TCL 10 5G UW hands-on: Verizon 5G speed test

TCL 10 5G design and hardware

The TCL 10 5G UW is based on the TCL 10 5G released to European markets. The UW model's main difference is the slight camera downgrade - the main camera is a 48MP one rather than a 64MP shooter, and there is no depth sensor.

TCL 10 5G UW • TCL 10 5G

Both feature the same geometric reflective iridescent pattern on its glass back. This color is called Diamond Gray. The back panel is 3D glass, and the frame wrapping around the phone is made of aluminum with a dark, glossy coating. The 10 5G UW feels solid and well-built, and its weight is well-distributed.

We like the design on the back. It's a unique design that doesn't try to emulate some other brand's look. Aside from the attractive reflect-y back panel of the phone - which does have a very nice gentle curve towards the edges - the camera setup is arranged in a rather long horizontal arrangement. There are dual-LED flash diodes on either end of the camera setup (which barely protrudes from the phone's back). Below the tiny lettering of the camera specs, there's a square fingerprint scanner.

Though the phone's back is pleasant and pretty, it's a bit more generic around the front. A plastic buffer between the frame and the display blends the two components well. This is a 6.53-inch LCD screen with FHD+ resolution and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Keep in mind this isn't a high-refresh rate display.

The selfie camera is a 16MP snapper behind the punch-hole cutout. Whenever we see a punch-hole implemented with an LCD panel, there's often a kind of brightness inconsistency in the area immediately surrounding the cutout - it's noticeable on white backgrounds. Still, it's par for the course for pretty much any LCD with a punch-hole camera.

Just above the screen, there's an in-call speaker, though this is its only purpose, as the 10 5G UW doesn't have stereo loudspeakers. There's a single, downward-firing speaker at the bottom of the device flanked by the USB-C port and an in-call microphone grille.

Meanwhile, at the top, there's a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Bottom • Top

There aren't any keys on the phone's left side, but the SIM tray accessed here, with a microSD card slot for expandable storage. The right side has the power and volume keys.

Left (SIM) • Right

Now that we've seen the 10 5G UW's hardware, head to the next page to see what 5G has to offer in Miami.