When budget meets innovation: the TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G is a $200–$250 Android phone that carves its niche with a unique matte LCD known as "Nxtpaper." Designed for long reading, reduced eye fatigue, and e‑reader style comfort—this phone isn’t perfect, but it’s surprisingly compelling.
1. Design & Build Quality
The phone has a clean, flat‑edged build with a matte plastic back accented by a glossy marble‑patterned ring housing its triple‑camera module. While some may find the marble pattern overdone, the finish resists fingerprints effectively and gives a more premium feel than expected at this price point.
A side-mounted slider called the Nxtpaper Key lets users toggle display modes quickly. It has a slight rattle and feels somewhat cheap, but its presence is a rare feature in sub‑$300 phones.
2. Display: Matte, Low‑Glare, Paper‑Like
The standout feature is the 6.78″ FHD+ LCD display with Nxtpaper 3.0 coating. It filters around 61% of blue light and suppresses glare to offer a matte-paper feel—much gentler on eyes during long reading sessions.
There are three display modes:
Color Paper Mode – softens colors while retaining vividness
Ink Paper Mode – full grayscale, warmer tone
Max Ink Mode – minimalist homescreen, black-and-white, drastically reduces power use and notifications for distraction-free reading.
While muted in direct sunlight, the display is calm and soothing indoors and at night—especially for heavy readers or content consumers
However, colors are a bit muted, icons and text can look slightly softer than OLED displays—visible when compared side-by-side with brighter screens
3. Performance & Battery
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ (6nm) chip, paired with 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB (expandable), it offers decent everyday performance. Web browsing, video streaming, social apps, and light gaming run smoothly, though heavy multitasking can cause occasional stutter.
The 5,010 mAh battery delivers impressive stamina. You can expect a full day of moderate use, and in Max Ink Mode TCL claims up to 7 days of standby, by shutting down background apps and lowering screen processing—though real-world results vary.
Charging is via 18W wired only. No wireless charging is supported. Reverse wired charging is included for powering accessories
4. Camera, Audio & Connectivity
A triple rear camera includes:
50MP main (wide) sensor with PDAF
5MP ultrawide
2MP depth sensor
A 32MP selfie camera handles video calls and social posts adequately. Low-light results are average—usable, but don’t expect standout performance. The 50MP lens can struggle with high-contrast scenes.
On the plus side, the phone retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD expansion slot, NFC for contactless payments, FM radio, USB‑C OTG, and dual stereo speakers with DTS 3D Boom Sound—a generous range of features on a budget device.
5. Software & Updates
Running Android 15 with a light TCL interface, the phone includes bonus AI features like article summarization and live translation. While free of bloatware, TCL promises only one Android update (to Android 16), plus two years of security patches—less generous than competitors in this category.
6. User Experience & Comfort
The matte display is genuinely pleasant for evening or long-session reading. It reduces glare and flicker, and text appears softer and less straining than typical OLED or glossy LCDs.
Reddit users echo mixed experiences: some say it helps eye fatigue, others cite minimal benefits and prefer real E Ink readers. The display is not true E Ink, and may still cause strain for some users sensitive to PWM or reflective light.
7. Strengths & Weaknesses
👍 Pros
Unique Nxtpaper matte display with anti-glare
Long battery (especially in Max Ink Mode)
Expandable storage, headphone jack, NFC support
Budget-friendly yet feature-rich
👎 Cons
LCD still not ideal under direct sunlight
Switch toggle feels cheap and laggy
Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ offers only mid-tier performance
Camera quality is mediocre
Minimal software support beyond 2 years
8. Is This Phone Right for You?
💡 Yes, if you read e-books, long texts, or browse often indoors and seek less eye strain
✅ Yes, if you want durability and long battery at a low price
🔄 No, if you need bright outdoor visibility, high-end camera, or prolonged software support
It’s an excellent choice for students, remote workers, or anyone trading off flashy features for comfort and usability.
9. Comparison Table with Alternatives
Feature TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G Typical Budget Phone
Display Matte LCD / Nxtpaper with mode toggle Glossy LCD or OLED
Eye comfort High (anti-glare + modes) Low
Battery (Max Ink) Up to 7 days standby 1–2 days
Camera 50MP + 5MP + 2MP Similar specs
Expandable Storage Yes Often no
Headphone Jack Yes Rare at this price
NFC Yes Often no
Software Updates 1 Android + 2 years 2+ Android updates
10. Final Verdict
The TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G is not the most powerful or camera-rich phone around—but it shines because it offers something few phones in its price range do: a display built for real-world comfort, long battery, and essential modern features like NFC, SD card support, and a headphone jack.
Most importantly, it fills a specific user niche: anyone who consumes lots of text, studies on their phone, or gets tired eyes from glossy screens. For those users, it’s worth considering—even over pricier phones with better specs.
