TCL launches two new 30-series phones for the US

The TCL 30V and TCL 30XE are the first phones in the 30 series to hit the US. Both are 5G-capable but you’ll need to be on either Verizon or T-Mobile to get them.

Below you’ll find what you need to know about each device!

TCL 30V: Just for Verizon

The “V” in the TCL 30V name might stand for Verizon, but it might as well. This is a phone exclusive to Big Red in the United States.

Since Verizon’s 5G network is primarily based on mmWave tech, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear the 30V supports both Sub-6 and mmWave connections. The relatively weak Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 chipset enables those connections.

Required reading: What you should know about mmWave and Sub-6 5G

Under the hood, the TCL 30V has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It has a microSD card slot if you need up to 1TB of extra space. Android 11 powers the phone and it stays alive with a 4,500mAh battery. That battery charges at 18W wired, but there’s no wireless charging.

On the front, you’ll find a 6.67-inch FHD+ (2,400 x 1,080) display. It has a refresh rate of 60Hz, unfortunately, and is covered with the quite old Gorilla Glass 3. A centered cutout exposes the selfie camera, which is a 16MP shooter capable of capturing video at 1080p/30fps.

On the back, you’ll find a triple camera array. The primary shooter is a 50MP wide and it’s flanked with a 5MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro. Next to the camera array, you’ll find a trusty capacitive fingerprint scanner.

TCL wouldn’t divulge when you’ll be able to get the 30V nor how much it will cost. All it would cop to is a release date “in the coming weeks” and a price announcement with the same vague promise.

TCL 30XE: For T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile

If you don’t have Verizon and want a TCL 30 series phone in the US, your next best bets will be T-Mobile or Metro by T-Mobile. The two carriers will sell the TCL 30XE.

This is also a 5G device but does not have mmWave support. That will no doubt make it cheaper than the 30V, but TCL won’t tell us how much it’s going to cost or when you’ll be able to get it.

On the front, the 30XE has a 6.52-inch screen with a low-resolution display (just 1,600 x 720). Thankfully, that display does have a 90Hz refresh rate, which should make it a bit nicer to use. The relatively weak DragonTrail 3 glass covers the screen.

See also: The best T-Mobile phones to spend your money on

Inside, a MediaTek Dimensity 700 acts as the processor. It’s paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Once again, there’s a microSD card slot if you need extra space, but it’s limited to 512GB cards at the max. The 4,500mAh battery should last you a long time, but TCL wouldn’t divulge how fast it can charge.

On the back, the TCL 30XE has a triple-lens camera module. That’s a 13MP wide, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro. In other words, this will not be a photography or videography powerhouse. There’s also a capacitive fingerprint scanner back there.

Hopefully, TCL will announce pricing and availability information for this phone soon.