Note (September 2026): Earlier versions of this review said the TCL 10L used a Micro SIM and charged fully in under fifty minutes. The phone takes Nano-SIM cards and charges at about 10W, so those lines have been corrected.
The TCL 10L is a budget Android phone that TCL announced on April 6, 2020 and sold in the US for $250 at launch. It has a 6.53-inch Full HD+ LCD, a Snapdragon 665 chip, 6GB of RAM, a 48MP quad camera, NFC and a 4,000mAh battery. As of September 2026 it is discontinued and past its promised update period. That makes it worth buying only as a cheap used or backup phone.
Key Takeaways
- The TCL 10L was the entry model of TCL’s 2020 TCL 10 series, below the TCL 10 Pro and TCL 10 5G.
- Core specs: 6.53-inch 1080 x 2340 IPS LCD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, 6GB RAM, 64GB storage in the US (128GB and 256GB elsewhere), microSD support.
- The rear cameras are 48MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro and 2MP depth, and the phone records 4K video at 30fps.
- Charging is slow at about 10W (5V/2A).
- The phone shipped with Android 10, could be upgraded to Android 11, and is now discontinued. Treat it as a used-market phone.
Introduction: The TCL 10L is a budget Android phone that TCL announced on April 6, 2020 and launched in the US at $250. The low price did not mean a bare-bones phone: it had a quad camera, NFC, a headphone jack and a microSD slot.
TCL 10L – Full Specification, Price, Review
The TCL 10L was the entry model of TCL’s 2020 TCL 10 series, which sat below the TCL 10 Pro and TCL 10 5G. Here is how its design, performance, battery and cameras hold up.
1] The Design and Hardware
With many phones that give a feeling of hollowness, the TCL 10L surely feels packed densely. The 10L is polycarbonate in the exterior but with no visible flex.
The glossy finish is in tandem with the frame made of plastic and is quite impressive. The four cameras lined up at the rear panel is the striking difference between the 10L and the other.
The button placements do not disappoint at all .The headphone port is placed well and adds to the well thought out design. The programmable quick-launch button on the left, which TCL calls the Smart Key, is handy too.
It can help display enhancements, desired camera modes, the Google Assistant easily along with launching system settings and applications. It does suggest out of the box thinking and rightly so.
The power and volume buttons are on the right side. The tray on the left holds a Nano-SIM card (two Nano-SIMs in dual-SIM markets) and a microSD card, which shares the slot.
The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is a good addition, and so is NFC, which enables contactless payments.
2] The software and Performance
The TCL 10L has a 6.53-inch Full HD+ (1080 x 2340) IPS LCD with HDR10 support and a 60Hz refresh rate. TCL calls the punch-hole design a “Dotch” display, and the phone includes eye-protection modes. The NXTVISION on the phone boosts the quality of screen display and color reproduction.
The NXTVISION automatically turns up the brightness, and the color vibrancy is bright too.
The TCL 10L has 6GB of RAM and an efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) processor. US models have 64GB of storage, and 128GB and 256GB versions were sold in other markets.That would handle Social applications like Twitter, Tik Tok, etc. are with ease. The Games can also be played, but it has a slight lag which needs adjusting to.
The Settings and file selections are quick in response. The 10L shipped with Android 10 and TCL UI and could be upgraded to Android 11. At launch TCL promised security updates every two months for two years, so by September 2026 the phone is well outside that support window.
At its $250 US launch price, that was a strong feature set for 2020.
3] Batteries
These are lithium batteries inside and non-removable. Normal usage of the phone (with videos, songs, and talk time) makes the battery lasts 24 hours. If the phone is not fully utilized, the batteries last for forty- eight hours.
The 4,000mAh battery charges through the supplied cable, but charging is slow. Android Police measured a 5V/2A rate (about 10W) with no USB Power Delivery or other fast-charging standard, so a full charge takes much longer than on fast-charging phones. In a test conducted by the original reviewer:
A video was played on a loop, and the batteries died after 11 hours and fifty-three minutes, which is a fantastic performance.
4] Cameras
For the price, four cameras are generous, and all of them are on the back: a 48-megapixel f/1.8 main camera, an 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
The sensor is 48 – megapixel, but photos shot are in the form of 12 megapixels and snaps pictures with acute sharpness with no loss in vibrancy. The photos are not over-saturated, and the images are realistic to the core, and neither is the details compromised.
The purpose of the 8 Megapixel cameras is to capture super wide images. Therefore, this attracts more than a standard shot practically and in great detail.
