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CES 2022 hasn’t gone off without a hitch, thanks chiefly to the ongoing pandemic, but TCL is hitting the ground running anyway, bringing its all-new 30 series to bear. The new smartphones are, of course, a follow-up on last year’s brilliant TCL 20 series. So there’s going to be a lot there to love when they become available.
Both handsets come featuring AMOLED display technology and support for next-gen networking. But these two smartphones are hardly the same gadget.
What sets the TCL 30 XE 5G and TCL 30 V 5G apart at CES 2022?
One of the biggest differentiators between the TCL 30 XE 5G and TCL 30 V 5G is network compatibility. The latter handset, as might be betrayed by its branding, will be a Verizon exclusive. The TCL 30 XE 5G, conversely, will be available at T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. But those are hardly the only things that set these handsets apart from one another.
In fact, these two 30 series smartphones from TCL really couldn’t be much more different. And it’s difficult to say whether or if either phone will be more powerful. The Verizon-bound TCL 30 V 5G is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 480 5G chipset. That’s backed by 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage. With storage expandable up to 1TB via microSD card.
That’s as compared to the TCL 30 XE 5G’s MediaTek-built Dimensity 700 chipset, at 2.2GHz across an octa-core arrangement. Backed by 4GB RAM, 64GB of storage, and expandable up to 512GB via microSD card.
Additionally, the TCL 30 V 5G is the larger of the two handsets, with a Gorilla Glass 3, 1080 x 2400 FHD+ resolution panel coming in at 6.67-inches. That’s as compared to the TCL 30 XE 5G’s 6.52 V-notch panel. With a resolution of 1600 x 720 HD+ but with a higher refresh rate at 90Hz. While the TCL 30 V 5G has a refresh rate of just 60Hz. And, of course, the TCL 30 XE 5G is coated in DragnonTrail 3 glass rather than Gorilla Glass.
Specs
Now, an even better idea of just how different these two devices are can be seen in the specs.
From the cameras to the fact that the TCL 30 XE 5G seems to be more weighted for consistent mobile gaming. While the TCL 30 V 5G appears to be more camera and performance-weighted. Specifically, via the TCL 30 XE 5G’s 120Hz touch refresh rate — compared to the TCL 30 V 5G, which doesn’t have a touch rate listed. And with the latter gadget packing a 50-megapixel-led tri-shooter with a 16-megapixel snapper at the front. Compared to its counterpart’s 8-megapixel selfie shooter and 13-megapixel-led camera array.
For those who might be looking for all of the specifications available though, those are included below, as supplied by TCL.
| TCL 30 V 5G | TCL 30 XE 5G | |
| Design | Dimensions – 6.53” x 2.99” x 0.36” Weight – 7.07 oz Color – Midnight Gray Side Keys – Power, Volume rocker |
Dimensions – 6.46” x 2.95” x 0.335” Weight – 6.88 oz Color – Shadow Black Side Keys – Power, Volume rocker |
| Display | Screen Size – 6.67” Resolution – 1080 x 2400 FHD+ Glass – Gorilla Glass 3 Refresh Rate – 60Hz |
Screen Size – 6.52” V-notch Resolution – 1600 x 720 HD+ Glass – DragonTrail 3 Refresh Rate – 90Hz Touch Sampling – 180Hz |
| Processor | Chipset – Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (SM4350-3-AB) Speed & Type – Octa-Core 2.0 GHz |
Chipset – MediaTek Dimensity 700 Speed & Type – Up to 2.2GHz Octa-Core |
| Memory | RAM/ROM – 4GB RAM/128GB ROM SD Support – microSD up to 1TB User Available Memory – Up to 98GB |
RAM/ROM – 4GB RAM/64GB ROM SD Support – MicroSD up to 512GB User Available Memory – Up to 43GB |
| Features | Operating System – Android 11 SAR – Maximum 1.19 W/kg Head / 1.07 W/kg Body Sensors – Accelerometer, GPS, Light, Proximity, E-Compass, Gyro, Barometer Security – Face Unlock, Fingerprint sensor |
