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Paying attention to smartphone users around me, I've been noticing a growing negativity towards over-the-top premiums that people have to pay for flagship smartphones. Does it make sense for someone to spend the cost of a decent laptop on a phone? Obviously to some it is, but to those who struggle to see the justification, mobile phone makers like TCL are creating phones like the 20L+ for you.

Costing under $399 at the time of writing this article, you can buy four of these phones for the price of a market leading flagship phone. And TCL is set out to make a phone that is so featured packed at this price range, that those spending premium prices will start to question: are premium phones really worth it?

Just how much premium features can TCL pack into the 20L+ smartphone? And is it good enough to replace the flagship phone that's in your hands? Let's dive in to find out.

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Large Screen with 2K Resolution and Sunglasses Friendly

Starting with the screen of the TCL 20L+, it has a large 6.67 inch display that more or less matches the 6.7 inch on the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple's current flagship phone. The FHD+ Display (1080x2400 resolution) at 395 PPI is sharp enough that naked eyes won't be able to spot any individual pixels.

Special attention was paid by TCL to use a display technology that doesn't get affected by polarized sunglasses, which is very important when using the phone outdoors on a sunny day, especially while driving. TCL calls the technology Circular Polarization which is T?V Rheinland-certified, and has made a significant difference when I drive using the GPS guidance on the 20L+.

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The large display means that most of the time, the user needs to use both hands to operate the phone, but TCL's UI includes a one-handed mode that I found handy. The phone simply shrinks what is displayed to one corner of the screen, so that you're able to hold the phone with one hand and tap it with the thumb.

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Processor Power vs Battery Power

The TCL 20L+ doesn't use the current top-tier processor, but utilizes the Snapdragon 662 instead. At first I thought this is what made scrolling through the home screen laggy - but I later found this to be caused by the default 'Smart refresh state' setting. Once I set it to the 60Hz refresh rate mode, I found no problem with the responsiveness of the phone.

The advantage of having a lower powered processor is having a more extended battery life, and that's where TCL 20L+ comes in strong, packing a 5000 mAh battery, larger than even some flagship phones. The lower resolution, lowered powered processor and large battery culminates to give the 20L+ superior battery life. I find myself easily getting a full day's use on a single charge even with medium to heavy use.

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Power Button Fingerprint Scanner Combo

I admit, it's a bit of an odd obsession, but a justified one. One of the key user experiences I prioritize is its unlocking mechanism for the phone. Apple revealed back in 2016 that on average an iPhone user unlocks their phone 80 times a day and that number most probably would have grown since then. As something that we do so frequently, it's imperative for it to be fast, easy, and secure.

The TCL 20L+ utilizes a tactile power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which took me a little time to get used to, as I'm more used to the fingerprint scanner being at the back of the phone. However, overtime I was able to adapt to the ergonomics of this arrangement. The button placement makes it easier to unlock the phone with the right-hand thumb, or the left-hand index finger.

The scanner is fast and effective enough that just from pressing the power button to turn on the screen, the touch is enough to unlock the phone and go straight into the home screen, satisfying my obsession for instantaneous unlocking.

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Unexpected Audio Powerhouse

Though I did notice the Hi-Fi certification on the TCL 20L+'s packaging, I didn't take it too seriously, presuming it to be just marketing fluff. What can you expect from the audio performance from a sub-$399 phone anyway? Boy was I proved wrong.

The 20L+ includes the standard audio jack, which is essential for all those who are serious about their music quality. Even with the preloaded player that comes with the TCL UI, music coming out of the 20L+ is surprisingly good. The output is clean, well-balanced, and the presentation is nice. Comparing it to the Alcatel 3L that we reviewed last year - the difference is night and day, with the latter sounding muffled in comparison.

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I decided to put it to the ultimate test, comparing it with the FiiO M11 Plus LTD - an audiophile flagship digital audio player. Though the M11 Plus did of course have a more realistic presentation, the dynamics on the 20L+ was surprisingly comparable with the flagship DAP. As someone who takes music pretty seriously, I would not hesitate to use the 20L+ as a main music player when I don't feel like lugging a DAP around.

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The excellent sound quality interestingly also carries over to the speaker performance, which is in stereo - using the earpiece as a secondary speaker. What's surprisingly good about the loud speakers is that the output doesn't sound harsh like many other phones that I've tested. Instead you get a warm and pleasant sound, focusing on the mid range frequencies. The loudness could use some boost, as I did have to max out its volume, but the sound quality itself was excellent.

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4+1 Camera Set up

The TCL 20L+ is equipped with 4 rear cameras and a front facing camera - that's an impressive 5 camera set up for such an affordable phone.

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The main 64 megapixel camera is supported with AI, which is quite effective in capturing natural toned photos with good detail, especially in HDR mode. The AI on the TCL UI camera doesn't over-sharpen images, but does it just enough to make things interesting. The main camera covers the 1x, 2x and 4x zoom, which means it strictly remains in the digital zoom realm.

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The two other functional cameras are the 2 megapixel macro camera and the 8 megapixel wide angle camera, while the fourth bottom camera is there to help create better depth in portraits.

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The front facing 16 megapixel camera is more than sufficient for video conferencing, and includes an adjustable 'beauty mode' for selfies.

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Final Verdict

It's phones like the TCL 20L+ that makes it harder and harder to justify spending $1,000 on a flagship phone. At only a fraction of the price of flagship phones, the 20L+ definitely delivers a superior cost performance ratio. With the battery life and displays as its best assets, the TCL phone surprised us with its audio performance both with a headphone and through the loudspeaker.

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If you're after an inexpensive phone that has excellent essential features, we recommend the TCL 20L+ for its low cost and high performance. We're awarding it with the IBTimes Exceptional Value badge.

David is a tech enthusiast/writer who is often on the move and is on a mission to explore ways to make his overhaul flights more enjoyable. This is a contribution to an ongoing IBTimes review series on gadgets for Business Travelers.