TCL will bring four sub-$200 phones to the US this year, two of which will have 5G. Unveiled as part of China’s Mobile World Congress announcements on Sunday in Barcelona, takes part of the TCL 40 Series of phones.
The highest end is the TCL 40 X 5G, which is priced at $199 and is scheduled to be released this June. The phone includes a triple rear camera system anchored by a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, a 6.56-inch HD Plus display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor. The TCL 40 X 5G will also include a 5,000-mAh battery, 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.
TCL is also touting the phone’s 180Hz touch sampling rate, which is a number often used to describe how responsive the phone is for gaming or any activity that involves quick response. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S23 has a 240Hz touch sampling rate when in gaming mode, and the RedMagic 7 gaming phone has 720Hz.
The step-down model from the X is the TCL 40 XE 5G, priced at $169 and also slated for a June release. It shares many of the same specs as the X, but has a 13-megapixel main rear camera. The screen, processor, battery and storage options will be the same.
The TCL 40 XE 5G will cost $169 when it launches this June.
TCL
Costing $20 less than the XE, the $149 TCL 40 XL doesn’t support 5G but has a larger 6.75-inch screen. The phone also has a 50-megapixel main rear camera, an 8-megapixel front facing camera, a MediaTek G37 processor, 128GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and a 5,000-mAh battery. The TCL 40 XL will be released in May.
The 40 X, XE and XL are all exclusive to the US, and will be released in partnership with a US carrier to be announced at a later date. For the prepaid market, a $119 TCL 406 phone will be launched this year with a 6.6-inch HD Plus display and dual speakers.
It’s noted that TCL is targeting the sub-$200 phone market with the 40 Series, with TCL Chief Marketing Officer Stefan Streit announcing that keeping the phones connected to carriers is an important part of its current strategy.
The TCL 40 XL does not include 5G, but has a larger screen.
TCL
“We only started TCL as a mobile brand three years ago, the brand is still very young,” Streit said, noting that from the company’s perspective the midprice ($300 to $600) market the phone is currently under pressure from inflation. While TCL challenges its ability to create a high-end concept phone or a foldable phone, Streit said the company plans to focus on the entry-level market for now before choosing to step back. TCL has a longer history with TVs and makes some CNET favorites, including the 6-Series, which we think is the best TV for the money right now.
Read more: TCL Considers Pitching a $750 Folding Phone, But Only If We Want It
TCL also confirmed in a press briefing that all phones are sold exclusively through carrier partnerships. This means that while they have cheaper prices or are even offered for free by carriers, it is possible that they are loaded with carrier bloatware, as I found last year. TCL Stylus 5G.
The TCL NxtPaper 11 tablet includes stylus support and a display coating designed to feel like paper when drawing.
TCL
While we’re looking forward to testing these phones when they arrive later this year, it’s definitely a bonus to see 5G connectivity starting to trickle down to more affordable devices. After years of 5G being more of a “nice to have,” these TCL phones may start the trend of networks being used by all devices.
The TCL Tab 11 will cost $179.
TCL
TCL also launched a line of affordable tablets at MWC, including the TCL NxtPaper 11 and the TCL Tab 11. Both tablets offer an 11-inch screen with 2K resolution, with the NxtPaper tablet supports the stylus with a display coating designed to feel like. paper when writing or drawing. The NxtPaper 11 launches in Europe this May for $249, while the Tab 11 launches the same month with a $179 starting price.