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TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

This isn't the brand's first attempt; it's the second time (after the TCL 50 Pro NXTPAPER) that the famous NXTPAPER Key has arrived on a smartphone in our country. The matte LCD screen, with its grainy texture, promises to limit glare and rest the eyes, even in direct sunlight. But at this price, can we really expect a convincing smartphone for everyday use?

TCL is betting on accessible innovation. Between the promise of unprecedented visual comfort and a rock-bottom price, has the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G found the right formula? We give you our opinion in this test.

Price and availability

The TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G clearly aims to make NXTPAPER technology more accessible. Unlike the TCL 50 Pro NXTPAPER 5G, launched last year at 349 euros, this new model breaks the price with a price of 249 euros. The idea is simple: to democratize a technology that was previously reserved for more expensive models.

At this price, the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G is positioned as one of the most affordable smartphones incorporating this innovation. It is already available on the European market.

Design: a well-thought-out smartphone

The TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G does not go unnoticed with its large 6.7-inch screen, a format reminiscent of the largest models on the market such as the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Pro Max. We are clearly not at the level of its direct competitors here, the screen having rather thick borders. On the back, we find two cameras, as well as a flash, arranged in a triangle in the upper left corner.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

Despite this generous size, the smartphone remains surprisingly light, weighing around 195 grams. Its 8.1 mm thickness and 20:9 aspect ratio give it an elongated silhouette, but it fits well in the hand and slips easily into a pocket.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

TCL hasn't gone for luxurious materials, but the overall feel is quite pleasant. The frame inspires confidence with its sturdiness, while the back features a soft-touch finish. The choice of colors is limited, since only a Space Blue version is offered, but the overall look remains sober and discreet.

A few details remind us that TCL is thinking about everyday use: the phone offers a microSD port to expand storage, as well as a 3.5 mm headphone jack, rather rare in 2025.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

These little extras, combined with a simple and effective design, make the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G an easy device to adopt, even for those who are not fans of large formats.

Screen: everything is designed for reading

It's impossible to miss the screen of the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G, as it offers a different experience from what you usually find on a smartphone. Here, TCL relies on its NXTPAPER technology, which gives the panel a completely matte appearance, far from the classic glossy and reflective surfaces.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

Result: readability is significantly improved, even in direct sunlight, and the screen does not turn into a mirror at the slightest light source. The touch sensation is also different, closer to a sheet of paper than a smooth window, which changes the way you interact with the device on a daily basis. Fingerprints, often annoying on standard screens, are much less visible here thanks to this matte and textured treatment.

But the innovation doesn't stop there. TCL has integrated a physical key on this model, the NXTPAPER Key, which allows you to instantly switch between several display modes. With a simple gesture, the screen switches from classic color mode to a monochrome mode, called Max Ink, which is reminiscent of the display of an e-reader. There is even an intermediate mode, Ink Paper, which maintains muted colors for those who want to rest their eyes without completely sacrificing color.

This change of state is done quickly, with a fluid animation that almost makes you want to play with the function, just for the pleasure of seeing the screen transform. Direct access to these modes, without going through the menus, makes use much more natural and really encourages you to exploit the full potential of the NXTPAPER screen.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

In terms of use, the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G does not compromise on fluidity. The screen supports a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which ensures very pleasant navigation, whether scrolling through web pages or watching videos. In color mode, the panel works like a classic screen, with vivid colors and wide viewing angles. It is on the definition that the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G is a little behind, with a panel only HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels). However, we note that the panel is very little reflective, a good point, but this is accompanied by a constant diffuse reflection, not necessarily suitable for everyday use.

