After launching in Europe earlier this year, the TCL 20 Series of smartphones are now available in the United States. Rather than go after Samsung in the high-end space, TCL seems to be focused on the budget and mid-range space.
The company’s most impressive new phone is the TCL 20 Pro 5G, with a 2400 x 1080 pixel AMOLED display, 6GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. But with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, it’s unsurprising that the phone has a starting price of $500. Other new models include the $250 TCL 20 S and the $189 TCL 20 SE.
The $250 model has the a similar display to the TCL Pro 5G, but it tops out at 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and it features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor and a different set of cameras. Still, it’s nice to see a FHD+ AMOLED display on a phone in this price range.
TCL’s latest budget model, meanwhile, has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a bigger, lower-resolution (thus less pixel-dense) LCD display. But the TCL 20 SE does have some nice-for-this-price-range features including UFS 2.1 storage and a 5,000 mAh battery.
Here’s a run-down of key specs for all three phones:
| TCL 20 Pro 5G | TCL 20S | TCL 20 SE | |
| Display | 6.67 inch 2400 x 1080 20:9 AMOLED 3D glass (curved) | 6.67 inch 2400 x 1080 20:9 AMOLED 2.5D | 6.82 inch 1640 x 720 20.5:9 LCD 2.5D |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 256GB microSD card reader (up to 1TB) | 128GB microSD card reader (up to 1TB) | 128GB microSD card reader (up to 256GB) |
| Cameras (rear) | 48MP primary w/OIS & auto-focus 16MP ultra-wide (fixed focus) 5MP Macro (auto-focus) 2MP Depth (fixed focus) | 64MP primary (auto-focus) 8MP wide-angle (fixed) 2MP Macro (fixed) 2MP depth (fixed) | 48MP primary (auto-focus) 5MP wide-angle (fixed) 2MP macro (fixed) 2MP depth (fixed) |
| Camera (front) | 32MP | 16MP | 13MP |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W (wired) 15W (wireless) | 18W (wired) | No fast charging |
| Wireless | WIFi 5 Bluetooth 5.1 4G LTE 5G VoLTE (AT&T, T-Mobile & Verizon) | WiFi 5 Bluetooth 5.0 4G LTE VoLTE | WiFi 4 Bluetooth 5.0 4G LTE VoLTE compatible |
| Ports | USB 2.0 Type-C microSD card reader 3.5mm headphone | USB 2.0 Type-C microSD card reader 3.5mm headphone | USB 2.0 Type-C microSD card reader 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Security | In-display fingerprint sensor Face recognition | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor Face recognition | Rear fingerprint sensor Face recognition |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 73.8 x 9.07mm | 166.2 x 76.9 x 9.1 mm | 172.08 x 77.14 x 9.1mm |
| Weight | 190 grams | 199 grams | 206 grams |
| Starting price | $500 | $250 | $190 |
TCL 20 Pro 5G
TCL 20S
TCL 20 SE
Too big for a comfortable phone size. Pass!
Did TCL just buy Samsung’s tooling and leftover front-glass/screen parts from the S9 or Note9? The TCL 20 Pro 5G looks identical.
Samsung partially own TCL display department, so probably yes.
Samsung doesn’t own any part of TCL. I think you’re confusing the fact that TCL purchased one of Samsung’s display fabrication facilities.
I don’t truly think this phone is using any parts from existing Samsung phones, the screen size isn’t even close. It’s just an amusing similarity.