I used the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro paper display, and I can’t wait for the US launch next month.
Modern phone screens, including the best OLEDs, are not perfect. They flicker, usually with low pulse-width modulation (PWM) values, and this can be annoying or even painful for some people. They are also not suitable for use in direct sunlight, as their clear lenses can cause glare, reducing visibility. If you want to use your phone as an e-reader or limit distractions, most flags don’t have the paper-like viewing effects needed to get the best experience.
There is one company that is trying to address all of these issues, TCL, but product calls rarely make it into the US. I went out of my way to buy the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G, the lowest-end model that was really available, and it had to deal with slow speeds, a small camera system, and budget-level build quality. At MWC 2026, TCL showed off the NXTPAPER 70 Pro, a more powerful offering that finally arrives in the US next month.
Most devices try to keep your attention as much as possible, sucking you in with bright colors, constant notifications, and loads of distractions. In comparison, TCL’s upcoming phone has a dedicated slider that lets you mute the sound instantly.
The downside of NXTPAPER phones is their built-in glass cover. Most phones are glossy, and this finish attracts fingerprints and adds unwanted glare. You can fix that with a matte screen protector, but doing so usually means compromising on the plastic film version, which isn’t ideal. With this solution, you get the premium feel and durability of glass while still getting the anti-smudge and anti-glare benefits.
TCL had a great demo at IFA 2025 showing the difference between NXTPAPER’s matte display and a standard glossy display in challenging lighting conditions. The problem? The flagship shown there, the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, never made it to the U.S. That’s what makes the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro so exciting.
For the average user, the most prominent feature is the NXTPAPER key. It cycles through four color modes: full color, Color Paper Mode, Ink Paper Mode, and Max Ink Mode. It is important to note that this is not an e-ink display, it simply simulates that effect using an LCD. However, it does a great job at that. Color Paper Mode makes your phone look like a Kindle Colorsoft, with a paper look and muted colors, while Ink Paper Mode does the same in black and white.
Max Ink Mode is a really cool feature. This mode not only enables a paper-like black and white viewing experience, but also limits available apps and notifications. The idea is that you can use your phone as an e-reader without being interrupted by other applications, such as social media or messaging applications. It’s like having a small phone that can turn into a full-fledged Android flagship with the flip of a switch.
Besides improving your focus, Max Ink Mode is amazing for battery life. TCL claims you can get seven days of battery life from the NXTPAPER 70 Pro when you use Max Ink Mode for reading. In standby mode, the phone can survive for 26 days. We’ll have to verify these claims for ourselves, but based on my time testing Max Ink Mode on other NXTPAPER phones, I believe it.
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For those who suffer from PWM flicker sensitivity, the fact that this phone offers a truly flicker-free experience will feel like a breath of fresh air. The phone uses DC dimming and the brightness can be reduced down to 1 nit. It’s also designed to try to block blue light, and meets several eye-friendly standards:
- Low Perceived Fatigue Certificate A+2.1 SGS
- Dim-Light Eye Protection SGS certificate
- Free Flickr TÜV certificate
That’s all outside an eye-friendly display that’s important here, because normally, buying an NXTPAPER phone in the US meant compromising everywhere else. This time, you get a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, a 5,200mAh battery, and up to 512GB of storage. The main camera is a solid 50MP sensor, and is complimented by an 8MP ultrawide lens. Up front, you’ll find a 32MP selfie camera.
The design of the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is also very good, although it looks like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge from the back. It looks a lot more premium than the older US models that replaced fancy metal and glass instead of plastic.
One thing we’re waiting to hear about the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is its US pricing. We know it will start at €299 with an optional €359 configuration in Europe, which comes out to $347 and $417 after conversion. That means we could be looking at $399 and $499 price points in the US, with availability starting in April 2026.
I still want TCL to give us more NXTPAPER phones
The hardware on the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is no slouch, and between the MediaTek processor and the refined build quality, it really comes into its own. However, I would like to see TCL bring more high-end smartphones to the US market. This is the first “Pro” phone with NXTPAPER technology to arrive, but I would like to see the first “Ultra” model soon.
