TCL 60 SE review
This phone suits budget buyers in regions where LTE is stable and who prioritize battery longevity and screen real estate over visual clarity or quick charging. Skip it if you spend significant time outdoors in sunlight, game regularly, or find soft text on a large screen maddening.
This review is based on TCL’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the TCL 60 SE, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The TCL 60 SE is a big, light phone with a 90Hz display and two-day battery that costs almost nothing, but the 720p panel is visibly soft and charging crawls at 18W. It suits budget users who value screen size and battery longevity over sharp visuals or speed.
Design and build
The TCL 60 SE is impressively light at 190g and slim enough at 8.3mm to slip into a pocket without weight or bulk. The front is glass and the back is plastic, with a plastic frame—standard cost-cutting for this price, and it shows in the feel. IP54 rating handles dust and water splashes, though not full submersion, so it survives coffee spills and light rain but not a pool. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is convenient, and dual SIM slots mean you can run two numbers without swapping cards. The overall build is honest entry-level: not durable against drops or heavy use, but adequate for daily carry if you're careful.
Display
The 6.7-inch screen is the phone's main draw—genuinely spacious for browsing, streaming, and reading without eye strain. The 90Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling smooth, which matters more than the raw resolution. But here is the catch: 720p on a 6.7-inch panel means 262 ppi, and text and icons look noticeably soft and pixelated if you hold it at arm's length. This was a compromise budget makers stopped accepting three years ago; rivals at this price now offer 1080p or higher on equivalent-sized screens. At 480 nits, brightness is adequate indoors and on overcast days but won't cut through direct sunlight—you'll be squinting in strong glare. The IPS panel has wide viewing angles, so side viewing doesn't wash out color.
Performance
The Helio G81 is a mainstream, mid-range chipset for 2025 that handles everyday tasks without stutter: texting, email, social media, and light web browsing all run smoothly. With 8GB of RAM, it keeps multiple apps in memory without forced reloads. Casual games like Candy Crush or Subway Surfers play fine; anything demanding—Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile at high settings—will choke or require lower graphics. Don't expect to game hard on this phone, and heavy multitasking won't embarrass it but won't feel snappy either. Switching between apps works, but noticeable delays creep in when you're juggling five or six at once. For someone who uses a phone to consume content and stay in touch, it's adequate; for power users, it will feel limiting.
Software
Android 15 is current and ships clean without heavy customization, so the software should remain responsive for at least two years. TCL's overlay is light, which means fewer bloatware apps eating storage and RAM compared to heavier skins from other brands. Over-the-air updates should arrive regularly at this price point, though don't expect the seven years of support that flagships promise. The microSD slot means you can expand the 512GB storage significantly if you hoard photos or videos, which alleviates one common budget-phone frustration.
Camera
The 50MP main camera has a wide aperture (f/1.8) and PDAF for fast autofocus, which helps it capture sharp images in good lighting and lock focus quickly on moving subjects. Colors are warm but not oversaturated, and the 0.7µm pixels are small enough to capture detail when light is abundant. In dim rooms or at dusk, noise creeps in fast—don't expect clean low-light shots. The 8MP front camera is basic: 1080p at 30fps, no ultra-wide or portrait mode, just a straightforward selfie tool. The main camera lacks optical zoom and night mode, which matters if you regularly photograph in low light or from a distance. HDR and panorama modes work, but the software processing is straightforward without the computational magic of costlier phones.
Battery and charging
The 5200 mAh battery is genuinely large for its class and pays off in endurance. On moderate use—browsing, messaging, one or two hours of video—you'll comfortably see two full days before the battery dips below 20 percent. Heavy gaming or constant video playback drops it to a single charge, but that is true of almost every phone. Standby time is solid because the Helio G81 is efficient. The weakness is charging: 18W is slow by today's standard, taking over two hours from dead to 100 percent. It's the kind of number that forces you to charge overnight or well before you leave home, not a quick top-up while you shower. No wireless charging is expected at this price, so you're tethered to the USB-C cable.
Value and verdict
At around 170 EUR, the TCL 60 SE pitches itself at buyers who prioritize battery life, screen size, and build weight over display sharpness or performance. In that narrow space, it delivers: two-day battery, a genuinely large screen for binge-watching or long reading sessions, a headphone jack, microSD expansion, and NFC all for under 200 euros is rare. The Helio G81 is no powerhouse, but it handles daily use without constant frustration. The real compromise is the 720p panel—at this price and screen size, it feels dated, and once you notice the pixelation, you can't unsee it. Buyers who spend most time on content apps and less on games, and who rarely venture into bright sun, won't be bothered. Those who want a sharper display or faster charging should look elsewhere, even if it means paying a bit more.
Verdict
This phone suits budget buyers in regions where LTE is stable and who prioritize battery longevity and screen real estate over visual clarity or quick charging. Skip it if you spend significant time outdoors in sunlight, game regularly, or find soft text on a large screen maddening.
- 5200 mAh battery and efficient Helio G81 chipset stretch to two full days of moderate use—unusual at this price
- 6.7-inch screen is genuinely spacious for reading and video without straining the hand; 90Hz scrolling feels smooth despite the low resolution
- Includes a headphone jack, microSD expansion slot, and NFC—features now rare even in budget phones
- Only 190g and 8.3mm thin for its screen size, making it comfortable to hold for long periods
- 720p resolution on a 6.7-inch display creates visible pixelation and soft text; at 262 ppi, it falls behind even budget competitors' 1080p panels
- 18W charging takes over two hours from zero to full, slow enough that you'll need to plan ahead
- IP54 splash resistance doesn't cover submersion, and the thin plastic body feels cheap under pressure
TCL 60 SE Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, March 03 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ) |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~262 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G81 (12 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 512GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Battery | 5200 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired |
| Software | Android 15 |
| Dimensions | 165.6 x 76.2 x 8.3 mm (6.52 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Durability | IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 |
TCL 60 SE FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the 60 SE support 5G?
No. The 60 SE tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the 60 SE use?
The 60 SE runs on the Mediatek Helio G81 (12 nm).
What display does the 60 SE have?
A 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~262 ppi density).
How big is the 60 SE battery?
The 60 SE has a 5200 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 18W wired.
Does the 60 SE have NFC?
Yes, the 60 SE has NFC.
Is the 60 SE water resistant?
The 60 SE carries a IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes) rating.
Does the 60 SE support a microSD card?
Yes, the 60 SE supports expandable storage (microSDXC (dedicated slot)).
Does the 60 SE have a headphone jack?
Yes, the 60 SE has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the 60 SE isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
60 SE NXTpaper 5G
60 SE NxtPaper
60 5G
60 XE NXTpaper 5G
Play20A
