TCL 50 Pro Nxtpaper review: A phone with a key difference

Final 12 months, TCL launched a low-cost smartphone that doubled as an exquisite eReader. This phone-by-day/book-by-night concept solely had one main downside: switching between the 2 modes was a little bit of a chore.

Now, it’s again, rectifying the one subject with a {hardware} toggle caught proper beneath the ability button. However does the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper provide sufficient oomph to enchantment to a large viewers? Let’s have a look.

Design & Construct

• Strong development
• Comfy grip with rounded corners
• Loads of colors and finishes

Accessible in a variety of colors relying in your area, the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper appears to be like extra luxurious than its mid-range worth would recommend.

Sturdy, rounded, and simply thick sufficient to welcome a powerful grip, its easy, anti-glare display has it trying like a dummy product when sat on its again.

The “2D Basalt” design on the again of my Moon Grey pattern gives a refined, wavy shimmer that provides new patterns at totally different angles.

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There’s a brighter Alps White model obtainable on the lighter handset. Some areas even get entry to vibrant glass finishes like blue, gold and purple.

Solely the appropriate aspect of the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper options any buttons; the standard quantity rocker, an influence button that doubles as a really delicate fingerprint scanner, and a grippy slider used to activate the telephone’s signature Nxtpaper function – one thing the final iteration sorely missed.

A centred USB-C port for quick charging and information switch is on the underside. You’ll spot a 3.5mm headphone jack, microphone, and extensive three-grille speaker there, too.

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What I bought within the field could not match your individual buy. Whereas a charger and USB-C/A cable are included, the skinny folio case and included pen is an optionally available additional.

The TCL web site suggests a primary case is included, however buyer opinions – at the least within the UK – counter that declare.

Display screen & Audio system

• Vast, 1080p movie-ready show
• Anti-reflecting coating and easy matt end
• Loud audio system

The TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper is a tall gadget. Its 20.5:9 facet ratio show means it’s virtually excellent for cinema-style content material in panorama view.

It’s additionally a lot lengthy sufficient to suit extra phrases of your subsequent bedtime learn on display. No matter you resolve to do with it, the 2460×1080 decision ensures it’s crisp throughout the 6.8-inch panel.

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A typical peak brightness of round 450 nits means it may be tough to take pleasure in color content material in very vibrant situations, however the Nxtpaper show was in a position to go as little as 10 nits in my take a look at. The specter of nighttime digital studying hindering your sleep ought to be a factor of the previous.

The matt-style end, whereas positive to barely degrade the telephone’s means to show really correct colors, makes the default gradient background sing with a easy transition that’s very pleasing to the peepers everytime you change between its varied display modes.

You’ll additionally really feel a paper-like texture everytime you slide your digits alongside it, serving to the turning of a digital web page really feel extra reasonable.

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Talking of which, the Nxtpaper toggle might be set to modify between your favorite of three totally different studying modes: Color Paper (gentle colors), Ink Paper (black and white), or Max Ink.

That final one is an ultra-low energy mode that limits obtainable apps on high of providing that crisp black and white show. It ought to increase not solely battery life, however your means to lose your self in a superb e-book.

The three-grille speaker on the backside and a bigger earpiece the place you’d anticipate it are removed from stellar.

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Vocals on speaking head-style YouTube movies, whereas intelligible, come throughout as tinny and missing actual heat or bass. It’s a frankly anticipated final result for a telephone on this worth bracket and configuration, however it’s nonetheless a disgrace.

The excellent news is that it’s loud for individuals who want that additional oomph. For anybody else, chorus from cranking it too excessive or plug some headphones in to get the perfect expertise.

Specs & Efficiency

• Easy 120Hz scrolling
• Reminiscence helps apps open rapidly and keep open
• First rate gaming potential for individuals who care

Backed by an 8-core MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper skirts what it means to be a mid-range gadget, with its 1881 Geekbench rating falling a little bit bit behind extra standard handsets just like the Motorola Moto G85.

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In struggling to hit double-digit body charges in additional demanding 3D assessments, it received’t swimsuit these searching for immersive gaming experiences. Informal or competitive-focused titles, nonetheless? Go proper forward. The Netflix providing ought to sing.

On the whole use, it’s nonetheless a passable expertise. The 120Hz show fits scrolling articles splendidly, and the 8GB of onboard reminiscence is sufficient to hold on a regular basis operations operating easily.

