TCL is bringing its Nxtpaper 2.0 technology to a couple of new smartphones. This colorized E Ink-like tech can be found in a number of TCL's tablets. The company uses multiple layers of glass to diffuse light to the point that TCL says the display is reflection-free. A matte finish also means that the screen is resistant to fingerprints and smudges. Colors adjust to your surroundings thanks to an integrated sensor and you can even flip on a black-and-white mode to mimic traditional ereaders. The company also says that these displays reduce blue light, which has been known to negatively affect sleep.
TCL 40 Nxtpaper
The €199 (~$215) TCL 40 Nxtpaper comes in at 6.62 by 2.97 by 0.31 inches (HWD) and it features a 6.78-inch display at a resolution of 2,460 by 1,080 pixels with a typical brightness of 450 nits. That may not seem terribly bright, but with an anti-reflective screen, it should be easy to see even in direct sunlight. There is a hole-punch in the top center of the display for a 32MP selfie camera that can also shoot video up to 1080p at 30fps. A triple camera setup on the rear features a 50MP main camera, a 5MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro shooter. The rear camera's video capture ability is the same as the front-facing camera.
(Credit: TCL)A combined fingerprint sensor/power button can be found on the right side of the device along with a volume rocker. The left side has no buttons but does house the combo SIM/microSD card tray. A USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack can be found on the bottom. As for weight, the 40 Nxtpaper is approximately 6.88 ounces.
You'll find Android 13 on this device when it launches and it will get one OS upgrade to Android 14. That's not great, but this is a budget phone. It's powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 processor and comes with 256GB of storage that can be expanded using a microSD card (up to 1TB). As for memory, the 40 has 8GB of RAM and can support an additional 8GB of virtual RAM. Depending on the region, the phone will either have room for one or two nano SIM cards. TCL also packs a big 5,010mAh battery into this device that can support 33W fast charging; there's even a USB-C-to-USB-C cable and a 33W charger included in the box.
As for connectivity, the 40 supports Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, 4G, and Wi-Fi 5. Those specs are somewhat outdated. The TCL 40 Nxtpaper also works with the company's T-pen stylus, but that is an optional accessory.
TCL 40 Nxtpaper 5G
This model is not just the 40 with a different modem. The €249 (~$269) TCL 40 Nxtpaper 5G is smaller than the regular 40, with dimensions of 6.47 by 2.97 by 0.35 inches and 6.77 ounces in weight. The 6.6-inch display features a resolution of 1,612 by 720 pixels with a typical brightness of 500 nits. The 8MP front-facing camera is located in a teardrop-shaped cutout of the bezel to accommodate the lens. There's a 50MP main shooter, a 2MP depth camera, and a 2MP macro lens on the rear of the device. Both the front and rear cameras support video capture up to 1080p at 30fps.
(Credit: TCL)The right side of the device has a volume rocker and a fingerprint sensor/power button. There's a SIM/microSD card tray on the left side and this model should have support for dual SIM cards. The bottom houses a USB-C port along with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The TCL 40 Nxtpaper 5G is powered by a MediaTek 6833V_NZA chipset with 256GB of storage. You can up that capacity by adding a microSD card of up to 1TB. There is 6GB of RAM and support for 6GB of virtual RAM on this model. A large 5,000mAh battery is inside the device and can handle fast charging of up to 15W, but no charger will be in the box. This device will also run Android 13 and will get one OS upgrade.
Like the TCL 40 Nxtpaper, the 5G has Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and Wi-Fi 5 support built in. TCL says that the 40 Nxtpaper 5G can reach 5G download speeds of up to 2.7Gbps and upload speeds as high as 0.7Gbps, though it supports sub-6GHz 5G only and not mmWave.
Availability
Europe gets the TCL 40 Nxtpaper first starting in September, with more countries to follow later this year. The 40 Nxtpaper 5G will also hit Europe first, but won't arrive until October, with other areas to follow. TCL says it will announce US availability for the Nxtpaper phones in early 2024.