Tcl's bet on screens that look like paper
TCL introduced NXTPAPER 4.0 at CES 2025, enhancing brightness to 550 nits. The Tablet 11 Plus and TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G phone launch in Canada in May 2025.
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TCL has been developing a new screen technology called NXTPAPER, which aims to mimic the appearance of paper to reduce eye strain. At CES 2025, TCL introduced NXTPAPER 4.0, which addresses previous models' low brightness issues through advanced nano-matrix lithography technology. The new Tablet 11 Plus, featuring this technology, can achieve brightness levels of up to 550 nits, making it more readable than earlier versions. Alongside the tablet, TCL also unveiled the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G phone, which includes an "NXTPAPER Key" that switches between standard display and "Max Ink Mode." This mode is designed to enhance eye comfort by simulating e-ink displays, while also reportedly extending battery life significantly—up to seven days for reading and 26 days on standby. The phone is set to launch in Canada in May for USD 199. While TCL focuses on improving conventional screens, other companies like E-Ink and the startup Daylight are exploring different approaches to enhance display technology for better user experience.
- TCL's NXTPAPER technology aims to reduce eye strain by mimicking paper.
- The new NXTPAPER 4.0 offers improved brightness of up to 550 nits.
- The TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G phone features a mode that enhances eye comfort and extends battery life.
- The Tablet 11 Plus and TCL 60 XE will be released in Canada in May 2025.
- Other companies are also exploring ways to make screens more eye-friendly.
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- Users express concerns about the fragility of Boox devices, with several sharing negative experiences related to display durability.
- There is a discussion about the brightness of the NXTPAPER screens, with some arguing that 550 nits is sufficient for indoor use.
- Several commenters mention competing products, highlighting their features and personal preferences for reading and note-taking.
- Interest in seeing the NXTPAPER screens in person before purchasing is common, especially for specific use cases like reading comics.
- Some skepticism exists regarding the claims of battery life and pricing for TCL's new devices.
21 commentsPhone screens are brighter because of outdoor use, but 550 is more than enough for indoor monitors.
(Not to… nit pick)
- Daylight Computer (mentioned in the article) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40456834 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40754445
- Onyx Boox https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27513521
- Kobo https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40015429
- Amazon Kindle Scribe (also mentioned) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33009715
FWIW, I still haven't managed to fully replace my Newton MessagePad with a single device --- the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ comes close, but I don't like to read books on it, and it's a bit small, so makes sketching fussy.
The Kindle Scribe is great, for reading books, but no immediacy in handwriting recognition/shape conversion, so I only use it for note-taking and sketching, but not for writing first drafts or editing texts.
The Wacom One 13 (gen one screen) attached to my MacBook is a nice fallback, and makes it convenient when I'm both taking notes or referring to a text (on my Scribe) and drawing/annotating/working on a project on my Mac.
The Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 is awesome, but a bit large and cumbersome when folded into tablet mode --- really wish Samsung had made a replacement for my Galaxy Book 12 (the perfect thing would be a dual-screen 12" device w/ Wacom EMR, competing against the Lenovo Yogabook 9i (which I'd buy if it had Wacom EMR)).
A dual-fold 3-panel device where the outside panel was e-ink would be perfect.
I like it quite a lot (though the price is still high enough that it’s really an indulgence only justified if you can buy gadgets through an employer or your own company).
The physical design is the opposite of the Apple aesthetic. Instead of metal and glass and vibrant colors, it’s a dull gray rectangle with a soft-touch plastic backside and a sort of paperish texture on the display. In fact it looks and feels like a prop from Apple TV’s “Silo”. It gets a nice lived-in quality after a few months.
The display is sharp and fast and monochrome — a unique combination these days. It reminds me of the original NeXT in that sense, which is great. But the brightness and viewing angles take some getting used to. It’s really good in daylight, as the company’s name suggests. The backlight has an adjustable amber tone which goes with the retro/“Silo” vibe and is also nice in the evening.
It’s good for reading articles and books, but the monochrome display is also a surprisingly effective distraction remover filter for websites and even videos. I generally hate watching YouTube videos, but if that’s the only option to learn something, I’ll rather watch the video on the Daylight Computer.
It comes with a stylus and the display has a nice texture, but I haven’t yet got into note-taking or drawing.
Still, Boox tablets are the closest to what I've been looking for: an eInk device with enough flexibility that I can read more than just books on it.
I would love to see in person what over two decades has produced.
Boox devices are very fragile and the blame the customer when the display breaks.
Physical toggle switch really sells it.
Filing this under things we don't see very often (or at least since RIM went underwater).
That's the thing... I saw a discussion on reddit the other day in which people were asking about TCL NXTPaper products announced at last year's (2024) CES that still weren't available. I'm interested in one of these NXTPaper Tablet 11 Plus devices for an ereader as my Boox Air 3C's color eink display died about 3 months after buying it (now I know they have a reputation for being extremely fragile). But I wonder if it will ever actually be available in the US.
Something’s fishy.
Related
Daylight eInk Computer
Daylight introduces DC-1, a computer promoting deep focus and wellbeing. It features a paper-like display, distraction-free space, outdoor computing, and blue light reduction for improved sleep quality and productivity.
E Ink faces growing competition in the "paper-like" display space
E Ink faces competition from reflective LCD technologies that enhance video performance. New products like Daylight DC-1 and TCL's NXTPAPER emphasize energy efficiency and user comfort, challenging E Ink's market position.
Apple 'testing' foldable with secondary E Ink display, says analyst
Apple is testing a foldable device featuring a secondary E Ink display for power savings. A 9-inch model may launch by 2025, with a 20-inch version expected by 2026.
Dasung Paperlike HD 13.3-Inch E Ink Monitor with 40 Hz Refresh Rate Launched
Dasung launched the Paperlike HD, a 13.3-inch E Ink monitor with a 40 Hz refresh rate, available in three variants, priced between $602.64 and $658.86, compatible with Windows and Linux.
Applied Materials MAX OLED screens touted to offer 5x lifespan
Applied Materials has launched the MAX OLED platform, enhancing OLED displays with larger, cost-effective panels, improved efficiency, and brighter, higher-resolution screens. Leading manufacturers are adopting this technology, expanding its market reach.