CES 2020: TCL is latest brand to bring 5G to mid-tier

TCL launched its first self-branded smartphone at IFA 2019, but it isn’t stopping at just one. The Chinese brand has used CES 2020 to preview its latest self-branded devices, the TCL 10 series.

There are three phones in the series — the TCL 10 5G, TCL 10 Pro, and TCL 10L. All three handsets sport punch hole displays and quad rear cameras. The manufacturer also confirmed that the former device would offer the “recently announced Snapdragon 700 series” chipset, which means it’s equipped with either the Snapdragon 765 or 765G.

TCL says all three phones sport in-house displays, while specifically noting that the 10 Pro has an OLED screen. It’s unclear whether the other devices have OLED technology.

The manufacturer didn’t divulge any more details about the phones, but says we’ll need to wait for MWC 2020 next month for the official launch.

More wallet-friendly phones

TCL also had more phones to announce in Las Vegas, albeit under the Alcatel brand. The Alcatel brand has traditionally occupied the low-end of the market, and these 2020 devices are no different on paper.

The Alcatel 3L is the most impressive device of the lot, offering a triple rear camera setup (48MP+5MP ultra-wide+2MP macro). Other noteworthy specs include an 8MP selfie camera in a waterdrop notch, a 6.2-inch HD+ screen, the lower-end MediaTek Helio P22 chipset, a 4,000mAh battery, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.

Expect to pay $155 for the Alcatel 3L when it eventually launches in Q1 2020. The device will be available in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions.

Want a cheaper triple camera phone? That’s where the Alcatel 1S comes in, starting at $110. You’re getting a 13MP primary+5MP depth+2MP macro trio, so that means no ultra-wide snapper, unfortunately. The phone is powered by an MT6762D octa-core SoC (presumably a Helio P22 variant) and 3GB of RAM, and offers 32GB of expandable storage.

Other disclosed features include a 6.22-inch HD+ screen with waterdrop notch, 4,000mAh battery, and a 5MP selfie snapper. The Alcatel 1S will be available in EMEA regions, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific markets in Q1 2020.

Alcatel is also dipping below the $100 barrier once again with the Alcatel 1V and 1B. The 1V is a little more impressive, featuring an MT6762D chipset, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage. You’re also getting a 4,000mAh battery, 6.2-inch HD+ screen, 13MP+5MP rear camera pairing, and a 5MP camera in a waterdrop notch. Expect to pay $88 when the device launches in EMEA, Latin America, and Asia Pacific markets in Q1 2020.

The Alcatel 1B is clearly the least impressive device of the lot, touting Android Go (based on Android 10). You’ll also find an aging Snapdragon 215 quad-core chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 3,000mAh battery. You’ll pay $66 when the device launches in Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and EMEA regions.

What do you think of the new Alcatel and TCL devices? Let us know in the comments below!