On-line listings usually point out it has double that quantity, but the settings display confirms it’s merely appropriating slower storage to realize it – one thing that’s normally supplied as an optionally available setting on gadgets at this worth level.

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Although, with 512GB of storage (rememeber flagship iPhones and Galaxys include 128GB) as customary and a microSD card slot do you have to want extra, dropping a fraction of that to spice up efficiency ever so barely isn’t a purpose to run for the hills.

Most significantly, apps open rapidly and largely with out stutter, giant downloads are nonetheless good and quick, and the entire person expertise is buttery easy.

The one factor the low-spec processor would possibly hinder is the digicam, however that’s as much as private choice.

TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper benchmarks

Cameras

• Triple-sensor system 
• 108Mp predominant shooter
• Most 1080p 30fps recording

Serving to to justify the Professional moniker of its title, the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper packs three rear digicam sensors: an 8Mp extensive, 2Mp macro, and a 108Mp predominant monster.

That final one’s full decision is locked behind a fast choose choice on the viewfinder display, however you may allow it because the default choice when you don’t must {photograph} any transferring topics.

Although you’ll be hard-pressed to identify its price because of the naturally blurred show within the second, you’ll end up with some half-decent pictures when seen on a giant display; whether or not taken throughout an Autumn storm of falling leaves or whereas venturing round heat and nonetheless historical metropolis of Dubrovnik.

You received’t be capable of punch in to learn the textual content of a distant signal, and it might probably have a kind of VHS-quality grain in non-perfect situations and loads of flare towards vibrant lights, however it’s about as serviceable as different cameras on this worth vary.

Elsewhere, it may be tough to get the opposite lenses to play effectively with out vibrant, nonetheless capturing situations. The 108Mp pictures take a while to snap and course of. Take a sneaky shot as you go and also you’ll nearly definitely spot the ghosting.

Making an attempt a portrait shot as my cat emerged from a shrub proved that the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper badly struggles to pick the sides of our fuzzy buddies in a rush.

Issues fared a lot better with filtered gentle and a principally nonetheless topic, with the end result being a very atmospheric shot of a pet milliseconds away from demanding consideration.

Equally, making an attempt to get shut sufficient to Autumn flowers for the “tremendous macro” lens proved tough. Not that many ever actually use it.

No less than the zoom potential is there. Making an attempt to pick the small print on the peak of a distant hill ends in a kind of portray impact, however punching into issues additional down the highway, for instance, is mostly tremendous.

The flexibility to double-click the quantity rocker to take an image with out opening the digicam app may be very good however possible a chore for the battery.

Its lack of ability to document above 1080p at 30fps, nonetheless, which is presumably a limitation of the processor, is an actual disgrace. Processing these 108Mp stills can take a good bit of time, too.

The purpose is that it’s a finicky system which may attempt your persistence, however it’s not fully with out benefit. It will probably get the job accomplished in the appropriate situations, simply don’t choose this up when you’re seeking to seize treasured recollections.

The handset’s core focus actually is being a helpful digital reader first and a dependable good communications gadget. The digicam comes second fiddle to each.

Battery Life & Charging

• Massive capability battery 
• Plentiful power-saving options
• 33W quick charging with included charger

The 5010mAh battery below the hood is big. It’s across the similar measurement as different performance-focused telephones of this measurement. Paired with the paper-like display, you may anticipate it to final a protracted whereas, too. No less than, that’s the idea.

Managing round 9 hours in our typical battery efficiency take a look at, the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper can go the gap. And that’s when it’s used like a pc reasonably than a e-book.

The take a look at emulates typical utilization eventualities at a modest brightness with the telephone’s bells and whistles energetic. There’s loads of room for enchancment not solely by way of typical battery saving modes, however by even dynamically decreasing the display decision when it is smart.

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Surprisingly sufficient, whereas the telephone predicts a superb month or so of runtime with the Nxtpaper settings cranked to the max, I noticed a 4% drop in cost whereas studying on the Kindle app throughout a 45-minute bus journey, so take these lofty estimates with a complete heap of salt.

Within the following weeks, nonetheless, charging grew to become one thing I solely needed to fear about perhaps twice in seven days when used primarily as a reader and part-time digicam.

As an upside, the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper does assist quick charging. At 33W through the included cable and charger, a modest 30-minute recharge introduced it to 73% from empty. A fast 15-minute increase, say whereas having a shower or making breakfast, can provide near half a full cost which is spectacular for a telephone this low-cost.

