The TCL 40 NXTPAPER 5G is a budget 5G phone with a matte, paper-like screen. TCL announced it on August 29, 2023, alongside the 4G TCL 40 NXTPAPER. Despite the shared name, the two phones have different screens, chips and cameras. In Europe, the 5G model launched at €249 in October 2023.
Design and display
The phone has a 6.6-inch HD+ LCD with a resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels. It refreshes at 90Hz. TCL calls the panel NXTPAPER. The matte surface cuts reflections and hides fingerprints. TÜV certifies it for low blue light and reflection-free viewing.
The selfie camera sits in a small waterdrop notch. The textured back feels grippy, and TCL describes it as fiberglass. The phone is 8.99 mm thick and weighs 192 g. It came in one color, Starlight Black.
Performance
Inside is the MediaTek Dimensity 6020, a 7 nm chip with 5G support. It has 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Up to 6 GB of storage can serve as virtual RAM. A hybrid slot takes a second SIM or a microSD card.
Compared with the 4G model, this phone adds 5G. It loses the larger FHD+ screen, 2 GB of RAM, the ultrawide camera and fast charging.
Cameras
The rear setup has a 50 MP main camera, a 2 MP depth sensor and a 2 MP macro camera. There is no ultrawide camera. The front camera has 8 MP. TCL positions it for video calls and meetings. Camera modes include AI Color Video, which keeps the subject in color and turns the background black and white.
Battery and charging
The battery holds 5,000 mAh. Wired charging tops out at 15W. A smart charging mode pauses at 80% overnight to reduce battery wear. There is no wireless charging.
Software and updates
The phone shipped with Android 13 and TCL UI 5.0. It has NFC, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. It has a single speaker. TCL has not published a clear update promise for this model on its product page.
Should you buy the TCL 40 NXTPAPER 5G?
This phone suits readers who need 5G and want a glare-free screen. It also offers 256 GB of storage, NFC and a headphone jack. The low screen resolution and 15W charging are clear trade-offs. If 5G does not matter to you, the 4G TCL 40 NXTPAPER has a sharper, larger screen and faster charging.
