TCL makes waves with new phones, paper-screen tablet and smart glasses
TCL launched its first phones under its own brand at last year’s CES tech show, and at this year’s virtual event it cemented its role as a key player in the mobile market with the launch of a number of products, including TCL 20 Series smartphones, a tablet with a paper-like screen and a pair of glasses with Full HD micro displays.
TCL 20 5G and 20 SE phones
The company has already been making waves in the Android phone market with a range of reasonably priced, high-quality phones, and has now expanded its offering with two 20 Series models – the 20 5G and 20 SE.
One of the big features of last year’s TCL 10 Series was the company’s proprietary NXTVISION technology, which enhances both the display (visual output) and the camera (visual input).
This year, both the new phones feature NXTVISION 2.0 which has a number of improvements including better SDR to HDR conversion, enhanced colour calibration and more eye safety features.
The TCL 20 5G (pictured above) has a large 6.67-inch FHD+ Dotch display with a resolution of 2220 x 1080 pixels.
Other features include HDR10 video playback, an AI-powered triple-camera setup (with a 48-megapixel main rear camera) and a big 4500mAh battery. Power usage is optimised through Smart 5G technology, which automatically switches between 4G and 5G bands based on data usage.
The TCL 20 SE is designed as a budget phone with the features of more expensive models.
One feature that’s bound to resonate with mobile phone users is its high capacity 5000mAh battery with On-The-Go reverse charging that lets you top up a friend’s gadget. (For comparison, the iPhone 12 has a 2815mAh battery.)
Also on board are dual speakers placed so they’re not blocked by your hand, intelligent colour portrait and sky enhancement, an Object Eraser that can remove people or objects in the background of your pics, and a Smart Floating Window which lets you muli-task while watching videos.
The TCL 20 SE has a 6.82-inch, V notch display with a 1600 × 900-pixel resolution and a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. The main rear camera comes in at 13 megapixels.
TCL NXTPAPER tablet
We’re looking forward to checking out the new TCL NXTPAPER tablet – an 8-inch model designed to emulate the experience of reading off paper, with no flickering or harmful blue light to hurt or tire your eyes.
Unlike a monochromatic e-reader, however, the NXTPAPER tablet promises “stunning display performance with a highly reflective IPS screen that utilises innovative TCL technology to reuse natural light, resulting in vivid, full-colour reproduction”.
The company says the tablet is more than 65 percent more power efficient than standard LCD screens and offers smoother video playback. A 5500mAh battery should give more than a full day of use.
TCL Wearable Display
Finally, the TCL Wearable Display is a pair of glasses with dual 1080p Full HD micro OLED displays that make it seem like you’re looking at a large screen – the same as watching a 140-inch TV from 4m away.
They aren’t virtual reality displays, but let you watch videos or play games by connecting via cable to any phones, tablets and laptops that have DisplayPort Over USB-C output and can support 1080p resolution.
The use of a cable might seem old-school, but it means the glasses can take their power from the host device rather than bulking up with an onboard battery and wireless components.
TCL says the Wearable Display is “partner pending” and should be available in the second half of the year.
The 20 5G and 20 SE phones will be available at the end of Q1, with the NXTPAPER tablet following in Q2.
