ZDNET Highlights
- The TCL Nxtpaper 60 Ultra is currently available in Europe for €449 for the 256GB version or €499 for the 512GB.
- It has a large 7.2-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate that mimics an e-ink display and a pleasant writing experience with a stylus.
- It is not available in the US yet.
TCL’s Nxtpaper technology is truly unique, but after reviewing the TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G, I realized that its capabilities are limited to lower-end smartphones.
The TCL Nxtpaper 60 Ultra changes this, integrating the latest version of Nxtpaper 4.0 technology into a large-format mid-range device. It’s not a spec-chasing flagship like the Galaxy S25 Ultra or Pixel 10 Pro, but rather it’s simply billed as an “Ultra” in terms of comfort and size rather than performance.
Screen designed to give comfort to eyes
The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the Nxtpaper 60 Ultra was its large 7.2-inch panel, which dwarfs the Galaxy S25 Ultra that came with me. It’s nearly impossible to use with one hand, and I had to make sure my pocket could handle the device’s footprint, especially when equipped with a case that also stored a stylus.
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The LCD panel features a 120Hz refresh for smooth navigation, and black levels impressed me more than I expected from an LCD. In fact, much of the color science was similar to that of OLED displays. The technology that drives Nxtpaper’s eye-resting displays adds additional layers on top, which can give the content a subtle haze. The matte finish eliminates any reflections and most fingerprints, but makes it somewhat difficult to see in direct sunlight.
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Two things are important for eye comfort. First, according to TCL the Nxtpaper technology is effective at up to about 3.4% battery life, a feature that doesn’t require color tinting or software settings.
Another important note is the total lack of pulse-width modulation to achieve its low brightness capability. This is great for people who suffer from headaches or stress due to flickering displays. The panel can be fully dimmed down to two nits, which for me meant that bedtime scrolling would remain peaceful even with the lights off.
Changing modes at the flick of a switch
Nxtpaper devices like the 60 Ultra include a physical switch on the side to unlock different display modes with different color characteristics, as well as deeper system adjustments to enhance battery performance and limit distractions.
Max Ink mode is the most drastic change, turning everything black and white while the system is limited to a few key apps. This mode was the perfect choice for reading without any interruption. It’s not E Ink technology, but it sure looks like it, and it extends battery life by hundreds of hours on a full charge. Although I didn’t make it that far, I logged a few hours of reading and plan to take it on my upcoming trip to Ireland for the same purpose.
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Ink Paper mode also goes grayscale but retains the entire Android operating system. I found it ideal for news and casual browsing. Switching to Google Photos or the camera app brings the device temporarily into full color, and the sudden bursts of black and white really helped me appreciate how vibrant this panel can be.
Color Paper mode mutes the saturation without destroying it. This is probably my favorite method because it keeps everything easy on the eyes while also letting me watch videos or browse Instagram without feeling like I’m using a monochromatic e-ink device.
it feels good to write
Using a stylus on a smartphone isn’t necessary in my experience, but I appreciate the efforts TCL has made to integrate a capable stylus experience into the 60 Ultra. The T-Pen, sold separately, uses electro-magnetic resonance, the same technology behind Wacom and Samsung’s S Pen. There is no battery in the passive stylus, although you would never know it. A small hover over the display presents a cursor, and the T Pen offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. I had difficulty detecting any latency.
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The most striking thing is how T-Pain feels on this screen. The matte texture gives the pen a paper-like friction, and I noticed a slight sound while writing that adds to the illusion.
My biggest disappointment is that the T Pen doesn’t store on the phone itself, unlike Samsung’s Galaxy S Ultra phones. TCL sells a bulky case with side-mounted attachment points, but that already makes for a huge smartphone that becomes too big in everyday use.
AI features fall short
Inside the Nxtpaper 60 Ultra is a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 paired with 12 gigabytes of RAM. I found this midrange chip to perform well at standard OS tasks, and PUBG runs smoothly without any noticeable heat. The lag increases more when taking a lot of photos and maneuvering through the camera interface. Switching Nxtpaper display modes with the toggle also takes longer than expected.
The battery is 5,200 mAh, which should easily last a whole day with continuous use. Features like Max Ink Mode help take battery worries away, especially since it’s a simple flick of the switch away. Wired charging maxes out at 33W, reaching 50% in 30 minutes. However, there’s no wireless charging, which feels like a missed opportunity on an “Ultra” branded phone.
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TCL includes a handful of AI features, many of which are table stakes. Summary, transcription, magic eraser, and circle to search are all present. A unique Bookshelf app appears within Max Ink mode that can turn any book into an audiobook or two-person podcast with AI-powered text-to-speech. I couldn’t listen to “The Odyssey” for more than a few minutes before becoming irritated by the strange voice characteristics and robotic delivery.
The good thing is that the software support is stronger than I expected. TCL has promised three major Android OS updates along with seven years of security patches. This promises to be a solid update for a mid-range smartphone like this.
A rare mid-range phone with periscope zoom
The rear camera system features a 50-megapixel periscope lens that offers 3x optical zoom along with 6x optical quality zoom. That lens can go up to 100x, although I would never recommend using those settings. Unlike Google’s sharpening on 100x photos shot with the Pixel 10 Pro series, TCL’s processing is harsh and unhelpful.
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That said, I’m always happy to have optical zoom in my toolset, and I enjoyed using the periscope for macro photography of food and flowers. The primary 50MP lens can capture good results in good lighting, but TCL’s post-processing often results in photos looking blurry. The 8MP ultrawide is forgettable and it can easily be seen that some corners were cut.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
Nextpaper 60 Ultra With surprisingly capable stylus integration and an impressively different display, the Samsung S25 performs well as a less expensive alternative to the Ultra. There are compromises in the camera system, the AI features promise more than they can deliver, and the larger size can be a polarizing design choice.
Another big downside for US buyers is that TCL has not yet announced whether it plans to bring the phone to the states. Currently, it can be found in Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, and it is priced at €449 for a model with 256GB of storage or €499 for 512GB.
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