Excuse me if I have "Transformers" on my mind; I just finished binge-watching all the films on my TCL QM6K. It's a fantastic TV, especially for the price, but if you want something even better, the TCL QM7K is currently on sale for Optimus Prime Day, and it's a deal you shouldn't miss out on!

The TCL 55QM7K wasn't exactly cheap when it launched, retailing for $1,299 back in 2025. It has since had a few discounts, but this current Prime Day deal is about as low as it gets, bringing it down to just $498, which is still much cheaper than the $649 it was recently priced at. That's less than $500 for an incredible 4K Google TV set! Optimus Prime would be proud!

• Prime Day returns June 23-26: see the full list of deals

✅Recommended if: You're in the market for a Google TV set with great color, a high refresh rate, the latest Gemini AI features, and must-have gaming capabilities like VRR.

❌Skip this deal if: You want the deeper contrast and inky black of an OLED.

Prime Day"

Since I have the TCL QM6K, I guess you can say I have a big of experience with the QM7K model. I love my TV set, but the 7K model is a step up from what I have. With this model, you get a slimmer design, a brighter QD-Mini LED display, and higher-quality Bang & Olufsen speakers. The display is also anti-reflective, which is a must-have, especially if you plan to put it in a relatively bright space.

And of course, it runs Google TV out of the box. This gives you access to tons of streaming apps, which you can control directly from your phone using Google Cast. It also gives you access to Gemini features and better content recommendations based on your apps and the content you've watched. And with the press of a button, you can use natural language to ask Gemini to find a movie or show instead of scrolling through a ton of apps yourself.

The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is easily my favorite budget-friendly phone of 2026, a title that's more important than ever with the ever-increasing onslaught of technology price hikes. Yet, somehow, TCL and Amazon have made this fantastic phone even better by dropping the price to just $259.99, a $70 savings over the normal unlocked phone price.

That last part is important because, while you can get the phone for $199 or less from T-Mobile, that cheaper price tag comes with caveats like a service contract and a carrier-locked device. This Amazon price is fully unlocked and ready to go on any carrier you choose.

Plus, if you haven't used an NXTPAPER display yet, you're in for a treat. As I said in my TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro review, "If you enjoy reading, are looking for a display with less flicker than an OLED, want something that's anti-reflective and textured, or just enjoy the soft glow of an LCD (vs the harshness of OLED), this is a display you're going to love."

• Prime Day 2026 is LIVE June 23-26: see the full list of deals

✅Recommended if: You need an inexpensive phone that's better than others at this price, or you want a flicker-free screen that isn't as intense as OLED.

❌Skip this deal if: You can't stand bad haptics or are OK with getting the cheaper carrier version from T-Mobile or Metro.

The NXTPAPER 70 Pro is the first North American phone to launch with NXTPAPER 4.0 display technology, something previously only offered on the global NXTPAPER 60 Ultra phone. But a lot of people found the 60 Ultra to be far too large of a phone, so the 70 Pro downsizes things a bit to make the overall package much nicer to use.

On top of that, I was thoroughly impressed with how fast this phone is. I'm used to phones in this price range exhibiting stutters and lag, but the 70 Pro exceeded every expectation I had. It's even got a great camera system with a main and ultrawide lens on the back, plus satellite connectivity and 5G speeds.

More Prime Day 2026 - quick links

• Phones: major savings on Pixel, Samsung, and beyond
• Wearables: up to 50% off Garmin, Galaxy Watch, and Fitbit
• Tablets: Galaxy Tab, Kindle, and Amazon Fire tablets from $50
• Chromebooks: discounts on ASUS, HP, and Lenovo
• Smart Home: up to 60% off Alexa devices
• Headphones/earbuds: huge discounts on Beats, Sony, and more
• Smart TVs: cheap smart TVs from $69.99

TCL NXTPAPER technology is one of the coolest display upgrades we've seen in years, and that display truly shines when it's on a big device like a tablet. All of TCL's NXTPAPER devices have always been affordable, but Prime Day is taking those prices down to a historic low, with tablets up to 36% off until June 26th.

Out of all the tablets on sale, though, I love two more than the rest. The first is the uber-affordable NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2, which packs an 11-inch NXTPAPER 4.0 display that you'll love reading or watching videos on, and it does it all for just $169. That's the lowest price ever for this tablet, and it even includes the case and stylus!

✅Recommended if: You need a cheap tablet that can get things done, including an eye-friendly screen that won't give you a headache.

❌Skip this deal if: You're looking for a high-end tablet. This one's strictly mid-range and won't run games very well.

The NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2 is about as good as a ~$200 tablet can get, including a huge battery, fantastic anti-reflective matte display with NXTPAPER 4.0 technology, and an included case and stylus. That stylus is no joke, either, as it supports 4096 pressure levels and feels great to write with on the textured NXTPAPER display.

And while that tablet works just fine for note-taking and sketching, TCL recently debuted its first note-focused tablet, the Note A1 NXTPAPER. This tablet upgrades the note-taking experience with an even better stylus that offers 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, sub-5ms latency, and built-in haptics to make it feel even more like writing on paper.

The first time I used the stylus on my Note A1 NXTPAPER, I was blown away. I've never used a stylus with built-in haptics, and it felt like a true game-changer!

✅Recommended if: You want one of the best digital note-taking experiences, need a tablet that's great for work and meeting recording, or want a tablet for reading anything from books to manga.

❌Skip this deal if: You're looking to play games on this tablet. It's just not built for that.

TCL's Note A1 NXTPAPER offers an incredible alternative to E Ink writing tablets with a 120Hz display that delivers the full 16.7-million color palette. That means it's just as responsive and ghost-free as standard displays, all with the anti-reflective matte coating that makes NXTPAPER look so great.

Of course, that means sunlight performance isn't nearly as good as E Ink, but that may not bother you, depending on how you plan to use it. TCL preloads the tablet with its own browser and note-taking app, all of which have lots of AI-powered features designed to make your life easier. Plus, this one has eight microphones onboard, meaning it's perfect for recording every meeting you'll ever attend.

In most cases, if you want an innovative Android phone experience, you can pretty much guarantee that it's going to cost a lot of money. That's where the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro comes in. In case you haven't heard, the 70 Pro is one of the most groundbreaking budget phones released in years, packing the latest eye-friendly display technology into a device that retails for just $199. 

You can't buy the phone unlocked through retailers like Amazon or Best Buy yet, but if you add a line with an eligible data plan, Metro by T-Mobile will give you the NXTPAPER 70 Pro for FREE. No trade-in required! You can even get up to four phones for free by adding multiple lines. Eye-friendly displays and IP68 durability for the whole family? Sign me up. 

• See the full list of deals at Metro by T-Mobile

The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro boasts a unique 6.9-inch matte display that's designed to reduce eye strain (particularly if you're sensitive to PWM dimming), plus you get a 120Hz refresh rate and multiple "ink modes" so you can customize your display experience. The display is obviously the phone's primary selling point, but there's more to the NXTPAPER 70 Pro than just a fancy screen. 

Clocking in at just under $200, the cheap Android phone also comes with Android 16 and the efficient MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor straight out of the box, plus you get IP68 water-and-dust resistance, 8GB of RAM, and a long-lasting 5,200mAh battery. 

Like I mentioned above, the catch is that you'll need to join Metro by T-Mobile and add an eligible data plan to score the free phone. These unlimited plans start at $50 per month with AutoPay, but you'll get unlimited talk, text, and data, a mobile hotspot, and a five-year price guarantee. Most of Metro by T-Mobile's plans even come with 100GB of Google One storage. 

Sure, the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro may reach Amazon and Best Buy eventually, but if you want a great deal on an eye-friendly budget phone today, this offer by the T-Mobile-owned carrier is worth a closer look. Your eyes (and your bank account) will thank you later. 

Over the past few years, TCL's NXTPAPER displays have become synonymous with eye care, but the company's next evolution of the technology is swapping out the existing LCD backpane for an OLED one, and that's making a few people nervous. I talked to TCL about these concerns, and the company shared exclusive answers it hasn't publicly disclosed regarding its upgraded tech — and I think they'll give some people a very real sigh of relief.

That's particularly great in the wake of the recent Galaxy S26 Ultra release, which features a new Privacy Display that seems to be giving even more people headaches than Samsung's OLED displays have in the past. Sure, Samsung's latest innovation is downright cool and a legitimate selling point, but some have found it causes splitting headaches instead, and Samsung isn't the only company with this problem.

I've been covering the negative effects of PWM dimming and temporal dithering for years; Samsung's latest OLED trick is the freshest wave causing user discomfort and pain. It's a systemic problem with a technology that's designed entirely to push the boundaries of display "quality" while entirely ignoring user comfort. And one company is attempting to completely rework OLED into something far better than we have today: TCL.

NXTPAPER is evolving from LCD to OLED this year, and while it's bringing along some of the familiar tenets of OLED — wider color gamut, ultra brightness, and fast response times — TCL is attempting to do things differently, and better as far as I can tell, all in the name of eye safety for you and me.

What's wrong with OLED?

OLED has been one of the most impressive visual upgrades this side of HDTV and DVDs, but like any good thing, there are always tradeoffs. OLED is a self-emissive technology, which means each pixel emits its own light rather than relying on a backlight to pass through colored filters, as in LCDs. And while this means OLED has infinite contrast ratios and ultra-vibrant colors, it also means OLED will always flicker.

You can't normally see the flicker happening because it occurs at a faster rate than your eyes might pick up, but our brains still notice it, and some people's brains hate it. This flicker occurs because the pixel emits its own light, so whenever it has to change color, it turns off and then illuminates again with the new color. Every OLED manufacturer handles this flicker differently, but research shows that flickering at specific rates can help prevent discomfort.

Unfortunately, some of the world's most popular smartphone companies — Samsung, most prominently — seem unwilling to change their methodology to align with the science. I wish I understood why, but it's likely that their methods work for enough people, and the companies simply don't want to spend money on new testing.

Thankfully, companies like TCL are paying attention and seem to actually care about our health in this regard. After all, it benefits a company to keep its users healthy so they can keep buying new products in the future. NXTPAPER OLED will use 3840Hz PWM dimming, a 10-15x increase over what Samsung, Google, and Apple use on their OLED phones.

Research shows that most people cannot perceive any flicker at all beyond 3000Hz, so 3840Hz should be comfortable for the vast majority of users. Current NXTPAPER technology uses an LCD backlight with a constant-driven current, meaning it's truly a flicker-free light source, but a very fast PWM rate can be perceived similarly in most cases.

Reflections, blue light, and the boogeyman

One of the core tenets of NXTPAPER is its paper-like quality. It's in the name, after all, and the key behind it is a unique chemical etching process that TCL says gives it nano-level roughness. This texture isn't just for your fingers, though. It actually scatters light differently, softening the appearance of the pixels and giving them a more print-like appearance.

The matte texture is also engineered to resist fingerprints and smudges like no other display, too. I found this to be the case in every NXTPAPER device I've reviewed, and it's only gotten better over the years. This, combined with the circular polarizer and an additional blue light filter layer, makes NXTPAPER easier to look at.

The big change with this new evolution of NXTPAPER is the use of OLED as the backend instead of LCD. That means we'll keep many of the fan-favorite features of NXTPAPER and get the advantages of OLED contrast, brightness, and color gamut.

As you can see from the comparison images, OLED can make a massive difference in outdoor visibility when an anti-reflective layer is used. That, combined with the matte-textured surface and circularly polarized light, should make NXTPAPER OLED feel like the ultimate version of many people's favorite display tech.

Aside from outdoor visibility, NXTPAPER OLED should also address two color-related challenges in modern displays. First, the displays are 10-bit, which should help avoid temporal dithering to artificially enhance color gamut. Existing NXTPAPER displays use dithering in some situations, which can be as uncomfortable as PWM dimming for some users.

Second, it further reduces blue light output. Blue light has been the display boogeyman for a long time, and while all smartphones have some form of blue-light blocking, some companies implement it better than others. NXTPAPER has always had a hardware-level blue-light-blocking filter, but NXTPAPER OLED further reduces blue-light emission to 2.9% (down from 3.41% on NXTPAPER 4.0).

Unlike other companies' blue light reduction techniques, TCL's won't make your screen all yellow and funky looking. Instead of just turning blue light off, TCL's blue light filter shifts the blue output to the 457-462.5mm bands, which fit snuggly within the healthy blue light range. Standard OLEDs may emit blue light between the 400-455mm range, which is considered harmful.

So far, every major NXTPAPER upgrade has featured a new version number. TCL's latest phones, like the NXTPAPER 70 Pro, feature a NXTPAPER 4.0 display, but TCL tells me it's planning on stepping away from version numbers from here on out. The next NXTPAPER phones will just launch with a NXTPAPER OLED display, and TCL thinks this will make things clearer for everyone.

We don't yet know which phone or tablet the NXTPAPER OLED will debut on, but we'll likely see something by the year's end. My best guess is that IFA Berlin in September will be where that phone debuts, and that's a great time to unveil something as cutting-edge and groundbreaking as I surmise NXTPAPER OLED will be.

Compared to a decade ago, today's smartphones tend to look a lot alike. Most of them have eerily similar designs, use the same chipsets, cost the same obnoxious prices (and that's only getting worse), and most of them use displays that are obscenely bright, vibrant, and generally not great for your eyes.

That's where TCL's NXTPAPER line of phones comes in. Last year, I was impressed with the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, but North American users never got a chance to try it, and that phone was the size of a tablet. Thankfully, TCL is bringing the same excellent NXTPAPAPER 4.0 technology to North America in a phone that's also a little bit smaller, and it's a real treat for anyone looking for something different to try.

The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is officially available at T-Mobile for a record-setting $199, a price that feels too good to be true (but it's real). It's the easiest recommendation I've been able to make all year, thanks to its solid performance, excellent battery life, and incredible display. I don't ever see an affordable phone getting better than this, and it's hard to believe TCL has pulled off such an impressive release, especially at this price.

NXTPAPER makes the difference

TCL puts NXTPAPER in the name for a reason. It's one of the most unique types of displays you can find on any phone, and it's absolutely worth buying a phone for if you fall into a few categories of people. If you enjoy reading, are looking for a display with less flicker than an OLED, want something that's anti-reflective and textured, or just enjoy the soft glow of an LCD (vs the harshness of OLED), this is a display you're going to love.

If you've never used an NXTPAPER display, know that it's not an E Ink replacement, but it is more eye-friendly in general than standard LCD or OLED. Part of this is the addition of several layers between the pixels and the glass, including light diffusion, a circular polarizer, a textured matte layer, and a special set of software algorithms.

The result is a unique look that's neither E Ink nor LCD, but it often embodies some of the best qualities of both. It's my favorite type of display to use inside, on a plane or train, or anywhere that's not explicitly in direct sunlight. You're going to be blown away by how good things look, and that's a direct result of the engineering that went into making this a non-reflective display.

There are two main differences between NXTPAPER and E Ink: refresh rate and reflectivity. Both NXTPAPER and E Ink use matte layers to eliminate reflections, but E Ink actually reflects light off the "ink" pigments, giving it superior sunlight visibility versus any other type of display. NXTPAPER still needs a traditional backlight to shine through its LCD pixels, and since it can't reflect light like E Ink (and doesn't have a very bright backlight), sunlight visibility isn't great.

But NXTPAPER has a 120Hz refresh rate, something E Ink will likely never have. Companies like Bigme have pushed E Ink to the next level with 42Hz displays (and soon, 52Hz), but because E Ink relies on magnetism to refresh the screen, this technology will eventually hit a ceiling. NXTPAPER is smoother than any E Ink display is today, and that makes it better for videos and games, plus generally more pleasant to use for scrolling and anything with motion.

The lone problem with this display is its use of temporal dithering, a display technique that increases color output but can cause problems for some flicker-sensitive users. I'm sensitive to PWM dimming but not dithering, so I had no problems here, but lots of people online have complained about NXTPAPER's use of dithering in the past. This one uses it less than the technology historically has, especially if you turn NXTVISION settings off, but it's still there on some colors and modes.

Nailing the basics

One of my chief complaints with the TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra was that it was just too dang big. The phone is gargantuan, with a 7.2-inch screen, but the NXTPAPER 70 Pro fixes this by reducing the size down to a more normal 6.9 inches. That doesn't sound like a big difference on paper, but the experience is a lot less awkward because of the change.

The plastic build is nothing particularly special, but TCL coated the entire phone in a wonderful oleophobic layer that resists fingerprints and smudges in a way almost no other phone does. Gone are the days of wiping smudges off your phone or the screen! It's also IP68 water and dust resistant, so you don't have to worry about it getting ruined, even if you drop it in the sink.

Since this is an official North American release, it fully works on T-Mobile and Metro's 5 G networks. It's even compatible with T-Mobile's T-Satellite technology, so you'll not only get 5G speeds, but also satellite connectivity for messaging.

Performance is as good as I had hoped for, and I didn't notice any obvious hitching or longer loading times than I expect from a modern phone. It helps a lot that TCL doesn't skimp on RAM, as most $200 phones only have 4GB of RAM (which isn't enough), while the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro has 8GB.

The Mediatek Dimensity 7300 is also plenty powerful for nearly everything, and I even found that most games ran just fine. Some of the more graphically intensive mobile games will need to run on low settings, but games like Minecraft were able to run fine, even with the more taxing Vibrant Visuals setting enabled. It's also a great battery sipper, with all-day battery life and reasonably fast 33W charging.

Surprisingly, given the price and all the other great features here, the camera is quite good. It's much, much better than anything else I've tested at this price and typically produces great-looking shots, even in low light. There's no telephoto camera, but it's got an ultrawide one in addition to the main camera, and TCL didn't waste money or space on a useless macro camera like so many phones in this price range do.

If you're picking one up from T-Mobile, just be aware that it's loaded with tons of preinstalled apps, and T-Mobile tries to serve you new ones all the time. Thankfully, this can be easily turned off and the apps removed with the help of a short guide I wrote.

Other than that downside, don't expect world-class haptics from a phone in this price range. They're not as bad as some other phones I've used lately, but they're not as punchy or quality-feeling as something from Pixel or OnePlus (which are twice the price, anyway).

A little wiggle room for your budget

TCL did what I thought was impossible in 2026: it delivered an affordable phone that doesn't feel like a piece of junk. The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro delivers an excellent all-around experience, and it does so without forcing customers to pay exhorbitant amounts of money.

I don't know how TCL managed to pull it off, but the debut of NXTPAPER 4.0 in a North American phone couldn't have been better. This is the perfect way for the company to get its technology into the hands of lots of people, and I hope to see TCL roll it out to more models in the future.

In short, if you want a great phone that doesn't cost much money, the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is the right choice.

Over the years, TCL has positioned itself as a market leader in eye-friendly display technology, and that's all wrapped up in the company's impressive NXTPAPER technology. The latest phone from the company, the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, just launched in April 2026 and brings NXTPAPER 4.0 technology to the continent for the first time.

Along with that new tech comes a slew of exciting features you're going to love, and I'm here to break down the coolest ones you'll want to show your friends and family. Plus, I'm going to go over features that'll make your life easier and help you get the most out of this awesome phone.

From reading to getting the most out of TCL AI, removing annoying T-Mobile bloatware, and even optimizing performance of the NXTPAPER display, these are the 5 things you've got to do with your NXTPAPER 70 Pro right away!

Remove bloat

Bloatware is one of the most annoying things about any carrier-based phone and, unfortunately, the T-Mobile version of the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is loaded with dozens of apps that you never asked for. You can uninstall them individually, but the trick here is to remove the source of the problem before it asks you to install even more garbage you don't want.

That offending app is called "App Selector," and T-Mobile cleverly chose to hide it from users to make it more difficult to remove. Thankfully, all you need to know is where to look, and I've got you covered.

