I tried TCL's phone with a paper-like OLED display, plus its new nxtPaper tablets, and I was seriously impressed — here's why
Like a phone and an e-reader in one
by https://www.techradar.com/author/harry-padoan · TechRadarFeatures By Harry Padoan Published 3 September 2026
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TCL has revealed its new P80 series of phones at the 2026 edition of IFA Berlin, and luckily, I’ve been able to try them for myself already.
The TCL P80 Ultra, P80 Pro, and P80 were all on display, and I was genuinely impressed by all three devices. But it was the first two models that really caught my attention. And that’s because the P80 Ultra and P80 Pro combine a vivid, eye-catching AMOLED display with TCL’s nxtPaper technology, which offers a matte, paper-like display akin to something you’d find on an e-reader.
During my time at TCL’s showcase, I also managed to get hands-on with its nxtPaper-equipped tablets, and I have a fair few thoughts to share about them too. So, here’s everything you need to know about TCL’s all-new nxtPaper devices.
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AMOLED and nxtPaper: the best of both worlds
By combining AMOLED and nxtPaper technology, the more premium P80 handsets appeared to deliver very solid contrast and color while also providing benefits such as reduced glare and reflections.
When I was using the phone for drawing, watching a video, or scrolling, I found it to be perfectly clear and capable of plating up eye-catching colors — as you’d expect from a standard AMOLED phone. But at the mere flick of a switch (on the side of the phone), I was able to enter an e-reader mode, and this felt excellent to use.
There were two main modes available with the nxtPaper key switched on: Max Ink Mode and Paper Mode. Max Ink Mode is intended to minimize distractions and power consumption for the purest reading experience, while Paper Mode is intended to recreate a paper-like feel and harness customizable eye-care settings.
The Max Ink Mode was my go-to, and when reading text on either the P80 Pro or Ultra, the black-and-white display made viewing text incredibly seamless and focused — almost as if I was reading on a Kindle.
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