TCL 20 Pro 5G review: Stunning design, lovely display, capable quad-camera system Review
Last year, I expended time with the mid-array TCL ten Pro, and truthfully, if I failed to produce about phones and need to have to use all of the hottest and best, it could conveniently have served as my able day by day driver. I also tried using out the $four hundred TCL ten 5G UW and have been extremely impressed by the very first ten Sequence in the TCL-branded telephone lineup.
Exposed in April 2021, the TCL twenty Sequence builds on the ten Sequence with a total of five phones. I began out with a pre-manufacturing TCL twenty Pro 5G machine in the breathtaking Marine Blue shade and then moved on to working with a manufacturing TCL twenty Pro 5G in Moondust Gray. Both equally are now accessible from the TCL Amazon storefront for $499.99, exactly the price tag I guessed a couple of months ago when I posted my very first impressions.
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The TCL twenty Pro 5G is a breathtaking piece of components that appears and feels like a telephone that expenses considerably more than $500. Thankfully, the technical specs and efficiency match the layout and it is a rock-sound mid-array Android smartphone.
TCL twenty Pro 5G technical specs
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
- Screen: six.67 inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels resolution (394 ppi), AMOLED
- Working technique: Android 11 with TCL UI model 3.x
- RAM: 6GB LPDDR4
- Storage: 256GB inside storage and microSD expansion card slot
- Cameras: 48MP f/one.79 most important digicam with OIS, 16MP f/2.4 ultra-huge digicam with 123 degrees industry-of-see, 5MP macro digicam, and a 2MP depth digicam. 32MP front-facing digicam.
- Connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth five.one, GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou, NFC, FM radio
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor, Gyroscope, Digital Compass, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Gentle Sensor
- Dust/h2o resistance: IP52 ranking
- Battery: 4,500 mAh non-detachable with 18W brief charging, supports 15W wi-fi charging
- LTE bands: one, 2, 3, 4, five, 7, eight, twelve, 13, 14, 17, eighteen, twenty, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, forty eight, sixty six, seventy one
- 5G bands: n2, n5, n7, n41, n66, n78, n78
- Proportions: 164.2 x 73 x eight.77mm and 190g
- Shades: Marine Blue and Moondust Gray
Compared to significant-stop models, we you should not have a significant refresh amount show and the processor is not an 8xx collection. Even so, we do see a significant-capacity battery, wi-fi charging, an IP ranking, 5G, a quad-digicam technique, a 3.5mm audio port, and an IR blaster so this telephone packs in a good deal with extremely couple of compromises.
Hardware
1 region we have observed some alterations in smartphone layout is in the hues and textures of the phones because it isn’t really considerably you can do to innovate a glass and metallic/plastic layout. The TCL twenty Pro 5G in Marine Blue might be the most lovely shade and complete I have observed on a smartphone. The shade is modeled after the ocean, and even though it has a matte glass complete, the hues adjust in several lights problems. There is a glossy bar all down the remaining side of the telephone that encompasses the quad-cameras up top.
The Moondust Gray product is also pretty with a extremely dark gray, nearly black, matte complete and a glossy black bar on the remaining side. TCL did a great career with the layout of this telephone and it displays. The quad-digicam technique is flush with the back again and organized vertically in the top remaining centered in the glossy bar.
Also: TCL 20S assessment: Best $250 Android smartphone accessible today
Starting from the top and operating down we discover the 2MP bokeh digicam, 5MP macro lens, 16MP ultra-huge digicam, and at the base the Sony 48MP significant-resolution digicam with OIS. A dual-LED flash is positioned to the ideal of the 5MP macro lens.
The AMOLED show is pretty with vibrant hues and dark blacks. The 32MP front-facing digicam is centered at the top of the show. There are no side bezels as the viewable show flows off the edges down into the sides. The top and base front bezels are minimal, much too.
The electric power and volume buttons are on the ideal side with a programmable essential on the remaining side. You can system this essential for solitary press, double press, and press-and-keep steps.
The USB-C port is on the base with the solitary mono speaker and SIM/microSD card tray. Soon after screening out the $250 TCL 20S with its good high-quality dual speakers, I am a little bit let down to see just a solitary base-firing speaker on this product. A 3.5mm audio port and an IR transmitter are found on the top. Microphones are also found on the top and base of the telephone.
As mentioned in the technical specs, 5G assist on T-Mobile’s Sub6 band (n71) and mid-band (n41) is furnished. The telephone is qualified for 4G on AT&T, but is not at the moment qualified for use on Verizon. T-Cellular, and its MVNOs, are surely the chosen carriers for this telephone.
