TCL's expanding its NxtPaper line with two new phones and enhancements to its paperlike display modes to make it easier on your eyes to use the devices for lengthy reading sessions.
The new TCL 50 NxtPaper 5G base phone was announced Wednesday at IFA 2024 alongside a Pro model, both of which include 6.8-inch displays that feature what TCL calls a Max Ink Mode. This mode can be activated using a switch along the side of the phones, which TCL has labeled the NxtPaper Key, and will adjust the display to reduce glare to create an experience closer to an e-reader like an Amazon Kindle. Using the Max Ink Mode mutes notifications to reduce distractions, and TCL claims that the ink mode reduces power consumption enough that the phones' batteries can last for seven days of reading or 26 days of standby time.
And since lately any phone with the word Pro must also include AI features, TCL also announced an AI partnership with Microsoft that will provide a Text Assistant, Writing Assistant and Voice Memo functions to both NxtPaper phones. These three features provide similar AI features to other phones, including text summaries, voice transcription and quick auto-composition of email drafts.
Both phones will also feature a 108-megapixel main camera, accompanied by an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and 2-megapixel macro camera. The front camera will differ between the two models though, with the base phone having an 8-megapixel selfie camera and the Pro getting a 32-megapixel shooter. Storage will also differ between the two phones, with the base offering 256GB and the Pro including 512GB.
These two phones won't be coming to the US at the moment, with the base phone coming to Europe and costing 229 euro (roughly $250, £190, AU$375). The Pro model with optional accessories will cost 299 euro and will be available in Europe and Latin America. TCL has already begun selling NxtPaper phones in the US, but for now it's limited to the $150 TCL 50 XE NxtPaper 5G from Spectrum Mobile and the $199 TCL 50 XL NxtPaper 5G from C Spire.