There were many good things about smartphones of the past. Although they were slow and the technological capabilities were also relatively limited compared to today, they were much easier to operate and repair. Such is TCL’s Ion X just launched in the US, which brings back some beloved features from the distant past.
As you might expect, the Ion X is not a luxury device to say the least. It has no advanced features and its specifications are basic similar to the simple Redmi models. Thus, it comes with a 6-inch LCD screen with only 720p resolution, and the sharp-eyed can notice the relatively large margins at the top and bottom. The chip inside it is a Helio G25 with an eight-core MediaTek processor and the internal storage is extremely low at 32 gigabytes alongside 3 gigabytes of working memory (RAM).
But as mentioned, it does bring some benefits to those who need them. This way the battery with a capacity of 3,000 mAh is pulled out easily, after removing the battery cover and connecting a new battery. This means that even if you get stuck during the day with a depleted battery, you can easily replace it without having to carry a portable backup battery.
In addition, it also has a microSD slot that allows you to expand the internal storage by several tens of gigabytes, which is nice in itself and an option that is disappearing from many devices. Finally, there is also an analog headphone connection (3.5 mm) so that those who still prefer the wired connection can continue to talk and listen to music independently of wireless headphones.
The TCL Ion X also has a single 13-megapixel rear camera and another 5-megapixel front camera. It does not sit in the hole in the screen at all, since as mentioned the margin at the top is enough to accommodate it in its place. There is also video recording of course but it is limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second. The charging connection is USB-C and there is also Bluetooth 5.1 and WiFi 5, but no 5th generation.
The Ion X can be purchased through the local cellular operators in the US as its price is only 119 dollars, which is about NIS 400 before local tax.