I’ve been using an iPhone for the longest time, but TCL’s NxtPaper 60 Ultra managed to earn a spot in my pocket last year. The colour e-ink phone simply wins in bright lights thanks to its matte coating, and the switch that goes back to black and white is truly impressive. Now, the NxtPaper 70 Pro is improving its internal chops to boost performance, making it a more serious daily contender for most folks thanks to its lower price.
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TCL’s secret weapon here is still the NxtPaper key – one button that flips between vibrant colour, black and white e-ink, and Max Ink Mode, which is a distraction-free reading mode. TCL’s shoved in a whole bookshelf of pre-loaded content, plus AI features like outlines, audiobooks, and podcasts to make it feel less like a phone and more like a dedicated media device. AI’s now baked into just about every corner… there’s no escaping it! Translations, subtitles, voice memos that summarise themselves, and Google Gemini scribble-search.
That e-ink display comes without sacrificing the smarts. The 70 Pro is kitted out with a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip, 24GB of RAM (8GB physical with a 16GB virtual top-up), and up to 512GB of storage. Throw in IP68 water and dust resistance and a 5200mAh battery with fast charging, and you’ve got a phone that can take on the chaos of daily life.
Writing on it is also less of a gimmick now. Paired with TCL’s T-Pen, the low-latency display turns into a canvas with AI-enhanced handwriting tools, off-screen memos, and enough writing flair to put your notebook to shame. The NxtPaper 70 also filters blue light down, ditches flicker at the hardware level, and reaches down to 1-nit brightness for nighttime scrolling. CPL tech makes colours look spot-on too, without screaming at your eyeballs.
And because it’s still a smartphone at heart, TCL’s tried a little harder on the camera setup. You get a 50MP main sensor with OIS and a 32MP front cam should more than satisfy your holiday selfie snaps. MuseFilm, TCL’s arty photo engine, can add a bit of retro cinema flair to everything if that’s your thing – complete with soft filters and warm tones.
The TCL NxtPaper 70 Pro hits shelves in February, priced at €339 for the 256GB version and €389 for the 512GB model. Accessories like the stand case and T-Pen are optional, but will give you a better experience.
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