Andy Devaney
The TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra phone makes its intentions clear within seconds of picking it up. This is not another glassy slab chasing Samsung or Apple on their own turf — it’s a device aimed squarely at people whose eyes, attention span and sanity are shot to pieces by modern screens. And in that mission, the TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra phone largely succeeds — even if it slightly overreaches in size.
At 7.2 inches, this is a proper handful. There’s no getting around it. It’s just a bit too big, and while it’s not miles off flagship territory, it pushes the boundary of what most people would call pocket-friendly. That said, once your eyes land on the NXTPAPER display, the penny drops: this thing is big for a reason.
A Screen That Wants to Save Your Eyes
TCL’s 7.2″ FHD+ 120Hz NXTPAPER Display is the star of the show. Powered by NXTPAPER 4.0 technology, it’s designed for serious eye comfort rather than showroom flash. The screen is TÜV Rheinland certified and SGS approved, reducing blue light to just 3.41%, cutting glare by up to 90%, and eliminating flicker altogether.
In plain English? It’s one of the most comfortable smartphone displays you’ll ever look at.
Reading long articles, documents or books feels closer to a Kindle than a conventional phone. It’s bright without being harsh, refined without looking washed out, and noticeably easier on the eyes during prolonged use.
The NXTPAPER Key: The Party Trick That Actually Works
The physical NXTPAPER Key on the side of the phone unlocks three genuinely useful display modes:
- Max Ink Mode – Closes background app processes for low-power, immersive reading with minimal distractions and a paper-style screen.
- Ink Paper Mode – A black-and-white, e-reader-like display ideal for long documents and books.
- Colour Paper Mode – Low-saturation, soft colour output that works beautifully for magazines and graphic content.
This “NXTPAPER zone” is the real reason the phone is as large as it is — and once you start using it, the size makes more sense.
Productivity With a Creative Lean
TCL has leaned heavily into AI-enhanced productivity. Features like Handwriting to Text convert handwritten notes into editable text, Easy Script refines handwriting into polished content, and Memo Craft turns photos into structured notes.
For students, writers and anyone who lives in meetings, this stuff is genuinely useful rather than gimmicky.
That said, it’s frustrating that core apps like calendar, files and photos are routed through Google rather than TCL offering its own native alternatives. It breaks the otherwise thoughtful ecosystem the phone is trying to build.
Cameras: Competent, With One Standout Trick
On paper, the camera setup looks strong: a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 50MP periscope lens offering 3x optical zoom, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 32MP front camera. Real-world performance, however, is… fine.
It’s not radically better than competing phones, and at times feels a little underwhelming. Where it redeems itself is with Super Macro mode, which is genuinely impressive — sharp, detailed, and capable of producing striking close-up shots.
TCL’s MuseFilm feature adds artistic filters like Mono, Art and Film, recreating oil-paint textures and cinematic atmospheres. It’s fun, creative, and leans more towards expression than pure realism.
Power, Storage and Battery Life
With 12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage, there’s no anxiety about space. Books, photos, videos — throw everything at it.
The 5200mAh battery comfortably lasts a full day, backed by 33W fast charging that hits 50% in around 30 minutes. The addition of 10W reverse charging is a smart touch, letting you rescue other devices when needed.
Living With It Day to Day
Fingerprint ID sits neatly on the power button, facial recognition is quick, and performance across Android 15 is smooth. Once you adjust to the size, the phone becomes far more manageable than first impressions suggest.
The one real misstep? The stylus. For a phone that leans so hard into reading, note-taking and creativity, not housing the stylus inside the body feels like a missed trick.
Verdict
The TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra phone isn’t trying to be everything to everyone — and that’s precisely why it stands out. It’s a phone built for readers, thinkers and people tired of staring into harsh, glowing rectangles all day.
Yes, it’s big. Yes, the camera won’t dethrone the big boys. But the screen is genuinely special, the eye-care tech is no marketing fluff, and the NXTPAPER modes offer something refreshingly different in a market drowning in sameness.
If your eyes are tired and your phone is your reading companion, this might be the most sensible big phone you’ll buy all year.
At a price of £499 on Amazon, the TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra phone represents a compelling middle ground: premium eye-care tech and thoughtful design without the stratospheric cost of top-tier flagships — a smart choice for readers, creatives and power users alike.
