I will start with the bottom line, so here you go: TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra is tailor-made for those who are carrying around an e-reader and a phone. TCL is the pioneer of paper display (that’s why the name), like the Amazon Kindle. You can read on this phone while having other fundamentals of a modern smartphone apart from one (more on that coming up).
Nonetheless, if you are wondering if it is the right phone to get, then stick around for a bit because I will be sharing my experience with the TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra in detail.
Sounds good? Yes? Let’s hop right into it.
The Display is Really Good
Starting with the most impressive feature of this phone – the display.
It’s an absolutely gigantic display for a smartphone. It is bigger than most XL, Ultra, and Pro Maxes out there. It’s a 7.2-inch display, which is perfect for reading text and watching content. On the flip side, the maximum display size you can get is around 6.9 inches. In short, it is really big.
Big doesn’t always mean great, so let me break down what makes it good.
For starters, you might read on your phone and play games on it. If the session gets longer, you likely feel strain in your eyes. Well, it doesn’t happen because of the TCL NxtDisplay technology. It isn’t just for making it look good (though it does); it helps with less eye strain.
I have been using it to read novels, binge-watch movies in 4K and play a few online games with my high-speed internet from LocalCableDeals–no eye strain so far. Aside from that, the big display makes the content consumption experience better on it.
Oh, and the 120Hz refresh rate helps the animations to be smoother. Just keep in mind that it’s not an OLED display, so you will feel less punch in the colors.
All in all, it’s a good day for avid e-readers and casual content consumers.
The Cameras Get the Job Done
It’s a triple camera setup at the back with one 50MP main shooter, a 50MP periscope lens, and an 8MP ultrawide lens. Now, how does it hold up against the phone in this price range?
It gets the job done – not bad and not great.
The photos taken from this camera are good, especially in the well-lit environment. They have enough details, vibrant colors, and they are overall good. Videos are good as well. However, I didn’t like that you can record only in the 30-fps mode. Though you can record in 4K, it is limited to just 30fps for both 4K and 1080p HD videos.
As for the selfie camera, it is a 32MP wide-angle lens that takes nice photos even if you are in a group. The best thing I adored about TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra’s camera is the layout in the camera app. It is as original as it gets, and it looks very clean. It is easier to get around the settings, and I just love it.
With all of that said, it’s not perfect or great. If the camera is one of the biggest priorities in your phone, then you should skip this one because you will be disappointed when it doesn’t fulfill your expectations.
The Battery Life is Just Okay
Kindle has a huge battery life. But it is a phone plus that Kindle setup, so do not expect great battery life.
The first reason is that it has a huge display, while the battery is limited to 5,200mAh. It’s not bad, but you have to put it to charge at the end of the day.
If you are an avid mobile phone user like me who does everything on their phone, from paying bills to watching content, the battery life might not be enough. It doesn’t get better with its mediocre charging speed at 33W. Most other smartphone manufacturers have gone beyond 45W, but TCL is stuck with just 33W.
So, if you hate to put your phone to charge in the middle of the day, or even at the end of the day, you should not buy the TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra.
The Performance is Subpar
MediaTek Dimensity 7400 is the chipset in this phone. It isn’t a bad chipset by any means, but at this price point of around (600 bucks), it could have been better.
But the good thing is that apart from gaming and heavy tasks, it does everything just fine. So, you will be okay with it in the long run.
One downside is that the TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra is not available in the US market yet, but it can be accessible for phone users in Europe, Latin America, or the Asia-Pacific regions. To conclude this topic, let me address the elephant in the room: Is it a good phone? Yes, it is, but for a very niche audience, which is Kindle users.
