TCL Stylus 5G: Save Cash, Get Work Done!

TEAM SGG PATREON / somegadgetguy TCL Stylus 5G review! A good productivity phone shouldn't break the bank! This is a cheap, often found online for free on contract, that punches well above its price tag. Does it have the right compromises for YOUR needs? Let's take a look!
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#Android #TCL #TCLSTYLUS5G

[@BarryJohnson]

Yep, solid but like you I turn off their haptics. It would be hard for me to recommend someone to pay double for 1 more year of updates.

[@scooter15111]

Great phone just got it last week had no issues at all

[@liquidmetal35]

Thumbs up for the last starfighter!!!!

[@Gary0557]

It's surprising how good the feel and sound of the haptics can make so much difference to the experience of using a device.

[@NehemYah810]

I was glad to see your positive take on this. Other people are tearing it up seems like and I don’t understand why.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Are there compromises? Sure. Are they serious issues for the audience who would use this phone? I don't think so.

[@whiteviper1979]

Yea the people who BASH TCL are either MAC 🍎 ADDICT'S or SAMSUNG GURUS! The SAMSUNG makes great phones yes but comparing these phones too TCL ain't really fair! For a lower budget backup phone TCL is awesome! Oh BTW APPLE 🍏 ANYTHING SUCKS!!!!

[@bigjohntechreviews4807]

Great review Juan, TCL is really starting to come around

[@jdadmays]

I. So happy that this was made missed the LG Stylo and this fills the gap. Moto g Stylo hasn't updated it's stylus software for a while and this is really refreshing. Love the pen. It's amazing.

[@deanthompson1156]

Juan, as always, you are truthful in your reviews. No Fluff, Just Facts. Thanks for keepin' real.

[@benjaminlee3669]

Considering the price this TCL smartphone offers incredible design + features including the Stylus support and the mediatek 5G processor.

[@donotneed2250]

One of the first things I do when I get a new phone or do a factory reset is turn off the haptics as I can't stand it. I also turn everything off I feel does not need to be on but I do turn on Do Not Disturb and set it to allow only my contacts to ring through.

[@bgtechlife]

I like your approach to reviewing this Budget device. This is definitely an option for someone. Talking to who this device is for and the people who the device is not for.

[@ccroy2001]

TLDR: A $250 phone works as well as a $500 phone from a few years ago. I was waiting for this review! I bought the TCL Stylus 5g by switching to T-mobile so it's free via bill credits. I wanted to try a stylus phone I have had mine a little over a week. I agree on the haptics but that doesn't really bother me or the lack of 4k video. My personal favorite stylus "app" is jotting a note with the screen off. I use that at work to keep a tally of parts. Like having a pad and pen but I am less likely to lose my phone than I am pen and paper. Nice part too I kept my Pixel 4a no need to trade it in.

[@Lisamariemoser]

Nah it don't I have a $109.00 dollars phone from straight talk it's a Nokia they're slow ASF and it freezes everytime in it kicks you out of EVERYTHING!!!. 🙄

[@BrianGlaze]

TCL has been contributing solid phones for a little while now. Hope to see them stick with it 👀

[@lucasbrown7338]

Agree! This is such a solid smartphone by TCL that too with a powerful Mediatek chipset.

[@SICERIKTECH]

The TCL Stylus is a pretty great device! TCL needs to build a Flagship device, I think it would be awesome 👍. I'm talking a high refresh rate display, great cameras, powerful SOC, premium build. Someone needs to fill the gap LG has left, Moto and TCL are great contenders.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

The 20 Pro was gorgeous. I hope they try another nicer phone again.

[@andrewbajek7463]

@@SomeGadgetGuy how is the telephone quality on this phone

[@markschwacofer1802]

Ty for the video. Hope you are doing well.

[@iBonnieYT]

Great video i love what TCL is doing

[@primepikachu5]

Really want to see more phones that take the place of the s10e flagship processor at a lower cost. While still holding up the flagship spice

[@donotneed2250]

From reading the comments it looks as if as usual you can't please everyone. To me high priced phones are lacking in features I be looking for so why would I want to pay that kind of money and not get everything I want?

[@JosephAraya]

I'd like to have cheaper phones like this but a lack of software support stops me from actually making the purchase. Also I don't do contracts or monthly payments for phones so I buy them outright. After being left behind with software support on an LG V30 I bought a used pixel 6 pro back in March. Condition was legit new and I got a great deal for a 256gb model for $700, the retail price of a new regular 6 256gb. Getting 3 Android updates and 5 years of security patches means this will last much longer than anything not from Google/Samsung. If you can afford the price at the start, keeping a flagship for 3-5 years is a much better experience than buying 2 midrangers during the same timeframe. Plus the accessories ecosystem actually exists for flagships, so you can get screen protectors, cases, etc.

