A person using a TCL phone

TCL Mobile Phones

The TCL brand is well known in Australia for its range of television sets – which it has been selling for nearly two decades – but its range of smartphones are somewhat less well known. First selling in Australia in 2020, TCL smartphones have quickly been compared with Android mainstays such Samsung and Motorola, and have started to gain a reputation to mirror its TV range – easy on the pocket while delivering the goods. If you’re on the lookout for an Android smartphone and want to know more about TCL, find everything you need to know in this Canstar Blue article.

What TCL phones are available in Australia?

A selection of TCL Smartphones

TCL currently has a number of smartphones available for purchase in Australia, including:

  • TCL 20 Pro 5G
  • TCL 20 R 5G
  • TCL 20S
  • TCL 20 SE
  • TCL 10 Pro
  • TCL 10 5G UW
  • TCL 10L

How much do TCL phones cost?

TCL phones generally cost between $215 and $499, depending on the model and the retailer you purchase through. TCL smartphones sit on the cheaper end of the scale and are typically budget handsets.

What is the cheapest TCL phone?

Currently, the cheapest TCL phone available for purchase in Australia is the TCL 10L, which retails for $218, depending on which retailer you purchase it from.

Where can I buy a TCL phone in Australia?

TCL phones can be purchased through retailers JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, or Mobile Citi. There are currently no TCL retail outlets in Australia, and if you’re looking to buy through a telco on a plan, not all telcos will stock every TCL device, so you might need to shop around.

Can I get a TCL phone on a plan?

Vodafone currently offers two popular TCL devices on plans: the TCL 20 Pro 5G and the TCL 20 R 5G. You can pick up either phone on a 12, 24, or 36-month device payment plan, and pair it with your choice of Vodafone SIM-only Infinite postpaid plan.

Prices for each TCL phone are as follows (note that this doesn’t include your mobile plan fees):

TCL 20 Pro 5G

  • 12 months: $66.58 per month ($798.96 in total)
  • 24 months: $33.29 per month ($798.96 in total)
  • 36 months: $22.19 per month ($798.84 in total)

TCL 20 R 5G:

  • 12 months: $24.91 per month ($298.92 in total)
  • 24 months: $12.45 per month ($298.80 in total)
  • 36 months: $8.30 per month ($298.80 in total)

Otherwise, you can buy any of the above TCL smartphones outright and unlocked, and pair with your choice of postpaid or prepaid SIM-only plan. You can find a selection of SIM plans in the below tables.

Here is a selection of postpaid plans from Canstar Blue’s database with a minimum of 10GB of data, listed in order of standard cost, lowest to highest, then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use Canstar Blue’s phone plan comparison tool to see a wide range of plans on offer from mobile providers. This table includes products with links to referral partners.

Here is a selection of prepaid plans from Canstar Blue’s database with a minimum of 10GB of data, listed in order of standard cost, lowest to highest, then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see a wide range of plans from other providers. This table includes products with links to referral partners.

TCL phone reviews

If you want to learn a little bit more about the TCL smartphones on offer, check out our reviews below:

Are TCL phones worth buying?

TCL phones are a testament to the fact that phones don’t have to be extravagantly expensive to be helpfully functional. A TCL phone which costs you $218 will give you a nice screen display, high-quality battery life and some decent storage, although TCL phones aren’t equipped for water resistance, wireless charging and a number of helpful features that many modern smartphones generally come with.

In saying that, if you don’t need all the bells and whistles – or are just looking for something a bit more affordable – TCL may be worth exploring further, although it’s best to look into all of your options before deciding to ensure you get the best smartphone for your needs.

Picture credit: Dean Drobot/shutterstock.com, TCL