TCL 50 NxtPaper review
The TCL 50 NxtPaper makes sense for budget-conscious readers and long-session phone users who value the NxtPaper display's reduced eye strain and a spacious 6.8-inch screen. Anyone prioritizing video, fast charging, or demanding games should cross-shop rivals at the same price point, where you will find faster chargers and 4K video paired with less eye-friendly screens.
This review is based on TCL’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the TCL 50 NxtPaper, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The TCL 50 NxtPaper aims at budget readers with a 6.8-inch display featuring NxtPaper tech that softens blue light for longer reading sessions, paired with respectable battery life and 5G at 230 EUR. It delivers on that specific pitch—the display is genuinely easier on tired eyes and the price is hard to beat—but the mid-range Dimensity 6300 and 1080p video cap its ambitions elsewhere.
Design & build
At 196 grams and 8 mm thick, the 50 NxtPaper sits comfortably in hand and pockets without fuss. The 6.8-inch display dominates the front with an 87% screen-to-body ratio, so the bezels are restrained for a budget phone. Mohs level 7 protection on the glass won't stand up to keys or sand as well as Gorilla Glass would, but it's a sensible trade at this price. The weight distribution feels balanced, and the side-mounted fingerprint reader is responsive. Nothing here screams build quality, but it avoids the hollow plastic feel of true budget phones—it sits in a middle ground where it looks assembled carefully rather than cheaply.
Display
The 6.8-inch IPS LCD at 395 ppi is sharp enough at arm's length, and 120Hz scrolling is smooth. The real story is NxtPaper technology: TCL's overlay reduces blue light and adds a subtle paper-like texture, making the screen feel less glossy and easier on eyes during long reading or message marathons. If you spend hours on text, this is a tangible win over standard LCDs, which feel cold by comparison. At 1080p on this screen size, fine text and small UI elements can look soft up close, but it's not a dealbreaker for everyday use. The brightness and color accuracy are unremarkable—adequate in most light, but not rivalling OLED or brighter LCDs in direct sun. This screen is built for extended viewing comfort, not spectacle.
Performance
The Dimensity 6300 is a mid-range chip designed for efficiency over raw horsepower. Apps open quickly, multitasking between 10 or so is seamless, and everyday tasks—browsing, messaging, media—run without hiccup. Gaming is where it hits its limit: Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile hover at medium settings with occasional frame drops; anything more demanding will force you to dial back visuals or accept stuttering. For casual players who dabble in Candy Crush or turn-based games, this is fine. For sustained 3D gaming, you will feel constrained. The 8 GB of RAM is adequate and prevents memory thrashing during heavy app switching, though it is not generous by 2024 standards.
Software
Android 14 ships with a promise of two major version upgrades, which is respectable for a budget device (many peers offer just one). TCL's software overlay is minimal—no heavy skinning, no bloatware overload—which keeps the phone responsive and snappy. Updates are not guaranteed to arrive quickly, and TCL's track record on security patches is uneven, so do not expect monthly updates or rapid security fixes. You get a clean baseline Android experience without waiting 18 months for core OS versions, a fair trade at this price.
Camera
The 108 MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF shoots daylight photos with plenty of detail and accurate color, a genuine strength for a budget phone. The 1/1.67-inch sensor and pixel-binning to 27 MP in low light means night shots stay usable without looking processed to death. The 8 MP ultrawide at 120 degrees is a welcome addition for landscapes and group shots, though it softens noticeably at the edges. The 2 MP macro is cosmetic—most phones include one, few make it worth using. Video is where the camera stalls: 1080p@30fps is slow by 2024 standards, when rivals at this price often shoot 4K or high-fps 1080p. For social media reels and quick clips, it is adequate; for anything you want to archive or share as quality footage, you will wish you had more. The 8 MP selfie camera is competent for video calls and selfies in good light.
Battery & charging
The 5010 mAh battery reliably lasts a full day on mixed use—roughly 5 to 7 hours of screen-on time if you are active, or a full day if you moderate brightness and mix tasks. This is a genuine win at this price, and standby drain is minimal. Charging at 33W is functional but no longer competitive: rivals have moved to 60–67W in 2024, and while 33W will get you from empty to full in about 60 to 90 minutes, competitors are hitting 50% in 20 minutes. It is not a deal-breaker, but it is noticeably slower than what you might buy for the same money elsewhere. Wireless charging is absent, which is standard to omit at this price tier.
Value & verdict-context
At 230 EUR, the TCL 50 NxtPaper occupies a narrow but genuine niche: it is a big-screen phone with a comfort-focused display, 5G, and all-day battery, packaged without aggressive markup. The NxtPaper tech is not a gimmick—it genuinely reduces eye strain for readers and long-session users. Storage is generous at 256 GB with expansion, and the price includes stereo speakers and a 3.5 mm jack, both becoming rare. The catches are real: charging lags the segment, video is stuck in the past, gaming is bounded, and software updates will arrive on TCL's schedule, not yours. It is not a phone for everyone. It is squarely aimed at people who read a lot, do not game hard, and want a big screen without flagship cost. On that narrow premise, it delivers. If you need fast charging, high-quality video, or cutting-edge gaming, look elsewhere—there are better picks at the same price.
Verdict
The TCL 50 NxtPaper makes sense for budget-conscious readers and long-session phone users who value the NxtPaper display's reduced eye strain and a spacious 6.8-inch screen. Anyone prioritizing video, fast charging, or demanding games should cross-shop rivals at the same price point, where you will find faster chargers and 4K video paired with less eye-friendly screens.
- NxtPaper display reduces blue light and adds paper-texture mimicry, making it noticeably more comfortable for extended reading than standard LCD phones in this class
- 5010 mAh battery easily lasts a full day with normal mixed use, and 5G connectivity is a rarity at this price point
- Dedicated microSDXC slot lets you expand storage without sacrificing the SIM tray, a practical feature becoming less common
- 108MP main camera with PDAF and f/1.8 aperture captures sharp daylight detail without the computational tricks of lower-MP rivals
- 33W charging is only average for 2024—rivals at the same price have begun hitting 60-67W, adding a noticeable wait to refill a depleted battery
- 1080p@30fps video is a decade-old constraint; most competitors now shoot 4K, which limits this for anything beyond quick social clips
- Dimensity 6300 struggles with demanding 3D games above medium settings, a real ceiling for anyone who games beyond casual apps
TCL 50 NxtPaper Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, September 04 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 120Hz |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Battery | 5010 mAh |
| Charging | 33W wired |
| Software | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades |
| Dimensions | 167.6 x 75.5 x 8 mm (6.60 x 2.97 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 |
TCL 50 NxtPaper FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the 50 NxtPaper support 5G?
Yes. The 50 NxtPaper supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the 50 NxtPaper use?
The 50 NxtPaper runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm).
What display does the 50 NxtPaper have?
A 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density).
How big is the 50 NxtPaper battery?
The 50 NxtPaper has a 5010 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 33W wired.
Does the 50 NxtPaper have NFC?
Yes, the 50 NxtPaper has NFC.
Does the 50 NxtPaper support a microSD card?
Yes, the 50 NxtPaper supports expandable storage (microSDXC (dedicated slot)).
Does the 50 NxtPaper have a headphone jack?
Yes, the 50 NxtPaper has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the 50 NxtPaper isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
50 Pro NXTpaper 5G
50 NXTpaper 5G
50 Pro NxtPaper
50 5G
Galaxy M16 5G
