In Brief: TCL 50 Pro NXTPaper
Launched after most of TCL’s 2024 smartphone line-up, the 50 Pro NXTPaper stands out thanks to its unique matte LCD screen with a “Max Ink” switch for monochrome reading. At around £260 (originally £299), it’s a mid-range handset that attempts to double up as an e-reader, targeting those who appreciate minimal glare and low eye strain when reading.
Pros
- Attractive marble-effect rear design (depending on colour choice)
- Large, well-calibrated, matte screen
- Combines smartphone and e-reader into a near two-in-one
- “Max Ink” mode significantly boosts battery life
Cons
- Speakers deliver mediocre sound
- Lacks electronic (digital) stabilisation for photos and videos
- Underwhelming night shots with ultra-wide camera
- Preinstalled bloatware
- Performance is limited for the price
Technical Specifications
- Model: TCL 50 Pro NXTPaper
- Dimensions: 167.6 × 75.5 × 8.0 mm
- Weight: 196 g
- Display: 6.8-inch LCD (FHD+), matte finish, up to 120 Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6300
- RAM / Storage: 8 GB / 512 GB (expandable up to 2 TB via microSD)
- Rear Cameras:
- 108 MP (wide, f/1.8)
- 8 MP (ultra-wide, f/2.2)
- 2 MP (macro, f/2.4)
- Front Camera: 32 MP
- Battery: 5010 mAh
- Charging: 33 W wired (no wireless charging)
- OS / UI: Android 14 with TCL UI
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 5 (ac), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, dual SIM (physical + eSIM)
Design: Five Colour Finishes and the NXTPaper Button
TCL has tried to please various tastes by offering the 50 Pro NXTPaper in five finishes. Two are in a basalt-fibre style (matte and slightly marbled), while the other three are fibreglass-based and exhibit glossier designs. Our sample, the basalt grey variant (“Moon Gray”), is visually striking with its subtle, speckled texture and minimal fingerprint smudging.
There’s no stated IP rating against dust or water, so be cautious around liquids or rough environments. The phone’s 6.8-inch display is punctured by a central hole-punch camera, which some may find quite large. The fingerprint sensor, integrated into the power key on the side, is accurate and quick.
Right below the power button is the unique NXTPaper switch. Toggling it instantly flips the display into one of several paper-like modes—chief among them, “Max Ink,” which transforms the screen into a monochrome reading experience.
The Matte LCD Screen: Great for Reading
Key Display Highlights
- Size & Resolution: 6.8 inches, FHD+ (2460 × 1080)
- Technology: Standard LCD (no LTPO), 120 Hz max
- Brightness: ~550–570 nits, tested
- Contrast Ratio: ~1367:1
- Colour Coverage: ~94% DCI-P3
Although it doesn’t boast OLED or high brightness, the screen’s matte surface drastically reduces reflections. Colours are well balanced, and in normal everyday use, it looks perfectly fine for movies or browsing. If you’re used to super-bright OLED displays, you might find it slightly lacking in “punch,” but the trade-off is significantly less glare.
NXTPaper Modes
- Max Ink: Switches to monochrome, enabling only essential apps (calls, texts, contacts, calendar, alarm clock, calculator, e-book reader). Greatly extends battery life and minimises distractions.
- Paper in Ink: A general monochrome setting that keeps the full Android interface—use any app, but in black-and-white.
- Paper in Colour: Soft, pastel-like colours for reading comics or illustrated works.
These modes approximate the look of an e-ink reader, especially in black and white. While it’s not a true e-ink panel (there can be slight motion blur, and backlighting is still used), it’s arguably the best phone display on the market if you want a glare-free, eye-friendly reading experience.
Software: Android 14 with a Unique Reading Twist
Running on TCL’s custom UI atop Android 14, the 50 Pro NXTPaper is promised to get security updates and OS upgrades until at least 2029, covering Android 15 by early 2025 and potentially Android 16 by 2027. That’s a commendable level of support for this price segment.
However, the phone does come with a handful of preinstalled apps (“bloatware”), which might annoy some users who prefer a cleaner software environment. These can typically be uninstalled, but it’s an extra hassle.
Performance: Not a Powerhouse
MediaTek Dimensity 6300
Paired with 8 GB of RAM (plus 8 GB of virtual memory) and a generous 512 GB of storage, the SoC is adequate for daily tasks: browsing, social media, email, and casual gaming. But demanding 3D games like Fortnite or Genshin Impact can only run at lower settings and 30 fps. If smooth gaming is a priority, consider a stronger chipset.