The third camera in the horizontal grid of four is a 2 megapixel. The ability to get extremely close images for sharper details warrants your move towards the object too.
The 2-megapixel depth sensor is for portrait photos only.
The front camera is a 16-megapixel f/2.2 selfie camera in the punch-hole. The rear camera records video at up to 4K at 30fps, and the camera app includes wide-angle and stop-motion modes. The camera is brilliant even in low light as it adjusts accordingly.
Conclusion
The TCL 10L’s overall performance was more than satisfactory for a 2020 budget phone, and at its launch price it was a solid purchase with an elegant look. As of September 2026, however, the phone is discontinued and past its promised update period. Today it makes sense mainly as an inexpensive used or backup phone. Used prices vary by condition and seller, so check current listings.
TCL 10L Specifications at a Glance
| Feature | TCL 10L |
|---|---|
| Announced | April 6, 2020 |
| Launch price (US) | $250 |
| Display | 6.53-inch IPS LCD, 1080 x 2340, HDR10, 60Hz, punch-hole (“Dotch”) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| Memory | 6GB RAM; 64GB (US), 128GB or 256GB storage; microSD in a shared slot |
| Rear cameras | 48MP f/1.8 main, 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth |
| Front camera | 16MP f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30/120fps |
| Battery and charging | 4,000mAh, about 10W (5V/2A) |
| Software | Android 10 with TCL UI, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Extras | NFC, 3.5mm headphone jack, rear fingerprint sensor, Smart Key |
| Size and weight | 162.2 x 75.6 x 8.4 mm, 180 g |
| Colors | Arctic White, Mariana Blue |
| Status (September 2026) | Discontinued |
Specifications are from GSMArena’s TCL 10L listing and Android Police’s 2020 review.
TCL 10L Pros and Cons
Pros
- A large 6.53-inch Full HD+ display with HDR10 support.
- A versatile quad camera with an ultra-wide lens and 4K video.
- NFC, a 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD storage expansion.
- A programmable Smart Key for quick shortcuts.
Cons
- Slow charging, at about 10W.
- Android Police judged the 2MP macro camera poor and reported display artifacts from the NXTVISION enhancement features.
- US models use slower 64GB eMMC storage, while the 128GB versions use faster UFS storage.
- The phone no longer gets updates under TCL’s original two-year promise.
Is the TCL 10L Still Worth Buying?
The TCL 10L is worth buying today only as a low-cost used phone for calls, messaging and light apps, or as a backup device. GSMArena lists the phone as discontinued. TCL’s launch promise covered security updates every two months for two years, and that period ended long ago. A phone without current security patches carries more risk for banking and payment apps.
If you are shopping second-hand, the tips in this guide to buying second-hand tech on eBay apply here too. For a comparison of how an older flagship holds up as a refurbished buy, see refurbished iPhone XS vs. iPhone X.
What to Check Before Buying a Used TCL 10L
- Battery health: the battery is non-removable, so a worn 4,000mAh cell means shorter battery life. These ways to get the most out of your battery life help once you own it.
- Network bands and SIM type: confirm the model supports your carrier’s bands, and whether it is the single Nano-SIM or dual Nano-SIM version.
- Storage version: check whether it is the 64GB, 128GB or 256GB model.
- Software: check the Android version in Settings. The phone should be on Android 11 if it has received TCL’s last major upgrade.
- Screen and cameras: check the LCD for dead pixels and test all four rear cameras and the selfie camera.
Moving your data from an older phone is simple. This guide on how to transfer contacts between Android and iPhone covers the common methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the TCL 10L released?
TCL announced the TCL 10L on April 6, 2020. According to Android Police, it went on sale in the US at $250 through Amazon, with Best Buy and Walmart planned to follow.
Does the TCL 10L have NFC?
Yes. The TCL 10L has NFC for contactless payments, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.
What processor does the TCL 10L use?
The TCL 10L uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) chipset with 6GB of RAM. That is enough for social media and everyday apps, but demanding games can lag.
Does the TCL 10L support fast charging?
No. Android Police measured a 5V/2A charging rate (about 10W) with no USB Power Delivery or high-wattage charging, so the 4,000mAh battery charges slowly.
Can the TCL 10L be upgraded to Android 11?
Yes. The TCL 10L launched with Android 10 and TCL UI and could be upgraded to Android 11, according to GSMArena.
Is the TCL 10L a 5G phone?
No. The 5G model in the same series was the TCL 10 5G, while the TCL 10L is the lower-priced LTE model.