[@JosephAraya]

Oh also the availability of official replacement parts like screens and batteries is a huge deal for me. ifixit just launched the pixel parts availability today! You won't be finding this kind of thing for brands like TCL. free on contract/ $250 is a great value but too many downsides in my opinion.

[@siyzerix]

@@JosephAraya What pisses me off the most is not the software support or official replacement parts, its lack of custom rom support. I slapped on arrow OS on my poco x3 pro, and now that phone flies. With GCAM I actually got a improvement to my cameras as I can now shoot 4k60fps video and got better low light photos. Infact, I get updates almost every month and my phone's been on android 12.1 for a month now already. Lets see if samsung will ever match that speed. And I can be quite assured that my poco x3 pro's custom rom support will include updates for 5-6 years. My mi mix 1 still got android 11 (It originally shipped with android 6) through custom roms. Only xiaomi offers you relatively easy replacement parts AND custom rom support. For some reason, the right to repair movement never focused on the crappy software lockdown phones have. Would you be happy if laptops didn't allow you to install whatever OS you wanted? Do you see the issue? Custom roms on phones can allow for less bloat, more privacy, more support, potentially better battery life and performance, longer device longevity, etc. Yet nobody wants to back this up? Whats the point of a top tier phone with shitty software, when a lower midrange with better software for 1/4th the price won't be that much worse in usability.

[@chgofirefighter]

Pretty solid phone for what it's worth~

[@lotdominguezcastellon6028]

Thanks for the video.

[@Dani-ji4um]

I’m looking to downgrade right now from an iPhone 13. I have so many wasted hours of screen time that it’s ridiculous. I was looking for a feature phone but for the moment I don’t think any of those suit my needs. Do you think this phone would be good for calling,texting, and checking emails ?

[@darrylwoodbury]

I'm thinking of getting this for my soon to be stepson. He's young and I want to get a decent budget phone that works for him. I'm definitely not getting a flagship phone for him because he'll most likely break it lol

[@MrSaeedted]

Berry dope! Usually the free Android phones you get from a carrier are dogshit that ages in dog years. But this actually looks like a good balance of trade-offs and usability. I wonder what time will do to its software performance.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

I can only speak to older TCLs like the 10 series, and over two years, they're still solid performers.

[@andrewbajek7463]

@@SomeGadgetGuy what do you recommend for great sound quality and resolution for watching movies

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Last I checked they still had a deal then you get this phone for 20 bucks if you port a phone number over at Metro PCS. But I didn't look into the specifics and you have to go into the store and talk to someone directly to get them. Or call a store, they don't have much information online. I'm not sure if they would accept a prepaid port. But if they are, $20 for a phone is a ridiculous deal, especially with a prepaid carrier without having to lock yourself in for years.

[@tdbone35]

Love the "The Last Starfighter" clip... man Im getting old😂😂

[@loonation2185]

I hope tcl would revive the alcatel one touch brand. missing those old days.

[@aljosacebokli]

Solid offering from TCL, I just wish they found a decent signature design, these "5" camera mid and budget phones literally all look the same and on the street I never know which one I'm looking at.

[@ELPCOTILLION-SD1970]

TCL Makes Good Televisions...But Seem To Be Technologically Constipated When It Comes To Smartphones...Well Come To Think Of It~Perhaps TCL Standard For Technologically Constipated & Lacking...A Splendid Phone That Needs Improvements...

[@kenmastersmaster]

The sd480 gets the same Geekbench as dimensity 700. Handles split screen pretty easily. Entry 5g chips are all light-years ahead of old snapdragon 425/450 from the last few years in budget phones. The SD 480 is much faster than my old g power that had a sd665...a mid-range phone. Plus these budget phones you can easily find used for $50 bucks. The cameras is good for a half inch sensor, but not good in low light. Maybe someone can port gcam to it. I tried a few builds and they gave me green pictures. Portrait mode works pretty well. Battery gives a solid 10 hours sot.

[@Deng1ong]

Im hoping that TCL will eventually make a true flagship/ higher end mid ranger. Their skins seems to be well optimized and hopefully their display tech will get even better

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

The 20 Pro was amazing. I hope they'll make another phone like that again.

[@Deng1ong]

@@SomeGadgetGuy Yea i was looking at the 20 pro for an upgrade, and the lack of android 12 kind of pushed me off it. Your reviews of the Edge+ 2022 definitely influenced my prime day spending lol. Cant wait to get the Edge + in my hands

[@Ryan-pu1vq]

Juan does your TCL 20 Pro 5G have the Android 12 update? I've read some things on forums that it's been released in other regions for MONTHS at this point but in Canada not a single carrier has pushed the update out. So I'm just curious if you've gotten it, and if yes what's TCL doing slacking with updates in certain regions. They still promised the 2 android version updates on their product page here.