Start off by opening System settings, either via the System app in your app tray or by tapping the settings cog on quick toggles. Scroll down to and tap Apps, then tap the All Apps button in the list. Click the three-dot menu on the top right, then select Show System. Scroll down and tap AppSelector, then tap the Disable button to turn it off.

If you've accidentally run AppSelector before, go one step further and clear data by tapping Storage & Cache, then tap Clear storage.

From here, you'll still need to manually uninstall any apps AppSelector installed, but that won't take long. The fastest way to uninstall apps on this phone is to swipe up on your home screen to open the app drawer, then long-press any app icon you don't want, and tap Uninstall.

It took me about 2 minutes to clear everything off this phone I didn't want installed, which isn't much considering how much nicer the app drawer looks without all that junk installed!

Make it truly flicker-free

TCL touts its NXTPAPER 4.0 technology as truly flicker-free, and while it does indeed dim without nasty PWM dimming flicker, the phone's pixels use another flickering tactic called temporal dithering to enhance the look of the display. Temporal dithering doesn't bother me, but it causes headaches and other pain for some users, so it's best to turn it off to be safe.

First, we'll want to turn off all the NXTVISION features. NXTVISION is essentially TCL taking those annoying TV settings (like motion smoothing) and putting them on your phone. I certainly don't want my phone doing this crap, and you probably don't want it either.

To disable these features, open System settings, either via the System app in your app tray or by tapping the settings cog on quick toggles, then scroll down to and tap Display. Scroll down and tap NXTVISION, then turn each of the toggles off.

Part one of three, done! Now, you'll want to navigate back to display settings, tap Color mode & temperature, then select Natural from the list. That'll give your display a much more eye-friendly warm hue and block some of the blue light that comes from the LCD backlight on this phone.

Lastly, I find that forcing 120Hz enhances the smoothness of this phone, and that can also be done within display settings. Just scroll down to and tap Refresh rate, then select 120Hz from the list. Now, the phone will stay locked at a liquid smooth 120Hz instead of constantly adjusting the refresh rate. This can use more battery in some instances, but I find the smoothness tradeoff to be worth it.

Read like a pro

NXTPAPER can't totally replace E Ink devices for reading comfort, but NXTPAPER is a lot more comfortable than a traditional LCD or OLED display. Out of the box, the display looks really good and features a gorgeous anti-glare matte layer.

First off, I don't recommend using a screen protector on this phone as it'll negate any advantages brought by TCL's textured display. Second, you don't have to worry about this display breaking like a traditional glass display. TCL designed this specialized glass to be more resistant to wear and tear than usual, and it even keeps oils and fingerprints away, too.

But how about the way the screen shows images? You might not have realized it, but there's a little slider on the right side of the phone called the NXTPAPER Key. Sliding this key up activates it and can put the phone into one of three specialized display settings:

Color Paper mode: Best for comics and manga reading. This mode softens colors and turns the palette decidedly more pastel, lending more authenticity to the look of graphical content.

Ink Paper mode: A good way to get rid of distractions without turning the world off. Ink Paper mode makes everything black & white, which makes the display less addictive to use.

Max Ink mode: When you just want to read and don't want the world to bother you. This one shuts off most apps and prolongs battery life, plus makes the display black & white to encourage you to keep your phone in your pocket more often.

In addition to selecting one of these Ink modes for the right situation, I find it helpful to enable ambient light alerts on the NXTPAPER 70 Pro. The phone will then monitor ambient light and warn you if you might be straining your eyes by looking at your phone too long.

Open System settings, then tap NXTPAPER zone from the list. Scroll down and tap Eye care, then enable the Rest your eyes feature to reduce screen time.

Enable the Bright environment and Dark environment alerts to receive alerts when ambient lighting could cause eye strain. In these situations, you'll want to normalize the ambient light to prevent your eyes from straining when looking at your phone.

Finally, enable Night light to receive notifications about low ambient light, encouraging you to turn on the Eye Comfort mode to further reduce blue light output from the display.

Get that true paper look

Just as with OLED, using Dark Mode on NXTPAPER displays is a game-changer. Since TCL outfitted the NXTPAPER 70 Pro's display with a matte anti-glare layer and a specialized light-filtering solution beneath it, dark mode looks absolutely exquisite in any light.

While it might seem like a backward concept, dark mode ends up looking more natural than light mode due to the lower light output from the screen. That means you're getting less eye strain in most lighting conditions, especially when reading for long periods on the phone. You may still want to enable light mode in direct sunlight, but I find the matte layer and 900-nit brightness output to be enough for most scenarios.

But TCL has a weird feature that further dims dark apps and can sometimes make it difficult to see while using dark mode. Thankfully, the company added a way to turn off this automatic adjustment, and it's separate from the normal automatic brightness adjustment option.

Open System settings, then in Display settings, scroll down and disable Intelligent scene brightness optimization. Now, you should find that your phone no longer dims arbitrarily when darker content is on the screen. TCL had this enabled by default to enhance contrast and overall aesthetics of the display, but what's the point of having a display if it's too dark to see? That's why I prefer to disable this setting.

Make the most of TCL AI

Modern phones are loaded with AI features, and while many of them can seem superfluous or border on bloatware, TCL has a few extremely clever concepts on the NXTPAPER 70 Pro that I think you'll love using.

The first is found when using gesture-based navigation. Normally, when you navigate back, you swipe inward from the side of the display and immediately let go. Instead of immediately letting go next time, try swiping inward and holding for a second or two. This will bring up the sidebar, which is full of great shortcuts and tools.

The sidebar is not a new concept, but front-loading the most useful AI tools into the sidebar makes it more useful than the usual app launcher. Personally, I've found the Smart Voice Memo tool to be the most useful option in the sidebar, followed by the Real-time Subtitles option.

Voice Memo is an extremely natural way to dictate ideas to your phone throughout the day and is both more convenient than text notes and more natural-feeling than using text-to-speech typing. Voice memo supports natural language input, so you can say those "ums" and "uhs" without worrying about that being converted into text or misunderstood by a virtual assistant.

And Real-time Subtitles is like enabling closed captions for every audio source on your phone, something that's more than just handy. There are plenty of situations in life where it's not appropriate for sound to come from your phone (or to wear earbuds), and it's this gap where Real-time Subtitles comes most in handy.

The third TCL AI feature I've found nearly invaluable is the text dragging feature. Next time you need to highlight text for any reason, press and hold on that block of text and then drag it to the bottom of the screen. You'll be presented with three buttons that the text can be dragged to: Translation, Explanation, and Rewrite.

You probably won't use the translation one every day, but the other two options can be incredibly useful in several different scenarios. Explanation is essentially a way to Google a block of text and get a detailed response, while Rewrite is a good way to draft a message to someone and then have TCL AI help you make it sound better.

Most of these kinds of functions are often hidden behind several layers of menus or in separate apps, but the TCL AI design makes it easy to use these features in a pinch.

The paper-like phone you'll love

TCL's NXTPAPER 4.0 technology is even better on the NXTPAPER 70 Pro thanks to its size and the new oleophobic layer. That new layer keeps smudges to a minimum and makes it the most fingerprint-resistant phone I've ever used. I legit haven't had to wipe the display off even once, and that's borderline a modern technological miracle.

The phone is also a much better size than the gargantuan TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, which sports a nearly identical display but in a far more unwieldy size. Plus, the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is available in countries like the U.S., where the Ultra wasn't previously released, making it an easy choice for anyone wanting a modern smartphone that won't strain their eyes and still manages to look good.

What you need to know

• TCL announces that its paper-like NXTPAPER 70 Pro is now available in the U.S. at T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile for $199.
• The device offers its "most-advanced" NXTPAPER display, which automatically adapts to your activities, ensuring the content remains crisp and vibrant.
• While there are several "ink" modes, the NXTPAPER 70 Pro offers a 6.9-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

We're on our phones all day, which means eye fatigue can set in quickly, but TCL is here with a solution that U.S. consumers can order today (Apr 8).

A press release details that TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is now available for U.S. consumers via T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. The company highlights the device as providing a "unique angle" in the world of smartphones. The NXTPAPER 70 Pro features a "display designed to reduce eye strain without sacrificing performance." In a PR Newswire post, TCL explains that the phone utilizes the "most-advanced" version of its proprietary NXTPAPER display technology.

This e-paper display minimizes glare and reduces its blue light emission to remain softer on your eyes. Moreover, the NXTPAPER 70 Pro's display automatically adapts to a wide range of user activities. Whether the user is watching videos, scrolling social media, or reading an e-book, the phone will ensure the visuals remain sharp and vibrant.

Comfort shouldn't come at a steep cost, which is why TCL states the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is available for $199.

At this price point, users will receive a 6.9-inch FHD Plus 120Hz display with Android 16. Internally, the phone is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 7300 SoC. AI tools for transcriptions and summaries are included, as well as "true color calibration" and wide-angle circular polarization, which facilitates comfortable viewing from different angles.

Paper-like screen for your eyes

When the NXTPAPER 70 Pro launched in January, TCL had many interested U.S. consumers looking around, as the country wasn't mentioned. The company only highlighted Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America during the initial reveal. While North America was included, the U.S., specifically, was not. It had us worried, considering the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra never made it.

Luckily, with this announcement, it's now becoming available at T-Mobile. The NXTPAPER 70 Pro features a Color Paper Mode, which offers a muted appearance for its paper-like display, alongside its Ink Paper Mode, which is more traditional (black and white). TCL also implemented a NXTPAPER Key. This is a physical switch on the phone that lets users switch between Color Paper, Ink Paper, and Max Ink modes.

After a short demo, it was clear the NXTPAPER 70 Pro's display was cooking. TCL's devices rarely debut in the U.S., but its eye-friendly display just felt too good to pass up to my colleague Brady Snyder.

Android Central's Take

For such a cheap price—$199—TCL might attract consumers for the 70 Pro. It's just, well, it's not hard to see how people might gravitate elsewhere. Eye health is incredibly important, especially since we're surrounded by screens day in and day out. E-paper displays are also quite prevalent on e-readers, so we're used to this technology. My only curiosity is how many people are actively seeking this kind of thing out for a phone.

Modern phone screens, including the best OLEDs, are not perfect. They flicker, usually with low pulse-width modulation (PWM) rates, and this can be irritating or downright painful for certain people. They also aren't ideal for use in direct sunlight, as their shiny glass coverings can experience glare, limiting visibility. If you want to use your phone as an e-reader or limit distractions, most flagships lack the paper-like visual effects needed for the best experience.

There's one company trying to address all of these issues, TCL, but the brand's phones rarely make their way into the U.S. I went out of my way to buy the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G, a low-end model that actually was available stateside, and had to deal with slow speeds, a meager camera system, and budget-caliber build quality. At MWC 2026, TCL showed off the NXTPAPER 70 Pro, which is a much stronger offering finally coming to the U.S. next month.

I went hands-on with the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, and if you give it a chance, you might be impressed at what it offers compared to your current smartphone. Between the eye-friendly display and built-in digital minimalism features, the NXTPAPER 70 Pro has the potential to change your relationship with your phone.

Most devices try to keep your attention as much as possible, sucking you in with vibrant colors, constant notifications, and an abundance of distractions. By comparison, TCL’s upcoming phone has a dedicated slider that lets you cut out the noise in an instant.

An underrated part of NXTPAPER phones is their built-in matte glass display covering. Most phones are glossy, and this finish attracts fingerprints and adds unwanted glare. You could fix that with a matte screen protector, but doing so usually means compromising with a plastic film version, which isn’t ideal. With this solution, you get the premium feel and durability of glass while still receiving the anti-smudge and anti-glare benefits.

TCL had a great demo at IFA 2025 that showed the difference between a NXTPAPER matte display and a standard glossy display in challenging lighting conditions. The problem? The flagship shown there, the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, never came to the U.S. That's what makes the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro so exciting.

For the average user, the standout feature is the NXTPAPER key. It cycles through four color modes: full color, Color Paper Mode, Ink Paper Mode, and Max Ink Mode. It's important to note that this is not an e-ink display, it simply simulates that effect using an LCD. However, it does an excellent job at that. Color Paper Mode makes your phone look like a Kindle Colorsoft, with a paper-like appearance and muted colors, while Ink Paper Mode does the same in a black-and-white environment.

Max Ink Mode is the really cool part. This mode not only enables a paper-like black-and-white viewing experience, but also limits the available apps and notifications. The idea is that you can use your phone as an e-reader without being distracted by other apps, like social media or messaging apps. It's like having a minimalist phone that can turn into a full-fledged Android flagship with the flip of a switch.

Aside from improving your focus, Max Ink Mode is incredible for battery life. TCL says you can get seven days of battery life out of the NXTPAPER 70 Pro when using Max Ink Mode for reading. On standby mode, the phone can survive a whopping 26 days. We'll have to confirm these claims for ourselves, but based on my time testing Max Ink Mode on other NXTPAPER phones, I believe it.

For those that suffer from PWM flicker sensitivity, the fact that this phone offers a truly flicker-free experience will feel like a breath of fresh air. The phone uses DC dimming and the brightness can be lowered down to 1 nit. It's also designed to try and block blue light, and meets a few eye-friendly standards:

• Low Visual Fatigue A+2.1 SGS certification
• Dim-Light Eye Protection SGS certification
• Flicker Free TÜV Certification

It's everything except the eye-friendly display that matters here, because typically, buying a NXTPAPER phone in the U.S. meant compromising in every other area. In this case, you get a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, a 5,200mAh battery, and up to 512GB of storage. The primary camera is a solid 50MP sensor, and it's complimented by an 8MP ultrawide lens. On the front, you'll find a 32MP selfie camera.

The design of the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is also excellent, although it kind of looks like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge from the back. It looks more premium than old U.S. models that substituted fancy metal and glass for plastic.

The one thing we're waiting to hear about the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is its U.S. pricing. We know that it will start at €299 with an optional €359 configuration in Europe, which comes out to $347 and $417 after conversions. That means we could be looking at $399 and $499 price points in the U.S., with availability starting April 2026 stateside.

I still want TCL to give us more NXTPAPER phones

The hardware in the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is no slouch, and between the MediaTek processor and refined build quality, it's definitely entering flagship territory. However, I would like to see TCL bring even more higher-end smartphones to the U.S. market. This is the first "Pro" phone with NXTPAPER tech to arrive, but I'd like to see an "Ultra" model debut sometime soon.

TCL doesn't just make phones and TVs; the company also makes the displays for these products, supplying them to various other companies. TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) is a division of TCL Technology Group that specialized in display production, and at MWC 2026, the company showcased more than a few display innovations, many of which were aimed at mobile devices.

There was plenty to show off at the booth; too much for me to mention here. But here are the most interesting things I saw at the TCL CSOT booth.

Super Pixel

The headliner at the booth was the new Super Pixel technology. This technology appears to have several benefits, from increased clarity to lower power consumption and higher refresh rates.

Super Pixels are different from regular display pixels due to the way they're configured. According to TCL CSOT, the sub-pixel density is increased by 1.8%, which may not sound like a lot, but this appears to greatly improve image sharpness. This is because unlike regular pixels, which often need to borrow colors from adjacent pixels to achieve a desired output, Super Pixels feature a true RGB arrangement for true "Pixel-level picture quality."

TCL CSOT says that the use of thic technology can reduce power consumption of the display by 25% because the display doesn't have to work as hard. So, even with a high 420ppi, a Super Pixel display will use less power than a WQHD or FHD+ display of the same display size.

Finally, TCL CSOT has managed to achieve a high 165Hz refresh rate, which tends to be popular with gaming smartphones.

And what's great is that TCL's Super Pixel tech is already being used commercially, and can be found on Xiaomi's latest phones.

Portable and foldable monitor

TCL CSOT's foldable and Portable IJP OLED Monitor Display takes the idea of a trifold to the next level. When closed, it doesn't look like much, sort of resembling a large 16-inch notebook, but unfold the two sides and you're met with a massive 28-inch ultra-wide display.

TCL CSOT says it features the features the "world's largest waterdrop hinge" to achieve added versatility between various modes. The display is admittedly very reflective and the bezels are enormous, and I admit I would love to see TCL implement its NXTPAPER tech into something like this to reduce glare.

That said, it's still a very cool and well-designed device, and the built-in stand makes it all the more useful for added productivity while on-the-go. Could you see yourself rocking a portable foldable monitor like this?

Foldable laptop

TCL CSOT also showed off a foldable laptop, which it produced for Huawei as the world's first tandem LTPO flexible laptop, capable of a 10-120Hz refresh rate and featuring a high contrast ratio.

This isn't the first time we've seen a foldable laptop, but they're still quite rare, and the implementation looks pretty solid. You can use it in a regular laptop mode, with the bottom portion of the display reserved as a touch keyboard, or you can lay it flat like an extra-large tablet, which would be great as a canvas or just to consume media.

And if a touch keyboard doesn't do it for you, you can slide a physical keyboard onto the bottom half to essentially turn it into a real laptop.

Ultra-bright display

Smartphone displays seem to get brighter every year, with recent models reaching more than 6,000 nits. It almost seems like overkill, but TCL CSOT is taking it even further with the world's brightest OLED display, reaching an impressive 15,000 nits. With this level of brightness, you shouldn't have any problems seeing the contents of your display in direct sunlight, although I do wonder what this will do to battery consumption.

Smallest bezel

While I love flip phones, one problem I have with them is that they don't have the narrowest bezels. TCL CSOT is trying to address that, showcasing the world's narrowest bolder on a foldable OLED display.

I didn't get a figure of just how small the bezel is, but it is noticeably thinner than any other flip phone bezel I've seen, and I've tested quite a few of them.

And to top it off, the phone was also being put through its own folding test to showcase the durability of the display. It'll definitely be interesting to see if and when Android OEMs would adopt such a narrow display on their foldables, although part of the reason the borders are pretty large is due to the fact that they act as bumpers to keep the display glass from slamming into itself.

Sun screen

Finally, the last innovation I found interesting was TCL CSOT's natural light-certified mobile OLED display. The idea is that instead of just being a bright display to counteract direct sunlight obscuring your display, the phone uses a second-generation circular polarizer technology to reduce glare.

What's more is that this technology helps improve visibility when viewing a smartphone display with sunglasses, and due to the nature of the polarization technology, it should reduce visual fatigue, meaning you can binge shows longer without your eyes feeling worn out.

TCL CSOT demonstrated this by having two phones on opposite ends of a rotating panel. Part of the panel had an effect on it to mimic how a display could become obscured by sunglasses, so rotating it over the phone on the left would make the screen darken to the point where the contents were difficult to see. However, when that same section of the panel was rotated across the phone on the right, the effect was negated.

It was a neat demonstration and a great way to showcase how TCL CSOT is not only thinking about improving display brightness, minimizing bezels, and enhancing pixels, but how it is trying to ensure that its displays are also comfortable for the user.

Cheap TVs are more common than ever, but finding an otherwise-expensive TV at a serious discount is the ideal way to upgrade the home theater. As one example, Best Buy has chopped $470 off the price of this 65-inch TCL 4K Smart TV, bringing it down to $530—or almost half the normal purchase price.

The TCL 65-inch Class QM6K TV features a Google TV platform, a 4K resolution backed by Mini-LED technology, and a wide range of visual enhancements. It also offers Bluetooth and wired audio options, as well as game modes and a swift refresh rate for low-latency gaming. This TV configuration is normally sold at a $1,000 sticker price, so those hoping to find a high-quality TV without the high price tag may want to consider this deal before it's gone.

✅Recommended if: you're looking for a 4K TV of roughly 65 inches, and you want something for under $550; you need something with wide-ranging compatibility and around four HDMI ports for seamless side-by-side device use; you'd prefer to go with a TV that has features such as device casting, smart voice assistants, and a broad range of streaming services built into the platform.

