TCL has been selling tablets with its NXTPAPER glare-free display technology in the US for several years, but the only phones with the NXTPAPER screens that have been available so far, two models that went on sale last year through wireless carriers Spectrum Mobile and C-Spire, months after the phones had already gone on sale in other markets.
Now, TCL says it is preparing to release its first NXTPAPER phone aimed at the North American market. TCL 60 Xe NXTPAPER 5G will be available in Canada this May, priced from $199 and up, and should arrive in the US later in 2025.
The smartphone is equipped with a 6.8-inch FHD+ anti-glare display with a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and an additional “Max Ink Mode” that switches to black and white for a more comfortable reading experience, just like on paper. TCL claims you can get up to 7 days of battery life when using the phone as an e-reader in Max Ink mode (though that’s probably not all that realistic if you plan on switching between modes and using the phone for other activities ). ).
Other features include 8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage, a 50MP triple camera on the back of the phone and a 32MP front camera. TCL has not yet revealed the processor, Android version, or the number of years of software updates a user can expect.
But given that this phone is expected to retail for $199 and up, I’m not sure any of these things will be a deal breaker for most users.
TCL says it is also partnering with Microsoft to provide some unspecified artificial intelligence applications to users.