[@oneminutewonder77]

Though I will agree that TCL makes great hardware for the price. I really do wonder what their software update time line is. They STILL haven't given their "flagship" from last year the Android 12 update. Yet here a device which is half the price launched with it.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Which model? TCL 10 pro it's actually 2 years old at this point. I don't think it's ever getting Android 12, it was actually a pretty big complaint when it was released that there were only promising Android 10 and 11. And it's a totally valid critique, especially since that phone was $450 MSRP or something like that.

[@accordv6er]

Watching from my 'free' Nord N200, which has been really solid. Cameras suck. Everything else has been fantastic. Saved myself a lot of money over last year or so

[@kwok-keungchow800]

is 3rd-party unlock trust worthy $30? How’s the benchmark compared to a 2020 non-5G Moto G Stylus?

[@shartofwar]

Is there a chance we might see a side by side comparison between this phone and the moto stylus 5g 2022?

[@lany_07gaming]

Great review as always.👍

[@cm.5023]

Will the google assistant wake the phone if the screen is off? That is one of the negatives I found with the 20 Pro and TCL can't or won't fix it.

[@keitaparada1497]

Great video, you should review the lg k92 5g, it's an amazing phone I've own in a long time

[@xxxenricop]

Long term updates on cheap phones. $180.00 3 YO Xiaomi note pro getting regular updates still. No lag, fast 1080p work with power director...super resistant. Was meant as a back up phone. Broke pixel 5 TWICE then just left that behind and used the note instead. Camera app is poor. But that can probably be solved by a 3rd party app? Can it? I would like to know as I never got in to camera apps.

[@dmp3231966]

Long time no see Juan that phone drawfs you hand pretty big phone . I hope you also review the moto g stylus 5g 2022 TMobile snapdragon 695 . 6gigs of RAM

[@gregoryaul2005]

Pretty nice for on contract phone Juan 👊👊👊👍

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

I mean... It's tough to beat free right?

[@gregoryaul2005]

@@SomeGadgetGuy yeah it is

[@cartm3n871]

what you failed to mention was the far better support that the flagship phones have over the lower budget options.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Sure. And that comes with additional costs. It's not difficult beating a Pixel 6A at MSRP for hardware, but you're not paying JUST for the hardware. Someone on a more limited budget might need to choose features and support against a lower (free) price tag.

[@cartm3n871]

@@SomeGadgetGuy Touché. Insights like these are what make you the tech expert.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Oh that's not a debate or anything, your point was spot on. I just think it's important to balance those expectations against someone's needs or budget. I literally can't cover ALL bases in one video LOL. 👍

[@thepulseman7154]

Seems OK by 2022 mid-range standards, the way you describe the haptics makes me think of a rotating mass motor as opposed to a linear actuator, I suppose it is fine for the price. Now, someone has to tell Samsung that a $400 phone deservs better than that.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Yeah. There's no way they spent ANY MORE than they had to on the internals for this phone LOL. I WANT to be crankier about it, but it's tough being actually frustrated with a phone that does so much well for so cheap.

[@kurakuson]

Same price as my "Open Box" A71 5g UW Sammie.

[@JamieDoll]

Awesome review! Ty

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

👍

[@roylwellsjr6682]

The Moto g stylus versus the TCL Silas if you don't mind doing a comparison

[@siyzerix]

How is the custom rom support on TCL phones? I mean if this phone can be had for cheap, I think custom roms are going to help it a lot. And its pretty important to know too, since only xiaomi allows easy custom rom installations.

[@davidsmith11992]

The Stylo 6 was the best phone known to mankind

[@justforprinting9980]

Great review as always. I'm guessing this doesn't have their video out desktop capability?

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Sadly no.

[@jordanmcminn998]

Nothing is free on contract

[@devilkazumi578]

Great for ppl who wants a decent phome and doesnt want to spend a lot but for the ppl who play mobile games dont expect it to handle games like apex its not gonna work haha

[@thetimeimmemorial9572]

i wish this is available in my country, but tcl doesn't sell phones here last time i checked. i bought a cheap tablet with stylus hoping to draw with it and finding the stylus to be super useful for work stuff. sad sad

[@ELPCOTILLION-SD1970]

Has An Outdated/Underwhelming/Sissy Mary 4000mAh Battery...The MOTOROLA MOTO G STYLUS I Purchased Monday And Was Delivered Tuesday~Is Far Better...5000mAh Battery... Alongside That~My MOTOROLA MOTO G9 POWER Has A[Drum Roll]6000mAh Battery...

[@davidburns8113]

But it has a mediatek! HoW CoUlD yOu EvEn UsE ThAt GaRbAgE??1?!™✓?¡