❌Skip this deal if: you need a TV with a built-in headphone jack for wired headphone audio; this TV is too large or small for you, and you'd rather check out Best Buy's similar deals on the model's other size configurations; you'd prefer to keep your purchase under $500 and you don't need the premium-level bells and whistles.

The TCL QM6K line includes a 4K resolution, a Google TV platform with access to several streaming services, and smart capabilities from voice assistants to media casting with a wide range of devices. Like many of the best Android TVs, the model includes ease-of-access to home theater capabilities with a wide range of connectivity options.

It also boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, perfect for high-motion sports and gaming, as well as lag-free gaming modes that are automatically enabled to reach the lowest possible input latency.

The included remote has built-in voice features for voice assistants and search. Meanwhile the TV unit includes four total HDMI ports, two USB-A ports, an ethernet port, and a cable port. At $530 and $470 off, the unit seems like a certifiably solid deal.

What you need to know

• TCL's NXTPAPER 70 Pro brings the latest NXTPAPER tech to a smaller form factor and a lower price point.
• It sports a NXTPAPER key, which is a physical slider that can switch between full color mode and Color Paper Mode, Ink Paper Mode, or Max Ink Mode.
• The eye-friendly display may earn a U.S. debut, though TCL is only teasing a launch in the broader North American region for now.

TCL's lineup of NXTPAPER smartphones with matte, anti-glare display and paper-like viewing modes is expanding with the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, announced Jan. 5 at CES 2026.

The phone is the first to debut as part of the NXTPAPER 70 series, and quickly follows up the launch of the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra last September. While both phones employ NXTPAPER 4.0 technology for eye-friendly viewing, the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra sports a massive 7.2-inch screen, and the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is more manageable at 6.9 inches.

The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro emulates the look and feel of an e-ink display while retaining the benefits of a traditional LCD. It uses a matte display with a DC-dimmed LED backlight and blue light filtering for an eye-friendly viewing experience. The phone sports the NXTPAPER Key, a physical switch that can change viewing modes. There is a standard color mode, plus three NXTPAPER modes: Color Paper Mode, Ink Paper Mode, and Max Ink Mode.

Color Paper Mode preserves a touch of muted color with a paper-like appearance, while Ink Paper Mode provides black-and-white visuals. Max Ink Mode is a more robust monochrome viewing option that extends battery life while limiting apps and notifications. It effectively turns your phone into an e-reader, enhancing your focus while reading books and more.

The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, which is a slight step down from the MediaTek's Dimensity 7400 inside the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra. It's paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. There are a handful of AI features offered by TCL, plus full Google Gemini support. On the inside is a 5,200mAh battery that should cover all-day use, and longevity will be even better while using a NXTPAPER mode.

The back of the phone somewhat resembles the look of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, with two lenses sitting atop an oval-shaped platform. This is a facade, though, because the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro only has one 50MP rear camera sensor. On the front is a 32MP selfie camera.

The base, 256GB variant of the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro will retail for €339 (~$400) in Europe starting next month. The phone will also be available across "Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America" in February.

Notably, the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra didn't get a U.S. launch, and these availability hints could point to the NXTPAPER 70 Pro debuting stateside. However, TCL hasn't specified whether this model will come to the U.S., so we'll have to wait and see.

What you need to know

• The Xbox Game Pass app is arriving on more smart TV operating systems, including V homeOS and Google TV.
• Xbox confirmed its cloud gaming app will come to select Hisense smart TVs later this year.
• TCL also announced the app will be added to X11L series televisions in a future update.

Xbox is bringing cloud gaming support to more smart TV models in 2026, and that includes Google TV-powered screens.

Xbox is partnering with V (formerly VIDAA) to bring its app to certain Hisense and V homeOS smart TVs later this year, it announced Jan. 5. V homeOS is a new operating system for Hisense that will compete with other first-party smart TV OSes, like Samsung's Tizen OS or LG's Web OS. In a separate move, TCL also revealed it will bring the Xbox app to its X11L series of Google TV-powered televisions later this year.

"This partnership is all about giving you more freedom and flexibility to play how you want," Xbox said of its deal with Hisense and V homeOS. "Xbox Game Pass subscribers – including Ultimate, Premium, and Essential subscribers – will be able to stream hundreds of games, from new releases to fan favorites, directly through the Xbox app on supported TVs via Xbox Cloud Gaming."

Meanwhile, in a press release for TCL's new X11L SQD-Mini LED series of smart TVs, the company revealed it too will gain support for Xbox Cloud Gaming later this year. These flagship TVs are powered by Google TV, and will support the new Gemini for Google TV at launch. However, in TCL's list of X11L features, the company notes that support for Xbox Game Pass for cloud gaming without a console will arrive in a future over-the-air (OTA) update.

TCL's X11L series are available for pre-order now, but the smallest size currently available is a 75-inch panel starting at a whopping $6,999 MSRP. These smart TVs will be the first Google TV-powered screens to gain support for the Xbox Game Pass app, which is already available on LG's Web OS and Amazon's Fire OS.

With cloud gaming, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can stream console games over the internet without needing any physical hardware, aside from the client device, a controller, and an Xbox account. Later this year, select Hisense and TCL smart TVs will join the growing list of supported Xbox Game Pass clients, which includes Android phones and tablets.

Xbox says it'll "share more details on the Xbox Cloud Gaming experience with Hisense TVs in the coming months." TCL says the Xbox Game Pass app will arrive for the X11L series in a future update.

I love TCL's NXTPAPER display technology. This 11-inch TCL tablet is equipped with the latest-generation NXTPAPER 4.0 tech, and it's still somehow $130 off even after Black Friday ended. Not only that, but the $239 price includes the tablet, a folio case, AND a stylus that's perfect for writing or note-taking. It's everything you need for an outrageously low price! If you're looking for Black Friday tablet deals, this is the best answer.

The tablet itself normally retails for $249, so you know you're getting a really good deal at $239 when it comes with that case and stylus. The tablet itself is no slouch either, and I covered the merits of its display in my TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus display review back in July. It was a great way to introduce the latest NXTPAPER 4.0 tech to the world, and it continues to be an excellent budget-friendly tablet that doesn't feel slow or lacking.

✅Recommended if: You love to read a mix of books, manga, graphic novels, or other content, enjoy watching movies and TV shows on the go, or just need a tablet that feels great to write and draw on and won't bleed your eyes dry with a flickering display like Samsung tablets will.

❌Skip this deal if: You like to read outdoors. The NXTPAPER 4.0 display does a lot of things well, but outdoor visibility is not one of them.

I use the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus as a way to read manga on the Shonen Jump service, which somehow only costs $3.99 per month and gives unlimited access to a bajillion popular manga series. Color pages look stunning on this display, and the anti-glare matte screen ensures this feels more like a physical book than a shiny OLED does.

Outside of that, it's really great for just about anything. Android 15 offers great multitasking capabilities, and the included stylus make this paperlike display perfect for writing, taking notes, drawing, or anything else you might want to use a stylus for. Games with amazing art, like Gorogoa, are also perfect on the display, making it feel like a painted canvas come to life.

While you're on the Amazon page, you'll also notice a "TCL NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2" tablet that's even cheaper, but I wouldn't recommend that model over this one because of the sub-par processor.

Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More post-Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday
• The best Samsung deals of Black Friday
• The best Motorola deals of Black Friday

Looking for a new phone with a great display but don't want to spend oodles of cash? TCL has your back with this mind-blowing sale on its latest NXTPAPER 3.0 phone, the TCL 60 XE, which is down to just $169 through Cyber Monday. That's nearly $100 off the already bargain basement price!

If you're not familiar with TCL's NXTPAPER technology, we've got a guide here that will walk you through its many advantages. In short, this unique display technology comes with an anti-reflective, matte layer applied on top of a diffused layer, giving the display a unique "paperlike" appearance.

A handy switch on the side allows you to toggle between full color, a selection of "inky" colors that's good for comic or manga reading, or a full black & white digital detox mode. It's fantastic, and it makes this one a solid choice for folks who love to read on the go.

✅Recommended if: You need a backup phone or a new phone for less, love reading on the go, or just want a phone with a display that's easier on your eyes than what Samsung or Google sells.

❌Skip this deal if: You need a phone with the fastest processor or best cameras. This phone will do all the basics and more, but it's not a high-end experience.

As this is a $169 phone, you shouldn't expect flagship performance or a phone that's going to play graphically-intensive games very well. But if you don't care about that, the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER is a phenomenal choice for everyday use. Android Central's Managing Editor, Derrek Lee, agrees and said as much in our review.

"While not a flagship by any means, the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER does stand out from the pack, thanks to the more eye-friendly display that can effectively transform the phone into an e-reader with the flip of a switch. I like to think of it as having a Boox Palma living inside your smartphone, which should appeal to anyone who likes to read but doesn’t want to carry a separate e-reader with them at all times."

And since this runs a modern version of Android, you can add any of your favorite Google Play apps to it, including eBook apps like Kindle, Kobo, Play Books, the Libby library app, and plenty more. And, unlike an E Ink e-reader, this one still looks good if you happen to want to watch a movie or TV show on it, too!

Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More post-Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday
• The best Samsung deals of Black Friday
• The best Motorola deals of Black Friday

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out Gemini to more devices, including Google Home and Google TV Streamer soon.
• The company confirmed Gemini will arrive on Google TV and other devices "this winter."
• Gemini will enhance Google TV with smarter, conversational AI and richer on-screen responses.

Google has been gradually adding Gemini to more services this year. The company has finally started rolling out Gemini to Google Home devices after announcing it in October 2025, and now a new report confirms that Gemini is also headed to the Google TV Streamer sooner than expected.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google confirmed on its Nest Community forum that Gemini is coming to Google TV Streamer and other devices "this winter." Previously, the company gave a vague “later this year” timeline, but has now narrowed it down, giving us hope that the smarter Google Assistant will reach our favorite streaming device in the coming months.

Gemini is finally coming to Google TV Streamer soon

Even though Google has been expanding Gemini's availability across its apps and services, it's currently available on only a few Google TV models, such as the TCL QM9K Google TV. A Reddit user recently reported seeing the Gemini setup screen on their Sony Bravia TV, but overall availability remains limited for now.

Thankfully, we now know Google's flagship streaming device will get AI integration soon. This should also pave the way for Gemini to arrive on other Google TV streaming devices, such as Walmart's onn and Nvidia Shield TV.

Gemini on Google TV will deliver a better experience than the current Google Assistant. It will let users ask complex questions in natural language, like "What happened in the last episode of Riverdale?" and even request recipes or other information, all with a large visual output right on the TV screen.

For those unfamiliar, the Google TV Streamer is the company's flagship streaming device and the company's competitor to Apple TV 4K. It supports 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. The device also supports new smart home standards like Matter and Thread, and even includes a customizable remote button you can map to anything.

Everything is expensive these days but, surprisingly, smartphones have become more affordable than ever thanks to phones like the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G. That's a lot of capital letters in one name but you might start typing in all caps when you see this incredible $199 deal for the phone right now on Amazon.

That's a solid 20% off the price and you don't even need to wait until Black Friday to get it! This sale ends on October 26, so you've got a few days to think it over, but I posit that this is the best choice at this price range for a number of reasons, starting with the display.

TCL's NXTPAPER technology is a fascinating newer piece of tech that takes the comfortable backlight of LCD and melds it with a handful of new concepts that make it look more like an e-reader, including an impressive anti-glare matte display and light softening features that make it extra gentle on the eyes. Plus, that backlight is 100% flicker-free, ensuring that even PWM-sensitive people can use the phone without headaches.

The TCL 60 series introduced the NXTPAPER key, a little slider switch on the right side of the phone that quickly toggles between display modes. You can configure this to automatically switch to one of the three alternate display options — color paper, ink paper, and max ink — or just choose via pop-up box that appears when you slide the key upward.

That makes it handy for switching between screen modes when you're just in the mood to read. Ink paper mode is best for reading books, while color paper mode is best for things like manga or comics. Max ink mode is for those times you want to unplug and get a bit of digital detox in for a while, as it turns on extra battery saver and shuts down most apps.

The camera is also quite good for the price range, offering punchy shots with good color and nice dynamic range. Plus, the phone ships with Andorid 15 under the hood.

As Derrek noted in our TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G review, this phone isn't a powerhouse and won't be impressing anyone with its performance. You shouldn't ever expect a $199 phone to be as fast as a $1,000 phone, but it's still worth noting before jumping in.

And as much as I love NXTPAPER technology, the screen is a little difficult to see outside during those extra bright days. It's something you can get used to and may be a worthy trade-off if you prefer reading indoors but, again, well worth noting if you're a person who spends a lot of time looking at their phone outside.

Even with those downsides, it's hard to say no to this phone for just $199. That's a heck of a deal that won't be any lower for a long time to come.

What you need to know

• TCL is bringing its paper-like NXTPAPER screen to a smaller, 8-inch tablet for the first time.
• A new leak points to the TCL Tab 8 NXTPAPER 5G landing on Verizon with a straightforward design and essentials like USB-C, stereo speakers, and more.
• A dedicated NXTPAPER button lets you flip between color and monochrome E Ink-style modes on the fly.

TCL is shrinking its NXTPAPER display down to a smaller form. After showing up in phones and bigger tablets in the past, the display tech is now being tailored for a more compact tablet.

A new leak on X, courtesy of Evan Blass, points to the TCL Tab 8 NXTPAPER 5G, a compact 8-inch tablet headed for Verizon (via 9to5Google). The pictures reveal a clean, no-nonsense build with practical touches like USB-C. There’s also a dedicated NXTPAPER button for quickly toggling screen modes.

TCL’s latest-generation NXTPAPER is a paper-style screen made for mobile devices. With a quick switch, it can mimic either a color or monochrome E Ink display.

It also packs eye-friendly perks like low blue light and zero flicker, and on stylus-ready models, jotting notes feels just like real pen on paper.

Filling the gap between phones and large tablets

TCL's NXTPAPER tech has so far lived in two extremes: pocket-sized phones and large-screen tablets. The sweet spot — a paperback-book-sized canvas — has been conspicuously empty.

The rumored 8-inch Tab 8 NXTPAPER 5G aims to finally deliver that, pairing its signature paper-like display with a Verizon-friendly price that could move it from a niche feature to a mainstream choice.

Along with the name, the leak reveals the tablet's design: slim side bezels frame the screen, while the top and bottom are a bit thicker. It also confirms stereo speakers and, in a welcome move for some, a dedicated audio jack.

Furthermore, the leak confirms the tablet will include a combo SIM and microSD tray, which is standard fare for a 5G device. The right edge houses the NXTPAPER shortcut key and the rest of the buttons.

Performance remains a weak spot

The big drawback is still performance. TCL's habit of using modest hardware keeps these devices affordable, but it also holds them back from being true all-rounders.

With capable compact Android tablets finally making a comeback, TCL has no reason left to skimp on hardware.

It's been quite a while since we've seen a new display technology that really catches on. OLED debuted on mobile devices 15 years ago with the release of the original Samsung Galaxy, eventually usurping LCD as the de facto standard display type.

However, the tides are shifting, and customers want something more user-friendly than OLED, a technology that looks great but causes headaches and eye strain in a notable percentage of people. Enter TCL's NXTPAPER technology, a custom type of LCD that includes multiple comfort layers and custom tuning, including a matte anti-glare layer and black levels previously thought unachievable for the tech.

The TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra is the first smartphone equipped with the latest version of NXTPAPER, and it just might be my favorite smartphone display of all time. As someone who regularly seeks out alternative types of displays with better comfort ratings, NXTPAPER greatly appeals to me. Now, with NXTPAPER 4.0, I'm finally seeing the fruits of TCL's labor and can fully recommend it as a legit alternative to OLED. Here are all the details.

Comfort above all

As I said in my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra display review, all modern flagship phone displays look good. Any rating assigned to one over the other is generally nitpicking between characteristics that the average person simply doesn't see or care about.

That's why comfort is the new benchmark of display quality. A high comfort rating ensures all users can see and enjoy content on a display, no matter if they're looking at it for 5 minutes or 5 hours.

In the modern digital age, where a smartphone is practically essential for everyday life, it's becoming increasingly more important for companies to make devices that work for everyone, including those of us with visual disabilities or limitations.

Reflectivity and brightness

An up-and-coming trend in smartphone displays is glare reduction. All NXTPAPER devices feature a matte anti-reflective layer, but NXTPAPER 4.0 features a redesigned substrate and nano-matrix lithography application to enhance brightness and color accuracy.

This updated anti-glare layer is incredibly effective, reducing reflections so much that the display looks almost identical to full-color paper printing. It's actually wild looking at the screen throughout the day and seeing such a gorgeous, flat-lit display that doesn't force me to squint or strain to see.

The effect is best in any indoor condition or when outside in partial shade. Inside, the anti-glare layer is perfect for reducing those annoying reflections from adjacent lights or any brightly lit object. In this environment, zero reflection of any kind is visible, and it makes the phone a joy to use versus any other display technology I've used to date.

One of my favorite things about NXTPAPER 4.0 is its ability to create a superb picture without following normal display expectations. Take sunlight viewability, for example. At 850 nits, you'd expect this to be difficult to see in the sunlight. The Pixel 10 series hits 3300 nits to ensure it's nice and bright, for instance, but you'll quickly learn that the problem wasn't brightness all along. It was glare.

Outdoor visibility comes with an interesting caveat, though. It's super easy to see in direct sunlight, but only if the sun isn't directly reflecting off the matte surface. I'm writing this at 3 pm, sitting in my car while I wait to pick my son up from school, and it's incredibly easy to see. It's also excellent for dashboard navigation. But if I were trying to type this up on my back deck with the sun overhead, I'd have to hold it at an angle.

That angle is the only really weird thing about this display, as the matte layer will completely occlude the display if the sun is shining straight into your vision. It's not a huge deal since you only have to slightly adjust the angle — you would never keep the sun directly on any other display, either — but it does look different from a normal reflective display. I would recommend using the scheduled light/dark theme option to keep light mode on during the day if you spend a lot of time outside, as that also makes a huge difference for visibility.

Elsewhere, the brightness level is simply brilliant and always feels comfortable. It can even get down to 2 nits when extra dim display is enabled, something that was a problem with previous generations of NXTPAPER. I've always found these displays to be too bright to read in bed at night, but the TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra fixes all that.

The best part is that it achieves this with zero flicker, unlike OLED. That's because OLED normally has to switch to PWM dimming when you get to lower dimming levels, creating an uncomfortable flicker that can cause headaches and eye pain. Not something you want right before bed.

This phone is completely flicker-free and never uses PWM dimming at any time. It's true voltage-adjusted DC dimming, and it's one of the strengths of this display tech.

Eye comfort settings

NXTPAPER 4.0 features a built-in blue light filter that performs exceptionally well. Additionally, the phone features two automated modes that adjust the display's color temperature to match the time of day or automatically based on ambient light temperature. You can enable both modes at the same time, if you like.

Since the screen doesn't use PWM dimming, there's no need to have any kind of flicker reduction option. By default, however, the phone uses temporal dithering to adjust display colors and to create more accurate grey colors. Turning off all three options under NXTVISION display settings reduces the amount of dithering system-wide.

Sticking to normal and black & white ink modes ensures the least amount of dithering, and using sRGB or Natural color space options seems to disable dithering entirely when NXTVISION is disabled. The phone's Color Paper display mode seems to dither no matter what options are selected.

TCL features a notable number of additional eye care features found under the NXTPAPER zone menu. An automated alert can be enabled that will tell you to take a break after a set amount of screen time to help you stave off digital addiction.

