We can’t put EVERYTHING into one phone. We need to choose features, and balance that against a target price. As we near the entry level tier of handsets, there’s also a little less room for price fluctuations. Devices with smaller margins won’t find the same dramatic sales, or the same bargain used prices, as more premium handsets.

Right now, mid-rangers are enjoying some time in the spotlight. Pricing from Nord to Velvet, and several phones in between, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the competition of even less expensive devices. We should expect more compromises, but as long as we keep expectations properly informed, someone shopping a modest budget should still be satisfied.

What should we look for in a phone that costs less than a screen replacement on an iPhone 11?

There’s an interesting comparison to be made between LG with an established line of Stylo phones against TCL and one of their first branded devices the 10L.

We’re playing loose with price. MSRP to MSRP the Stylo 6 is roughly $50 more expensive than the TCL 10L, but it’s not difficult shopping sales for both phones. Currently on Amazon the TCL 10L is $250, but has been found on sale as low as $212. The Stylo 6 is between $180 and $260 depending on carrier, and can be found on special for under $150. It’s a wide price range for one phone, but keeps us in a fair ballpark to compare.

Immediately, we can celebrate numerous similarities, features often lacking on less expensive devices. Large 1080p displays, large batteries, multi-camera arrays, NFC, FM Radios, and rear fingerprint sensors. We take this kind of hardware for granted at higher prices, but often these are areas where corners were cut in the past.

Design

Pennies of material cost matter at this tier. LG’s current strategy seems to focus on impressing consumers who shop in physical retail locations. Both devices are attractive, both look good in photos, but the Stylo 6 feels like a more premium device.

The 10L doesn’t feel “compromised” for plexiglass rear casing. If I’m being honest, even more premium phones could benefit from more options like PMMA or nice polycarb rear casing. However, the current phone zeitgeist dictates glass is the “nicer” material, and it costs more.

Display

TCL is tough to beat here. In the United States they’re most known for TV’s. LG makes displays too though, and at this price the two phones trade blows well. Tall 1080p LCDs, vibrant, colorful, and with solid viewing angles.

I don’t run display calibration grade screen reviews, but to my eye, TCL is driving a more colorful screen with more controls for tuning the display. LG’s controls are more basic, but the Stylo is respectably contrast-y. Side by siding a couple films on streaming services and on my NAS, I don’t feel confident declaring an outright winner.

As inexpensive LCDs go, both phones are solid performers, and I’d give a slight edge to the TCL.

Audio

A surprising fight between two budget phones, the audio competition isn’t as cut and dry as “better” or “worse”.

MT TCL 10L review unit’s headphone jack is a better performer than my 10 Pro, and gives the Stylo a serious run for its money. Both phones deliver better than average quality, outperforming more expensive phones when using cabled earbuds. The TCL also benefits from a more powerful processor and is able to properly play back the full frequency range of lossless audio.

The Stylo truncates playback to “CD Quality”, but includes a slightly more powerful amp. If the majority of your music listening is Spotify streaming or playing MP3’s, the LG is a slightly better pick. Though the 10L will deliver the truer representation of your BIG audio files.

The speaker conversation is similarly difficult to sum up. The Stylo’s stereo speakers are noticeably louder, but depending on the audio, also get a bit more shrill. The 10L’s mono speaker lacks a lot of power, but plays a little nicer with music in the low mids. For the more practical elements of daily life, louder notifications and a little more punch for video, I’d lean towards the Stylo, but it’s a lot closer than I would have thought.

Performance

The script flips on the chipsets driving each phone.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Stylo capable of playing my HEVC Blu-Ray MKV rips. As an inexpensive content consumption gadget, that’s a decent amount of power.

In a benchmark showdown though, the TCL is simply a more powerful phone. The MediaTek Helio P35 in the Stylo is a performance tier below the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 in the TCL.

We finally see where some of the build material choices balance out against a faster chip. You have to be a bit more patient with the Stylo. The TCL can be driven harder for entertainment like games. Neither phone is a powerhouse, but the 10L will get everything done faster.

Cameras

The additional horsepower also helps the TCL eke out a win for camera performance. The 10L arrives with a larger sensor and a more feature packed experience. There’s more potential on the TCL, even if the app can sometimes get a bit finnicky. For a few more twitchy software gremlins, you have more potential to drive the cameras harder on the 10L.

One critical example, the TCL is capable of shooting 4K video at 30fps. The Stylo taps out at 1080p at 30fps.

LG’s software is more refined, and the LG brand has a rich history of solid camera performance. Snapshot to snapshot, I prefer LG’s photo processing. Though the Stylo’s lower power processor means there are fewer advanced options. Using the app is a little slower, and someone looking to maximize a phone camera will likely run into those limits sooner.

Additional Features

What the Stylo lacks in pure horsepower, it makes up for in expanded features. Including a stylus at this price is a handy add-on. Fine point control of a phone shouldn’t only be an option for premium phones. More than just a stick that can tap on the screen, LG includes custom software to turn the Stylo into an ultra-cheap Note Lite competitor. Writing notes, converting handwriting to text, draw chat, gif creation, and accessibility tools like a pop up screen magnifier.

Pinching every penny, there is no one correct “answer” for what makes a good budget phone, but every piece of hardware on the spec sheet has a noticeable impact on the phone’s final price.

There’s a tech snobbery at play which is a really bad look for gadget geeks. Right now, someone might be walking into a carrier store looking to stay under a strict budget. Both the Stylo and the 10L represent excellent options for the individual keeping the price low while buying new. We should expect compromises, but not everyone wants to shop older phones, used phones, or wants to deal with getting a BYO phone onto a carrier’s network.

The tricky thing about a showdown at this tier, small price differences have a significant impact on my “feelings” about each phone. The Stlyo’s build quality and pen are extremely charming, but if the two phones are near the same price, the performance advantages of the TCL 10L are too formidable to pass on. If your carrier can deal with an unlocked phone, TCL just performs better all the way around.

There certainly is a market for folks more interested in the stylus support, but phone to phone, the TCL’s power will be a bigger draw for a wider group of consumers.

However, I bought my Stylo 6 on a carrier sale for $156 after tax and shipping. A TCL after tax is roughly $80 more expensive. I still think the TCL is the better phone. The 10L will likely age more gracefully over time, but in this market, an $80 price difference changes my feelings a little. If you can shop the Stylo on a similar sale, and you’re properly prepared for the performance hit, a lower price opens up a bit more potential for the LG.

Spending a little more time with lower cost devices has been eye opening. We expect better tech to trickle down into cheaper phones, but there’s still an emotional sense that REALLY cheap phones are “probably garbage”. Manufacturers are pushing much more aggressively into this tier than I think many techies realize.

The Stylo 6 is well improved over the Stylo 5, and while each individual improvement might seem smaller, all of these iterative improvements combine for a significantly better overall phone.

TCL is putting a lot of muscle behind their own label, and their first major offering is closing in on Pixel 3A territory. Take Pixel 3A hardware, add more cameras, a larger battery, and shave off $100. That’s a good fight.

Now is the perfect time to consider newer budget options. We’ve hit something of a power plateau for smartphone apps and services. More powerful premium options are a waste unless you’ve got heavy lifting requirements. Using a mid-ranger used to be a punishing experience even for casual gaming, and that encouraged a carrier market where people focused on leasing the most expensive options available.

That momentum is slowing. There will always be a specialty market for folks like me who really do render 4K video while on the go, but how much has consumer behavior really changed over the last two years? Are consumers embracing AR? Are consumers playing console quality games? Are they producing TV news grade content?