Operating System – Android 11 SAR – Maximum 1.09 W/kg Head / 1.14 W/kg Body Sensors – Accelerometer, GPS, Light, Proximity, E-Compass, Gyro, Barometer Security – Face Unlock, Fingerprint sensor |
| Rear Camera | Megapixels – 50MP (main camera) + 5MP (super wide) + 2MP (macro) Flash Type – LED Flash Focus – Auto Image Stabilization – Electronic HDR – Yes Video Playback – 1080p@30fps Video Capture – 1080p@30fps |
Megapixels – 13MP (main camera) + 2MP (depth) + 2MP (macro) Flash Type – LED Flash Focus – Auto HDR – Yes Video Playback – 1080p@30fps Video Capture – 1080p@30fps |
| Front Camera | Megapixels – 16MP Flash – LCD Screen Flash Video Capture – 1080p@30fps |
Megapixels – 8MP Flash – LCD Screen Flash Video Capture – 1080p@30fps |
| Battery | Size – 4500 mAh Fast Charging – Yes, 18w Charging Time – Under 2 hrs. Mixed Usage – Up to 24 hrs. Talk Time – Up to 30 hrs. Standby Time – Up to 9 days |
Size – 4500mAh Charging Time – Under 2.5 hrs. Mixed Usage – Approx. 16 hrs. Talk Time – Up to 25 hrs. Standby Time – Up to 15 days |
| Network | LTE Bands – B2/B4/B5/B12/B13/B46/B48/B66 5G Bands – Sub6: n2/n5/n48/n66/n77 mmWave: n261, n260 VoLTE – Yes VoWiFi – Yes Mobile Hotspot Yes – up to 10 devices |
GSM Bands – 850, 900, 1800, 1900 3G Bands – B1/2/4/5/8 LTE Bands – B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/20/25/26/28/38/39/40/41 (HPUE)/66/71 5G Bands – n25, n41, n66, n71, n77 VoLTE – Yes VoWiFi – Yes Mobile Hotspot – Yes – up to 10 devices |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi – 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB OTG – Yes Bluetooth – 5.1 USB Type – Type-C, USB 3.0 SIM Type – Nano-SIM 4FF |
Wi-Fi – 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB OTG – Yes Bluetooth – 5.1 USB Type – Type-C, USB 2.0 SIM Type – Nano-SIM 4FF |
| Sound | Microphone – Dual with noise cancellation HD Voice – Yes Formats – AAC LC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, FLAC, MP3, MIDI, Vorbis, PCM/WAVE Headset – 3.5 mm audio jack Speaker – Dual Speaker HAC Rating – M4/T3 |
Microphone – Dual with noise cancellation HD Voice – Yes Formats – WAV, MP3, AAC, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MIDI, Vorbis, APE, FLAC, ADPCM Headset – 3.5mm audio jack Speaker – 1w HAC Rating – M3/T3 |
| Pre-loads | TCL – Call, Contacts, Calculator, Clock, Compass, Radio, Music, File Manager, Notes, Settings, Smart Manager, Switch Phone, Video, Game box, NXTVISION, File Share, Camera, Gallery
Verizon – My Verizon, Message +, Cloud, Digital Secure, Call Filter Google – Assistant, Gmail, Calendar, Chrome, Search, Drive, Duo, Maps, Google Pay, Play Movies and TV, Play Store, YT Music, Photos, YouTube, Home |
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| Accessories | In-box – Pre-Installed 5G SIM card, 18W wall USB power adapter, USB Type-C cable, SIM tool, Quick reference Guide, Important warranty and safety information | In-box – 9V2A Charger, USB Type-C Cable, Quick Start Guide, SIM Card Pin, Product Safety Information |
Pricing and availability
In terms of pricing, TCL hasn’t provided any details at all. Instead, the company says that information will be put forward in the “coming weeks.”
Availability, on the other hand — at least in the US — comes down to the exact device purchased. As noted above, the company is bringing the TCL 30 XE 5G to T-Mobile and its Metro by T-Mobile. TCL 30 V 5G is coming to Verizon. Similar to pricing, however, neither has an exact arrival date.
Finally, TCL has hinted that further TCL 30 series gadgets are incoming outside of CES 2022 too. Namely, that’s the TCL 30 5G, which it says will be shown off at MWC 2022 in Barcelona. Or, at the very least, in conjunction with the event. With that event presently slated to take place next month.