A number of posture alerts can also help you correct problems with normal device use. Staring at the screen too closely can generate a posture alert, and the same will happen if you lie down and read with the phone for too long.

You can also enable alerts for when you're using the phone in an environment that's too shaky — on a train or somewhere else that could cause eye-strain while reading — or when you're in environments that are too bright or too dark to look at the screen for a long time. All of these options can be enabled if you like, and are disabled by default.

Colors and ink modes

One of the most unique parts of NXTPAPER technology is the ability to switch between full color, "color paper," and black & white "ink" modes with the switch on the right side of the phone. Switching takes a few seconds and is accompanied by a beautiful animation to show the progress.

NXTPAPER devices have always had these three options, so they're no different visually from those. Normal mode is what you expect: a full-color experience that looks like a modern smartphone display. Color Paper makes all the whites a warm, off-white color and changes most colors to pastel. Ink Paper makes everything black and white.

A fourth mode, Max Ink mode, uses the black & white visual appearance of Ink Paper mode but closes all apps except for the ones you whitelist. The idea here is to not only save battery life but also to act as a "digital detox" mode for when you need downtime or want to be less distracted.

As with the "reading modes" or "e-book modes" on some phones, these modes just alter the color of the display. They don't adjust the backlight itself or change the nature of the display itself, so they're not quite the same as using an E Ink phone for eye care.

Motion, resolution, viewing angles

The TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra's display automatically swaps between 120Hz and 60Hz, but you can select to keep it at 60Hz for battery or eye comfort reasons. At 7.2 inches, this massive display looks a little soft with 2340 x 1080 resolution.

I don't think the display looks traditionally low-resolution, which normally infers that you can see the individual pixels or that edges of icons and text have a stair-stepping pattern to them. Everything here is clean and clear, it's just softer than you might expect because of the additional light scattering and matte filters above the panel.

Lastly, we'll take a look at some of the traditionally weakest points of LCDs: motion blur, viewing angles, and black levels. Viewing angles and black levels are downright spectacular and are the best I've ever seen on an IPS-based display. Most of the time, I can't tell the difference between the black levels on this display and an OLED, although OLED continues to have better overall contrast.

When using the phone to scroll in dark mode or in low light, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference between it and a high-quality OLED panel. Most OLEDs tend to "bleed purple" when you slowly scroll in low light or in dark mode, and that effect is equivalent to the slight motion blur you'll see from the slower-refreshing pixels of NXTPAPER's IPS base.

That difference becomes more readily apparent when using light mode or when the backlight is turned up brighter, especially when scrolling with black text on a light background. This effect is less apparent in videos or while gaming.

In short, motion resolution is worse than OLED but better than a traditional IPS display. I can easily read words as I scroll, even if I flick the screen quickly, so I would still rate this as "good" even if it's not the best.

Verdict

The TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra has one of the most incredible displays I've ever used on a smartphone. It's fully flicker-free and offers relief for both people sensitive to PWM dimming and dithering, something that's simply unheard of in 2025 when phones either use some form of dithering or PWM-style dimming, which both introduce flicker to the experience.

NXTPAPER 4.0 also breaks from expectations of LCDs, offering superb black levels and viewing angles, excellent color reproduction, and tons of eye care modes. Outdoor visibility is still the weakest point of the experience, but it is significantly better than any previous NXTPAPER display by a wide margin. It's not hard to see in sunlight, but it's not as easy as E Ink or some OLED displays.

The overall appearance of the display is incredibly captivating thanks to a combination of several bespoke visual filters and a matte surface, giving it a unique look and feel. Readability is much better on this display than most, and I found myself entranced by the display over the past week. It's gorgeous to look at, and ushers in a new era for IPS displays and TCL as a new quality contender.

What you need to know

• TCL announced its new NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, which features its new NXTPAPER 4.0 technology, like the 11 Plus tablet.
• The device features a 50MP main camera, AI geared to help users write and read daily, and the Dimensity 7400 SoC for AI enhancements.
• The NXTPAPER 60 Ultra starts at €499 (~$581), as it prepares to hit markets in September in Europe, LATAM, and APAC.
• TCL also debuted its new NXTPAPER 5G Junior and the MOVETIME MT48 smartwatch for kids.

TCL is at IFA 2025, and it didn't show up empty-handed, as the company revealed an all-new phone with its latest eye-care-focused technology.

Headlining TCL's IFA appearance this year is its newest NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, a device the company states stands atop its commitment to assisting user eye health with digital screens. In a press release, the company states consumers will find a 7.2-inch FHD Plus display; however, the 60 Ultra rocks TCL's new NXTPAPER 4.0 technology. It seems like the new 60 Ultra will join the likes of TCL's NXTPAPER 11 Plus tablet with this enhanced, seven-core display tech.

This 4.0 screen tech offers a natural light display with zero flickering, blue light purification, no reflection, anti-glare, and more. TCL claims its NXTPAPER 4.0 is natural and should give the feeling as though you're staring at the real world, sans any digital displays.

This display can also "switch to warmer tones" once night falls to create a more comfortable experience that evolves as the day does. Moreover, it may also help users get to sleep better as the lack of blue light won't mess with their circadian rhythm.

NXTPAPER cameras & AI

Other hardware specs include a circular triple camera array on the back of the 60 Ultra. TCL states this will provide consumers with a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto with a 3x zoom, and an 8UW camera, per its official document. On the front, consumers will find a 32MP lens.

Powering the device is MediaTek's Dimensity 7400 SoC, an ultra-efficient chip capable of handling games and AI.

Artificial intelligence is another aspect that TCL has focused on for its 60 Ultra. More specifically, the company states its AI, such as the TCL Note app and the Max Ink Mode, helps users interested in reading and writing daily. The former is said to offer a paper-like writing experience with AI tools to help users be more productive. The Max Ink Mode offers a "distraction-free" experience for users looking to read without being bothered by notifications.

The 60 Ultra's Junior and a new Watch

Rounding things out for the 60 Ultra is 12GB of RAM (plus an additional 12GB via RAM expansion) with up to 512GB of storage. TCL has also packed a 5,200mAh battery with 33W charging capabilities. The company estimates its device can charge fully in around 90 minutes.

The TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra starts at €499 (~$581). The post states consumers can begin finding this product in September 2025 in Europe, LATAM, and APAC. Optional accessories include the T-Pen Magic stylus and the MagFlip.

That's not all, as TCL also shone a light on its NXTPAPER 5G Junior; a phone designed for teens that brings its eye-care-focused NXTPAPER tech. Younger users will also find a "Digital Detox Mode," capable of helping them cut out distractions for a digital life that's not so jarring and hectic. This phone, with 256GB of storag,e starts at €249 (~$290). TCL states the 5G Junior will hit the European market in October.

Additionally, the TCL MOVETIME MT48 smartwatch for kids was also announced. The company states this watch brings a "healthy" amount of AI for kids looking to learn and explore the world around them. Coupled with a 1.68-inch display, the MOVETIME MT48 starts at €150 (~$174) in preparation for its late October launch in Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, and France.

TCL may not be the most exciting name in mobile, but that doesn’t mean the company is sitting on its hands. Last year, the company introduced its new NXTPAPER Key to complement its unique displays, and now, we finally get to experience it in the United States with the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER.

While not a flagship by any means, the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER does stand out from the pack, thanks to the more eye-friendly display that can effectively transform the phone into an e-reader with the flip of a switch. I like to think of it as having a Boox Palma living inside your smartphone, which should appeal to anyone who likes to read but doesn’t want to carry a separate e-reader with them at all times.

TCL’s current offering isn’t for everyone, but the technology involved is one I would like to see more of.

TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER specs

NXTPAPER display pros and cons

When you hold the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER, you’ll immediately notice why it’s different. The NXTPAPER display is unique in both look and feeling thanks to its very matte display. It feels incredibly soft to the touch, and your hand just glides across the screen with ease. I first thought the phone had a screen protector on it, which is just how unreal the experience is. It's supposed to feel more paper-like, in contrast to the glossy displays found on nearly all other smartphones, and the change comes with some nice benefits.

Gone are the fingerprints you would find on a traditional smartphone display. TCL’s multi-layer display also filters out 61% more blue light than other devices, so it’s safer on your eyes. While I’m not clear on how this display measures up for those with PWM sensitivity, it should still make the viewing experience more comfortable.

Colors are still pretty vibrant when in normal viewing mode, even if the FHD+ LCD panel won’t quite match up to the contrast of an OLED. TCL also has a host of display features aimed at improving visuals and eye comfort. When indoors, I’m pretty pleased with the display overall.

It’s outdoors where things fall apart a bit. The NXTPAPER display is actually quite challenging to see in direct sunlight, which is an unfortunate downside of the technology.

You may also want to be wary of scratches. I’m not quite sure what caused the scratch on my review unit, but it appears much more pronounced than what I've seen on other phones in my years of reviewing devices.

The NXTPAPER Key is the real star of the show, though, letting you easily switch to one of three other display modes: Ink Paper, Color Paper, and Max Ink.

The first transforms the phone into a typical black and white ink display, similar to what you’ll see on a Kindle or other e-readers. Color Paper Mode is more or less the same, but adds a dash of warm, muted color to everything, almost as if you’re looking at a '90s TV screen. With these modes, you’re still able to use your phone just like usual.

Max Ink Mode emulates the e-reader experience as much as possible for users who want to take a break from the world and just focus on reading. It limits app use aside from a select few that you can choose, disables the app drawer and notifications from apps not allowed in Max Ink mode, and only provides access to a handful of settings. And because of its extremely limited nature, battery life also gets a boost from the typical day or so to multiple days.

And when you’re done with each mode, you can just flick the key to switch back to normal display mode.

What about the rest of the phone?

The 60 XE NXTPAPER is a decent phone overall with a beautiful design that stands out from other phones in this price point, but don’t expect much from a $249 device. The MediaTek 6100 Plus chip isn’t exactly a powerhouse, so don’t expect to get away with playing graphics-intensive games except on lower settings. The 8GB of RAM certainly helps, but performance feels worse than some other cheap Android phones like the Moto G Power 2025.

Battery life is great, especially if you use Max Ink Mode, but charging is underwhelming at just 18W, so expect to sit around for a while topping up the 5,010mAh battery.

The phone runs Android 15 out of the box but will only receive one major OS upgrade. There are a few AI features like text extraction, Help Me Write, and a smart voice memo app, but nothing particularly notable. Unfortunately, you don’t get access to much else beyond Gemini, and there’s no Circle to Search, which is probably the biggest letdown.

For a $249 phone, the camera system is fairly decent, but you can find better elsewhere. Photos are bright, but colors aren’t the most accurate, and it can be quite inconsistent at times. Images can also be a bit noisy, and even at 2x, the details start to muddy up.

Should you buy it?

The TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER competes with lower-end Android phones and features middling performance, basic software, and a camera that leaves a lot to be desired. However, its unique display is clearly a standout, and the phone is clearly catering to anyone who wants the bare minimum and a comfortable reading experience.

Of course, the alternative is to purchase a separate e-reader for its simplicity, but why do that when you can kill two birds with one stone? Something like the Boox Palma 2 or Minimal Phone costs $299 or more, which should make the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER a smidge more appealing.

What you need to know

• TCL expanded its 60 series lineup and announced plans to bring AI features to budget phones worldwide.
• Instead of pricey AI chips, TCL is using the cloud to bring smart features to all its devices.
• First revealed at CES 2025, the lineup includes NXTPAPER and standard displays, rolling out across multiple regions.

At MWC 2025, TCL unveiled its expanded 60 series lineup and shared its plan to bring advanced AI features to budget-friendly phones worldwide.

TCL stands out by making tech more accessible instead of chasing the high-end market. TCL differentiates itself from premium brands by offering phones with flagship-like features at a price point of around $200. That also means bringing AI to its devices requires a fresh, straightforward approach.

Instead of packing pricey AI chips into every phone, TCL is going all-in on the cloud. This lets the company roll out AI features no matter what hardware a user has.

The TCL 60 series made its debut at CES 2025 in January, kicking off with the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G, a $200 phone set to hit the U.S. market later this year. But that’s just the start. TCL plans to expand the lineup with a mix of NXTPAPER-equipped devices and standard displays, rolling them out across Asia, Europe, and Latin America to cover all the bases.

TCL's NXTPAPER tech mimics the feel of real paper, making screens easier on the eyes. The 2025 lineup debuts NXTPAPER 4.0, which cuts down on glare, filters blue light, and delivers spot-on colors to ease eye strain and make every glance at the screen a little nicer.

Leading the pack is the TCL 60 NXTPAPER, featuring TCL’s signature eye-friendly display for around €200, but you’ll only find it in Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Next up, the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G brings 5G support at a slightly lower €190 and expands availability to Europe.

If you just want 5G without the NXTPAPER perks, the TCL 60 5G lands at €170 and is rolling out in Europe and Asia-Pacific. The TCL 60 SE, also priced at €170, gets an even wider release, hitting the Middle East and Africa too.

For budget-conscious buyers, the TCL 60R 5G is priced at just €120 and widely available. And finally, the most affordable of the bunch, the TCL 605, comes in at €110, launching in the same regions as the 60 SE.

What you need to know

• TCL just launched the 50 and 50 Pro NXTPAPER smartphones, both designed to ease eye strain with its new display tech.
• Both phones include a "NXTPAPER key" that offers two modes: Ink Paper for regular reading and Max Ink for a distraction-free experience, promising over a week of battery life.
• Both models feature a 6.8-inch 1080p screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, though the Pro version has slightly better specs.

TCL has unveiled the 50 and 50 Pro NXTPAPER smartphones, both of which aim to cut down on eye strain with TCL's new display tech. And despite their different names, they share a lot of the same features.

At IFA 2024, TCL unveiled the 50 NXTPAPER and 50 PRO NXTPAPER. These hybrids pack TCL's anti-glare display and a handy reading mode button, blending smartphone and e-reader features into one device.

The NXTPAPER key has two modes: Ink Paper and Max Ink. Just flip the key to the first position for Ink Paper Mode and push it one notch further for Max Ink Mode. Max Ink is perfect for focused reading, as it turns off notifications but keeps internet, calls, and texts active. TCL says you can expect over a week of battery life in Max Ink mode.

If this feels like déjà vu, it's because TCL rolled out a similar feature on a tablet earlier this year.

Besides the quasi-E Ink mode, both phones come with a 6.8-inch 1080p screen boasting a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The main difference is that the non-Pro model has a few slightly lower specs.

Under the hood, both phones draw their power from MediaTek's Dimensity 6300 processor. The TCL 50 NXTPAPER comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the TCL 50 Pro NXTPAPER offers a more spacious 512GB. Additionally, both support expandable storage.

On the back, both phones have a 108MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro lens. The standard model includes an 8MP selfie camera, while the Pro version steps up with a 32MP front sensor.

The TCL 50 NXTPAPER and 50 Pro NXTPAPER both feature 33W fast charging, NFC, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and an audio jack. They run on Android 14 and are guaranteed to receive two OS upgrades and security patches until 2029.

TCL's new NXTPAPER phones seem designed for those who crave a less distracting smartphone experience. However, only time will tell if they truly deliver on this promise.

The TCL 50 Pro NXTPAPER will retail in Europe and Latin America for €299, with optional accessories included. Meanwhile, the TCL 50 NXTPAPER will be available in Europe for €229.

If you just need a cheap Android phone for basic apps and communication, there are pretty decent options under $100. 5G connectivity is still difficult to find at this price, but you will get solid LTE connectivity, recent versions of Android, and bright and large displays. Don't expect much from the cameras or performance, but the best Android phones under $100 get the job done.

Our favorite overall pick is the NUU N10. It's sleek, has a massive display, and runs Android 14. That's a lot of smartphone for $100. It's also one of the few phones in this segment to offer 128GB of built-in storage. If you're looking for something cheaper or more compact, check out all our best picks below.

At a glance

Best overall

Although it costs under $100, the NUU N10 holds its own against phones much more expensive. The smartphone features a 6.6-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and an HD+ resolution, but the real impressive feat is the chipset and software. It uses a no-name 1.6GHz eight-core processor, and it's good enough to run Android 14 with Gemini support. There's also zero bloatware, which is uncommon for budget Android phones.

In terms of cameras, there's a 13MP main camera with auto-focus and a 2MP macro lens on the rear. You get a 5MP front-facing camera, too, both of which are serviceable. The device has a 128GB internal storage capacity and that can be doubled with a microSD card. To round things out, there's a 5,000mAh battery for great battery life.

This budget Android phone costs well below $100, but it leaves out CDMA support — restricting buyers to AT&T, T-Mobile, and MNVOs. It leaves Verizon out, but overall, the NUU N10 is still a surprisingly capable option, as we found in hands-on testing with the smartphone.

Best international

The Xiaomi Redmi A5 4G might look like a phone from a few years ago, but it actually launched in March 2025. This means you get the most recent version of Android, Android 15 Go Edition, along with the promise of two more OS upgrades. The Redmi A5 comes in just under $100 and is available in four finishes. Since it did not officially launch in the U.S., carrier support is limited to just T-Mobile, Mint, and Tello.

If you have a compatible SIM card, the Redmi A5 is a good budget choice thanks to its relatively slim and lightweight design. The display only has an HD resolution, but you get a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is powered by a Unisoc T7250 SoC, which isn't the best even when compared to MediaTek's G series, but it should get the job done with basic smartphone tasks. There's 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, but the latter can be expanded thanks to the dedicated microSD card slot.

Finally, the Redmi A5 features just a single rear camera, which is pretty basic. There is, however, a large 5,200mAh battery inside and support for 15W fast charging. This is one of the few phones with a headphone jack if you're into wired audio, and there's built-in FM radio too.

Best budget

Exquisite design isn't something you see on Android phones in this price range, and while 'exquisite' isn't exactly the word we'd use to describe the BLU G33, it certainly stands out from the rest of the phones on this list. The eye-catching textured design on the back is bold and attractive, as are the color options.

Joining that design is a well-rounded set of specifications, including a 6.26-inch LCD display, a dual-lens rear camera setup with a 5MP unit and a 0.3MP module, a side-mounted fingerprint reader integrated into the power button, upgradable storage, and even face unlock for further security.

The chipset features an octa-core ARM Cortex A55 setup, but the 2GB/16GB option is very poor for RAM and internal storage. It's got some of the worst battery life on this list though, as the 3,000mAh battery probably won't last more than a day. You do get some consolation in the form of the USB-C charging port.

In addition to the phone itself, BLU gives you all of the accessories you could possibly need, right in the box. These include a screen protector, a silicone case, a charger and cable, and even a BLU sticker for you to place wherever you want. All in all, the water-resistant BLU G33 is a great budget phone for well below $100.

Best dumb phone

In case you aren't familiar with the term, dumb phones are essentially just super simple devices that lack all of the bells and whistles found in modern smartphones. There are typically no apps, no touchscreen, and no high-tech camera software; just try to picture the phone you used in 2006. Durable, cheap, and long-lasting, these devices have been witnessing a resurgence in popularity among users who are trying to disconnect from being constantly online. Others might want a dumb phone for privacy reasons or to improve their work/life balance. No matter the reason, the Cat S22 Flip is still among the best dumb phones with Android that costs less than $100, even if the company behind it probably won't be making any more devices.

Now, if you want to get technical, it’s worth noting that the Cat S22 Flip cannot really be called a true dumb phone since it runs Android 11 (Go Edition). If you’re willing to ignore the semantics, it's a great phone powered by the quad-core Snapdragon 215 chipset. You can download simple apps like Facebook and YouTube, the phone has a 2.8-inch touchscreen and a 1.44-inch outer secondary display, and the whole thing is military-grade tough, offering resistance to water, dust and insane temperatures.

