It is increasingly difficult to stand out in the crowded smartphone market. Beneath the industry’s biggies, such as Apple and Samsung, are well-known brands with unique peculiarities in mobile technologies. Among them is Google, which has focused quite a bit on artificial intelligence, and Tcl, which has always been a pivotal name in producing quality television screens, later declined in a reduced version for cell phones. This is precisely how the Tcl 40 Nxtpaper was born, the result of all the brand’s knowledge of panels. The smartphone, in addition to a not-bad photo compartment, mounts a display covered by a layer that, if necessary, transforms the phone into an ebook reader. All are optimized for reading and power saving. Is there more to it? Yes, let’s find out together.
What it looks like top-of-the-line design
Looking at the front, one is surprised by the size of the terminal and its extreme manoeuvrability. It is nice and full-bodied but also light to hold, with stiff curves that make it easy to grip. On the back is the triple-camera configuration, etched in two circles that give the phone an elegant stroke in concert with the glossy grey colouring. Regarding the 6.7-inch display, it is immediately apparent that there is something different about it than the LCD panels and sleek Amoled. Here, the shinier features give way to a more “matte” experience, with all the possible positive meanings to be given to the adjective. No vivid colours and, therefore, less stress on the eyes, both when reading and surfing the Internet. Watching a video or gaming will also look “different” than usual, but not necessarily “worse.” Usage is something special, which you will get used to with time.
The multimedia side
Being a low-cost phone, the triple-camera configuration reproduces average-quality shots, nothing sublime. The main camera is 50 megapixels with f/1.8 aperture, the ultra-wide-angle camera is five mega with f/2.2 aperture and 115° field of view, and the macro camera is 2 megapixels. The selfie cam, on the front, is 32 megapixels.
Once again, the matte display might come in handy: one cannot expect to see the same carat of colours, shapes and definitions on the screen as an iPhone 15 Pro or a Pixel 8 Pro, and that’s okay: those who take photos with this Tcl do so not so much to achieve the work of the century but to imprint memories in digital format, enjoyable as long as there is enough light coming into the lens. As soon as it gets a little dark, the results inevitably fall below average. Regarding connectivity, we find 4G, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, NFC, USB-C 2.0 connector and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Performance, good photos, great reading
In terms of hardware, the Tcl 40 NxtPaper is powered by a MediaTek MT6769H processor, which is made to handle mid-range smartphones easily. It mounts 8 GB of RAM, which can be increased with the built-in expansion function, and 256 GB of storage. Given the special nature of the panel, Tcl has included in its 40 some display modes that can be activated in the settings. These include “Reading Mode,” which will transform the display so that it is displayed only in black and white.
But also Eye Comfort filters out blue light and adjusts the colour temperature to reduce eye fatigue. And finally, there is a sunlight display mode switch that will increase readability under direct light. But at the top of them is the NxtPaper mode, which simulates a sheet of paper, in colour or grayscale, with a stunning result. It really feels like interacting with a notebook, moreover with no limitation in terms of access to installed apps. It may not be the best mode for Netflix, but Nxtpaper is at its best for reading documents, eBooks or dedicated newspaper apps, such as Press Reader.
Benchmark best buy
Given its positioning range, the Tcl 40 Nxtpaper lacks some features now cleared elsewhere. For example, it lacks wireless charging and 5G (although there is a version with the standard). Photos are not its forte, while the focus of use is the display part, the flagship of this device. If you are looking for a smartphone to surf, read documents, and listen to wireless and wired music while spending little time, then the Nxtpaper may be a valuable companion for the coming months. The list price is 199.99 euros, but you can find it online for a few tens of euros less, making it a real best-buy for the target segment.
