TCL 40 SE
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until April 2025 · Buy-by April 2023
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~2-year update track record — on that basis the 40 SE should be supported until around April 2025. Buying it today still gets you about -1.2 years of safe use, and Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years (verified June 2026).
Source: TCL's policy · last verified 2026-06-18 · how we compute this
Our verdict
A cheap, big-screened 4G phone for the basics, now past its short support window and held back by a weak chip and no 5G.
Pros
- Large 6.75-inch 90Hz screen and 5010mAh battery for very little
- 50MP main camera that takes decent daylight shots
- Light 190g body with expandable storage
Cons
- Slow Helio G37 chip and only 720p resolution
- No 5G and security support has ended
- NFC only on some variants
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.75-inch IPS LCD, 720 x 1600 (HD+), 90Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G37 |
| RAM | 4GB / 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 50MP |
| macro | 2MP |
| front | 8MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 5,010 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 167.9 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 190 g |
| Materials | Glass front, plastic frame and back |
| Water resistance | None |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 13 (TCL UI) |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.1, NFC (select models), USB-C |
| Update policy | ~1 years of updates (our estimate from TCL's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TCL 40 SE still getting updates in 2026?
No. As an entry-level device it received about one OS upgrade and roughly two years of security from its 2023 launch, so support lapsed around 2025 and it is unsupported in 2026.
How long will the TCL 40 SE last?
The big battery and light demands let the hardware run for years, but with security support ended it is best kept as a basic backup phone rather than a primary daily driver.
Is the TCL 40 SE worth buying in 2026?
Only as an ultra-cheap basics phone. The screen and battery are generous for the price, but the slow chip, lack of 5G, and ended updates make a newer budget model a better long-term buy.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-18.