While the screen may look a little dull under direct sunlight, it's still far more readable than most glossy smartphones. TCL promises 550 cd/m², which is actually quite low for a 2025 smartphone. 01lab measured 521 cd/m² at maximum manual brightness, and 6,707 cd/m² at minimum brightness. This is way too much for comfortable use in the dark.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro Samsung Galaxy A26 Poco X7 Pro
Screen size 6.7 " 6.77 " 6.7 " 6.67 "
Screen technology AMOLED AMOLED AMOLED
Definition 1600 x 720 1080 x 2392 2340 x 1080 2712 x 1220
Frequency refresh 120 Hz 121 Hz 120 Hz 120 Hz
Screen brightness (average) 521 cd/m² 1273 cd/m² 869 cd/m² 1204 cd/m²
Color fidelity (average delta E 2000) 3.37 4.16 5.51 2.36

Color-wise, this appears to be an IPS display with a contrast ratio of 2318:1. While you can overlook the deep blacks of OLED, this is still a perfectly decent contrast ratio. The smartphone offers an average delta E of 3.37 by default, and 3.29 in the natural sRBG model (no DCI-P3 here). This is a bit too much, so the display won't always render very accurate colors. For example, we note a rather warm white balance in natural mode.

In summary, TCL offers a screen like no other, designed to adapt to all uses and easy to customize with a simple touch. This is clearly the number one asset of this phone, and a real differentiating proposition on the current market.

Performance: the vital minimum

Under the hood of the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G, we find the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 processor, supported by 8 GB of RAM. This duo is not a surprise, since we have already seen it at work on other models like the Galaxy A16 (in certain regions only) or the Realme 14T 5G.

In practice, this configuration clearly focuses on the essentials: running everyday applications smoothly. Browsing the web, checking emails, watching videos, or using social media is all done without any particular difficulty. The experience remains fluid for these standard uses, which is well in line with TCL's stated objective for this model. We still note some slowness on the touchscreen, which could be annoying, especially when taking photos or playing games.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

However, we should not expect miracles in terms of power. The Dimensity 6300 quickly shows its limitations when you venture into more demanding terrain, especially video games. Resource-intensive titles quickly bring the phone to its knees, with slowdowns and a less than optimal experience. This isn't really a surprise given the price positioning, but it's better to know before you start. For basic use, the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G gets the job done, but you shouldn't ask more of it than it was designed for.

60 SE NXTPAPER Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro Samsung Galaxy A26 Poco X7 Pro
AnTuTu 10 Score 389903 pts 663589 pts 610190 pts 1575239 pts
AnTuTu 10 CPU 124045 pts 218461 pts 196183 pts 366698 pts
AnTuTu 10 GPU 148329 pts 549082 pts
AnTuTu 10 MEM 80407 pts 128831 pts 120242 pts 349449 pts
AnTuTu 10 UX 115910 pts 167968 pts 156727 pts 310010 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core 728 pts 1016 pts 1011 pts 1584 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core 1948 pts 2962 pts 2943 pts 6278 pts
Geekbench 6 Compute Score (GPU) 1403 pts 2477 pts 3030 pts 11091 pts
3DMark Wild Life Best loop score 1379 pts 3138 pts 2780 pts 12794 pts
3DMark Wild Life Stability 99.3% 99.2% 97.7% 76.9%
Amplitude 13.6 °C 16.4 °C 21 °C 25.2°C

Outside of gaming, multitasking remains decent thanks to the 8GB of RAM, which allows you to juggle between several applications without too much slowdown. Loading times remain reasonable for everyday tasks, even if you feel that the phone lacks the responsiveness of a mid-range model.

The TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G clearly doesn't try to impress with its power. It focuses on the essentials, with sufficient performance for everyday use, but quickly shows its limitations as soon as you move beyond this framework. If you're looking for a smartphone for basic tasks, it fulfills its role without a hitch. For the rest, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Battery and charging: we expected better

The TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G has a 5200 mAh battery, a figure that suggested good endurance, especially with a low-power processor and a screen designed to consume less energy. However, during real-life tests, the result did not live up to expectations. In mixed use, the battery life measured by 01lab barely reached 9 hours and 51 minutes, a score that puts this model behind its direct competition. This observation is surprising, because on paper, all the indicators seemed green to offer solid battery life. Paper mode doesn't add much to the battery life, as it goes up to 10 hours 35 minutes, which is still not very good.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

Fortunately, TCL has a trick for heavy readers or those who prefer to be frugal : Max Ink mode. This mode, which transforms the screen into a sort of monochrome e-reader, radically changes the game. By activating Max Ink and deactivating notifications, TCL claims that you can go up to a week without recharging, provided you limit yourself to reading text, like on a Kindle. This option is not insignificant and may appeal to those who use their phone mainly for reading or consulting documents, while enjoying superior visual comfort thanks to the anti-reflective coating.

