TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G ZDNET's key takeaways This budget Android phone features a large, paper-like display, 128GB of storage, and more.
It has a feature set that promotes minimalism and digital wellbeing.
I just wish the camera system and general performance were better. $249.99 at Amazon
Looking at smartphones all day can be exhausting on the eyes, and over time, I've adjusted to the discomfort, but TCL's Nxtpaper technology is made for tired eyes like mine. The TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G is the company's affordable attempt at relieving some of the stress that comes from modern smartphone screens.
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It's a unique trick for a very inexpensive smartphone that needs to be seen to be understood. While far from perfect, and definitely a device built to a price, it brings a differentiator that will matter for some users looking to give their eyes a rest while they scroll or read.
A unique multi-faceted display
The display is what immediately sets the 60XE apart. TCL's Nxtpaper 3.0 matte coating gives the glass an undeniably unique finish that I quite like. On-screen content looks a bit like E-ink depending on the mode the phone is in, but underneath that hazy layer is a standard 1080p, 120Hz LCD panel.
Jason Howel/ZDNET
The coating addresses a slew of common downsides of modern displays. It reduces blue light, cuts reflections to nearly nothing, and even eliminates most fingerprints. There's also a nice texture that feels a bit like paper, which is a nice departure from a sea of glossy, reflective displays.
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