There’s no choice for wi-fi charging as you may think so don’t anticipate to high it up on the go except you’re carrying at the least a cable to faucet into sockets on the bus, on the library, or elsewhere. Although you’ll not often must.

Software program & Apps

• Heavy bloatware
• 5 years of software program assist
• Nice well being and usefulness settings

By far the largest disappointment with the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper is the sheer quantity of bloatware that comes pre-installed.

The primary display hides it effectively with utility apps to hurry up efficiency. Slide over to the second display, although, and also you’ll be introduced with social platforms, coupons, lodge reserving apps, and even a pair from Microsoft.

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Making issues worse, there’s even a folder devoted to a revolving door of “sizzling apps” prepared to put in with a single faucet.

These might be hidden, eliminated, or uninstalled with out subject, however it’s nonetheless a disgrace to see the virtually predatory follow on a telephone with options that greatest swimsuit the older technology.

And when you go for the case with the included pen, remember that the primary app you’re possible to make use of it with – the pre-installed Jnotes – will attempt to pull you into one more subscription each time you launch it. Even the pencil software instructions a premium.

On the upside, the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper contains some really considerate tweaks within the settings menu. Textual content and icons are already good and huge, however you may dial each up or down with ease.

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The Nxtpaper studying mode might be configured in some ways: you may tweak the depth of the impact tied to the toggle or have comparable display results kick in on a per-app foundation.

For instance, you may have the Kindle app activate your favorite studying mode robotically, use the Nxtpaper change to allow straightforward studying of a text-heavy article, after which rapidly flick it again to color whenever you’re able to scroll Pinterest, Fb, or a clothes web site’s limitless catalog.

It will probably even allow you to keep away from widespread eye well being pitfalls. It will probably ping when there isn’t sufficient ambient gentle for studying, when you’re on a nasty angle, whenever you’re too near the display, otherwise you’re making an attempt to learn in a shaky setting. It will probably even recommend taking a break after lengthy durations of studying.

Joshua Brown

Some require the usage of the digicam and can thus hinder battery life over time, however it’s all the time good to have the choice.

Working Android 14 out of the field, you may prolong safety assist all the way in which to 2029 by updating to Android 16. 5 years of life on an progressive handset at this worth level is a superb boon for sustainability.

Worth & Availability

The TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper retails for £279.99 within the UK with stockists together with Argos, Amazon, and Very. Every area has entry to totally different colors and finishes and sadly, the telephone isn’t on account of launch within the USA.

In the event you desire a extra acquainted title and little bit extra energy, the Motorola G85 5G can provide a little bit bit extra efficiency at an identical worth level.

In the event you’re immediately not feeling the Nxtpaper advantages however nonetheless need one thing at across the similar price, the Nothing Cellphone (2a) is kind of a bit extra highly effective with a way more balanced digicam.

Take a look at our listing of the perfect mid-range telephones for extra choices.

Must you purchase the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper?

Whereas I’m unconvinced that the Nxtpaper mode carries the identical advantages as a devoted E-Ink gadget, the boons of it being a hybrid show are clear as day.

On the worth of a premium eReader, you get a really succesful handset with all the mandatory sensors to assist hold you snug as you flip web page after web page.

In including a {hardware} toggle to bounce between Ink and Color modes, the TCL 50 Professional Nxtpaper has fastened the one evident flaw of its predecessor.

Paired with a 120Hz refresh price and a battery that may simply last more than the competitors, TCL is only a cut price folding mannequin away from a near-essential buy for individuals who haven’t ditched the written phrase in favour of limitless video content material.

Specs

• MediaTek Dimensity 6300 Octa-core
• 6.8” 1080×2460 396 PPI show at 550nits (20.5:9 – 87.5% S2B)
• 120Hz
• 5010mAh
• 8GB reminiscence (+8 increase)
• 512gb storage + MicroSD assist
• 33w quick charging USB-C
• Quarterly Safety updates till March 2029 (when up to date to Android 16)
• 108 / 8 / 2Mp rear sensors, 32Mp entrance (max recording 1080p/30fps seize
• Dimensions (HxWxD, mm)167.6 x 75.5 x 7.99
• 196g (with out case)
• Fingerprint/Energy button, quantity rocker, Nxtpaper change
• Moon Grey, Midnight Blue, Alps White, Pale Gold, Rosy Purple*
• 2D Basalt fiber again cowl (Moon Grey, Alps White), 2D glass fiber again cowl (Midnight Blue, Pale Gold, Rosy Purple)