Capacity of the battery Maximum wired charging power Mixed battery life Charging time Charging in 10 min
TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5200 mAh 18 W
9:51:50 a.m.
2 h 34 mn
12%
Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro 5000 mAh 33 W
5:40:33 p.m.
1 h 9 mn
19%
Samsung Galaxy A26 5000 mAh
9:35 a.m. min 6 s
1 h 36 min
18%
Poco X7 Pro 6000 mAh 90 W
6:22:54 p.m.
50 min
31%

When it comes to charging, the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G doesn't really shine. The manufacturer has settled for a maximum power of 18W when wired, which results in fairly long standby times. It takes about 2 hours 34 minutes to go from 0 to 100%, which is significantly slower than most smartphones in the same range. In ten minutes, you only recover 12% of battery, which isn't really helpful in an emergency. There's no wireless charging either, but given the price positioning, that's not a surprise.

The battery life of the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G is disappointing in typical use, but the Max Ink mode can transform the experience for avid readers. Charging, however, remains sluggish and requires patience. So it's not the phone's strong point, but it still has some assets for sober and reading-oriented use.

Software: some practical AI features

The TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G runs on Android 15, allowing it to take advantage of the latest features of Google's system. Despite its affordable price, TCL has integrated some artificial intelligence features, such as transcription and summarization of audio recordings, a rewriting tool, and a translation module. These welcome additions make the phone more practical for those who juggle multiple languages or like to take voice notes.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

As mentioned above, one of the software's strong points remains the management of the different NXTPAPER display modes. Thanks to a physical switch, it is possible to instantly switch from a color display to a monochrome mode or to an intermediate variant with muted colors. This system makes using "paper" modes much more accessible and natural than a simple adjustment hidden in the menus. Changing the visual ambiance is done in the blink of an eye, which really encourages you to adapt the screen to your current needs.

Connectivity-wise, the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G features 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and Wi-Fi 6. It's quite comprehensive for 250 euros. On the other hand, the update policy is limited to two years for Android and security, which remains behind some competitors.

The TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G's software experience is simple but effective, with useful AI tools and really practical display mode management. It's a shame that the software tracking is so lacking.

Photo and video: the smartphone's biggest weakness

The camera section is clearly not the device's strong point either. The smartphone relies on a duo of cameras: a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor. The selfie section is handled by an 8-megapixel sensor. In short, the bare minimum.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

Wide-angle

As for the main camera, it It's a small 1/2.5-inch sensor, much smaller than most of those used in the most popular smartphones on the market. With that, you shouldn't expect miracles. And indeed, the latter offers photos well below market standards.

It happens that colorimetry does not doesn't really match reality, or that details are missing, especially around the edges. At night, the smartphone has trouble handling bright lights like LEDs or streetlights, and generally produces rather dark shots.

Ultra wide-angle

With its 5 megapixels, the ultra-wide-angle camera is not designed to capture the smallest details of your scenes. It can be useful for capturing a group moment, but as soon as you zoom in on the shots or project photos onto a large TV, the lack of detail is glaring.

At night, too, the shots are even less well-defined than the main sensor. There's a lot of digital noise, smeared colors, and a distinct lack of natural light. In short, it's clearly mediocre for a device from 2025.

Zoom

As for digital zoom, TCL allows us to go up to 4X. It's not much, but given the very mixed results without zoom, it might be better this way.

Macro

The smartphone still has a fairly standard macro mode, which is rather gimmicky on this type of device.

TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G Review: A Smartphone Dedicated to Reading, and That's It

Selfie and portrait

The front camera offers fairly standard results, but we still note some rather dull colors. For portraits, the main camera is stuck at 1X, and the shots lack detail, especially in the hair. The quality of the bokeh effect is also quite disappointing.

As we suspected, the TCL 60 SE NXTPAPER 5G will clearly not be your best friend for immortalizing your next vacation. The same goes for videos, which don't bring any better surprises than photos.

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