Just in case all the great deals T-Mobile has been introducing with more or less fanfare over the past week haven’t been convincing enough to make the switch or talk to a friend about switching to the leading “Un-carrier”, yet another very interesting promotion seems to have appeared (silently) earlier today.
While trading in an existing phone to get a new one at a hefty discount is often considered inconvenient, especially by buyers of low-cost devices like this 6.52-inch mid-ranger, the inconvenience practically disappears when T-Mo is willing to to accept anything that works. Yes, even dumb phones and archaic smartphones that got their last software update when HTC was still a thing. You can even trade in an HTC.
In fact, the TCL 30 XE 5G is currently joining the undoubtedly popular “5G For All” program as an alternative to the T-Mobile REVVL V+ 5G and OnePlus Nord N200 5G, although the latter is probably still a better choice… unless of course it goes away soon.
Normally priced at $198, TCL’s “free for all” 5G option comes with a decidedly modest 1600 x 720 screen resolution and a totally unobtrusive 13+2+2MP triple camera system on the back, as well as silky smooth 90Hz display refresh rate technology. , the same moderately powerful MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor as the just-released TCL Stylus 5G and a hefty 4,500 mAh battery with 18W charging speeds.
In short, this is certainly not a bad phone… if you can get it for free, which is also possible with a new line and without any trade-in. In both cases you are of course looking at monthly credits that after two years amount to the above-mentioned full value of the handset.
If you opt for a trade-in, keep in mind that your old device must be “undamaged” and fully functional, which is what sets this deal apart from Verizon’s trade-in program. Less restrictive in one respect, but that last promo is more selective when it comes to the phones you’re allowed to throw away, which can’t be “dumb” or extremely outdated.