TCL just unveilved the 30, 30+ and 30 5G – three smartphones quite similar to each other and more like variations on a theme than completely separate models. One clearly stands out with next-gen connectivity, but it also packs a more capable chipset. Let’s start with that one.
TCL 30 5G
The TCL 30 5G is powered by the Dimensity 700, a 7nm chipset with two Cortex-A76 cores (2.2 GHz), six A55s (2.0 GHz), a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU and a 5G modem capable of delivering speeds up to 2.77 Gbps.
The chip is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB storage, plus a microSD slot for up to 1TB more (there are single and dual-SIM versions of the phone, the microSD slot is dedicated). The phone launches with Android 12 with TCL UI 4.0 out of the box and TCL will soon announce its plans for software support.
TCL 30 5G
Like its two siblings, the phone has a 6.7” AMOLED display (60 Hz) with 1,080 x 2,400 px resolution (20:9). It has 100% coverage of the NTSC color space and peaks at 900 nits of brightness. There is a fingerprint reader on the side or you could use the face unlock feature.
Another shared feature is the camera, starring a 50MP main module with a 1/2.76” sensor (0.64µm pixels) and an f/1.8 aperture. This camera can record 1080p video at 30 fps. Joining it is a 13MP selfie camera (1/3”, 1.12µm, f/2.3) with a surprisingly wide field of view – 96°. There are two more 2MP cams on the back, a macro and a depth sensor.
TCL 30 5G with a 50 MP main camera (+ 2MP macro and 2 MP depth)
There are a couple variants of the phone with support for different 4G and 5G bands (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 and 2, 5, 7, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78). Other wireless features include VoLTE, VoWiFi, Wi-Fi 5 (ac), Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC. The USB-C port is wired for USB 2.0 speeds.
More importantly, it charges the 5,010 mAh battery at 18W (9V, 2A). The phone measures 7.74 mm thick and weighs 184g. You can have one in Dreamy Blue or Tech Black.
The TCL 30 5G will be start at €250 for the 4/64 GB model (the 128 GB option will be €270). Starting in April it will be available in Europe and select other regions.
TCL 30+
The TCL 30+ switches over to a less capable Helio G37, a 12 nm chipset with eight Cortex-A53 cores and a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. You still get 4GB of RAM (LPDDR4X) and 128 GB storage (eMMC), plus a dedicated microSD slot.
The 6.7” AMOLED display (1,080 x 2,400 px) is the same, as is the 50MP main camera (plus the two 2MP helpers) and 13MP selfie cam, the phone runs Android 12 out of the box.
The connectivity section experienced some cutbacks – only Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) is supported, the Bluetooth is version 5.0 and NFC is missing in some regions.
The TCL 30+ has the same 6.7″ AMOLED display and 50 MP main camera
The battery is the same, 5,010 mAh, and it can be fully charged over USB-C with the supplied 18W power adapter in just over 2 hours. All three models have 3.5 mm headphone jacks. However, only the 30 and 30+ have dual speakers.
TCL 30+
The TCL 30+ is launching in Europe now at a price of €200 and it will be available in other regions soon. You can have one in Muse Blue or Tech Black.
TCL 30
The TCL 30 is almost the same phone as the plus, it’s just a slightly more affordable version. There are only a few differences, starting with the storage – it’s 64 GB (you can still expand it via microSD).
The TCL 30 is a lower cost alternative to the Plus with less storage and an 8 MP selfie cam
Also, the front-facing camera has a smaller 8 MP sensor (1/4”, pixel size still at 1.12 µm) with a narrower FoV of 78°. Finally, the phone ships with a 10W charger in the box, not 18W. The 5,010 mAh battery still supports 18W charging, but you have to supply a more powerful adapter yourself.
TCL 30
The TCL 30 also launches in Europe now at a price of €180, €20 less than the Plus model. Expect to see it in other regions soon.
TCL 30 and TCL 30+ are also Google Android Enterprise Recommended certified devices.