20S is still a hard-to-beat smartphone. And that’s only made more true by its relatively low price point, which appears to be the source of those caveats. So, at the very least, it’s not a handset anybody shopping in the budget end of the Android landscape should ignore.

As long as you don't need 5G, the TCL 20S is a powerful budget phone with an immersive display, excellent speakers, and a long-lasting battery.

The TCL 20S is a decent phone for anyone who wants a smartphone right now and doesn't want to break the bank. It has a good design that resembles some better smartphones, and the software is pretty lightweight. Unfortunately, things go south quickly for the 20S when you decide to take a picture or play a mobile game.