TCL 20Y deals
The TCL 20Y is in our catalog but no UK retailer currently stocks it.
Release date: 7 September 2021
Very light users who want a large screen, a headphone jack and a camera that handles daylight snaps, and who have no need for 5G or ongoing software support.
TCL 20Y
No deals currently available
The TCL 20Y is in our catalog but no UK retailer currently stocks it. Check back later, or browse TCL alternatives below.
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About the TCL 20Y
The TCL 20Y is an entry-level 2021 handset built around one idea: give budget buyers a camera number they recognise. The 48MP main sensor is the headline, and in good light it does capture more detail than most phones at this level manage, though the processing is heavy-handed and anything indoors or after dark comes out soft. Everything else is basic by design. The 6.52-inch screen is a standard 60Hz IPS panel at 720p, and the octa-core MediaTek chip is built for messaging, calls, streaming and social apps rather than gaming, which it visibly struggles with. There is no 5G here either, so this is a 4G phone in a market that has largely moved on. Two things date it more than anything else: the Micro USB charging port, already unusual in 2021, and the lack of any meaningful software support. What it does keep is a headphone jack, a microSD slot, NFC and a 4,000mAh battery that lasts a full day without effort.
Price History
Tracking the best prices since 27 Apr 2026.
TCL 20Y vs TCL 20 R 5G - Key Differences
| Feature | TCL 20Y | TCL 20 R 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.52-inch HD+ 720x1600 IPS, 60Hz | 6.52-inch HD+ 720x1600, 90Hz |
| Chipset | MediaTek MT6762D octa-core (4G only) | MediaTek Dimensity 700 (5G) |
| Main camera | 48MP f/1.8 + 2MP macro + 2MP depth | 13MP f/2.2 + 2MP macro + 2MP depth |
| Battery | 4,000mAh, 10W charging via Micro USB | 4,500mAh, 10W charging |
| Storage options | 64GB, microSD to 512GB | 64GB or 128GB, microSD to 1TB |
| Dimensions | 165.6 x 75.6 x 8.7 mm | 164.3 x 75 x 8.99 mm |
| Weight | 194 g | 186 g |
| SIM-free price | Not available | From £68.00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the TCL 20Y worth buying?
Does the TCL 20Y support 5G?
Is the TCL 20Y camera good?
What charging port does the TCL 20Y use?
Does the TCL 20Y have a headphone jack and expandable storage?
Will the TCL 20Y receive Android updates?
TCL 20Y Specifications
Spec Scores
Under £200 Phones · 124 phones
- Helio P22
- Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)
Based on calibrated CPU benchmark rankings (60%) and GFXBench GPU scores (40%). Apple chipsets included via editorial calibration since AnTuTu under-represents Apple's architecture.
- 6.52 inches
- 720 x 1600 pixels
- IPS
Based on panel type (LTPO is the modern flagship gold standard), resolution, refresh rate, peak brightness, screen size, and HDR10+ / Dolby Vision support. Marketing peak-brightness claims are capped at 3500 nits to prevent inflation.
- Single camera setup
- 48 MP main camera
- 1080p video recording
Based on main-sensor size (1-inch / 1/1.3" beats 1/2.0"), telephoto reach (periscope > 5x > 3x optical), image processing tier (Apple Pro, Pixel Pro, Galaxy Ultra, Honor Magic Pro, Xiaomi Ultra), pro video features (ProRes, Apple Log, Dolby Vision), camera-partnership branding (Leica, Hasselblad, Zeiss) and OIS. Older flagships are de-rated since image processing pipelines have advanced significantly each generation. Megapixel count is deliberately downweighted — it correlates poorly with real-world camera quality. Where DXOMARK has lab-tested the phone, its measured score replaces this estimate.
- 8 MP front camera
- 1080p selfie video
Based on the image-processing tier (Apple Pro, Pixel Pro, Galaxy Ultra and Honor Magic lead on computational processing), sensor resolution in tiers rather than raw megapixels, autofocus, aperture and max selfie-video resolution. Calibrated against DXOMARK's selfie protocol.
- 4,000 mAh
- 10W wired
Based on battery capacity (mAh) adjusted for platform efficiency calibrated against NotebookCheck, Tom's Guide, GSMArena and CNET reviewer tests. Apple A-series gets +45% (iOS process freezing + LTPO 1Hz + tuned panels make iPhone Pro Max outlast many 6500+ mAh Android phones in measured tests). Top Snapdragon / Dimensity flagships get +15%, budget chipsets are penalised −15% to −25% to reflect less efficient displays and looser background limits. Charging speed is excluded — see the separate Fast charging tag for that.
General
Dimensions
165.6 x 75.6 x 8.8
Weight
194 g
SIM
Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Operating System
Android 11, TCL UI
Colours
Black, Blue
Radio
Unspecified
Body
Black, Blue
Camera
Primary Camera Megapixels
48
Primary Camera Video
1080p@30fps
Third Camera
48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide) 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Primary Selfie Camera
8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video Resolution
1080
Selfie Video Resolution
1080p@30fps
Display
Type
IPS LCD
Display Size
6.52
Display Resolution
720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)
CPU & Memory
Chipset
Helio P22
GPU
PowerVR GE8320
CPU
Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)
Memory Card Slot
microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal Storage
64GB 4GB RAM
Sound
Loudspeaker
Yes
3.5mm Jack
Yes
Connectivity & Data
2G
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G
HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G
1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28
Network Speed
HSPA, LTE
Network Technology
GSM / HSPA / LTE
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth
5.0, A2DP, LE
USB
microUSB 2.0, OTG
NFC
Yes
GPS
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Battery
Battery
4000
Charging
10W wired
Other
Sensors
Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass