Why You Can Trust CNET TCL's $200 5G Phone Is Now Available Unlocked
The 40 X 5G phone won't break the bank.
- I've been covering technology and mobile for 12 years, first as a telecommunications reporter and assistant editor at ZDNet in Australia, then as CNET's West Coast head of breaking news, and now in the Thought Leadership team.
If you think the new iPhone 15 lineup is a little too pricey for your wallet, the TCL 40 X 5G phone is now available unlocked on Amazon for just $200 -- though it's currently on sale for $153.
TCL unveiled the phone in January during CES 2023. It has a 6.56-inch HD Plus display and a 5,000mAh battery, and it runs on Android 13. The low-cost phone has three rear cameras, one of them a 50MP lens, as well as an 8MP front-facing camera.
It also has TCL's NxtVision screen mode, which is an HDR mode that turns on when you watch videos or play games.
The TCL 40 X 5G additionally features:
- MediaTek Dimensity 700 2.2GHz Octa-core 5G processor.
- 64GB of ROM and 4GB of RAM.
- Expandable memory up to 1TB via MicroSD card.
- Face Unlock as well as a fingerprint sensor on the side.
If you're looking to buy an unlocked phone, check out CNET's guidance on the best prepaid phone plans right now, as well as the best cheap cell phone plans and other great affordable phones.
