TCL starts the year with three new smartphones, the TCL 40 series debuted at the 2023 CES exhibition. Among these members, the model that gives the most is the one we have already described TCL 40 R 5G, with which the manufacturer aims to offer a 5G-capable device at the most affordable price. The device achieves the new-generation mobile network connection with the 7 nm MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, and the system also has 4 GB of RAM. The storage is 64 or 128 GB, which can be expanded up to 1 TB with a microSD card.
The device has a slightly square shape, the housing is made of plastic, available in black and purple colors, it measures 164.46 x 75.4 x 8.99 millimeters and weighs 192 grams. On the right side, integrated into the power button, is the fingerprint reader, and above it is the volume control button. In addition to fingerprint unlocking, there is also 2D face-based unlocking, which uses the 8 MP front camera. The user interface is TCL UI 4.0, which is based on Android 12. The display has a 6.6-inch diagonal, and a waterdrop-shaped notch with the front camera hangs on top. The resolution is HD+ (720 x 1612 pixels), the refresh rate is 90 Hz, the IPS LCD panel occupies 89% of the front panel, according to TCL.
TCL 40 R 5G [+]
In addition to supporting European 5G bands, the device can display Wi-Fi 5, VoLTE capabilities, VoWi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 5.1 and a USB 2.0 speed Type-C connector on the data connection side, and it accepts two nanoSIMs at the same time, but then the possibility of storage expansion jumped. There are three (1 + 2) cameras on the back, the main camera is autofocus with a 50 MP resolution, and two 2 MP auxiliary sensors have been placed next to it. The upper limit of video recording is 30 frames per second with 1080p resolution, which can be said to be standard in the cheaper category. Likewise, the 5,000 mAh battery is not a big surprise either, it can be powered by 15 watt PD charging.
A is slightly larger TCL 40 SE, because this device already has a 6.75-inch display. The HD+ resolution (720 x 1600 pixels), the 90 Hz update and the notch hanging from the top are unchanged, but here the display-to-body ratio is better (90 %) because the 8 MP front-facing camera is not in the form of a water drop. , but in a U-shape. The fingerprint reader is also located on the far right, hidden in a button. The housing is still plastic, but the dimensions are slightly different: 167.91 x 76.5 x 8.45 millimeters and 190 grams. There is no change in the available colors, black and purple are the options.
TCL 40 SE [+]
The knowledge of the rear camera system is also the same, but there are significant differences in hardware and software. The TCL 40 SE is already available with TCL UI 5.0 based on Android 13. It should be powered by a MediaTek Helio G37, supported by 4 or 6 GB of LPDDR4X memory. The storage can be eMMC and 128 or 256 GB, but of course there is a microSD card slot, which can be used to add 1 TB of extra storage to the phone. There is no 5G support, but the device covers the domestic 4G bands and the SIM tray can accommodate the two nanoSIMs as well as the microSD. The battery here is also 5000 mAh, but charging is a hair faster at 18 watts. Plus, this device is slightly better for media consumption because, unlike the 40 R 5G, it has stereo speakers.
The last member of the trio is TCL 408, which inherits the 50 MP camera from the others, offers a 6.6-inch display, but only with a 60 Hz update and its 164.66 x 75.4 x 8.99 mm 190 gram housing is made of plastic. It will be available in blue or gray colors. As in previous models, the 8 MP front camera in a teardrop-shaped notch on the right side, the fingerprint scanner in the button, the 5000 mAh battery with 10 watt charging and the support of all European 5G bands are given here.
TCL 408 [+]
The heart of the hardware is the MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762) chip, which is accompanied by 4 or 6 GB of RAM and 64 or 128 GB of storage space. The storage can also be expanded here with a microSD card, but this device can handle a maximum of 512 GB and you have to sacrifice the dual SIM capability for the microSD. As with the 40 SE, there’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo speakers, but the TCL 408 only got Android 12 major.
The three new devices will also be available on the European market, sales will start in the first quarter of 2023, and according to our information, new TCL mobiles will also arrive at MWC 2023. We already know the prices given in euros, this is as follows:
- TCL 40 R 5G: available now from 219 euros,
- TCL 40 SE: coming soon from 169 euros,
- TCL 408: coming soon from 139 euros.
