TCL has just announced the 10 Series, a lineup of three smartphones designed to bring mobile affordability to a whole new level.
Known for its surprisingly impressive and affordable televisions, TCL jumping into the smartphone game for itself could seriously shake up the industry. Each of these three phones are remarkably inexpensive for what you’re getting, and their presence in the market could seriously drive the affordability trend in a new direction.
Now, let’s take a look at what you’re going to find in these three phones: the TCL 10 Pro, TCL 10L, and TCL 10 5G.
TCL 10 5G – The 5G Compatible Phone
Perhaps the most interesting entry in new lineup is the TCL 10 5G, a 5G-compatible smartphone that is well below the standard price range for such devices. While the US price hasn’t been revealed, TCL said it will cost €399 in Europe, which translates to an almost unbelievably affordable 5G-compatible smartphone, particularly when you consider the other specs.
- Display: 6.53-inch LCD
- Processor: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Price: €399 (no US price available)
- Available: Later this year
Admittedly, the lower price tag has a few hiccups, including the LCD display. However, with the same impressive battery life, RAM, and storage options as the 10 Pro, the 10 5G looks pretty darn good when you consider it’s nearly half the price of other 5G-compatible smartphones.
Unfortunately, the TCL 10 5G isn’t on the same release schedule as the rest of the series. TCL was quick to note that the smartphone will be released some time later this year, but wasn’t much more specific than that, so check back for updates.
Source: TCL
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TCL 10 Pro – The Premium Smartphone
Considered the flagship device of the new series, the TCL 10 Pro boasts some pretty impressive specs for such an affordable phone. From the OLED display to the notably lengthy battery life, this smartphone could represent the go-to option for anyone looking to spend less than $500 on premium features. The somewhat outdated processor may be the only drawback, but hey, you can’t have everything.
- Display: 6.47-inch curved OLED
- Processor: Snapdragon 675
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Price: $449
- Available: Q2 2020
As for cameras, each of the three smartphones in the 10 Series lineup offers a four rear-facing camera setup, with a single front-facing camera. The TCL 10 Pro specifically features “a 64MP high-res camera, 2.9μm big pixel low-light video cam, 123-degree super wide-angle camera and macro camera.”
No specific released date has been mentioned for any of the phones, but the TCL 10 Pro is poised to hit the market sometime in the second quarter of 2020.
TCL 10L – The Budget Device
When a company is known for making unreasonably affordable 4K TVs, you know it’s going to nail the inexpensive smartphone, and TCL has done just that. At only $249, the TCL 10L features an only slightly worse processor than the 10 Pro, an LCD display rather than OLED, and a slightly smaller battery. Still, the crazy low price tag makes this an attractive, entry-level device for anyone, particularly given all the other specs.
- Display: 6.53-inch LCD
- Processor: Snapdragon 665
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64GB / 128GB
- Battery: 4,000mAh
- Price: $249
- Available: Q2 2020
As for cameras, the TCL 10L still features the same four rear-facing cameras and the single front-facing camera, although each of them is slightly nerfed compared to the TCL 10 Pro. It features a 48MP main camera, an 8MP super-wide lens, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor for portrait mode.
Like the TCL 10 Pro, the TCL 10L will be available in the second quarter of 2020, with no official release date announced just yet.
Should You Buy a TCL 10 Series Smartphone?
If cost has been your primary roadblock to getting a new phone, you should absolutely buy one of the three smartphones in the TCL 10 Series. Despite the low price, each one features some notably impressive specs and features found in premium flagship devices that cost almost twice as much.
More specifically, the TCL 10 5G could be a game-changer for the new network. Granted, there’s some misinformed controversy surrounding the technology right now, but if you’re looking for much faster speeds without the hefty price tag, the TCL 10 5G is by far your best option.
