I tested a $400 Android phone with an E Ink like display, and it was boringly awesome

TCL’s Nxtpaper technology is truly unique, but after reviewing the TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G, I realized its potential has been limited to lower-end smartphones.

The TCL Nxtpaper 60 Ultra changes that, integrating the latest version of Nxtpaper 4.0 technology into a larger-format mid-range device. This is not a spec-chasing flagship like the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the Pixel 10 Pro, instead positioned as an “Ultra” in terms of comfort and size rather than sheer performance.

A screen built for eye comfort

The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the Nxtpaper 60 Ultra was its unmistakably large 7.2-inch panel, which dwarfs the Galaxy S25 Ultra I carry. One-handed use is nearly impossible, and I had to be sure my pockets could handle the footprint of the device, especially when equipped with the case that also stores a stylus.

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The LCD panel features a 120 Hz refresh for smooth navigation, and black levels impressed me more than I expected from LCD. In fact, much of the color science resembled an OLED display. The tech that drives Nxtpaper’s eye-soothing display adds extra layers on top, which can give content a subtle haze. The matte finish kills any reflections and most fingerprints, but also makes it somewhat difficult to view in direct sunlight.

For eye comfort, two things stand out. First, the Nxtpaper technology is effective down to around 3.4% battery life according to TCL, 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 anyone who suffers from headaches or strain from flickering displays. The panel can dim all the way down to two nits, which for me meant bedtime scrolling stayed peaceful even with the lights out.

Changing modes at the flick of a switch

Using a stylus on a smartphone isn’t essential in my experience, but I appreciate the lengths TCL has gone to integrate a capable stylus experience into the 60 Ultra. The T-Pen, sold separately, uses electro-magnetic resonance, the same tech behind Wacom and Samsung’s S Pen. The passive stylus has no battery, though you’d never know it. A short hover over the display presents a cursor, and the T Pen offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. I had a difficult time detecting any latency.

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What stands out is how the T Pen feels on this screen. The matte texture gives the pen paper-like friction, and I noticed a faint sound when writing that adds to the illusion.

My biggest frustration is that the T Pen doesn’t store in the phone itself, like on Samsung’s Galaxy S Ultra phones. TCL does sell a bulky case with a side-mounted attachment point, but that makes an already huge smartphone that much larger in everyday use.

AI features fall short

The rear camera system features a 50-megapixel periscope lens offering 3x optical zoom, along with 6x optical quality zoom. That lens can go all the way 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 unusable.

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That said, I’m always happy to have an optical zoom in my toolset, and I enjoyed using the periscope for macro photography of food and flowers. The primary 50MP lens can capture nice results in good lighting, but TCL’s post-processing often leaves images looking washed out. The 8MP ultrawide is forgettable and an easy tell that some corners were cut.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Nxtpaper 60 Ultra, on X (formerly Twitter) at@JasonHowell.