TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G

GSMTechTok analysis

Who it's for

The 60 XE NXTPAPER is for a buyer who specifically wants the eye-comfort reading experience without paying for TCL's pricier NXTPAPER models, and who's willing to accept genuinely modest performance and camera quality to get there. Android Central's own verdict is direct that the phone "doesn't really hold a candle to even some of the best cheap Android phones in terms of performance," but still finds it "worth considering for anyone who wants a comfortable viewing or reading experience." It suits someone drawn to that specific niche over a well-rounded budget phone — PCMag's review title itself makes the trade-off explicit: "a dazzling display isn't enough." It's a weaker fit for anyone who wants the best overall value at this price, since PCMag's own head-to-head recommendation points to the Samsung Galaxy A16 instead for buyers who "performs better" and get "years of support."

Standout features

The NXTPAPER display is the phone's entire reason for being, and PCMag's testing confirms it delivers on the core promise directly: "bright, vivid, and easy to look at for extended periods of time." The dedicated physical NXTPAPER Key is a genuine, distinctive hardware feature too — a real switch rather than a software toggle buried in settings, letting users flip between standard, paper-like, and Max Ink e-reader modes instantly. Macro camera performance earned specific, genuine praise despite the camera system's overall modesty — PCMag's own review calls it "excellent" even while rating the rest of the camera setup "decidedly average." Battery life and physical design earned real credit too: multiple reviews confirm a genuinely matte finish that resists fingerprints and a retained 3.5mm headphone jack, both real, disclosed conveniences increasingly rare at this price.

Trade-offs

Performance is the most consistently disclosed weakness across every review sourced here — PCMag's testing found it "middling at best," a fair characterization given the modest MediaTek Dimensity 6100 chip powering the phone. Battery endurance is a real, measured letdown too: PCMag's own testing found it "doesn't last as long as it should," a genuine disappointment given the phone's reading-focused positioning where battery life matters most. Software support is a genuine, disclosed limitation as well — PCMag confirms the phone "will only get one system update," a real, structural gap versus rivals promising multiple years of upgrades. Camera quality beyond the macro mode is a real, honest weak point too: PCMag's overall camera assessment lands at "decidedly average," not a specific complaint but a fair overall characterization. And PCMag's own head-to-head recommendation is the clearest, most direct disclosed trade-off: the reviewer suggests the Samsung Galaxy A16 instead for buyers who don't specifically need the NXTPAPER reading experience, since it costs less, performs better, and receives years more software support.