The TCL 10 5G could be one of Australia's most affordable 5G smartphones

TV manufacturer TCL may be quite new to the smartphone game, but it's showing no signs of slowing down, today announcing its first 5G smartphone.

Dubbed the TCL 10 5G, the device will be available internationally for under $500 USD in the second quarter of the year. That converts to about approximately $720 at current exchange rates, which would make the TCL 10 5G the most affordable 5G handset available in Australia. When you exclude discounts, 5G smartphones start at $1,049 for a more "affordable" device like the Samsung Galaxy A90. Otherwise, local 5G devices have ranged between $1,499 and $1,999 for the most part.

We don't have complete specs for the TCL 10 5G yet, but we know it will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series processor and pack four rear-facing cameras. TCL is expected to provide further details regarding the TCL 10 5G at the end of February as part of the Mobile World Congress tradeshow in Barcelona.

Local pricing and availability for the TCL 10 5G has yet to be confirmed, but it will definitely get an Australian launch later this year.

TCL is also planning to release a foldable device before the end of the year, priced at under $1000 USD (approximately $1,450 at current exchange rates). While details are scarce, the company has been showcasing a prototype handset not dissimilar to the Galaxy Fold. As with Samsung's first foldable, TCL's concept device is a tablet that folds down to phone size, hiding the internal display. However, unlike the Fold, it has no external screen.

Hopefully we'll learn more about TCL's foldable in February too.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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