Grade A T-Mobile REVVL 6 PRO 5G 128GB TMAF035G T-Mobile Unlocked 6.82in IPS LCD Display 6GB RAM Quad Camera Smartphone - Gray

Package Contents : Smartphone, Adapter, USB Cable, Sim Removal Tool, Generic Box

Grade A : Like new cosmetics with minor scratches (9.7/10)

GSM Unlocked device is compatible with carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, H20, Simple Mobile, Consumer Cellular, Metro PCS, Straight Talk GSM, Tracfone GSM, Ting GSM, Project Fi GSM, and other Postpaid/Prepaid carriers. The unlocked device will NOT work with CDMA Carriers like Verizon, Sprint, Boost Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Straight Talk CDMA, Tracfone CDMA, Total Wireless, Ting Wireless CDMA, Project Fi CDMA, or U.S Cellular. CDMA carriers require you to purchase their carrier-branded device only. So even if the listing says GSM Unlocked it will not work with CDMA Carriers. REPUBLIC WIRELESS has hardware limitations and would only work on USA Version devices, not on International Version devices. It is not compatible with Cricket. Please get in touch with your service provider to check the full compatibility of the devices & the network they operate on. International Version devices are compatible with the GSM carrier mentioned above but would appear not compatible on the carrier website. Only USA-version devices are registered on their website; however, we have tested and verified them working on the GSM network.

SPECIFICATIONS :

MAIN FRAME : 

STORAGE

SIGNALS

BUILD

DISPLAY

CAMERA

CONNECTIVITY

BATTERY

Design

This is the first T-Mobile REVVL phone I have tested, and I came away very impressed. The REVVL 6 Pro is a very large phone with a 6.82-inch display, so while it's ideal for watching video content, it doesn't fit that well in some pants or shorts pockets. Fortunately, it feels great in the hand with the matte plastic back, looks cool with the dark gray color, and T-Mobile's signature Magenta is apparent on the right-side power/fingerprint sensor. The sensor has performed flawlessly, and I am a huge fan of mounting this on the side power button.

The REVVL 6 Pro is also one of those rare phones with a standard 3.5mm headset jack on the bottom. Alongside that headphone jack are a mono speaker and USB-C port. 

Camera performance

Flipping over to the back, we see a quad-camera setup and a flash tucked away in the upper left corner in a 2x2 arrangement. From testing, the cameras perform better than expected and rivaled what I've seen out of mid-range phones that cost twice as much as the T-Mobile REVVL 6 Pro. The cameras won't beat out the expensive iPhones and Samsung Galaxy flagships, but they will do just fine for social media and casual image sharing.  

The camera software within the REVVL provides the ability to switch to macro, 50MP, slow motion, hyperlapse, panorama, and pro modes atop the typical modes. While the various modes function as described, there are very few settings and modifications available for each, so you are getting a basic camera experience overall.

Wireless charging? Check.

Surprisingly, wireless charging is actually supported on the T-Mobile REVVL 6 Pro. I had to read the specifications document twice since we usually do not see wireless charging, even in mid-range phones like the Pixel 6a or OnePlus 10T. It's not super-fast wireless charging, but it is convenient. 15W fast wired charging is also supported, should you go the traditional route.

Software

The T-Mobile REVVL 6 Pro launches with Android 12 and a very Pixel-esque user interface. T-Mobile and Google collaborated to build an optimized experience on T-Mobile's network so that you will find a few T-Mobile utilities and key Google apps installed on the phone out of the box. The July 5, 2022, Android security update is present on our review unit, and it remains to be seen how well T-Mobile will support the REVVL with security and firmware updates. Since the phone is a T-Mobile branded model, I hope we see solid support with one party, the carrier, removed from the chain of approval.

The few T-Mobile utilities installed on the phone are T-Mobile Play, T-Mobile's account manager app, and Visual Voicemail. There is also a McAfee app that you can uninstall. For a T-Mobile-branded phone, you're not getting as much bloatware as expected, which is fantastic. From Google, we find all of the expected apps, including Google Wallet, Maps, Photos, and many more. Google Discover is present alongside a T-Mobile-branded news feed when you swipe left to right on the home screen panel.

Cellular performance

Since I was testing out a Google Pixel 6a at the same time, the first test I performed on it and the REVVL 6 Pro was cellular reception. Impressively, the T-Mobile REVVL beat the Pixel 6a handily in every low-to-high signal area, which was enough to convince me to return my Pixel 6a. I saw 8 to 15 dBm better cellular performance out of the REVVL, and it wasn't until I was writing this review that I realized the REVVL 6 Pro has a MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor and integrated 5G modem after just assuming it was another one of Qualcomm's Android modems.

Cellular reception strength has always been an area where Samsung and OnePlus stood out from Apple and Google. However, it is a vital element of a solid smartphone experience and one of the first things I check out on a phone. T-Mobile impressed me here with the amazing cellular performance that rivals Samsung and OnePlus, so people on T-Mobile buying this phone should be very happy with its connection reliability and speeds. While people might move to the Pixel 6a for the better camera experience and Google's promise of extended software support, I was very disappointed with the cellular performance on that phone and do not think Google's Tensor chip is ready to compete with others for connectivity.

Bottom line

In order to launch a phone at just $219.99, there have to be some compromises. The REVVL 6 Pro is a very large phone with a lower resolution display with a 60Hz refresh rate, but the display looks great, and my aging eyes could barely perceive much of a difference in the resolution when compared to higher resolution phones. Another compromise was in camera quality and build materials. Plastic is great for taking a bump or two but can feel cheap and almost like a toy. 

Otherwise, the T-Mobile REVVL 6 Pro is a decent sub-$250 phone that gets the essentials down, compromises on parts, and excels in cellular connectivity.

Alternatives to consider

There are not that many phones priced at this low price point, but there are a few priced less than $500. Here's some to consider if you don't like the compromises that were made in the T-Mobile REVVL 6 Pro.