Benchmark results show performance roughly on par with cheaper phones sporting, for instance, the MediaTek Helio G99—fine for everyday usage, but unimpressive at this mid-range price.
Cameras: 108 MP Main Sensor Shines in Daylight
Triple Rear Setup
- 108 MP wide (f/1.8)
- 8 MP ultra-wide (f/2.2)
- 2 MP macro (f/2.4)
No optical image stabilisation is present, so hold steady for best results.
Main Wide Camera
- Default: 12 MP output via pixel binning
- Optional: 108 MP high-res mode, allowing for detailed crops
Under good daylight, the 108 MP camera captures sharp images with fairly natural colours. Night shots are acceptable if there’s some ambient lighting, though colours may deviate from reality. Still, detail remains decent.
Zoom
No dedicated telephoto, but digital zoom is available up to 3x in the native camera interface (technically can go up to 10x, but results degrade sharply). Up to 3x, daytime detail is acceptable.
Ultra-Wide
Its 8 MP sensor struggles with edge softness and clarity, especially in low light. Night-time ultra-wide photos often appear fuzzy and lacking in detail.
Macro
The 2 MP macro is a novelty—no surprise in this price bracket. Images can look fun in good light, but resolution is limited.
Selfies and Portraits
A 32 MP front camera delivers 8 MP processed photos. The default mode yields decent shots with realistic skin tones. In Portrait mode, background blur sometimes looks harsh and trimming around hair can be clumsy.
Video
Only Full HD at 30 fps—no 4K or even 60 fps. It’s a clear limitation if high-quality video is your priority.
Battery Life: Great in “Max Ink” Mode
A 5010 mAh cell powers the device. Under normal usage (60/120 Hz, watching streaming videos at ~300 nits brightness), expect around 10 to 12 hours of total screen-on time—sufficient for a day of moderate use.
However, if you engage “Max Ink,” the phone operates in black and white, limiting available apps. TCL claims you can achieve up to 7 days of use or 26 days on standby in this minimalistic mode. This is plausible if you mostly read e-books and seldom use power-hungry apps.
“Fast” Charging
Included is a 33 W charger, topping up from 0 to about 30% in 15 minutes, around 50% by half an hour, and near 94% after one hour. Wireless charging is absent at this price.
Audio: Stereo Speakers Letdown
The phone has two built-in speakers, but sound quality is weak, lacking fullness and volume. You might want to rely on the 3.5 mm headphone jack or wireless headphones for decent audio. Music is playable in a pinch, but don’t expect punchy bass or clarity at higher volumes.
Networking and Comms
- 5G with dual SIM (physical + eSIM)
- Wi-Fi 5 (ac) and Bluetooth 5.3
- NFC for contactless payments
- microSD slot (up to 2 TB), which can be especially handy if you intend to store lots of e-books, videos, or offline music
Price and Availability
Only one variant exists: 8 GB RAM + 512 GB storage, at around £260–£300 (originally launched at ~£300–£350). It’s slightly cheaper than rivals like the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G, but has a very different USP with its reading-centric screen.
Conclusion
Overall Rating: 7/10
| Category | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 7/10 | Multiple finishes, some with a marbled look. Slightly large hole-punch camera. Fingerprint sensor on the side works well. Not water-resistant, though. |
| Display | 8/10 | Matte LCD with decent brightness, good colours, and up to 120 Hz refresh. “Max Ink” setting is a unique feature, excellent for reducing glare and eye strain. |
| Performance | 6/10 | The Dimensity 6300 is fine for daily apps but struggles with heavy 3D gaming. Good for basic tasks; not for enthusiasts. |
| Software | 7/10 | Android 14 with promised updates until 2029. NXTPaper modes are interesting, but there’s some bloatware out of the box. |
| Camera | 7/10 | Solid 108 MP main sensor for daylight, fair low-light performance. Ultra-wide and macro are merely passable. Full HD 30 fps video only. |
| Battery Life | 6/10 | About 10–12 hours in regular usage. Significantly better in monochrome “Max Ink” mode, but no real fast charging or wireless charging. |
TCL’s 50 Pro NXTPaper isn’t a powerhouse, nor does it set new standards for photography or battery life. It does, however, have a uniquely matte screen and dedicated e-paper-like mode that effectively transforms it into a near-e-ink reading device. If you’ve always wanted to combine your phone with the convenience of a dedicated e-reader—and you’re not a power user—this could be a surprisingly neat choice. Otherwise, more conventional phones at similar prices may give you better performance and camera features.
