A new range of TCL NXTPAPER phones and tablets have arrived in Australia, and each model in the new range comes with a dedicated key that turns the screen from a vivid, full-colour display to a more comfortable paper-like mode.
The new TCL NXTPAPER range covers five devices: the P80 Pro and P80 Ultra smartphones running AMOLED displays, and the Note A1, TAB A1, and TAB A1 Plus tablets. All five are available from today.
The NXTPAPER Key on the side of each device switches between display modes. Regular Mode is a conventional colour display mode, Paper Ink Mode pares back the colour and makes for more comfortable reading, and Max Ink Mode switches to monochrome, silences notifications, and extends battery life for distraction-free reading.
TCL says the NXTPAPER viewing modes cut harmful blue light to as low as 2.9%, helping with eye comfort.
TCL P80 Pro and TCL P80 Ultra bring NXTPAPER to AMOLED
Earlier NXTPAPER phones used LCD panels, but the new TCL P80 Pro and TCL P80 Ultra are the first to pair the technology with AMOLED displays. The result is deeper contrast while preserving the matte, glare-reducing finish.
TCL uses a light homogenising film that makes individual pixels harder to see, adding to the paper-like effect. Up close, the screens look close to e-ink, though the underlying technology is quite different.
Both phones share a 6.83-inch 1.5K 120Hz display with 100% DCI-P3 coverage and 3200 nits of peak brightness. They are powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Elite chipsets with 8GB of RAM alongside a 5800mAh battery, and 45W fast charging.
Both models feature an IR blaster that’s helpful more often than you might expect, allowing you to control hotel and pub TVs, air conditioners, and just about any device whose remote has gone missing.
The difference between the two devices is in the camera setup and onboard storage, but they are otherwise identical.
The $799 TCL P80 Pro has a 50 megapixel main camera on a 1/1.56-inch sensor with an 8 megapixel ultrawide lens and 256GB of storage.
The $999 TCL P80 Ultra includes the same main and ultrawide cameras, but adds a 50 megapixel 3x periscope telephoto lens, and bumps storage up to 512GB.
TCL backs both models with three major Android updates and seven years of security updates, which is reasonable given the price point.
Three NXTPAPER tablets, including TCL’s first eNote
All three NXTPAPER tablets use TCL’s 3A Crystal Shield Glass, which features anti-glare, anti-reflection, and anti-fingerprint coatings to help preserve your viewing experience in all kinds of environments.
The $1299 Note A1 NXTPAPER is TCL’s first eNote device, built for work and study. Unlike e-ink notetaking tablets, it has a full-colour 11.5-inch 2.2K display in a 3:2 aspect ratio. It runs full Android under a simplified interface that removes distractions while you work. The included T-Pen Pro has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback that mimics the feel of pen on paper, and replaceable tips for longevity. AI tools are available on board for real-time transcription, translation, and notetaking assistance.
The $599 TAB A1 Plus NXTPAPER has a 12.2-inch 2.4K 120Hz display, also in a 3:2 aspect ratio, which provides more vertical room for documents and web pages. It runs a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor with 256GB of storage and a 10,000mAh battery.
The $449 TAB A1 NXTPAPER has an 11-inch 2.1K 90Hz display in a 16:10 aspect ratio, with 128GB of storage and an 8000mAh battery.
Both TAB A1 models include a flip case and a T-Pen 2 in the box, offer expandable storage up to 2TB, and work as a second screen for a Windows PC.
TCL NXTPAPER pricing and availability
The TCL NXTPAPER range is available from today at major electronics retailers.
- TCL P80 Ultra: $999
- TCL P80 Pro: $799
- TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER: $1299
- TCL TAB A1 Plus NXTPAPER: $599
- TCL TAB A1 NXTPAPER: $449
Alongside them, TCL is launching budget devices without NXTPAPER. The $299 K70 4G and $329 K70 5G are budget phones with 6.8-inch displays, 50 megapixel cameras, and 5200mAh batteries, although they are only backed by one major Android update and three years of security updates.
The standard TAB A1 Plus is priced at $499 and the TAB A1 Kids Edition at $399 including a kid-proof bumper case.
NXTPAPER is a refreshing feature in an otherwise crowded midrange phone market, and bringing the technology to AMOLED removes the biggest compromise earlier models had. The TAB A1 NXTPAPER series makes a solid value proposition, and the Note A1 NXTPAPER provides a great bridge device for digital notetaking.
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