The Cat S22 Flip comes with up to 12 hours of battery life, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, USB-C charging, a programmable button, a 5MP primary camera, a 2MP selfie lens, and a microSD card slot for expandable storage.

Best Verizon

While the TCL 30 Z isn't as fancy of a phone as the company's newer TCL 40 XL, it's a solid option in the sub-$100 bracket, despite being a little old at this point. There's something to be said about simplicity, and even though the TCL 30 Z is simple, it still has all the basics of a cheerfully cheap smartphone to keep you satisfied.

Running Android 12 out of the box, the TCL 30 Z has a MediaTek Helio A22 SoC, and pleasantly, 3GB of RAM. You get 32GB of storage onboard and it can be increased up to a whopping 512GB via a microSD card. The smartphone's 6.1-inch HD+ LCD panel is dwarfed by a thick forehead and chin, but it still looks nice and crisp.

There are dual cameras — an 8MP rear sensor and a 5MP front-facing lens. They get the job done, but obviously won't come anywhere close to the best Android camera phones out there. Thankfully, you can expect excellent battery life, even with the small 3,000mAh battery of the phone. Although the microUSB port is a letdown, but at least you get Verizon support, which is hard to come by in this price range.

Best upgrade

At first glance, it hard to believe that the UMIDIGI G9T costs around $100. The sleek design and pleasing summer shades of blue and green makes it look very upmarket. The G9T comes with a decent set of features, the most important ones being Android 14, a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging, a 90Hz display, and a slim and light design.

The phone is powered by a UNISOC T606 octa-core SoC which should be enough for casual app usage. There's 4GB of RAM which can be extended up to another 4GB (virtual RAM that uses part of the storage). Thankfully, you get 128GB of storage which is also expandable via the hybrid SIM slot. The G9T weighs just 189g and is 7.9mm slim, which makes it easy to carry around. The display is massive at 6.75 inches, which wouldn't have been an issue had the resolution been more than HD+. This means text and icons aren't going to look the sharpest but video playback should be good enough.

The other area where you'll have to compromise on is the cameras. Even though it looks like there are two rear sensors, only the main 13MP camera is actually usable for photos. The second one is just a depth sensor. An ultrawide would be nice to have but the quality would have been quite terrible so I don't think it's a huge loss. There's an 8MP camera in the front for selfies.

The UMIDIGI G9T has a fingerprint sensor for safer biometrics, and you get features like FM radio, support for multiple satellite navigation systems like Beidou and Glonass, a headphone jack, and Wi-Fi ac.

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How to choose

There are many junk Android phones that you can buy in this $100 price range, but there are also many great ones, as seen above. Overall, the NUU N10 stands out as the best cheap Android phone that we've managed to find under the $100 price point. When it comes to buying cheap phones, you want to get as many features as possible. Even then, the NUU N10 gives you bang for your buck, complete with a clean Android 14 experience and Gemini AI support.

For Verizon support in the U.S. however, the TCL 30 Z remains our top pick. It costs way less than $100 and comes with a number of decent features including a great screen, plenty of storage, decent performance, expandable storage, and face unlock. The one caveat here is the dated micro-USB port, but it's probably not a big deal at this price point. We also suggest the UMIDIGI G9T, which offers decent specs, a big battery, and even Android 14, all for less than $100.

If none of these phones tickle your fancy and you're willing to stretch your budget a little, we've also gathered the best Android phones under $200 that you can take a look at.

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What you need to know

• TCL is releasing an AI-generated movie called Next Stop Paris, and a trailer just dropped for it on YouTube. 
• The short film features an original script and human voice actors, but uses generative artificial intelligence for animation. 
• Next Stop Paris will appear on TCLtv+, the free streaming service offered by TCL, and is the company's first foray into original content. 

TCL, the company we know for budget Android TVs and cheap Android smartphones, is now diving into original content creation. Its new content will appear on its free streaming service, TCLtv+, and there will be one short movie to start. However, these aren't just any movies: the newly-created TCLtv+ Studios will be making animated films using generative artificial intelligence. 

Generative AI has been used in a number of mainstream applications, including text generation, image generation, and even custom animations. However, the technology is still maturing, and AI hasn't been used by a major company for full-length video animation just yet. That changes with Next Stop Paris, which TCL calls an "AI-generated special." It's a short romance film written by human writers and voice actors, with contributions from human artists as well. However, the bulk of the animation is handled by artificial intelligence.

TCL hasn't made any major breakthroughs in generative AI animation if the Next Stop Paris trailer is any indication. It looks as if the company used an AI image generator to create stills and then added some motion to them. It's very apparent that the trailer was made with artificial intelligence, as you can see abnormalities, especially in the characters' faces. The voice track doesn't seem to line up perfectly with moving lips either, creating a viewing experience that can only be described as awkward. 

You can see for yourself what TCL's animated romance movie will look like from the YouTube trailer: 

Again, it isn't as bad as past examples of AI animation have been — you might recall the viral videos of Will Smith eating spaghetti — but it certainly isn't good either. People at the helm of TCL want to push boundaries with this AI-generated film and see whether viewers enjoy it. While it isn't explicitly stated, there are obvious cost benefits to TCL making original content that leverages AI rather than using human animators or a live-action format. 

"Story will be at the heart of everything we do," says Chris Regina, chief content officer of TCL. "We are empowering creators and storytellers to use this new technology so the human experience is enriched, and we believe that Creatives with limitless imagination will drive endless innovation. We view 'Next Stop Paris' as an early experiment and we're excited to see how it's received in the town square."

TCL says that Next Stop Paris will be released this summer, both online and through the TCLtv+ app.

What you need to know

• TCL is gearing up to launch seven new "50 Series" smartphones, and five of those models are coming to North America.
• The phones were revealed first at CES 2024 earlier this year, with the TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G, TCL 50 XL 5G, TCL 50 XE NXTPAPER 5G, TCL 50 XE 5G, and TCL 50 LE all confirmed for a U.S. launch.
• Though TCL shared more details about the devices at MWC Barcelona, the phones won't be available in North America until Q2 and Q3 2024. 

TCL revealed its 50 Series lineup of next-generation smartphones at CES 2024 last month, which includes seven new models. Of those phones, two of them use TCL's NXTPAPER display technology, and five of them are confirmed for North American releases. While pricing and availability details weren't originally shared, TCL provided more information about the 50 Series at MWC Barcelona today. 

TCL's NXTPAPER displays are aimed at making screens easier on the eyes by reducing blue light. NXTPAPER 3.0 screens block 61% of blue light, per TCL, and in an effort to look paper-like, use Circularly Polarized Light technology. The displays each ship with three modes: blue-light filtering, low-contrast color, and black-and-white.

The phones using NXTPAPER displays, the TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G and TCL 50 XE NXTPAPER 5G, are coming to North America. However, there are three non-NXTPAPER phones that will be available in the region as well: the TCL 50 XL 5G, TCL 50 XE 5G, and TCL 50 LE. 

With that said, buyers anxiously awaiting the phones' release will need to wait a bit longer.

TCL is making the TCL 50 XL 5G available with and without a NXTPAPER display. Both phones will be available in North America, but the non-NXTPAPER phone will be cheaper. However, both the TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G and the TCL 50 XL 5G include 6.8-inch displays supporting 120Hz refresh rates. 

Generally, the two 6.8-inch smartphones appear to be identical aside from their display technologies. They're powered by the MediaTek 23E+ chipset and include a triple-camera system headlined by a 50MP main sensor. 

The TCL 50 XE 5G will also be available in two variants as well, one with NXTPAPER and one without. These phones have a 6.6-inch display supporting 90Hz refresh rates and sporting a hole-punch, front-facing camera. They're powered by the MediaTek 6835 23E+ chipset. On the back, there's a dual-camera system with a 50MP main camera and a 5MP ultrawide. 

TCL didn't share as many details about the TCL 50 LE 5G, but it's a budget-oriented device. The company is targeting a price point of around $100 for this phone, which will have a 6.6-inch display. Though TCL did not specify availability details for the TCL 50 LE 5G today, it confirmed this phone would come to the U.S. back at CES 2024.

As for the others, TCL says that TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G will be priced at under $229, and the TCL 50 XL 5G will cost less than $169. The standard version will be available in North America at Metro by T-Mobile starting in the second quarter of this year. At the same time, the NXTPAPER variant will be available in the third quarter from TCL's website. 

The TCL 50 XE NXTPAPER 5G will retail for under $199, while the standard TCL 50 XE 5G will be priced at under $149. Both smartphones will be available starting in the third quarter of this year.

TCL says that the other two 50 Series phones, the TCL 50 5G and the TCL 50 SE, could "potentially hit more markets." That leaves the door open for a North American release, but nothing is confirmed yet. 

Getting a new TV is a pretty big purchase, but it doesn't have to be. Cyber Monday is here to save your wallet with some pretty enticing deals on smart TVs of all types and sizes. I'm not really one to spend too much money on a television, which is what makes this Cyber Monday TCL deal pretty appealing.

This already affordable TV normally retails for $449, so imagine my surprise to see it hit the ultra-low price point of $299. You're saving $150 on a TV that should probably cost so much more than it already does, considering the specs and features.

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So what do you get for $300? You get a 55-inch 4K QLED television with Google TV built-in. If you're not familiar with Google TV, it's probably the smartest your smart TV will ever get. It has plenty of AI, so it's good at recommending content based on the things you like or have already watched. It also has Google Assistant built-in, meaning you can just command your TV to play something, and chances are it'll pop up.

Beyond that, it's got support for multiple HDR formats and Motion Rate 240, which helps smooth out the motion of your content to enhance the 60Hz refresh rate. Sure, it's not native 120Hz, but there are plenty of 60Hz TVs with decent or even great video quality, and based on the reviews, this is one of them.

Heck, this thing is so affordable, it's a shame it's too big to be a sticking stuffer. However, if you're looking for something that might fit a stocking and will give your older TV new life, you can always go for a Chromecast with Google TV dongle, which is also on sale right now for $37 if you go for the 4K version. Meanwhile, the newer Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is even cheaper at just $20 for Cyber Monday.

While you're at it, be sure to check out some other last-minute Cyber Monday deals while there's still time! Who knows how long many of these deals are gonna last?

What you need to know

• The TCL 40 NXTPAPER and 40 NXTPAPER 5G have been officially unveiled during a virtual event. 
• These are the first phones to feature TCL's NXTPAPER technology, aiming to offer a "paper-like visual experience."
• Both of these phones will be available in Europe first, before coming to more regions "later this year."

In a world dominated by OLED and LCD phone panels, TCL has been looking to buck the trend of harmful screens. The company first unveiled its NXTPAPER display back in 2021, and now TCL is announcing its first smartphones that take advantage of this technology.

As a quick refresher, NXTPAPER is an IPS display that does not include a built-in backlight. This worked well for the various tablets that TCL has released, but the company is taking a different approach. Instead, you'll be able to toggle between "color" and "monochrome" modes, which will give you an experience similar to what's found on the best E Ink tablets. This is said to reduce eye strain while also being "certified by TÜV for low harmful blue light."

Until now, TCL's NXTPAPER displays have only been found on various tablets and a few laptops. But now, TCL is branching out into the smartphone world with the TCL 40 NXTPAPER and 40 NXTPAPER 5G.

The former features a 6.78-inch screen with an FHD+ resolution and is even compatible with TCL's T-pen if you want to jot down notes. Powering the phone is MediaTek's Helio G88 which is paired with 8GB of RAM along with 256GB of expandable storage via the microSD card slot. 

As for cameras, the 40 NXTPAPER features a 32MP fixed-focus selfie lens, nestled in the hole-punch cutout on the front. On the back, you'll find a trio of camera sensors, headlined by the 50MP wide-angle main camera. This is accompanied by a 5MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro sensor. 

Moving onto the 40 NXTPAPER 5G, this makes use of a 6.6-inch v-notch NXTPAPER screen, with an HD+ resolution. The MediaTek Dimensity 6020is at the helm, paired with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while also being equipped with a microSD card slot.

Hidden in the v-notch on the front is a rather pedestrian 8MP fixed-focus selfie camera, capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps. Moving to the back, we again have a triple-lens setup headlined by a 50MP wide-angle camera. However, the 2MP depth sensor and 2MP macro camera will probably leave a bit to be desired.

According to TCL, both of these models will first go on sale in Europe with the 40 NXTPAPER priced at €199 and the 40 NXTPAPER 5G coming in at €249. The former will be available in September with the latter slated to arrive sometime in October before models come to "more countries globally this year."

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What you need to know

• TCL has announced four new phones, two new tablets, and more at MWC 2023.
• Of the devices announced, all of them are directed at the budget market for the respective categories. 
• TCL also announced its NXTPAPER 2.0 technology which will first arrive on the NXTPAPER 11 tablet. 

Over the past few months, TCL has been making waves in the industry following the announcement of a new partnership with the NFL. At CES 2023, the TCL 40 series was introduced, and now at MWC 2023, we are getting even more options that fall within the company's 2023 lineup. 

New TCL 40 series phones

If you've been paying attention to the devices that TCL has been releasing over the last year or two, it's pretty obvious where the company's focus lies. Its trend of focusing specifically on ranking amongst the best cheap Android phones continues at MWC 2023, as the most expensive model, the TCL 40 X 5G, is priced at just $199. 

For that price tag, you'll get a 6.56-inch HD+ NXTVISION display, complete with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 5,000mAh battery. Powering the TCL 40 X 5G is MediaTek's Dimensity 700 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. And in addition to the 90Hz refresh rate, you might be intrigued by the 50MP main camera headlining the triple rear camera setup. 

Dropping down a step is the all-new TCL 40 XE 5G, which is practically identical to the TCL 40 X 5G. This includes a 6.56-inch HD+ display, Dimensity 700, and there's even a triple camera setup on the back. However, this is where TCL trimmed the budget, as the 40 XE 5G uses a 13MP lens as opposed to the 50MP main lens. With this, the pricing is even more affordable, coming in with a retail price of $169.

From there, the TCL 40 XL is the company's biggest phone announced at MWC 2023 with a 6.75-inch HD+ display. However, it shares much of the same DNA as the rest of the options in the 40 series, even down to using a 50MP main lens as part of a triple camera array. The big difference with the 40 XL is the processor, as it's powered by the MediaTek Helio G37 paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Pricing for the TCL 40 XL is expected to start at $149. 

Rounding out the pack of new phones coming soon to a storefront near you is the TCL 406. This is being touted as the company's "most affordable Android 13 4G smartphone." It's primarily aimed at the prepaid market but sports a 6.6-inch HD+ display, along with a dual camera setup. Like every other phone announced by TCL, the 406 will last for a couple of days thanks to its 5,000mAh battery. If you're looking for a cheap Android phone running Android 13, the TCL 406 will set you back less than $120. 

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More budget-friendly tablets are on the way

In addition to the four new budget-friendly phones, TCL also announced two new tablets. The first of which is the TCL Tab 11, which is coming sometime in May 2023 with an asking price of $179 for the Wi-Fi model or $209 if you want LTE. The Tab 11 features a 10.95-inch IPS LCD display with a 200 x 1200 resolution. 

Under the hood, you'll find MediaTek's Helio P60T at the helm, paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. And in order to make sure the tablet can keep up with you for as long as you need it to, the Tab 11 packs an 8,000mAh battery. You'll also enjoy a quad-speaker setup, making the Tab 11 an excellent option if you want to play some games or watch a movie.

Arguably the star of the show from TCL's announcement is the all-new TCL NXTPAPER 11. It shares all of the same specs as the Tab 11, but instead of using a nondescript IPS LCD panel, it uses TCL's NXTPAPER 2.0 display technology.

According to TCL, NXTPAPER 2.0 is capable of reaching up to 500 nits of brightness, which is 150% more than the original iteration. Additionally, the display has been TÜV Rheinland-certified to help keep your eyes protected from blue light emissions. 

Both the TCL Tab 11 and NXTPAPER 11 are slated to take on the best cheap Android tablets when they launch sometime in May 2023. The Tab 11 will be priced at $179, while the NXTPAPER 11 will start at $249. 

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What you need to know

• TCL has launched a new budget Android phone, the Ion X.
• The device is powered by a MediaTek chipset and has a removable 3,000mAh battery.
• The TCL Ion X is available to purchase through Metro by T-Mobile starting January 26.

One of the "features" smartphone users often say they miss is the removable battery. It's increasingly rare to find one on a smartphone, but TCL's latest entry brings it back for the masses.

The new TCL Ion X is a budget Android smartphone headed to Metro by T-Mobile. While its specs aren't anything to run home about, the headlining feature is the removable 3,000mAh battery. It may not sound like a particularly large battery, especially when compared to many of the best cheap Android phones, but the ability to swap it out can come in handy.

Given the tendency for batteries to degrade over time, this could be a helpful feature that may keep your phone running, and could also be helpful in case you aren't around a charger and have a spare with you. This was one of my favorite aspects of the rather flawed LG G5 during a time when removable batteries were being pushed out in favor of water resistance. It's also a notable feature on the more recent Fairphone 4.

Additionally, TCL has features like Smart Manager to help users monitor their battery's health.

Aside from the removable battery, the TCL Ion X has pretty meager specs. It's powered by a MediaTek Helio G25 coupled with 3GB of RAM, has a 6-inch HD+ display, a 13MP camera, and 32GB of expandable storage. The phone runs android 12 out of the box, and there is no 5G. However, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack for those of you that still like to jack in to listen to your tunes.

Despite the fairly large top and bottom bezels, it's not a terrible-looking phone. Its textured back is also a nice touch. That said, there's no doubt from its looks that it's a budget phone.

The TCL Iox X is available at Metro by T-Mobile for a rather affordable $119. If you can get past its shortcomings, this may be a decent option for anyone longing for the nostalgic convenience of swapping your battery out.

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What you need to know

• TCL took to CES 2023 to launch its 40 Series smartphones.
• The company has also launched its latest tablets with 5G and detachable keyboards.
• The new smartphones are available in Asia and Europe, with the Tab 8 LE coming to the U.S. in January.

TCL isn't exactly a household name when it comes to the smartphone market, but the company has a growing presence in the U.S. with its budget smartphones. At CES 2023, TCL took the stage to unveil its latest 40 Series smartphones and new mid-range and budget tablets.

TCL 40 Series phones

The TCL 40 series comes with a few models, with the TCL 40 5G sitting at the top. Interestingly, this is something of a relaunch/rebrand of the TCL 40R. The device sports a 6.6-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. On the back is a 50MP triple-camera setup, and powering the phone is a MediaTek Dimensity 700.

The TCL 40 SE and 408 are pretty similar, both lacking 5G and sporting 50MP cameras and dual stereo speakers. The SE has a 6.75-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Underneath is a MediaTek Helio G37 with up to 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 5,010mAh battery supports 18W charging, and the phone runs Android 13 out of the box.

The TCL 408 has a 6.6-inch HD+ display and 50MP dual camera setup. It's powered by a MediaTek chip with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Each of TCL's new phones comes with the company's NXTVISION display technology for enhanced color.

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The TCL 40 R 5G is available now in Asia and Europe for $219, while the 40 SE and 408 are coming in Q1 for $169 and $129, respectively.

TCL tablets

Beyond budget smartphones, TCL also has more tablets on the way, with the NXTPAPER 12 Pro looking to undercut some of the best Android tablets. It comes with a 12.2-inch 2K display, runs Android 12, and is powered by a MediaTek chipset. Furthermore, there's 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an 8,000mAh battery.

The NXTPAPER 12 Pro comes in Wi-Fi and 5G variants with a stylus E-Pen in the box. Buyers can also opt for a detachable keyboard for added productivity.

