My blackiPhone 16 Pro Maxfeels prosperous in my hand . It is arguably the best smartphone presently uncommitted , with all the features one could want in a roving gimmick in belated 2024 . However , not everyone desire a sound that can do everything . I ’ve found a great choice for someone prioritizing an Android phone with 5 G capability , long battery life , an well-situated - on - the - optic show , and nearly limitless storage . astonishingly , this option does n’t come from Samsung or Google .
In 2021 , TCL revealed Nxtpaper engineering , which offers a paper - like show experience for handset and tablets . We highlighted Nxtpaper when it wasannouncedand have since analyze some of its mathematical product , such as theNxtpaper 12 Proand , most late , theTCL Nxtpaper 11 . base on all this chatter , I desire to learn more about it and get my hands on one of the devices .
A quick overview of the TCL 50 XE Nxtpaper 5G
The phone in question is the TCL 50 XE Nxtpaper 5 G , an low-priced Android smartphone designed to be well-fixed on the eye . The 6.5 - inch twist features a MediaTek Dimensity 6100 + chipset , a 5000mAh battery , 4 GB of RAM , and 128 GB of onboard storage , which can be increased to 2 TB using a microSD card . It comes with Android 14 ; TCL promises two more Android update and three years of security updates .
For photographic camera , the 50 XE Nxtpaper 5 G features a 50 - megapixel main television camera , a 5MP ultrawide camera , and a 2MP depth detector . On the front , there is an 8MP selfie tv camera .
None of these features stand out if you are n’t looking for a budget phone . However , if you are , these are the respectable specs . The chipset is a capable midrange central processor , and the camera take fine pictures . And yes , even this Apple fanboy appreciates seeing a producer still offer a microSD option .
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends
But I ’m not here to talk about any of those features of the 50 XE Nxtpaper 5G. Instead , I ’d care to center on the Nxtpaper engineering and whether it shows promise .
What is Nxtpaper?
Nxtpaper is a cut - border exhibit answer that merges the timeless appeal of paper with digital display advancement in a sustainable and user - friendly design . It purpose to supply a reading experience similar to paper while avoiding the drawback associated with screens , like centre strain and excessive energy usage .
Unlike the e - newspaper screens find out on eastward - readers such as the Amazon Kindle , which display only mordant - and - white content , Nxtpaper put up a vivacious full - colouring material display experience , with faster refresh rates that cater to a reach of dynamic content demand beyond just reading — include videos and interactive app .
Nxtpaper engineering ’s of the essence advancement is its method of handling light and color replica . It chew over light rather than emitting it like LCD or OLED screens . This approach shot duplicate how natural light interacts with paper , efficaciously decrease heart stock while heighten meter reading or screen door time comfort .
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends
Nxtpaper has a minimum environmental impact . It utilizes natural light and demand less power , importantly boil down get-up-and-go pulmonary tuberculosis . It also extends the gimmick ’s lifespan , further reducing electronic waste .
What’s good about TCL’s Nxtpaper screen
The first thing I noticed about the 50 XE Nxtpaper 5 thousand display was its crispiness . Depending on the wallpaper , it looks very much like a attractively drawn page . Additionally , colors pop , even though Nxtpaper offer up more circumscribed color ranges than other types of displays . By default , TCL includes visual enhancements to coloring material , line , and asperity . you could toggle these off , although I did n’t discover a difference when these were turned off in the mount .
Not surprisingly , the Nxtpaper ’s strength were most detectable on pages with textbook . Think e - ink , only a lot better — and that ’s before turn on enhanced display style for reading and eye comfort . These configurations further optimise the screen for reading or sum gloomy brightness level and aline the color temperature to boil down centre melody further .
One area where I think the Nxtpaper technology would be problematic was when watching a video . YouTube video were watch glass clear , and I noted no projection screen jumping .
My every night quotidian often involves surf the web on myiPad Proright before Light Within out . I finish interpret when my eyes begin to suffer , which vary depending on how much time I pass in front of my data processor for the day .
For three days , instead of using my iPad Pro at dark , I settle to apply the Nxtpaper telephone . Right before bed , I distinguish when I adjudicate to crash for the nighttime and compared that to the seven days prior . The result was singular : I stayed up an average of 35 minute using the speech sound . This result would undoubtedly vary slightly if I were using a Nxtpaper tablet similar in size to an iPad , but I would look that termination to be basically the same .
The Nxtpaper technology in the TCL 50 XE Nxtpaper 5 G uses less mogul and reduced cleverness , optimizing it for understand . TCL promises that the phone will last at least a day between charges during daily use . Although this may not vocalise very impressive compared to other phones like theiPhone 16 , I line up that the earpiece lasted much longer in my test . Over three days , using the earpiece for about six hour day by day , I hold up about 30 hours between kick . Call me impressed .
Where Nxtpaper needs to improve
The main progeny I take on with the Nxtpaper presentation was n’t a surprisal . While there are many benefits to using a equipment with Nxtpaper , it ’s important to observe that the video display is n’t as vivacious or sharp as traditional LCD or OLED displays . I did n’t listen this when reading or watch videos , but gaming scenarios were less impressive . I also noticed lag on the show when scroll through societal feeds like those on X ( formerly Twitter ) . Because the 50 XE Nxtpaper 5 G extend a sizable 90Hz refresh rate , the issue probably lie down with the show .
Beyond this , I have one more business about Nxtpaper engineering . First , although Nxtpaper is often extol for its thin and lightweight design , these advantages could pose durability issue . The screens might be more prone to damage from bending or impacts , rendering the twist unusable and leading to high mending or replacement costs .
The bottom line
I am impress by TCL ’s Nxtpaper technology and eager to see if other telephone set manufacturer will take over it in their future product . I am particularly curious to recognize if companies like Samsung , Google , and Apple would ever consider mix Nxtpaper , especially take the widespread popularity of OLED display . Perhaps we ’ll never see , for example , an entire batting order of iPhones that expend Nxtpaper , but one unparalleled simulation could be made targeting those with middle issues .
Nxtpaper also has an environmental welfare that could finally appeal to telephone makers , and that should n’t be discounted .
I plan on watching TCL intimately and seeing how Nxtpaper develops . It should be a fun drive .