Also: TCL ten 5G UW hands-on: Verizon’s most very affordable 5G telephone is accessible for just $four hundred
Even though we see hundreds, if not hundreds, of circumstance possibilities for Apple and Samsung phones, it is really not typically we see assist for the smaller sized telephone makers. With my assessment device, I gained a PROTech circumstance from Axessorize that is a extremely good rugged dual-layer circumstance to help secure the TCL twenty Pro 5G. It is priced at $30 and has MIL-STD-810G drop certification so merged with the phone’s IP52 ranking you can choose your telephone exterior with you and not get worried much too considerably about safe and sound handling.
The PROTech circumstance has great cutouts for every single opening, such as the IR port, microphones, speaker, USB-C port, and rear quad cameras. There is even a slight cutout earlier mentioned the show for the handset speaker. The sides of the circumstance rise just earlier mentioned the show to help secure the show. The circumstance will come with a lifetime guarantee and if you pick up this telephone I remarkably suggest this very affordable protecting circumstance.
Software
The TCL twenty Pro 5G launches with Android 11 and TCL UI model 3.x. The March one, 2021 Android security update is existing, which is a little bit shocking given that we are perfectly into July 2021. The Android twelve Beta system is essentially supported by TCL on the twenty Pro 5G so I approach to check out this preview of the upcoming model of Android on one particular of the assessment units.
TCL’s UI provides a pretty inventory Android practical experience with most of the TCL customization found in the launcher and configurations focused on TCL’s show technologies. I’m not a massive admirer of the application launcher default placing that arranges your applications by classification, but you can only switch to the more typical by title alternative with two taps.
There are just a few of extra, non-Google, applications furnished, these as the IR distant, Gallery, FM radio, and NXTVISION utility. These applications facilitate working with characteristics found on the telephone so in truth, there is no bloatware on the TCL twenty Pro 5G, which is not anything Samsung or provider-furnished Android phones can demonstrate.
Also: TCL 20S assessment: Best $250 Android smartphone accessible today
Some exclusive configurations/utilities incorporate an Edge Bar for rapidly launching applications, accessing a useful ruler, and connecting with your contacts. There is also a fingerprint brief launch alternative so that a extended press on the below-show scanner can take you ideal into your selected application.
The Google Feed is accessible as a significantly-remaining home display screen panel. All the other expected Google Android functions are existing on the telephone much too.
Daily utilization activities and conclusion
The TCL twenty Pro 5G is now accessible from the TCL Amazon storefront for $499.99, There are Motorola and Samsung rivals in this price tag array, but TCL provides some exclusive abilities in a breathtaking package deal. We’ll have to see how TCL does with big firmware and Android security updates as it continues featuring TCL-branded phones, but it is really a good signal that the business is actively collaborating in the Android twelve beta system.
Frequent readers know that I adore matte glass backs and lovely telephone hues. The Marine Blue is great for me as a professional naval architect who works in the marine sector, and the people I have demonstrated it to so significantly unquestionably adore the shade. My photographs simply cannot even seize the full elegance of the telephone. The Moondust Gray one particular is great for the business surroundings much too with a no-frills dark gray complete that appears sharp and professional.
I’ve realized some extremely good final results from the quad-digicam technique on the telephone and while it will not likely beat out $one,000 moreover flagship phones when you look into the facts, it is more than satisfactory for capturing all of your recollections and activities. There is a good deal to like in the digicam program with several modes to enhance your creativity. For case in point, the mild trace method will help you seize waterfalls, auto lights, and drawing with mild. There are pleasurable brief online video templates with embedded tunes to encourage your motion picture abilities. Super macro and significant pixel modes have also proven to be rather beneficial.
There are a ton of accessible configurations to help you absolutely optimize the telephone for successful use. I’ve bought the Intelligent essential all established to help me choose screenshots and launch Google Assistant. The Edge bar is excellent for rapidly initiating communications with my major contacts and measuring objects in centimeters. Even though there is a safe below-show sensor, it works reliably, I use face unlock most of the time.
Phone high-quality has been excellent on T-Cellular and the two 4G and 5G have labored beautifully in the spots I operate and enjoy. I however loathe the way Android switches among audio on and vibrate modes, but that is not TCL’s issue. Motion pictures look excellent on the show and even nevertheless the deficiency of a second speaker is a disappointment, getting a 3.5mm headset jack helps make up for that.
Over and above the elegance, this telephone characteristics a good deal of excellent know-how to help you get operate finished, secure your eyes from show tiredness, and maintain you related with 5G know-how.