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Lastly, TCL is introducing the Tab 8 LE, a budget option with an 8-inch HD display, 5MP cameras, 32GB of internal storage, and LTE connectivity.

The NXTPAPER 12 Pro is available now for $499, with the 5G version coming later this year for $549. The TCL Tab 8 LE is coming to the U.S. in January for $159.

Soundbars have come a long way in the last few years, offering excellent sound while taking up less space and costing far less. They've only been getting better at delivering fuller sound in thinner and smaller sizes, only making them more impressive additions to a home theater. Our criteria for the best soundbars start with: bars that won't bankrupt you, come with the best streaming devices or smart assistants built-in, and may sometimes come with subwoofers and rears, though won't always need them.

The Samsung HW-Q990C will blow you away with its massive sound as a complete system you can expand on, though it will come at a premium price. The good news is soundbars come at a variety of prices and feature sets, giving you great options to consider.

At a glance

Turn up the volume with the best soundbars

Best overall

The Samsung HW-Q990C pulls out all the stops to deliver one of the most immersive Dolby Atmos sound experiences you’ll find anywhere. It already borders on being ridiculous (in a good way) with 11.1.4 channels when combining the soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers together — all of which come in the same box. If you want Dolby Atmos with real punch and effect for movies and music, your ears won’t be disappointed.

Samsung’s Q Symphony technology also plays an active role in that it allows the company’s compatible TVs to communicate with the HW-Q990C wired or wirelessly to blend together speakers from both for even more enveloping sound. It’s easy to set up however you want the system to work, and is ideal for medium-sized or larger rooms. You can also rely on stable wireless connections between the different components to keep sound flowing without hiccups or incidents.

You’ll have to pay a pretty penny to put all this in your home, as is, and may have to consider a different option if you have immersive gaming on your mind. The big hurdle is the lack of 4K 120Hz passthrough via HDMI, which is a downside if you’re a serious console or PC gamer, but otherwise shouldn’t be a problem for other content. It benefits more in playing movies and shows over music, but you can still hear Dolby Atmos tracks from the right sources.

Best smarts

The best Sonos speakers were limited to portable Bluetooth speakers paired to your phone; now, you can get them all over the house. Sonos has become a household name for TV audio after diving into the soundbar industry, with the Sonos Arc coming in as its flagship model. It offers the homeowner eight woofers, three tweeters, and a total of 11 amplifiers for incredible, immersive sound. This is paired with a far-field microphone to work alongside your voice assistant of choice.

The Arc requires only two cables to plug in before being ready to experience this soundbar's greatness, which is incredible if you don't want a complicated setup. As for connections, the Playbar offers one Ethernet port, an HDMI ARC port (with included cable), and an Optical Audio port. Plus, as part of the Sonos family, you can connect the Arc to other Sonos speakers for a surround-sound experience.

It's a fantastic option, and we had almost nothing but praise for it in our Sonos Arc review — mainly whenever it plays Dolby Atmos content, which sounds particularly incredible from a soundbar without rear speakers. But the Arc isn't without a couple of downfalls that may have you looking elsewhere. First is the size and weight: it measures more than 13 pounds and is 45 inches wide, so you'll need to have plenty of space and heavy-duty wall anchors. The other pitfall is that there is no subwoofer included, so you may not get as much "punch" during your movies as you might want.

Best splurge

The “Plus” in this Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar is notable because it lies in the middle of the company’s lineup of high-end models. While it may be smaller than the Ambeo Max, it hits many of the right notes as an alternative, especially when it comes to the outstanding audio quality and Dolby Atmos support. Not only that but DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio are also in the mix here, covering a lot of ground when it comes to spatial audio content.

It can’t make up for the lack of rear speakers for surround sound but can prove surprisingly good at making you feel like the virtual effect works. But it’s the dynamic sound coming out of its relatively compact body that may be the bigger surprise. This soundbar isn’t for quiet rooms and is only worth getting if you want a booming home theater situation without committing to rears for a true surround effect.

You can add the Ambeo Sub to really take the bass to another level, but that will cost you extra, ballooning an already pricey proposition. You do get what you pay for, though, what with the Soundbar Plus’ integrations and port options, along with solid support from Sennheiser’s Smart Control app.

Best balance

Bose has been in the sound game for a long time, but its home theater audio options used to be priced out of many potential owners' budgets. Those times have changed, and the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar carries on in the same vein as the previous Smart Soundbar 900. Priced to compete directly with the Sonos Beam, it has the premium Bose features we're used to from its more expensive models.

On its own merits, the Smart Ultra Soundbar has four full-range drivers and a central tweeter for compact, distortion-free sound. It also has a mic for built-in Alexa, which you can use to control your TV. If you want to go bigger on sound, there's also a port to connect a Bose subwoofer. Plus, it has several connectivity options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bose SimpleSync to use select Bose headphones for private listening.

For dedicated Bose fans, you can pair your Smart Ultra to other Bose Bluetooth speakers or buy a Bose Bass Module or Surround Speakers to build a total home theater system. These can add up in price, but it's great the Smart Ultra Soundbar maintains the same modular audio experience its predecessor does — if you can afford to augment it.

Best spatial audio

It’s not often you see a modular soundbar that literally comes apart at the seams with two extra speaker satellites you can set up as rears that wirelessly communicate with the main bar for a surround sound setup. They can last you a good 10 hours before you need to recharge them again, which only requires you to slide them back into their respective spots on the sides. You can also use them as Bluetooth speakers, either separately or together as a stereo pair, adding a nice perk to this unique setup.

For a home theater situation, you get an 11.1.4 system with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, plus a subwoofer you can place anywhere you want to add some rumble to the whole experience. The JBL One app can be super helpful in figuring out the best way to set everything up based on the room you’re in, especially for where to place the rear speakers. Once you’re good to go, the Bar 1300X will delight you when making you feel whatever movie you’re watching in Dolby Atmos. Spatial audio for music may give you the same feeling when you want something immersive for tunes supporting it.

You won’t get Google Assistant or Alexa (at least not in full) with this system, but you do get AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and a slew of features that feel integrative. It doesn’t come cheap to bring this into your home, but you may be set for years if you do.

Best mid-range

Best mid-size

With the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), you get the best soundbar with basic smarts. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) connects to your TV with HDMI-ARC or with the included HDMI-to-Optical adapter. A recent update has brought the ability to integrate Sonos products and Google Assistant. You can control your TV with your voice if your TV supports HDMI-CEC, which most modern sets do. Controlling your TV with your voice isn't a replacement for a remote, but it's an excellent option.

Sonos' ecosystem is attractive because it's easy to add more speakers to create a surround system. And as for connections, you'll get a single HDMI port, a single Ethernet port, and the standard AC power input. So you can start with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and have a great soundbar. Then, a few months later, you can pick up a couple of Sonos One speakers to add more channels. Or, you can buy a Sonos 5.1 kit with everything you need and create one of the best soundbar systems you can find.

However, if you want to experience better "lows" in your movies and video games, you'll want to pick up a subwoofer after the fact. This adds more of a punch to intense scenes and helps to immerse you in whatever you're watching or playing. Until then, the Beam creates a wide soundstage with an effective low-end sound all on its own, as we discovered during our Sonos Beam review.

Best small size

Polk is another one of those companies that prides itself on providing great audio experiences throughout your home. The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is no different and has a few tricks up its sleeves that other soundbars can't compete with. Kicking everything off, the MagniFi Mini AX sports a single ARC-compatible HDMI, along with a standard optical port for your television and an auxiliary cable.

Smart home integration is on board, with Google Assistant built right-in, and you'll have the added benefit of a built-in Chromecast (keep in mind this only lets you stream music over Wi-Fi, not stream video). The MagniFi Mini AX also includes a wireless subwoofer so that you can get that extra bass from your media without the need for any additional wires.

While controlling your TV and soundbar with a single remote is nifty, we would have liked to see a more robust remote from Polk. The included remote gives you basic controls without any shortcuts to Netflix or another streaming app. Those who want to have multiple devices connected directly to the MagniFi Mini AX will be disappointed as there's just a single HDMI port on this soundbar.

Best value

Give Yamaha credit; it finds ways to pack a lot into something that comes at a more agreeable price. If the Sonos Beam is too rich for you, the SR-B30A is a solid alternative that can also save you a few dollars, especially considering the Dolby Atmos support. At this price, that’s not always a guarantee for any soundbar, but here, you have connectivity that matters, including an HDMI eARC port and Bluetooth for wireless audio playback.

Impressive sound will help you feel like you have a bargain for the experience every time you watch a movie or play a game. You won’t get a subwoofer with this soundbar, though you have an option with the SR-B40A, but bear in mind that both soundbars sound the same otherwise. The sub will add the kind of depth you can’t get from the bar alone.

Yamaha’s Sound Bar Remote app offers an easy way to control and update the SR-B30A’s firmware but isn’t going to be quite as deep in granular features. It’s more about switching between the existing settings rather than setting up your own.

Best integration

A few different streaming box options are available now, including the Chromecast with Google TV, our favorite of all the best Android TV boxes. Whether you prefer Chromecasts, Fire Sticks, or Rokus, however, you'll end up using two HDMI ports for your streaming box and soundbar — one too many if you have a lot of gaming consoles, cable boxes, or Blu-Ray players to connect as well.

If this is you, the Roku Streambar Pro is the all-in-one soundbar solution you've been looking for. Connect it to an HDMI ARC-compatible port on your 4K TV, and you'll be able to enjoy 4K HDR content and upgraded audio thanks to its four 2.5-inch full-range drivers plus the streaming capabilities of a Roku Streaming Stick+. It's compact enough to easily slide under any TV, with side-firing drivers to fill a room with decent sound. You can also invest in a subwoofer and wireless speakers to upgrade to true surround sound.

And when it comes to smart home compatibility, the Streambar Pro checks off all of the boxes. It's compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and even Apple's Siri with AirPlay 2 support. With this in tow, you'll be able to control Roku's impressive soundbar with the best Android phones, regardless of your smart home ecosystem.

Best for gaming

Razer proves its pedigree for gaming products every time out, and the Leviathan V2 Pro is easily the most ambitious attempt at a soundbar for the brand. The main reason is the AI-based features, like head-tracking that works via built-in cameras to deliver virtual surround sound that actually works as advertised. The THX Spatial Audio feature set includes different modes to bring out the sounds of every game you play depending on what kind of effect you want most.

Don’t let the size fool you, either. The Leviathan V2 Pro may be smaller than your average soundbar, but it holds real power, pumping out sound easily capable of filling a room, much less a gaming setup in a smaller space. Slick RGB lighting with 30 different zones adds some real flair across the bar, which you can control yourself to fit the kind of look or mood you have in mind.

You don’t have an HDMI port to work with, so using it with a TV comes with compromises, much like how there’s a headphone jack, but no microphone one. Despite the limitations, Razer threw a lot into this soundbar as an effective alternative to your standard fare.

Best budget

TCL’s S Class soundbars come in a few different configurations, and the S55H is the 2.1-channel setup you can get all in one package. The soundbar is a reasonable size to make it fit a wide variety of TV setups or rooms. So long as you have some space for the included subwoofer, you can some real 'boom' to a smaller room where space may be limited. The S Class don’t have the same room calibration features available in the Q Class, but it’s a worthy price to pay if you want to stay within a tighter budget.

You can expect 220W of power, so the S55H system can get loud when you want it to be, though you may find clarity suffers a little when you really crank it up. Take advantage of the Dolby Atmos support, plus DTS Virtual:X to offer something akin to a bigger surround sound system.

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The best soundbars come in small packages

Soundbars come in all shapes and sizes. Larger soundbars have more room for bigger drivers and built-in subwoofers but can get expensive for what they offer. Smaller soundbars may not have the same punch, but they often do a better job of side-firing audio that spreads rich sound across an entire room. You can't go wrong either way, but the powerful Samsung HW-Q990C brings it in so many ways that will make you feel like your home theater has been transformed.

It's our pick for the best soundbar for several reasons, not least of which is the superb audio quality and immersive surround sound experience, but also the connectivity options and the ability to integrate or expand the system further. That is a theme with a bunch of options on this, especially those from Sonos or JBL, and you have choices within different budget constraints to consider.

Dolby Atmos gets strong support across the list, though you may have to think about what kind of setup you want, which explains why some of the selections here come with subs and rears, whereas others don't. Whatever you choose to do within your own limits, your ears will probably appreciate everything they hear.

How to choose

Soundbars come in a variety of models for good reason. Sound can come cheaper or at a premium, depending on what you're looking for and what fits your budget. As TVs continue to get bigger — and thinner — their speakers actually get worse. Built-in sound quality has been the biggest casualty in the era of flatscreen TVs with newer screen technologies.

To make the right choice, you have to consider a few key variables. What room do you plan to put it in? Do you know what ports and connections you want, as well as which ones your TV offers? Do you want it for watching movies, sports, or gaming? Are you looking for ancillary features, like Bluetooth audio streaming, Chromecast, AirPlay, or support for wireless headphones?

To make things easier, you ideally want a soundbar with an HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) port, which means it acts as both an input and output. It's a far more common port than it used to be, but if your TV is old, you may find it's not available on that end. The advantage of the port is that it routes all audio to the soundbar, regardless of what component it's coming from through the TV, be it a streaming box, game console, or Chromecast.

You may also come across soundbars that are modular, meaning you can add a subwoofer or rear speakers for a surround sound experience. With Dolby Atmos support, you can take that to another level by feeling the audible sensation of a helicopter flying overhead or police siren from behind.

No matter which way you go, a soundbar is an upgrade over a TV's own speakers. Now that they come in different forms and price points, you have great odds of finding one that fits your own home entertainment vision.

Upgrade your TV this fine Prime Day by taking advantage of TCL's sales on smart TVs. You can grab the excellent Class 4-Series 4K Smart Google TV with Google Assistant built-in for just $229. You get big value for a very small investment. Having Google TV natively eliminates the need to add an Android TV stick or set-top box. If you want something smaller, the last-gen Class 3-Series Android TV from TCL is also on sale at a whopping 30% off.

Save up to 35% off on TCL Smart TVs

Not everyone has the budget for a baller smart TV from brands like Samsung. However, TCL proves that you can get an excellent smart TV without going bankrupt. Sure, the smaller TCL Class 3-Series Android TV only offers a 720p resolution, but it's also filthy cheap and you get Google's TV OS built-in.

Even if you can't live without better resolution, the affordable TCL 43" Class 4-Series Google TV (2022) is there to save the day — and your wallet. This beautiful slab of glass sports slim bezels and runs Chrome OS out of the box. You get the same ease of use as Android TV, with features like Google Assistant integration.

With Google TV, you get the added advantage of live-streaming capabilities from sources like NBC and ABC. Regardless of which TCL smart TV you opt for, you still get a convenient, cost-effective, and well-equipped smart TV that has all the necessary ports and parts needed for connectivity.

Update 7/1/22: TCL issued a statement that it's aware of a software bug that prevented some apps and games from running on the TCL Stylus 5G and will be issuing an update to fix the problem. We will update this review again once that update is live and we're able to test the possible resolution.

It has become increasingly clear that 2022 is the year budget Android phones got good again. TCL is once again leading the pack with the TCL Stylus 5G, a new phone concept from the fledgling brand that will appeal to Galaxy Note lovers on a tight budget. As the namesake implies, it's got a stylus built right into the body, which is designed to make handwritten notes a simple task.

At just $258, the TCL Stylus 5G is among the very best budget phone options available. At the moment, only the OnePlus Nord N20 5G gives it a run for its money, especially since both phones are only available at T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile as of the publishing of this review.

To top it off, TCL has finally launched its Android 12 update along with the TCL Stylus 5G, including its new TCL UI 4.0. This UI is a completely refreshed experience that looks a bit like a mash-up of the Google Pixel UI, iOS's Control Center, and the Google Home app. It's a great collection of ideas that, together, create a superb experience and one very much worth your time and money. It's just a shame the stylus included with the phone isn't an active stylus, as it makes that component of the experience very difficult to recommend.

Price and Availability

The TCL Stylus 5G made its retail debut at T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile stores on June 2, 2022 for $258. The phone will make an appearance on other U.S. carriers later this year.

TCL sells one model of the TCL Stylus 5G, which includes 128GB of storage and support for microSD cards up to 2Tb in size. The TCL Stylus 5G ships in a rather business-like Lunar Black colorway with no additional color options.

The TCL Stylus 5G is the first TCL phone to ship with Android 12 out of the box. This includes the newly redesigned TCL UI 4.0 experience.

What I loved

On the surface, the TCL Stylus 5G doesn't seem particularly special. Its polycarbonate unibody frame's most unique identifier is the ribbing that runs around all sides of the phone — a motif that's carried on to the stylus itself — and reminds me of the Galaxy Note 3 in a lot of ways.

While a stylus at this price point isn't unheard of, this design and build quality of the one in the TCL Stylus 5G is above and beyond what I expected. There's even a nice magnetic click that happens as you press the stylus back into the body, making the phone feel well-thought-out.

Along the right side is a power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor. Side-mounted fingerprint sensors remain my favorite type of fingerprint sensor and are incredibly convenient to use no matter how you hold the phone. I also would like to point out that the power button actually functions as a power button and not some irritating way to call up a virtual assistant as it does on far too many phones.

TCL even kept the Android 11 power button UI which, in my opinion, is the best thing Google did with Android's UI before Material You came along. Having instant access to all your smart home controls, Google Pay, and a handful of other widgets is easy, brilliant, and powerful.

But, beyond the little hardware niceties, it's TCL's software that helps make this phone feel like a far more unique device than it might otherwise be. The company's first Android 12 phone looks and feels superb in every way, from the bold and colorful notification shade to the bevy of features throughout.

While the TCL UI 4.0 doesn't feature Material You theming — that means you won't get the customized colors in apps and in the overall UI — TCL's thoughtful design makes up for the lack of customization.

I particularly loved the way the quick toggles felt like TCL was able to pick and choose the best designs and features from Google's Pixel UI, iOS's Control Center, and even the Google Home app to create something I enjoyed using daily. Adjusting brightness or volume right from the quick toggles without having to tap and enter a separate window was a marvel.

TCL also packed in several apps with the phone that normally cost extra money, the best of which is Nebo. Nebo is an incredibly powerful notes and PDF annotations app that every Galaxy Note user should try, and it's included for free with every TCL Stylus 5G.

Among the swath of features is the best handwriting recognition in the business,. The fact that it's able to actually translate my chicken scratch handwriting is a miracle in and of itself.

Despite hovering around the $250 mark, the TCL Stylus 5G performed admirably in every test I threw at it. Everything from apps to modern games performed well, and I even played Diablo Immortal on that lovely, giant 6.81-inch screen without any noticeable performance issues at all.

It's even got a surprisingly good camera that does well enough in most lighting conditions. Lower light is a struggle, but I wouldn't expect a phone in this price range to sport groundbreaking low light performance, anyway. If anything, the phone's ability to stabilize video even while walking through uneven grass was worth noting and was better than many other phones I've used in this price category.

What could be better

If we're judging a phone purely on how accurate its marketing is, the TCL Stylus 5G falls horribly flat. That's because the stylus included in the body of the phone is a passive stylus, not an active one. In a nutshell, that means the phone cannot tell the difference between your finger, hand, or the stylus. They're all seen as an input device and that makes it nearly impossible to actually write quality notes on the phone.

The TCL Notes app does include a faux "stylus-only input" option but it doesn't work very well. More often than not with this option enabled, I would find that entire letters would be deleted while I was writing with the stylus. That's partly because my chicken scratch handwriting is terrible and the software thinks it's a mistake rather than a letter. It's also partly because the side of my hand rubs up against the screen while writing.

