TCL 40R deals
The TCL 40R is in our catalog but no UK retailer currently stocks it.
Buyers who want 5G connectivity and long battery life for the least money possible, and who can live with a 720p LCD screen and slow charging.
TCL 40R
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The TCL 40R is in our catalog but no UK retailer currently stocks it. Check back later, or browse TCL alternatives below.
About the TCL 40R
The TCL 40R is one of those phones that exists to answer a single question: what is the cheapest way onto 5G without buying something that feels broken? TCL's answer is a MediaTek Dimensity 700, a 6.6-inch screen and a 5,000mAh battery, and for undemanding use that combination works. The catch is the display. At 720p across 6.6 inches it looks soft, and unlike much of the competition it is an IPS LCD rather than an AMOLED, so blacks are grey and outdoor visibility is only adequate. Where the 40R does better than expected is endurance, since a low-resolution panel and a modest chip draw very little power, and it comfortably clears a day. The 50MP main camera is a real step up from the 13MP sensor on the older 20 R 5G it replaces, though the two 2MP support lenses beside it contribute little. Practicalities are handled well: a 3.5mm headphone jack, NFC for contactless payments, a fingerprint sensor and microSD expansion up to 1TB. Charging, at 15W, is the weakest link.
Expert Rating
Price History
Tracking the best prices since 27 Apr 2026.
TCL 40R vs TCL 20 R 5G - Key Differences
| Feature | TCL 40R | TCL 20 R 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.6-inch IPS LCD, 720 × 1612 | 6.52-inch IPS LCD, 720 × 1600 |
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 700 | MediaTek Dimensity 700 |
| Main camera | 50MP main + 2MP + 2MP | 13MP main + 2MP + 2MP |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 4,500 mAh |
| Charging | 15W wired | 10W wired |
| Weight | 192 g | 186 g |
| Software at launch | Android 12 | Android 11 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the TCL 40R worth buying?
Does the TCL 40R have 5G?
Is the TCL 40R camera good?
How long does the TCL 40R battery last?
Does the TCL 40R have a headphone jack and expandable storage?
How does the TCL 40R compare to the TCL 20 R 5G?
TCL 40R Specifications
Spec Scores
£200-£399 Phones · 199 phones
- Dimensity 700
- Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
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.
- 6.6 inches
- 720 x 1612 pixels
- IPS, 90Hz, 400 nits peak
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.
- Triple camera setup
- 50 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.
- 8 MP front camera
- 1080p selfie video
Based on selfie megapixels and max selfie-video resolution.
- 5,000 mAh
- 15W 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
164.5 x 75.4 x 9
Weight
192 g
SIM
· Nano-SIM
Operating System
Android 12, TCL UI 4.0
Colours
Stardust Purple, Starlight Black
Radio
FM radio
Body
Stardust Purple, Starlight Black
Camera
Primary Camera Megapixels
50
Primary Camera
50 , f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
Primary Camera Video
1080@30fs
Second Camera
50 , f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
Third Camera
50 , f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
Primary Selfie Camera
8 , f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video Resolution
1080
Selfie Video Resolution
1080@30fs
Display
Type
IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ)
Display Size
6.6
Display Resolution
720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~267 ppi density)
CPU & Memory
Chipset
Dimensity 700
GPU
Mali-G57 MC2
CPU
Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Memory Card Slot
microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal Storage
64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM
Sound
Loudspeaker
Yes
3.5mm Jack
Yes
Connectivity & Data
2G
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G
HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G
LTE
5G
1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - T771K, T771K1
Network Speed
HSPA, LTE, 5G
Network Technology
GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth
5.1, A2DP, LE
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
NFC
Yes
GPS
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Battery
Battery
5000
Charging
15W wired
Other
Sensors
Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass