Review: TCL 20 Pro 5G

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The best camera is the one you have with you, but what If that camera is actually a quad-camera with built-in stabilization and night mode capabilities? I recently visited the One World Trade Center observation center in New York. I brought an iPhone 12 Pro, a DJI Mini, a Galaxy 360, and the TCL 20 Pro 5G to cover any and all photographic opportunities. 

Just Shoot Me

Once I got to One World Trade Center, however, it became evident that while there were 360’ views of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs from 100 feet up, they were obstructed by other tourists and by the glass windows, glare, and reflections. 

I cycled through all the devices I had, but the TCL 20 Pro 5G got the most use. Not only because of its superior zoom capabilities, but because I found its controls and options more granular than the iPhone’s (great camera array, that one, but mostly a point-and-shoot affair).

The TCL 20 Pro 5G, controls helped me compensate for the lousy lighting conditions, glare from the glass windows and reflections from gift store and exit signs behind me. The result was a bunch of useful photos.

1X, 2X, and 10 X Zoom on the Tcl 20 Pro 5G

Back on the ground, I saw that there was a perfect sickle moon floating on the indigo night sky. I took some shots with the iPhone 12 Pro but despite messing with the brightness, I really could not capture the  definition of  the moon. The TCL 20 Pro 5G, however, managed to grab a more accurate representation of that image. Image stabilization plus night mode helped in this regard.

The iPhone 12 Pro was a better performer for non landscape photos and selfies, specially when I wanted my face as well as a clearer representation of the background behind me. If I had a complain, it is that the the TCL 20 Pro's images are a bit soft and lack definition in higher zoom condtions. That said, If I had to go up the One World Trade Center again, I’d take just the TCL 20 Pro 5G for stills, it’s that good.

Understated UI Wins

I’m a fan of TCL’s understated UI, while some may find it safe and somewhat dated, I find it super intuitive, and don’t get put off by their native apps. Unlike with Samsung, which bloats their devices with copies of Google apps, TCL has a more light handed approach to their UI. The edge screen is a mixed bag for me. While it does feel and look premium, and you have the option of sliding apps in and out, it’s also possible to inadvertently touch the active corners, which can take you out of the app that you are using.

TCL offers a very generous range of features and simplifies it by differentiating its Pro 5G models with colours, not storage sizes. The slate grey review unit we had looks and feels quite premium. It is narrower and taller than similar devices. The biggest bonus is the quad-camera stop with no discernible bulge. TCL is pointing the way to seamless camera placement, without bumps, something neither Apple or Samsung are even trying to do at this point. 

If I had to fault this midrange flagship, it would be for poor audio quality. Not only does it not seem to have stereo sound, the audio is often thin and sometimes distorted, which shatters the illusion that this is a flagship device dressed down as a midrange phone.

This is really unfortunate because the TCL 20 Pro 5G has such an impeccable display in terms of color, brightness, and detail. Watching Netflix’s The Nevers on  was super-immersive visually but the audio made it impossible to enjoy the experience fully. 

User Friendly Features Abound

Plug in headphones (because you can on this phone), or pair your Bluetooth headset with the TCL 20 Pro 5G and your faith is quickly restored that this capable and camera-savvy smartphone offers a whole lot of convenience and functionality that even devices costing three times as much can’t deliver. 

The IR blaster is a convenient feature that I found myself using all over the house, not just for TVs, cable boxes, but also for appliances like Dyson fans and even AC units. Not only does the IR blaster work with a gamut of devices, it is super easy to set up and use.

Other niceties? How about an under display fingerprint sensor? A one button Optmize function? A Smart Key for assigning a physical button to any app or function. 5G capability in a midrange smartphone is unexpected and delightful, the TCL 20 Pro 5G has the capability to run on most North American networks, it worked great within T-Mobile’s coverage during my testing. 5G also future-proofs this device somewhat, ensuring that it will remain relevant for at least the next three to four years. 

Solid Evolutionary Path

The TCL 20 Pro 5G is a solid upgrade over last year’s model. The company has kept the great feature set, impressive all-day battery life, and stunning screen technology, and made it even better. Display-wise this 6.67-inch screen stands out as a contender for best display for the price while adding various features that are particular to TCL screens but in a pocketable device. It's all the smartphone most people will need even without the 5G capability, which is a huge bonus for value conscious buyers.

TCL's smartphones have become scarily good at evolving year after year. The company has the ability to focus on specific areas and features each year. They're there with the display technology, they're there with battery and performance, I'd say they're almost there in the camera department, too. The TCL 20 Pro 5G is a well rounded device that won't dissapoint photographers or content consumers, it raises the bar for midrange-priced smartphones and is the most well-rounded device of 2021.

Rating: 4 out of 5