Samsung's Galaxy Note series doesn't have this issue because it features an active stylus, which means the stylus holds an electrical charge and a special layer of the display only responds to that charge. Without this special layer, the idea of easily writing notes on a phone just isn't a reality. Sure, you could muck through the process or hold the stylus really awkwardly in an attempt to not touch the screen but, for me, that just wasn't a reasonable (or comfortable) request.

The other main issue I came across had to do with app compatibility. I had trouble getting signed into my work Slack account and playing games like Call of Duty Mobile or Apex Legends mobile when I first got the device. Reinstalling Slack and manually signing in fixed my issue with that app, but the other two games flat-out won't run at all. Other titles like Fortnite at least say they aren't compatible with the phone and won't even let me install them.

This isn't some performace-related issue, though. I've been in touch with TCL to help resolve the problem and I hope they are able to fix these issues with an update. Most likely, it's just a bug in the company's Android 12 update and will be fixed in the future.

It's certainly worth noting that the phone's macro camera is pretty useless in its current state. TCL chose a 2MP sensor for this camera so that it could keep the pixel size large — that means it can take in a lot of light, which is especially important for taking pictures of objects up close — but the incredibly low resolution of the sensor means pictures never actually look good.

Competition

The closest competition — especially for T-Mobile customers — is the OnePlus Nord N20 5G. For just $30 more, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G delivers a much faster processor, a better-quality screen — although it isn't as bright — and the best cameras in its class. The downside is that the Nord N20 will never see an Android 13 update, while TCL promises the Stylus 5G will get it. I also had no issues with accessories like the Razer Kishi V2, while these types of accessories don't work well with the OnePlus Nord N20's USB port.

Outside of that, few options remain at a comparable price point. The Motorola One 5G Ace is the best alternative on Verizon (seeing as how the TCL Stylus 5G isn't available on Verizon right now) and, while it doesn't have a stylus, it has a much faster processor and better battery life.

Otherwise, you'll be paying quite a bit more for a phone from Samsung or Google that delivers a better experience.

Should you buy it?

You should buy this if...

• You need a great phone at a great price
• You like the look of TCL's UI and its plethora of features
• You occasionally jot down notes or like stylus input for its accuracy

You shouldn't buy this if...

• You were looking for an actual Galaxy Note competitor
• You need two-day battery life
• You want to play games like Call of Duty or Apex Legends

If you're looking for a $250 phone that doesn't feel like it compromises in any key areas, the TCL Stylus 5G is truly a great choice. The display is bright enough for sunlight use, the battery lasts all day, TCL's software is friendly to look at and easy to use (while still being feature-rich), and the phone's performance is truly great at this price.

The problem is that TCL markets the phone as a cheap Galaxy Note competitor. While it ships with a stylus and some remarkable note-taking software, the fact that the stylus isn't active means actually writing on the screen is nothing but frustrating. If you were looking for a true Galaxy Note-style phone for less money, this isn't the phone for you.

But if you just like to have a stylus for more pinpoint-accurate input than a finger can provide (and want an overall well-designed device), the TCL Stylus 5G is an excellent choice. It's just hard to ignore that OnePlus offers a better display, processor, and camera for only $30 more when the stylus on this phone isn't really worth mentioning.

What you need to know

• The TCL Stylus 5G packs a stylus into the body like a Galaxy Note, complete with a 6.81-inch FHD+ display.
• Inside is a MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G chipset, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, 4,000mAh battery, four cameras, and microSD card support.
• The phone will retail for $258 and is available at T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile in the U.S. as of June 2, 2022, with wider availability later in the year.

TCL is debuting another new phone, this time packing a stylus right into the body and attempting to show up Samsung's Note line with a surprisingly excellent price. At just $258, this phone is launching on T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile on June 2, 2022. It'll see release on other carriers and countries later this year.

For that price, you're getting a phone with a 6.81-inch TCL NXTVISION FHD+ display, which is compatible with the stylus that's built into the phone. TCL says it's not restricting stylus usage to just the one included with the phone, either, so you can always opt for a larger stylus if that's a more comfortable option.

This marks yet another great T-Mobile phone to hit an even better price point this year, the most recent being the OnePlus Nord N20. It's also a clear challenger to the Moto G Stylus 5G, which just launched for twice the price of TCL's offering.

Based on what we saw of the software, TCL's suite of stylus-friendly tools should stand toe-to-toe with other offerings out there. TCL is including the Nebo app built-in, which makes note-taking simple and even builds in brilliant handwriting recognition that will transform your handwriting into typed letters.

MyScript Calculator 2 is also pre-installed, adding in yet another bit of value since these apps all normally cost extra on the Google Play Store. Additionally, TCL has built in a number of utilities that work well with the stylus including a custom GIF creator, screen writing tools, document signing tools, and more. You can even use the stylus to magnify parts of the screen that might be too small to comfortably read.

In addition to the 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, 4,000mAh battery, and microSD card support, TCL is packing four cameras on the back. A main 50MP camera is used for most tasks, while the 2MP depth lens helps with portrait mode, a second 2MP camera is used for macro shots, and a 5MP super wide-angle lens captures the bigger picture. The front of the phone also features a 13MP camera with software enhancements for apps like TikTok and should guarantee excellent quality in those apps.

The annual Mobile World Congress trade show — MWC for short — is always full of fascinating devices and big announcements. While TCL just announced a slew of devices coming to market soon, including the TCL 30 series and TCL NXTPAPER tablets, the company also showed off some more foldable concept devices at a separate hands-on event.

Two years ago, we had the chance to go hands-on with a few TCL foldables that never made it to market but were interesting concepts, nonetheless. Since then, TCL had almost released its 'Chicago' foldable phone to compete with the Galaxy Z Flip line from Samsung but decided to shelve it until the price was low enough to compete.

This year, Michael Fisher (aka Mr. Mobile) was able to get some hands-on time with TCL's latest foldable concepts for Android Central and came back with a few thoughts on how the first consumer-ready TCL foldable could shape up.

TCL Ultra Flex

The first TCL device is the 360-degree Ultra Flex, which uses an accordion-like hinge that appears similar to the world's first folding phone, the Royole Flexpai. While it's not the most attractive hinge we've ever seen, its less-than-dashing looks give way to a unique functional trait: it can fold both ways.

Yes, instead of just folding inward like a Galaxy Z Fold phone, the TCL Ultra Flex can bend a full 180-degrees inward or outward. That makes the 8-inch PLP AMOLED screen perfect for reading like a book or folding back on itself like a magazine, as Fisher pointed out.

That's particularly cool because it means that, when folded inward, the device's large screen is completely protected by the outer shell. Conversely, when it's folded back onto itself, that display wraps around almost the entirety of the device.

You can see in the images below how that works in practice. The hinge is uniquely designed to support the display and glass structure without breaking it, which means this phone is a little more flexible than your average foldable.

Additionally, TCL built active stylus support into the Ultra Flex, which could make it a proper Galaxy Z Fold competitor if it ever actually comes to market.

TCL Fold n Roll

Like the Ultra Flex, the Fold n Roll is a little rough around the edges, but the concept is incredibly solid, nonetheless. This one looks like a hybrid of two foldable concept devices TCL showed off back in 2020, with a single hinge that makes the device fold into itself and initially feels similar to a Galaxy Z Fold.

But that similarity quickly disappears when you tap a button on the side, which then rolls out another display that was hidden inside the right-half of the phone. That is, of course, when the rolling portion works properly. At the hands-on, Fisher said this mechanism was a bit finicky and would only operate part of the time.

When it does work as expected, however, the Fold n Roll is a brilliant concept that shows just how useful a foldable can be. This one packs a literal tablet-sized 8.8-inch display into a 7-inch book-style clamshell that, again, is very reminiscent of a Galaxy Z Fold when closed.

This one doesn't have the same active stylus support as the Ultra Flex above but could prove to be a better phone/tablet hybrid for people who aren't as interested in stylus support. That extendable display also wraps around the outside edge of the phone, giving the term "edge display" a whole new meaning.

Now, this particular design exhibits more noticeable display creases than the Ultra Flex because of the way the hinge operates. It's also a lot less polished-looking around the back, especially when the extended section is rolled out.

Keep in mind, though, that this is a concept device that will not make it to market in its current form but could be used to build a proper consumer-ready device at some point in the future.

Will we ever get a foldable TCL phone?

While we've seen foldable phones from TCL before, this year's devices were both the most complex and the least reliable. At the very least, we know TCL continues to work on its foldable concepts and is dedicated to delivering a foldable device that not only looks good but is easy on your wallet.

After all, TCL makes some of the best budget Android phones, and its 'Chicago' foldable phone was never released because of difficulties in making it affordable enough, despite the fact that the phone looked quite beautiful.

For now, we'll just have to use TCL's latest devices and dream of a day when they can actually fold in on themselves.

What you need to know

• At MWC 2022 today, TCL announced five new additions to its 30-series smartphones with a focus on affordability.
• The TCL 30, 30 SE, and 30+ are available to purchase in Europe now, while the 5G and 30 E models will arrive in April.
• TCL is selling the cheapest variant for €139 while the 5G model will cost €249.

TCL unveiled the rest of the 30-series lineup today at this year's Mobile World Congress, joining the TCL 30 XE 5G and TCL 30 V 5G, which were launched exclusively in the United States last month. The TCL 30 5G, 30+, 30, 30 SE, and 30 E all include the company's NXTVISION display technology as well as a host of other features that should give the other best budget Android phones a run for their money.

The TCL 30 5G has the most advanced specs of the bunch. It is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 700 chipset and equipped with a 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED display. TCL's NXTVISION technology should also improve the phone's display by adjusting color, contrast, and sharpness based on on-screen content.

Meanwhile, TCL uses a MediaTek Helio G37 on the vanilla TCL 30 and 30+, as well as Helio G25 on the TCL 30 E and SE. The displays on the regular and Plus models are the same as on the 5G variant, while the TCL 30 SE and 30 E have a 6.52-inch 720p display.

The display of each model has a notch in the top center, which houses a 13MP ultra-wide camera for both the TCL 30 5G and 30+. The regular and SE models, on the other hand, have an 8MP front camera, while the 30 E variant has a 5MP selfie snapper.

All models include a 50MP AI triple camera setup on the back, except for the 30 E version: the cheapest model has a dual rear camera comprising a 50MP main sensor and 2MP depth sensor. The triple camera modules also include both 2MP macro and depth sensors alongside the main shooter.

Keeping the lights on is a 5,010mAh battery on the regular, Plus and 5G variants, with support for 18W fast charging. Meanwhile, the 30 SE and E models pack a 5,000mAh battery unit.

The new smartphones run TCL UI 4.0 based on Android 12. TCL says the Muse Blue and Tech Black colors are available for the 30+ and vanilla 30 models, while the Dreamy Blue and Tech Black colors are available for the 5G variant. The TCL 30 SE and 30 E are available in two colors: demure Space Grey and rich Atlantic Blue. Glacial Blue is another color option for the 30 SE.

In terms of availability, you'll have to wait a bit longer to get your hands on the 5G and E models, which will arrive in Europe in April for €249 and €139, respectively. That said, you can now purchase the TCL 30+ in the region for €199, the regular variant for €179, and the SE model for €149.

All models will be rolled out in select regions at a later date, though prices will vary by country.

What you need to know

• At MWC 2022 today, TCL introduced a bunch of new affordable tablets that zero in on content streaming and longer screen time.
• The TCL Nxtpaper Max 10 features an anti-glare glass that reduces reflected light to protect your eyes.
• TCL's new tablet lineup also includes the Tab 10 HD and Tab 10s 5G, which is among the early budget tablets to ship with 5G connectivity.

In addition to a ton of affordable smartphones in the TCL 30 series, TCL announced a new lineup of budget tablets today at this year's Mobile World Congress. The new range of slates include the latest iteration of the Nxtpaper and two new budget-friendly Tab models.

The Tab 10s 5G is the most expensive in the lineup, though it is billed as "one of the first affordable tablets to launch with 5G connectivity." It will be available to purchase in the second quarter of this year for €349.

The new tablet sports a 10.1-inch FullHD screen featuring TCL's NXTVISION technology to adjust color, contrast, and sharpness in accordance with on-screen content. The goal is to make visuals in movies and video games easier on the eyes. With an 8,000mAh battery, you might also be tempted to watch movies and play light games for hours on end.

TCL's latest challenger to the best cheap Android tablets is powered by MediaTek's MT8173 chipset, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. If you need more space, you can expand that up to 256GB via a microSD card slot. The tablet also runs Android 12.

The Tab 10s 5G has an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie shooter, so it doesn't have much going for it in terms of optics.

Its cheaper sibling, the TCL Tab 10 HD 4G, includes a 10.1-inch 800p display and a 5,500mAh battery. Given that it's a budget tablet, you can't expect to see impressive specs on this one: it has both a 5MP rear and front cameras, Android 11 Go out of the box, and 2GB of RAM paired with 32GB of internal storage.

You can purchase the Tab 10 HD right now in Europe starting at €179, with its FullHD version arriving in Asia from late March at €199.

Finally, the TCL Nxtpaper Max 10 is the firm's more expensive version of the recently unveiled Nxtpaper 10s. Like the Tab 10s 5G, it wants to be easier on the eyes with its 10.36-inch FullHD+ display comprising a multi-layer system that filters blue light. TCL also slapped an anti-glare glass into the screen to reduce reflected light.

It will go on sale beginning in mid-Q2 in Asia for €269, which gets you 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage that's expandable up to 256GB via a microSD card slot. The tablet is available in either Wi-Fi or 4G LTE models. It ships with Android 11 and is powered by an octa-core processor.

TCL kept to the status quo when it announced two budget 5G carrier phones — the TCL 30 XE 5G and TCL 30 V 5G — and six cheap Android tablets at CES 2022. Since TCL slapped its name on the Alcatel brand in 2020, it has largely stuck to the inexpensive side of Android when selling in the U.S. The problem for TCL is that the budget U.S. market for phones and tablets is only going to get more and more crowded starting this year.

You need only look at the more popular Android brands' plans for the U.S. market in 2022 to see that most are abandoning the flagship tier to Samsung, Apple, and (to a lesser extent) Google. So that means that these same brands are all suddenly jockeying against one another for the same customers, and someone is bound to come out on top — or get left behind.

If TCL wants to succeed, it'll have to take on Motorola/Lenovo, OnePlus/OPPO, Nokia/HMD Global, Amazon Fire, and any other brand pushing out as many cheap 5G phones and tablets as possible. That's not exactly an easy task, but the TCL 30 lineup could be a step in the right direction.

The brands racing towards the bottom

OnePlus

You might not think to include OnePlus among this list, given its success pushing great flagships and near-flagship phones like the OnePlus 9 and 8T. And the OnePlus 10 Pro looks very promising. But the Europe-only OnePlus Nord 2, China/India-only OnePlus 9RT, and the apparently-AWOL OnePlus 10 all mark a trend where the brand has essentially abandoned the mid-to-upper-range in the United States.

In his breakdown of lesser-known Android brands' 2022 plans, our Asia Editor Harish Jonnalagadda described how its parent company OPPO will use the OnePlus Nord brand to push out "regurgitated entry-level OPPO phones." Success in the entry-level and budget phone categories led OnePlus to sell 10 million phones in 2021, not its flagships — which is why OPPO has doubled down on economical, reliable U.S. phones.

You'll also see a OnePlus tablet arrive in 2022, the first for this brand.

Nokia

Like TCL, HMD Global used CES 2022 to announce several ultra-cheap carrier phones, including the $239 Nokia G400 with a 6.6-inch FHD+ display and a 120Hz refresh rate, 48MP camera, 5,000mAh battery, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and 5G support. It could easily number among the best Android phones under $300.

HMD-made Nokia phones always offered affordable prices, clean, near-stock Android software, and faster updates than any other OEM besides Google itself, with mid-range flagships like the Nokia 9 Pureview and Nokia 8.3 5G topping their lineups. But starting in 2021, HMD pivoted, primarily offering sub-$300 phones and no real flagship besides the rugged Nokia XR20. So far, it looks like 2022 will be more of the same.

It's not hard to guess why. HMD struggled to update Nokia phones in 2021, at a time when Samsung began offering three guaranteed OS upgrades and hit its stride for speedy updates across the board. By driving down the cost of its phones, it can instead compete against brands like Motorola and TCL with poorer track records for updates. "Cheap, long-lasting phones" isn't a bad modus operandi.

HMD also released its first tablet, the $250 Nokia T20, late last year.

Motorola

Waiting at the bottom for these other brands is Motorola, which recently became the third-largest smartphone OEM by claiming LG's market share after it shuttered. It also, arguably, succeeded due to a lack of competition in the low-cost phone space.

The Moto brand's position might be vulnerable to all this new competition. The Moto G Power (2022) is a big misstep, lacking key essentials like 5G connectivity, NFC, and fast charging — areas where the new TCL 30 V 5G wins — and uses a terribly slow Helio SoC. Its upcoming Moto G Stylus (2022) will also use a 4G Helio chip much slower than the Snapdragon 480 5G.

Moto has much more brand recognition than TCL with Android fans searching for an affordable phone. But it does seem like its 2022 lineup could leave the door open for TCL and other OEMs to gain some ground in the budget sphere. With mid-range phones like the Motorola Edge (2021) and its upcoming RAZR foldable, it seems like Motorola has grander ambitions this year to prioritize instead.

Meanwhile, Motorola's parent company, Lenovo, is mostly known for releasing some of the best cheap Android tablets, including the recent Lenovo Tab P11 Plus priced at $260.

Why Android OEMs suddenly care about tablets

For years, the Android tablet marketplace looked like a ghost town. You had Samsung selling its premium S and budget A tablets with One UI software, Amazon with its restricted Android skin on Fire tablets, and Lenovo selling stock Android tablets — except stock phone software blown up on 10-inch screens looks awful. Google did almost nothing to optimize Android for larger screens, and once the Pixel Slate fizzled, it looked like nothing would change.

Now, we have brands like TCL releasing as many cheap tablets as possible. Why? Two reasons: COVID-19 and Android 12L.

During the Nokia T20 unveiling, HMD Global's team told me that tablet sales had grown 53% since the previous year, and that it planned to "address people's changing needs" with a cheap Android tablet. With parents and kids stuck at home, tablets offer a better browsing experience that doesn't need to be as portable, while also offering a distraction or educational tool for antsy children. No doubt other companies saw the same statistics and have scrambled to take advantage of the larger market share.

At the same time, Google began working on Android 12L, a new OS update meant to drastically improve its software on tablets and foldables. It takes much better advantage of tablets' screen space, offering multitasking tools, split-screening, an app taskbar, and more. By this spring when 12L launches, stock Android tablets won't be nearly as terrible to use.

Of course, when it comes to the best Android tablets in 2022, you're still looking at the upcoming Galaxy Tab S8 or current Galaxy Tab S7 above anything else. And it's unclear if lower-quality chipsets with less memory will handle multitasking nearly as well. But for people unwilling to spend too much on a tablet, new budget Android tablets will offer an alternative to people who don't like Fire tablets' limited app libraries or designs.

Will people leave behind Fire tablets for slightly more expensive Android tablets with better software and app selection but worse brand recognition? That's the gamble TCL and its rivals are making.

TCL's road forward in the U.S.

Samsung and Apple made up almost 80% of the total U.S. smartphone market share in late 2021, up from 70% from 2020. Internationally, Apple doesn't figure nearly as much into the equation, so Android OEMs feel more confident throwing their hats in the ring. But you need a bold American strategy to make a dent in that remaining one-fifth of sales, which is why many of them don't bother.

