TCL Launching Headphone Lineup in US

TCL — maker of Alcatel and BlackBerry phones as well as TVs under their own brand — is getting into the affordable headphone business. The company today announced its first lineup of TCL-branded wired and Bluetooth personal audio devices for the US, with four sub-brands. ELIT are the top-end models; some have drivers as large as 40mm and/and active noice canceling, ranging in cost $25-80. The ACTV line includes two models with sweat resistance and over-ear loops to keep them in place during workouts. The wired model is $20 while the Bluetooth is $40. The SOCL line are colorful and start at $10 for the basic wired model. The six models top out at $60 for the top-end Bluetooth 5 model with neck band and 18-hour battery life. The MTRO series has more conservative designs, and includes four models: in-ear and over-ear, each available wired or with Bluetooth. They range $20-50. The first models will launch February 1st, with the full lineup available by summer.