TCL’s latest budget 5G phone is now available exclusively through Verizon
After years of manufacturing phones for BlackBerry and Alcatel, TCL startedreleasing phones under its own namefrom 2020, though the offerings were run-of-the-mill and only stood out for their low price tag. At CES 2022 earlier this month, the companyannounced two new smartphones: the 30 V 5G and the 30 XE 5G. Both budget-oriented and packing modest specs with the key highlight being 5G support. Starting today, you can purchase the TCL 30 V 5G exclusively on Verizon’s network in the US for $300 unlocked.
The 30 V 5G specs are nothing to write home about, with a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD, 4GB RAM, and a 4500mAh battery with 18W fast charging. It does come with a triple-camera setup, though, including a 50MP primary shooter. Despite its mediocre specs, the TCL 30 V 5G supports Verizon’s Nationwide and Ultra Wideband 5G networks, thanks to the Snapdragon 480 chipset and its built-in 5G modem.
TCL 30 V 5G
Snapdragon 480 5G
128GB + microSD slot
6.67-inch 1080p LCD @ 60Hz
4500mAh, 18W charging
50MP main, 5MP ultra wide, 2MP macro; 16MP selfie camera
Android 11
Measurements
6.53” x 2.99” x 0.36”, 7.07 oz
The only potential bummer is that the phone runs on Android 11 out of the box and there’s no word from TCL on when the Android 12 update will arrive. Nonetheless, this can be overlooked given the $300 price tag, making it among the cheapest 5G smartphones available for purchase on Verizon’s network. Besides buying it outright, you can also pay just $10/month for the device over 30 months.
TCL isworking on more powerful mid-range phonesthat will presumably launch later this year, including the TCL 30, 30 SE, and the TCL 306. Last year’sTCL 20 Pro 5G looked greatbut faltered in many key areas, and it remains to be seen if the company will address these issues with its 2022 smartphone lineup.
Buy at Verizon
Things get red hot for Magenta
Pixel 10 Pro XL charges faster wirelessly
We just learned a little bit more about Light No Fire in a video about the Voyagers update for No Man’s Sky
Navigate through galaxies of customization with Samsung’s One UI Home
Google is still searching for answers
It’s been a while
