TCL 40 NXTPAPER 5G

When people hear "paper display phone", they usually picture something niche. The TCL 40 NXTPAPER 5G takes the opposite approach: it pairs TCL's matte, eye-comfort screen technology with an ordinary, practical feature set that includes a 5G modem, 256GB of storage, a 5000 mAh battery and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The pitch is not performance but comfort, and the question for a prospective buyer is whether the supporting hardware is good enough not to get in the way. What follows is a spec-and-information-based review built on TCL's published global product page and specification table.

What this model is, and what it is not

The 40 NXTPAPER 5G belongs to the 40 series alongside the 4G TCL 40 NXTPAPER. The two share a name and the screen philosophy, yet they are quite different phones. The 4G model has the larger 6.78-inch FHD+ panel, a 32MP selfie camera and 33W charging; this 5G model has a 6.6-inch HD+ panel, an 8MP selfie camera and 15W charging, in exchange for a 5G-capable MediaTek Dimensity chip. It is also a distinct product from the later TCL 50 NXTPAPER 5G, which TCL moved to a 120Hz panel. In practical terms, this phone is the one to look at if you want the NXTPAPER feel on a 5G handset and are content with a modest display resolution.

Screen: the whole point

TCL specifies a 6.6-inch panel at HD+ resolution (720 x 1612 pixels, about 269 PPI) with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 20:9 aspect ratio, a typical brightness of 500 nits, a typical 1500:1 contrast ratio and a colour gamut of 70% NTSC with a stated tolerance of plus or minus 6% (typical). The company puts the screen-to-body ratio at 89%.

The resolution is the first thing to put in perspective. At roughly 269 pixels per inch, text is perfectly legible at normal viewing distance, but it is noticeably less crisp than on a Full HD panel; this is a place where the phone saves cost, and it is worth knowing that the same 40-series family contains a FHD+ sibling. The colour gamut is also on the modest side, which is consistent with a paper-style panel, where natural tones matter more than saturation.

The NXTPAPER treatment itself is described by TCL as a combination of three things. First, a matte, anti-fingermark surface with a paper-like texture. Second, hardware-level blue-light reduction that avoids the yellow cast of software filters, with the screen certified for low blue light according to the company. Third, an anti-glare layer certified for reflection-free viewing at any angle. TCL adds that the screen automatically adjusts its colour temperature and brightness to the surroundings, and offers a soft-light mode for reading in the dark. The nature-themed NXTPAPER interface and its dedicated modes round out the package, and the company stresses full-colour output, as opposed to the limited colour palettes of e-reader screens. A caveat applies as with any matte coating: reflections are tamed, yet very bright highlights and fine detail look a little softer than on a glossy display.

Chipset, memory and software

Under the display sits the MediaTek Dimensity 6020 (MT6833), with two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz, and an Arm G57 MC2 graphics unit. This is an entry-level 5G platform: it handles daily apps, video and social media, and it provides the 5G modem that the 4G sibling lacks. TCL says the 5G data rates reach 2.7 Gbps down and 0.7 Gbps up on paper (theoretical maxima that no network delivers in practice), and lists bands n1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n40, n41 and n78. The page also advertises NXTURBO, which TCL says speeds up image rendering by up to 30%, and says the 5G platform reduces power consumption by up to 17%. Both are manufacturer claims without a published test method.

Memory is 6GB of RAM plus a 6GB "RAM expansion", which TCL's footnote describes as temporarily converting part of the phone's storage into virtual RAM, giving a headline of 12GB. The storage is 256GB, with around 228GB usually available after the pre-installed software, and a microSD card of up to 1TB can be added (sold separately). The software is Android 13 with TCL UI 5.0. TCL's page for this model does not state a security-update commitment or a future Android version, so buyers should treat the update policy as unconfirmed.

Cameras

The rear camera system is a 50MP main sensor with phase-detection autofocus (1/2.76-inch, 0.64 micrometre pixels, f/1.8 aperture, 74.2-degree field of view), supported by a 2MP depth camera and a 2MP macro camera. There is no ultra-wide lens, which is one of the clearest differences from the 4G model. The 2MP sensors serve the portrait-blur and close-up modes on the spec sheet, and they contribute little to everyday image quality. The front camera is an 8MP unit (f/2.0), fine for video calls and casual selfies.

TCL lists a long set of software modes, including HDR, night-oriented "Darkshot", pro mode, panorama, slow motion, stop motion, vlog and movie mode, plus "AI Color Video", which keeps the subject in colour against a black-and-white background. Video recording is listed at 1080p and 30 frames per second. The main camera is therefore the only part of the system likely to matter to most owners, and how it performs in dim rooms is something the published data cannot answer.

Battery: big cell, gentle charging

The battery is 5000 mAh (typical). Charging is where the phone is conservative: TCL lists 15W fast charging over USB-C, a charging time of about three hours, and a "DOU" (day of use) figure of 16 hours from internal lab tests, with the usual note that actual battery life depends on usage. The in-box charger varies by region, and the optional accessory list includes a 5V/2A charger as an extra. An "intelligent charging" feature pauses charging at 80% overnight until shortly before you wake up, a trick TCL says helps extend the battery's lifespan. A 5000 mAh cell, a low-resolution screen and a modest chip should add up to good endurance, but the slow top-up speed is a real trade-off for anyone who often charges in a hurry.

Body, audio and connectivity

The phone measures 164.46 x 75.4 x 8.99 mm and weighs 192 g. The only listed colour is Starlight Black, with a fibreglass back and rounded corners. The side power button and a volume key frame a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and face unlock is also supported. Audio is the other area where this model is simpler than its sibling: a single speaker, and no DTS processing (TCL's spec table marks DTS as "No"). The headphone jack is present, as is NFC and Bluetooth 5.1. SIM arrangements are one nano-SIM plus either a second nano-SIM or a TF card, so using a second SIM and a memory card at the same time is not possible. Wi-Fi covers 2.4 and 5 GHz (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac).

Who should consider it

This is a phone for people who read a lot, who dislike glare, and who want 5G and a headphone jack without paying for a high-resolution panel. It suits older family members, students and light users, as well as anyone looking for a second device for reading and messaging. If you value video quality, fast charging, stereo sound or a flexible multi-lens camera, look elsewhere or step up to the 4G model with the sharper screen.

Trade-offs in short

• HD+ resolution. Fine for everyday use, but less sharp than FHD+ rivals.
• 15W charging. A full charge takes around three hours by TCL's figures.
• Mono speaker. No stereo output and no DTS.
• No ultra-wide camera. The two 2MP sensors add features more than image quality.
• 8MP selfie camera. Adequate, not remarkable.
• Update policy unstated. TCL's page gives no support window for this model.

For a head-to-head view with its 4G sibling, see the TCL 40 NXTPAPER 5G vs TCL 40 NXTPAPER comparison, and for how its published specifications rank among other phones, visit the rankings.