Up until now, brands like TCL (5% market share) and Motorola (8%) dodged direct competition with the Big Two by selling mid-range flagships in the $500 range, like the respectable TCL 20 Pro 5G. TCL will likely continue that trend with an upgraded TCL 30 Pro later this year. It didn't announce such a device at CES, however, it only announced the 20 Pro in April of last year, so don't take that as a sign that's it's abandoned mid-range phones completely.

But this year, it has another problem: a 30 Pro has to compete with the $599 Pixel 6. That's a tall order even for more expensive phones, let alone one priced in the same range. A 30 Pro may do well with fans of TCL phones but isn't likely to attract much interest outside of it.

TCL's path forward is to undercut Google, Samsung, and Apple with inexpensive, high-quality phones. Unfortunately, we run into another problem there: the last TCL budget phones we reviewed, the TCL 20S and TCL 20 SE, weren't very good! So we have to hope the company does better with its 30S phones this year.

Announced at CES, the carrier-exclusive TCL 30 XE 5G (T-Mobile) and TCL 30 V 5G (Verizon) will offer 5G for cheap. The 30 V with mmWave, in particular, looks like it could undercut the competition for people who want fast connectivity without a flagship price. The XE, meanwhile, has a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate, showing that even budget phones are getting in on the high-refresh-rate trend.

If all else fails, TCL has one strategy left: release a clamshell foldable phone that undercuts the Z Flip 3 and Motorola Razr in price. It cancelled its foldable, codenamed Chicago, because it would have been too expensive for its target audience. But it still fully intends to release one at the "right time," so evidently TCL expects to pioneer the mid-range foldable category.

For now, the TCL strategy will follow a much more basic playbook: try to strike that tricky, perfect balance between affordability and quality. Most cheap phones don't pull it off, and the OEMs that nail it could be the ones to win the low-price melee of 2022.

What you need to know

• TCL announced that it has sold over 10 million TVs running Android TV or Google TV annually.
• The latest feat makes TCL one of the largest TV manufacturers that support Google's operating system.
• In addition, the company unveiled new TV models at CES 2022 including a sub-$8,000 QLED-powered unit.

TCL's strategy of hitting every price point in the Android TV and Google TV market over the past year appears to have paid off. The Chinese firm has revealed that it has sold more than 10 million units running Google's operating system for smart TVs.

The company has claimed that it is now "one of Google's largest TV partners worldwide," which is quite a remarkable feat after only a year of launching its first Google TV models. Those TV units were unveiled at CES last year, although those models initially ran Roku's platform before the Google TV models were released.

TCL made the announcement in conjunction with the launch of its new big screen models at CES 2022, where it introduced the largest model in its XL Collection: a 98-inch QLED TV that costs less than $8,000. The company also touted its new "cinematic advances" and its collaboration with Google during the trade show. It said in a press release:

Despite the fact that some of the company's Google TV models were pulled from Best Buy late last year due to performance and software issues, the company's latest achievement is impressive. Those models were eventually restored a few weeks later.

Meanwhile, TCL's best Android TVs including the 4, 5, and 6-series models are apparently selling well, as indicated by the latest figure.

TCL QLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV

TCL's new Google TV lineup is impressive regardless of your requirements, whether it's a lower-cost 4K TV for gaming or a higher-end set with excellent contrast. And, with Google services built in, you can easily access your favorite movies or shows with just your voice.

• $450 at Amazon
• $450 at Best Buy

What you need to know

• TCL has announced two new budget-minded smartphones.
• The TCL 30 XE 5G is coming soon exclusively to T-Mobile.
• Verizon will be the sole carrier for the TCL 30 V 5G.

We've already seen some pretty awesome announcements come out of CES 2022, and TCL is next up on the list. The company is debuting a set of budget-friendly smartphones that are definitely poised as contenders for best cheap Android phone.

Kicking things off, the TCL 30 XE 5G sports a 6.52-inch display complete with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. Helping to hide the 8MP selfie camera is TCL's V-notch display, which ditches the hole-punch in favor of adding a bit of uniformity to the design.

Powering the device is MediaTek's Dimensity 700, which was found in a few of the best Android phones of last year, including the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10. Not only does this bring 5G connectivity to another budget phone, but the Dimensity 700 is no slouch in the performance department. Paired with MediaTek's budget chipset is 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage (up to 512GB).

On the back of the phone, TCL has included a triple camera array, headlined by a 13MP wide-angle sensor. This is accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor and 2MP macro lens, all of which will be able to provide 1080p video recording at 30fps.

Other features of the 30 XE 5G include a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, which seems to be another feature going to the wayside with new phone releases. We also have the beloved 3.5mm headphone jack at the top of the phone, so you'll still be able to use your favorite wired headphones in the event that you don't want to switch over to Bluetooth earbuds instead.

In terms of availability, pricing has not yet been revealed. However, TCL did confirm that the 30 XE 5G will be the company's first phone launched on T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. The phone will be officially released in the coming weeks.

Next up, TCL is also announcing the TCL 30 V 5G, complete with a larger 6.67-inch display and an FHD+ (2400 x 1080) resolution. Unfortunately, you won't find faster refresh rates here, as TCL opted to stick with the old 60Hz refresh rate. TCL also opted to ditch the V-notch display in favor of a hole-punch cutout for the 16MP selfie camera.

Under the hood, the 30 V 5G is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 480 5G chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. Unlike the 30 XE 5G, you'll be able to use up to a 1TB microSD card, instead of being limited to just 512GB.

Another triple camera setup graces the back of the phone, with a main 50MP wide-angle shooter. This is flanked by a 5MP "super wide" camera, and a 2MP macro lens, complete with LED flash at the bottom of the module.

Both of these phones offer a 4,500mAh battery, however, the 30 V 5G gains a leg up thanks to the 18W fast charging capabilties. TCL claims this will get your phone juiced back up to 100% in under 2 hours, while the phone should be able to last up to 24 hours on a single charge.

While the TCL 30 XE 5G is geared towards T-Mobile subscribers, the TCL 30 V 5G will handle Verizon subscribers. Again, pricing information has not yet been revealed, but both of these phones will launch in the coming weeks.

What you need to know

• TCL's new NXTWEAR AIR wearable display glasses are designed for comfort and portability.
• The NXTWEAR AIR features dual 1080p Micro OLED screens with a 47 pixels-per-degree resolution for a "cinema-like level of clarity."
• The glasses are compatible with over 100 smartphones and can also be used as a second screen when paired with a laptop.

TCL expanded its wearables lineup at CES 2022 with the launch of the new NXTWEAR AIR. The company's second-generation wearable display glasses tout a more comfortable fit and happen to be 30% lighter.

Just like the NXTWEAR G glasses that the company announced last year, the new NXTWEAR AIR is basically an external display that you can connect to your phone or laptop. It is equipped with two Full HD Micro OLED displays, which TCL claims can create a viewing environment "equivalent of watching a 140-inch screen, 4 meters away."

Thanks to a 47 pixels-per-degree resolution, the wearable display glasses promise to deliver a cinema-like level of clarity. The glasses also come with dual speakers that can play back stereo audio for spatial effects. You can also connect any wired or wireless headphones to the NXTWEAR AIR for a more private experience.

The new TCL NXTWEAR AIR weighs just 75g with the standard lens, which means it won't weigh you down when watching movies or gaming for hours. Besides greater comfort, the glasses can also be customized to match users' style with two exchangeable front lenses.

TCL says the wearable display glasses are "perfect for commuters, anyone travelling for work, or on a flight." When paired with a laptop, the glasses can act as a second screen as well. Users can also enjoy a "private arcade experience" by pairing the NXTWEAR AIR's companion device with a Bluetooth controller.

Since it uses a USB Type-C connector, the NXTWEAR AIR is compatible with all the best Android phones on the market. It also works with a wide range of tablets and laptops.

TCL plans to start selling the NXTWEAR AIR sometime later this quarter. However, the company is mum on pricing.

What you need to know

• TCL unveiled a bunch of new Android tablets at CES 2022.
• The new NXTPAPER 10s comes with a paper-like display featuring 10 layers of protection to retain natural colors.
• The company's latest tablet lineup also includes the TAB 8 4G and three new TKEE series tablets designed for kids.

TCL announced a total of six new Android tablets at its CES 2022 press conference in Las Vegas today, including a 10.1-inch tablet with a NXTPAPER screen.

TCL's new NXTPAPER 10s is an affordable Android tablet with a paper-like display that is TÜV certified and claimed to reduce blue light by over 50%. Thanks to an anti-glare finish, TCL claims the screen can be viewed clearly from any angle. There's support for TCL's proprietary T Pen too, which means you can use the NXTPAPER 10s to write down notes. Keeping the lights on is a large 8000mAh battery. The tablet has been priced at $249 and is set to go on sale in Europe later this month.

The TCL TAB 8 4G is a lightweight budget tablet featuring a compact design, LTE connectivity, and a 4080mAh battery. The entry-level TCL TAB 10L, on the other hand, comes with a larger 10.1-inch HD display. Both tablets will be available in Europe from Q1 2022. While the TAB 8 4G is priced at $129, the TAB 10L will retail for $99.

TCL's new TKEE lineup for kids includes the TCL TKEE MINI, MID (with 4G connectivity), and MAX. All three tablets have been designed "especially with children in mind." Similar to Amazon's best tablets for kids, the new TKEE models are protected by a bumper case that can easily handle drops. They also feature TCL's eye-safe screen technology and come with the TKEE Pen.

The new series starts at $89 for the TKEE MINI, $119 for the TKEE MID, and $119 for the TKEE MAX. They will all be released in select markets later this quarter.

Along with the new tablets, TCL has also announced a new child-friendly service called TCL Kids. It will be available in Google Play for all new TCL tablets. TCL Kids offers a vast library of child-friendly educational and entertainment content, including over 20,000 videos, 400 storybooks, and 50 apps. TCL plans to launch the service globally in Q2 2022 for $3.99 a month.

What you need to know

• TCL has begun selling its Google TV sets at Best Buy again.
• The company has issued a fix for its Google TVs, which were facing software problems.
• TCL is also launching cheaper 4-Series models with Google TV built-in.

TCL's Google TVs were recently pulled from Best Buy following some software issues, but it looks like they're back on the shelves just in time for the holidays.

Apparently, users were complaining about sluggish software and app crashes, prompting the company to remove its televisions from Best Buy shelves in order to address the issue. A TCL spokesperson confirmed the move with Android Central:

Additionally, current owners of TCL's Google TV sets should expect an automatic update to put their televisions on par with the latest software.

While TCL makes some of the best Android TV sets on the market, it's one of the few television makers to ship TVs with Google TV built-in. They're often cheaper than the more premium Sony models, so halting sales just before the holidays was likely not ideal.

Speaking of holidays, TCL has also introduced new, cheaper Google TV models as pointed out by 9to5Google. While the software was previously reserved for the 5 and 6-Series televisions, the cheaper 4-Series models make purchasing a new Google TV set much more affordable.

Starting at just $350, users can expect 4K UHD resolution in sizes ranging from 43-inches to 85-inches and integration with smart assistants like Alexa and, of course, Google Assistant.

Of course, there are a few compromises, such as the lack of HDMI 2.1, variable refresh rate, and more premium display technology. However, for someone looking for a last-minute and fairly inexpensive gift, the new 4-Series Google TVs may be worth a look, especially with a nice $70 discount Best Buy appears to be offering.

When you think of TCL, you might think of some of the best Android TVs out there, but the company has also made its way into the smartphone market. With devices like the TCL 10 Pro, you're going to enjoy a great display, even better design, and an affordable price. If you want to keep the display from getting scratched up, grab one of the best TCL 10 Pro screen protectors.

These are the best TCL 10 Pro screen protectors

The TCL 10 Pro is a rather interesting device. It's placed firmly among the best cheap Android phones, but it still has a flagship design. With a design this sleek and a display this unique, youre definitely going to want to find the best TCL 10 Pro screen protectors, and that's where the Supersheildz Full Cover Tempered Glass kit comes in. You'll get two screen protectors in the box, while being provided with a bubble-free installation and 2.5D rounded edges. Supershieldz also includes both hydrophobic and oleo-phobic coatings to reduce fingerprints dirtying up the screen.

If you don't want to fiddle with a tempered glass screen protector, or just prefer the feel of a film screen protector, TCL has you covered. The company offers a film screen protector or its 10 Pro, ensuring that you'll get the perfect fit with each installation. This won't be as protective as using tempered glass, but if you're just trying to avoid scratches, then it will work just fine.

What you need to know

• TCL has temporarily stopped selling its Google TV lineup over performance and software issues.
• The company is working on "refining" its products featuring Google TV.
• TCL Google TVs are expected to return to Best Buy in the coming weeks.

In what comes as a big blow to Google's smart TV platform, TCL has stopped selling its lineup of Google TVs over certain "performance-related issues." Best Buy, which is the exclusive retailer of TCL Google TVs in the U.S., pulled all listings of the company's 2021 5-Series and 6-Series TVs from its website earlier this week.

Confirming that the TVs have been removed from sale, a TCL spokesperson told 9to5Google that the company will soon roll out software updates to "refine" the Google TV experience on the sets. The company has also confirmed that sales of the TVs will resume "in the coming weeks."

TCL had unveiled its refreshed 6-series lineup with Google TV in August to challenge the best smart TVs. Since the TVs have gone on sale, several buyers have complained about a slow UI and random app crashes. TCL is currently the only major smart TV maker besides Sony to offer Google TV sets.

To check if a software update is available for your TCL Google TV, press the Settings button on the remote control. Next, select the Settings option in the panel that will appear on the right side of the screen and head over to System > About > System update. Select and Network Update option in the next dialog. In case an update is available, your TV will now begin downloading the update.

TCL's 3-Series and 4-Series TVs, which run Android TV, are still on sale at Best Buy.

Unlike its brother the TCL 10 Pro, the TCL 10L features a design that's a bit more unimaginative but is extremely affordable. The device stacks up nicely when compared to the Moto G Power but falls flat if you want a lot of performance. What TCL did with the 10L is integrate some pretty nifty display technology and features to produce one of the best displays on a budget phone. So if you want to grab one, make sure you also grab the best TCL 10L screen protectors to go with it.

Protect your display with the best TCL 10L screen protectors

Getting the best TCL 10L screen protectors is one of the most important things you can do in general, and not just for this phone. That's why we always see new options from Supershieldz whenever a new phone hits the market, including the 10L. With this three-pack from Supershieldz, you'll always have a back up ready to go in the event that you scratch up or crack the first one you install. Plus, the 2.5D rounded edges ensure that the screen protector blends right into the edge of your phone for a smooth experience.

Nobody likes a snoop, and that's why many opt for a privacy screen protector whenever they pick up a new phone. These aren't available for every new phone, but for a phone that contends amongst the best cheap Android phones, it makes sense to see the Anbzsign Privacy Screen Protector made available for the TCL 10L. The company includes two screen protectors in the box, both of which protect against prying eyes and sweat or oil residue with the different coatings.

The TCL 20 Pro 5G was among several new smartphones announced at CES 2021 in early January. The second-generation phone sports a gorgeous curved 6.67-inch AMOLED display. And while it comes in some sleek color options, you'll still want to keep the phone protected from drops, bumps, and scratches using a protective case. And we have rounded up the best TCL 20 Pro 5G cases you can find so far.

Which TCL 20 Pro 5G case should you choose?

Some phones are just so pretty that you don't want to cover them up with a boring black or even boldly bright case. You chose a particular finish for the phone, after all, for a reason. That's why I'd gravitate more to cases like the Sucnakp clear back panel + TPU bumper cover or even the JVXM case, particularly if you purchased the exquisite and eye-catching Marine Blue version of the TLC 20 Pro 5G.

When it comes to the best TCL 20 Pro 5G cases, it's all about a balance between protection and style. If you plan to carry it by hand, the QiongNi case is a great option that will let you leave your wallet or purse at home so you can bring along a few important cards, some cash, and ID, and you're good to go. If preferred, you can carry the phone at your hip or even linked to your purse buckle using the AISCELL Clip Holster. It isn't the trendiest of options, but for someone who prefers to pull the phone in and out of the case easily, it's a good alternative.

If you have decided to go with the first-generation TCL 10L instead, or maybe already have one and have decided to hold onto it a little longer, we also have a list of the best cases for the TCL 10L that might be worth looking through, too.

What you need to know

• TCL has announced a new budget-friendly 5G Android tablet.
• The TCL Tab Pro 5G comes with a 10.36-inch LCD display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 480 chipset, and a large 8,000mAh battery.
• It is now available to purchase from Verizon for $400.

After launching a bunch of affordable 5G Android phones earlier this year, TCL has now announced a mid-range Android tablet with support for Verizon's mmWave 5G network.

The new TCL Tab Pro 5G is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 480 chipset, which also powers some of the best budget Android phones on the market. It sports a 10.36-inch "NXTVISION" LCD display with FHD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate.

TCL's latest Android tablet also packs an impressive 8,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging and reverse charging support. As for the actual battery life, TCL claims the tablet can provide up to 17 hours of use on a single charge.

The other key features of the TCL Tab Pro 5G include a single 13MP rear camera, an 8MP front camera, dual stereo speakers, a fingerprint sensor, and a USB-C port. On the software side of things, the TCL Tab Pro 5G runs Android 11 with TCL UI on top.

The TCL Tab Pro 5G is now available from Verizon for $400. If you purchase the tablet online, you can save $100 with the carrier's "Buy More, Save More" promo. However, you'll have to buy an eligible Android phone on a Verizon plan to qualify for the promo. The next most affordable 5G Android tablet that Verizon currently sells is Samsung's Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G, which costs $670. Samsung's best Android tablets with 5G connectivity, on the other hand, start from $850.

TCL Tab Pro 5G

The new TCL Tab Pro is an affordable mid-range Android tablet with mmWave 5G support and an 8,000mAh battery. It includes reverse charging support too, which means you can use the tablet as a power bank to charge your other devices.

• $400 at Verizon

What you need to know

• TCL has indefinitely put its foldable phone project on hold.
• The company's decision is due to the high cost of producing a folding device, among other factors.
• TCL still plans to launch a foldable in the future when it can produce it at a low cost.
• In the meantime, it will focus on 5G initiatives.

TCL has confirmed that it will no longer launch what would have been its first commercially available foldable phone, codenamed "Chicago." The device would have been the company's take on some of the best foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

In a statement to Android Central, TCL says it has put its foldable phone on indefinite hold due to rising production costs, among other reasons. Stefan Streit, the company's chief marketing officer, explained:

Streit also noted TCL's huge investments in research and development for new display technologies. Last year, it showcased concept devices, including a foldable phone, bifold tablet, and another with a rollable extending screen.

TCL was apparently still in the midst of developing the device and had produced a prototype model that a few people got their hands on, including MrMobile himself:

When unfolded, the prototype sported a 6.67-inch FullHD+ AMOLED display and a 1.1-inch AMOLED cover screen in its folded form. The cover display would have shown the time and date, quick access to the flashlight, and audio settings.

Under the hood, the phone would have been powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The rear camera had a 48MP main sensor and a 16MP ultra-wide angle shooter along with a 44MP selfie snapper. It also packed a 3,545mAh battery with support for Qualcomm's 18W Quick Charge 3.0 technology.

That said, TCL isn't throwing in the towel entirely. Streit said TCL is still "investing in flexible display technologies and is closely monitoring the market to determine the best time to launch a foldable smartphone."

For now, TCL will focus on its 5G initiative meant to push the next-gen connectivity to various smartphones across different price points. Though, there's no word on when TCL will introduce its first foldable device to the market.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 adds a redesigned cover display, water resistance, and the spec bump required for app bouncing, but the Z Flip 3's most appealing features remain its low price and stylish design, which comes in seven colors.

• From $1,000 at Samsung
• From $,1000 at Amazon