The TCL 40 XL is a budget 4G phone with a large 6.75-inch screen and stereo speakers. TCL announced it at MWC in Barcelona on February 26, 2023. It was made only for the US market. It went on sale in spring 2023 through TCL.com and Amazon. Prices started at $149 with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. TCL has since ended production, and its US store no longer lists the phone.
Design and display
The 6.75-inch LCD has HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of up to 90Hz. TCL uses its NXTVISION software to tune color and contrast for videos and games. The display is the largest in the US TCL 40 lineup of 2023.
The body measures 167.9 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm and weighs 195 grams. It came in one color, Dark Gray. The fingerprint reader sits in the side power key, and face unlock is also available. TCL lists no water or dust rating.
Performance
A MediaTek Helio G37 runs the phone. It has eight Cortex-A53 cores, with four at 2.3GHz and four at 1.8GHz, and a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. This is an entry-level 12nm chip, so it suits calls, messaging, streaming and light apps.
The base model has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. A second version doubles the storage to 256GB with 6GB of RAM. A microSD slot adds up to 512GB more. The phone supports 4G LTE only, with no 5G and no NFC.
Cameras
The rear setup has three cameras. A 50MP main camera leads it, joined by a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth camera. TCL recommends a distance of about 4 cm for macro shots. On the front, an 8MP camera handles selfies and video calls.
Battery and charging
The battery has a capacity of 5,000mAh. Wired charging reaches 18W over USB-C, and TCL put an 18W charger in the box. There is no wireless charging. The phone also keeps a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Software and updates
The 40 XL shipped with Android 13 and TCL’s own interface. TCL did not publish a specific promise of OS upgrades or security updates for this model.
Outside the US, TCL sold the similar TCL 40 SE. It uses the same chip and screen size. However, it has a 5,010mAh battery, a slimmer 8.45 mm body and a second color. For this reason, we list them as separate phones.
Should you buy the TCL 40 XL?
The 40 XL suits buyers who want a big screen, stereo sound and lots of storage for little money. The microSD slot and headphone jack add to its practical appeal. However, the Helio G37 is slow by current standards, and the phone lacks 5G and NFC. TCL no longer produces it, and Amazon lists it as currently unavailable. New units are now hard to find, so a newer budget phone is the safer choice.
