As someone who tests phones for a living, I know how important the display truly is. A great one makes doing everything more enjoyable, while a sub-par one can quickly ruin the experience.
But my favourite displays on any phone don’t come on an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone or Google Pixel phone. You won’t even find them on OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola or Honor handsets.
Instead, it’s TCL phones which use the company’s Nxtpaper tech. I should probably expect nothing less from one of the world’s biggest TV makers, but the beauty of Nxtpaper devices is their versatility.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
First up, I love the display’s matt coating (similar to the Xiaomi Pad 7 Matte Glass Version we also saw at the show), which means you don’t get any of the unpleasant reflections that are common on glossy screens. Visibility in basically any environment, including direct sunlight, isn’t a problem.
Crucially, the matt screen doesn’t stop the regular colour mode from delivering the rich, vibrant colours we associate with glossy displays. Content looks clear and crisp, meaning it’s still a good option for content consumption.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
However, it’s the other modes that really set TCL phones apart from the competition. A ‘Colour Paper Mode’ lowers saturation and introduces softer colours for a paper-like experience. The ‘Ink Paper Mode’ swaps the colours for black and white, making it even easier on your eyes.
Then there’s the ‘Max Ink Mode’. While still monochrome, it reduces the refresh rate in order to deliver a big boost to battery life.
While not new, I tried it for the first time at MWC 2025 and believe it makes Nxtpaper phones even better.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
It’s also great if you’re looking to avoid distractions. In ‘Max Ink Mode’, TCL only allows up to seven third-party apps to be available, making it great if you need to get focused work done or just want some uninterrupted reading time.
Even if you add TikTok or Instagram, the apps become a lot less interesting without all the bright colours competing for your attention. As someone who’s looking to build a healthier relationship with their phone, this really appeals to me.
In Settings, you can choose which of the three modes you want to be your main alternative to the regular colour mode. Then, you can easily switch between them by simply toggling the physical ‘Nxtpaper key’ on the side of the device.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
More than just a good screen?
Other key features on the 60 Nxtpaper include a 108Mp rear camera, MediaTek Helio G92 chipset and a generous 5200mAh battery. After spending a few minutes with it, I think this could be the future of budget phones, especially with that low €199 asking price.
However, the big catch right now is that TCL has no immediate plans to bring the phone to the UK or US. I really hope that changes soon.
For something that we know is coming to Europe, the £179.99 60 SE Nxtpaper 5G also benefits from the four different display modes. You’ll have to put up with a downgraded 6.7-inch HD+ display and 50Mp main camera, though the 5200mAh battery capacity remains.
The TCL 60 Nxtpaper is one of the many products and concepts that made it into Tech Advisor’s Best of MWC 2025 Awards.
