TCL Reveals Five Affordable Smartphones During Mobile World Congress 2022

Jon Bitner
·3 min read

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Mobile World Congress 2022 is officially underway. Many of today’s biggest manufacturers are taking the stage in Barcelona to show off their latest gadgets. TCL came out of the gates swinging, revealing five affordable new phones in the TCL 30 series. They’ll be heading to customers throughout the rest of the year.

We’re still waiting for exact release locations and regional pricing. Still, the TCL 30 series is already shaping up to be one of the most intriguing budget lineups of the year. Starting at €139 (approximately $155 USD) for the TCL 30E, there’s a surprising amount of tech backing the smartphones. Here’s a closer look at all five phones shown off by TCL:

  • TCL 30 5G: Starting at €249 and arriving in April. Boasting a 6.7-inch FHD+ display and 60Hz refresh rate, the 30 5G is among the largest phones in the lineup. You also get the MediaTek Dimensity 700, surprisingly powerful given the phone’s low price. Three rear cameras are included (50MP, 2MP, 2MP) along with a 13MP front-facing camera. Of course, it’s also compatible with 5G networks.

  • TCL 30+: Starting at €199 and now available in select European markets. It offers the same screen as the 30 5G, although it swaps out the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset for a MediaTek Helio G37. The same cameras from the 30 5G can also be found on the 30+. Aside from the processor swap and the lack of 5G, this is largely the same phone as the one above.

  • TCL 30: Starting at €179 and now available in select European markets. Most of the TCL 30+ specs carry over to the TCL 30. But instead you’ll get an 8MP front-facing camera. You’ll still benefit from the MediaTek Helio G37 and the same suite of rear cameras.

  • TCL 30 SE: Starting at €149 and now available in select European markets. Cross over to the low side of the $150 threshold and things radically change. The TCL 30 SE features a MediaTek Helio G25 processor, 8MP front-facing camera, and a 6.52-inch HD+ display. It also comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

  • TCL 30 E: Starting at €139 and arriving in April. Take the TCL 30 SE, drop its available RAM from 4GB to 3GB and reduce its battery from 5,010mAH to 5,000mAH and you’ve essentially built the TCL 30 E. It won’t set any performance records, but it can handle social media apps and streaming the latest shows. It can do all this while carrying one of the lowest price tags you’ll find on the market.

It’s unclear if these will be making their way stateside. Previously, the TCL 30 V launched on Verizon this February for just $300. The phone is technically included in the TCL 30 lineup mentioned above. However, its price tag makes it the most expensive of the bunch. Expect to learn more about the five smartphones in the coming weeks.

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