When it comes to smartphones with a built-in stylus, your thoughts will almost certainly refer to Samsung's Galaxy Note series which was the main exponent of the feature in the modern era before being ditched for foldable smartphones. LG's popular Stylo series also sported a stylus in the affordable smartphone segment but since the brand ceased making phones there has been something of a void that other phone makers have been trying to fill – the latest of which is TCL with its brand new Stylus 5G. Going on sale initially on T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile, TCL's Stylus 5G sports 5G support, a 3.5mm audio jack, and is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 700 chipset.
Running Android 12 out of the box, the Stylus 5G also features the Nebo handwriting recognition software that can be used for taking notes. As you might expect, despite the stylus being passive, you can use it to magnify the screen, add your signature to documents, draw images, and more. There is also access to MyScript Calculator 2 which allows users to write calculations on the screen and have the results instantly calculated and saved for later use.
Besides being powered by the Dimensity 700 chipset, the Stylus 5G has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. Its 4,000mAh battery supports 18W fast-charging, and the big 6.81-inch display has an FHD+ resolution and supports SDR-to-HDR upscaling. There's a side-mounted fingerprint sensor which is complemented by the presence of face unlocking.
There's a quartet of AI-powered cameras on the rear panel consisting of a 50MP primary sensor, a 5MP super-wide lens, and a pair of 2MP sensors for macro and FoV. The central punch-hole on the display houses the 13MP selfie camera.
The Stylus 5G manages to pack in two increasingly rare features; the 3.5mm audio jack and MicroSD card support, on top of having built-in storage for the stylus. Make no mistake, TCL's Stylus 5G is aimed at the affordable phone segment and can be ordered in Lunar Black from T-Mobile for $258 or from Metro by T-Mobile for $269. TCL has said that an unlocked variant will be available at some point in the future.
| Specifications | TCL Stylus 5G |
|---|---|
| Size | 169.6 x 76.5 x 8.98 mm |
| Weight | 213g |
| Color | Lunar Black |
| Side Keys | Volume Rocker, Power Key/Fingerprint Sensor |
| Memory | 4GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB |
| MicroSD Support | up to 2TB |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G, Octa-Core 2.2 GHz |
| Software | Android 12 |
| Sensors | Accelerometer (G sensor) GPS (A-GPS) Proximity Light E-Compass Gyro Barometer |
| Fingerprint | Yes (side-mounted) |
| Facial Recognition | Yes |
| Size | 6.81” Dotch™ Display, LCD, FHD+ Resolution (1080 x 2460), 20.5:9 Aspect Ratio, 395ppi |
| Networking | GSM: 850/900/1800/1900; UMTS: B1/2/4/5/8; LTE: B2/4/5/12/25/26/41/66/71; 5G: Sub6: n66, n25, n41, n77; HPUE for n41 & n77 over NSA and SA |
| VoLTE | Yes |
| VoWiFi | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB Type | Type-C, USB 2.0, USB OTG |
| SIM Type | Nano SIM + microSD Card |
| Battery | 4000mAh, 18W Fast Charging |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (main camera); 5MP (super wide angle); 2MP (macro); 2MP (depth) |
| Camera Features | LED Flash, PDAF, 4x Digital Zoom, |
| Front Camera | 13MP, LCD Flash |
| Audio | Dual Speakers, HD Voice, Dual Microphones, |
| Music Player | TCL Music, YT Music |
| Headset Jack | Yes, 3.5mm |
| In the Box | 9V2A 18W charger, USB-C Cable, Quick Start Guide, Safety and Warranty information, SIM tool, Built-in Stylus |
