A brand name synonymous with TVs, TCL is further cementing its place as a smartphone manufacturer with the reveal of the new 30 series to be released in 2022. The announcement came as part of TCL’s showcase at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022 held in Barcelona, with five new devices joining the two US-exclusive phones in the 30 series, the TCL 30 XE 5G and 30 V 5G.
Currently the details on which markets will receive which phones and when is unconfirmed, however prices have been released for the European market. Devices, prices and release dates for the Australian market will be confirmed closer towards planned launch dates.
Aaron Zhang, CEO at TCL Communication said: “The TCL 30 Series portfolio is our way of giving consumers around the world the freedom to showcase their unique style through feature-packed technologies and connected experiences, inspiring them to get the most from life.”
The new phones part of the TCL 30 series includes the TCL 30 5G, TCL 30+, TCL 30, TCL 30 SE and TCL 30 E. We’ll take a look at what features and specifications you can expect from each device, but keep in mind that not all of these phones will be available in Australia.
TCL 30 series features and specs
As this series of five devices will not all be launched into the same markets, some devices have similarities, but there are also differences between the phones. Not all of the specifications have been released at this point, so further details will be available closer to launch.
TCL 30 5G
- 5G connectivity
- 6.7 inch FHD+ AMOLED display with NXTVISION technology
- 5,010mAh battery
- 18W fast-charging support
- AI triple-rear camera setup with 50MP main lens
- Ultra-wide front-facing camera
- Dreamy Blue and Tech Black colourways
- From €249 (around $380 AUD)
TCL 30+
- 6.7 inch FHD+ AMOLED display with NXTVISION technology
- 5,010mAh battery
- 18W fast-charging support
- AI triple-rear camera setup with 50MP main lens
- 13MP ultra-wide front-facing camera
- Dual speakers
- Muse Blue and Tech Black colourways
- From €199 (around $300 AUD)
TCL 30
- 6.7 inch FHD+ AMOLED display with NXTVISION technology
- 5,010mAh battery
- 18W fast-charging support
- AI triple-rear camera setup with 50MP main lens
- Dual speakers
- Muse Blue and Tech Black colourways
- From €179 (around $270 AUD)
TCL 30 SE
- 6.52 inch HD+ Vast display with NXTVISION technology
- 5,000mAh battery
- Octa-core 8GB RAM
- AI triple-rear camera setup with 50MP main lens
- 8MP front-facing camera
- Dual SIM and expandable Micro SD storage
- Space Grey, Atlantic Blue and Glacial Blue colourways
- From €149 (around $230 AUD)
TCL 30 E
- 6.52 inch HD+ Vast display with NXTVISION technology
- 5,000mAh battery
- Dual-rear camera setup with 50MP main lens
- Space Grey and Atlantic Blue colourways
- From €139 (around $215 AUD)
It’s worth noting that 5G is only available on one of these devices (excluding the US exclusive phones). As TCL has previously released 5G compatible phones into the Australian market, we may see the 30 5G making its way to our shores, bar any additional 5G phones TCL plans to release in Australia.
The prices listed are also the price guides listed in Euros unveiled at MWC, so for device prices for phones released in Australia, it’s likely they’ll be different to what is listed above.
Related: OPPO Find X5 series Australian reveal: features, specs and prices
SIM-only TCL phone plans
If you’re looking to buy a TCL phone this year — whether it’s a yet-to-be-released device or one already on the market — you’ll most likely be buying your device outright. When you buy your TCL phone outright, you’ll then need to pair your TCL phone with a SIM-only phone plan. The following table shows a range of SIM-only plans, simply switch between the tabs to compare prepaid and postpaid plans.
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. Try using our mobile phone plan comparison tool to see a wide range of plans from other 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 each month, listed in order of standard cost, lowest to highest, then by data allowance, largest to smallest. If you want to compare a larger range of offers from other providers, use our phone plan comparison tool. This table includes products with links to referral partners.
Related: TCL 20 R 5G review: 5G for less than $350
TCL’s smartphone future — folding and rolling phones
In addition to the 30 series of phones, TCL has some big plans for the future, after revealing a range of folding and rolling smartphones, taking bendable screen technology even further.
While these designs are still in the early stages of testing and concepts, it’s still an interesting and exciting technological future that TCL is aiming for. There are three devices in the works that were revealed as concepts for MWC, showcasing the company’s developing technologies.
The Fold ‘N Roll is a device that not only folds, but has a screen that can roll and wrap around the front of the device. Then there’s the 360° Ultra Flex with a screen that folds a full 360°, allowing for the screen to be totally enclosed or appear on the front and back. And then there’s the Surround Display concept with a display that is not only foldable, but wraps around to the front, allowing for screens on the front and back of the device.
In addition to a range of planned smartphones and new screen technology, TCL also unveiled a range of other devices, including a series of tablet devices to be released in 2022, as well as WiFi modems and concepts for smart glasses. The company’s updated product range shows that TCL is now more than just a TV brand, but a serious contender in the smartphone and personal tech space.
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