TCL 40R vs. iPhone 11: A Clash of Titans (Budget vs. Legacy)
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 11 wins overall due to its superior performance, camera quality, and iOS ecosystem. However, the TCL 40R offers incredible value for money, especially for users prioritizing affordability and a large display. It's a trade-off between premium features and budget-friendly practicality.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | TCL 40R | Apple iPhone 11 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2221 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - T771K, T771K1 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 7, 28, 66, 71, 78 SA/NSA - T771A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2111, A2223 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 26 | 2019, September 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 21 | Available. Released 2019, September 20 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series) |
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 75.4 x 9 mm (6.48 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 194 g (6.84 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 12, TCL UI 4.0 | iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6" |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Stardust Purple, Starlight Black | Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, White |
| Models | T771K, T771K1, T771H, T771A | A2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | $ 167.50 / C$ 228.68 / £ 175.00 / € 193.32 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.95 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 359.95 |
| 256GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 469.99 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 292.79 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 214.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -80.8dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 419453 (v7) GeekBench: 13882 (v4.4) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
TCL 40R
- Affordable price
- Large display
- Decent battery life
- Expandable storage (likely)
- Lower performance
- Less impressive camera
- Plastic build quality
- Slower charging
Apple iPhone 11
- Powerful A13 Bionic chip
- Excellent camera system
- Premium build quality
- iOS ecosystem
- Fast charging (PD 2.0)
- Wireless Charging
- Higher price
- Older model
- Limited storage options (depending on configuration)
Display Comparison
The iPhone 11 boasts a vibrant display with a 1505:1 contrast ratio and a measured 644 nits of brightness, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The TCL 40R likely has a decent display, but specs suggest it won't match the iPhone 11's color accuracy and brightness. Expect a larger screen size on the TCL 40R, potentially enhancing media consumption.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 11's camera system remains impressive, delivering excellent image quality, particularly in well-lit conditions. While the TCL 40R likely has a multi-lens setup, it's unlikely to match the iPhone 11's image processing and overall camera performance. Video recording capabilities will also favor the iPhone 11.
Performance
Here, the iPhone 11's A13 Bionic chip absolutely dominates. The Dimensity 700 is a capable mid-range chipset, but it can't compete with the raw power and efficiency of the A13. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the iPhone 11.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the iPhone 11 achieving a remarkable 94h endurance rating. The TCL 40R's battery capacity is likely substantial, but the iPhone 11's power efficiency gives it a slight edge. The iPhone 11 also supports faster charging with PD 2.0.
Buying Guide
The TCL 40R is ideal for budget-conscious buyers, students, or anyone needing a large screen for media consumption. The iPhone 11 is best for users invested in the Apple ecosystem, prioritizing performance, camera quality, and long-term software support, and willing to spend more.