TCL unveiled its new budget-friendly smartphones, the TCL 50 SE and 50 5G, at MWC 2024, providing more details about the devices. Both phones are priced at € 149, so expectations should be adjusted accordingly.
We had the opportunity to spend time with both models, and although their design and build are similar, most of our initial impressions apply to both. The TCL 50 SE we tested comes in gray, while its counterpart, the TCL 50 5G, is blue.
Starting with the TCL 50 SE, it may be considered the “higher-end” model due to its MediaTek Helio G88 chipset lacking 5G connectivity, allowing for more focus on other hardware components. The phone features a 6.78-inch IPS LCD display with FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate, offering decent visuals compared to its sibling.
We appreciate the inclusion of expandable storage, with the base version already offering a generous 256GB, along with 6GB of RAM.
The TCL 50 SE is constructed entirely of plastic, which isn’t necessarily negative. Both it and the TCL 50 5G are well-built and sturdy, although they tend to attract fingerprints and dirt on the glossy surface.
Some quick specs for the TCL 50 SE include a 50MP main camera, an 8MP selfie camera, a 5,010 mAh battery with 33W fast charging, and an OS based on Android 14 with an upgrade to Android 15 planned. Unfortunately, only one OS update is promised for the TCL 50 SE.
Moving on to the TCL 50 5G, its main selling point is the affordable 5G connectivity. Powered by a MediaTek MT6835 SoC with similar memory configurations to the 50 SE, the phone features a 6.6-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate to maintain the same price range.
We found the display on the TCL 50 5G to be underwhelming, appearing blue and cold, with dim visuals.
On the positive side, the vibrant blue color of the TCL 50 5G stands out, although it also attracts fingerprints easily.
The TCL 50 5G features the same 50MP main camera and selfie camera as the 50 SE, along with a 5,010 mAh battery. However, the 5G model only supports 18W fast charging.
TCL 50 5G
Unlike its 4G counterpart, the TCL 50 5G promises two OS upgrades, ultimately transitioning to Android 16 from the current Android 14 OS.
