TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper Review: Features, Price, and Performance
TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper:
Network
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
- Announced: September 04, 2024
- Released: September 2024
- Status: Available
Body
- Dimensions: 167.6 x 75.5 x 8 mm (6.60 x 2.97 x 0.31 in)
- Weight: 196 g (6.91 oz)
- SIM: Nano-SIM + eSIM, Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Display
- Type: IPS LCD, 120Hz, NxtPaper technology
- Size: 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm² (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)
- Resolution: 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Platform
- OS: Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades
- Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
- GPU: Mali-G57 MC2
Memory
- Card slot: microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
- Internal: 512GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
- Triple:
- 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, f/2.4, (macro)
- Features: LED flash, HDR
- Video: 1080p@30fps
Selfie Camera
- Single: 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.45", 0.64µm
- Features: HDR
- Video: 1080p@30fps
Sound
- Loudspeaker: Yes, with stereo speakers
- 3.5mm jack: Yes
- DTS-certified 3D Boom Sound
Comms
- WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth: 5.3, A2DP, LE
- Positioning: GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
- NFC: Yes
- Radio: Unspecified
- USB: USB Type-C 2.0
Features
- Sensors: Fingerprint (side-mounted), gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometer (T803D only)
Battery
- Type: 5010 mAh
- Charging: 33W wired
Miscellaneous
- Colors: Moon Gray, Midnight Blue, Alps White, Pale Gold, Rosy Purple
- Models: T803E, T803D
- Price: About 300 EUR
Design and Finish :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper adopts a modern design language with clean lines, rounded edges, and a thin profile. The glass back and aluminum frame give it a premium feel, making it look more expensive than it actually is. The phone's design is elegant yet simple, with minimal distractions on the front and the large screen at the center.
On the back, you'll find four cameras neatly placed in the top left corner with the TCL branding logo in the center. The fingerprint scanner is integrated into the power button on the side of the device, making it easy to access and convenient. The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper comes in several colors, including Midnight Black and Polar White, both of which complement the sleek and modern aesthetic of the phone. Despite its premium look, the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper is relatively lightweight and easy to handle, striking a balance between style and comfort. Although it is not waterproof certified, the design is robust and durable. Therefore, you should be especially careful when it comes into contact with water or heavy rain.
Display Technology: NxtPaper :
One of the features of the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper is its innovative NxtPaper display technology, which sets it apart from other smartphones on the market. The device features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, providing vibrant colors and sharp details. However, the main difference is in the NxtPaper technology itself. The NxtPaper screen has a unique approach to mimic paper-like properties while maintaining excellent display quality. The screen is designed to be easy on the eyes by reducing glare and blue light emissions, which is especially beneficial for users who spend long periods of time reading, working, or browsing. The display is more natural looking and easier on the eyes compared to traditional smartphones, making it ideal for long periods of use without straining your eyes.
In addition, the display features a 100% NTSC color gamut, providing vivid and accurate colors for photos, video content, and other media. AMOLED technology improves contrast levels, providing deeper blacks and a more immersive visual experience, making the device ideal for media viewing and gaming. While it doesn't have the cutting edge features of an ultra-high refresh rate display, the 60Hz refresh rate is smooth enough for everyday use and casual gaming.
Performance and Software :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, which is a great choice for a mid-range smartphone. This processor balances performance and efficiency, making it ideal for everyday tasks, social media, web browsing, and media consumption. It can also handle light multitasking and casual gaming without any noticeable lag or stuttering. However, it's not designed for demanding gaming, and you may need to lower the graphics settings for demanding titles. The device comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which is plenty for the price. This configuration will be enough for most users, providing enough memory to easily switch between apps. If you need more space for apps, photos, and videos, the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper supports expandable storage via a microSD card slot, allowing for up to 1TB of additional storage.
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper runs on Android 12 with TCL's UI customization. The interface is clean and relatively intuitive, offering a mostly unchanged Android experience with additional features like Smart Manager that helps optimize system performance and battery life. The phone also has a dark mode for those who prefer a more subdued interface.
Customization options aren't excessive, but there is some unwanted software present, including pre-installed apps that can't be removed. Still, the experience is smooth and user-friendly, and most users will appreciate the balance of customization and simplicity.
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper offers a well-rounded camera setup that meets the needs of everyday photographers while offering more flexibility for those who love taking photos. The camera system on the back includes:
On the front, the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper has a 16MP selfie camera that can take clear photos for selfies and video calls. The front camera captures great details and has good color accuracy. It also comes with software enhancements like AI Beauty mode, which can enhance your selfies with subtle touches.
In terms of photography, the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper excels in sunlight conditions, offering vibrant colors and good dynamic range. Low light performance is decent but not as strong as flagship devices, resulting in some noise in dark environments. The ultra-wide and macro cameras offer some versatility but are not exceptional and may experience distortion or poor image quality in certain situations.
Battery Life :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper has a 5000mAh battery, which is plenty for a device in this category. The large battery will easily get the phone through a full day with moderate screen use for activities like browsing, streaming, and social media. With occasional use, the phone's lifespan will be even longer, making it ideal for anyone who needs a reliable device to get through the day. The device supports 18W fast charging, allowing for relatively fast charging. It's not as fast as the industry-leading fast charging solutions found on some flagship devices, but it should be enough for most users who need to charge their battery in a short amount of time. There's no support for wireless charging, but that's common for phones in this price range.
Connectivity and other features :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper comes with a full complement of connectivity options, including 5G support, which is becoming increasingly important as 5G networks spread across the world. It also comes with Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and GPS for reliable connectivity. The phone also supports dual SIM, allowing users to use two SIM cards simultaneously. This is especially useful for those who want to keep work and personal phone lines separate or for those who travel abroad. It also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a handy feature for those who prefer wired headphones over Bluetooth.
Conclusion :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper is an innovative and versatile smartphone that focuses on delivering a premium display experience, solid performance, and a well-balanced camera system at an affordable price. The outstanding features of the NxtPaper display provide a viewing experience that is easy on the eyes and comfortable, making it ideal for users who spend a lot of time using their phone. The device has a great design, a capable camera setup, and good battery life, making it an excellent choice for those looking for an all-round device.
In addition, the display features a 100% NTSC color gamut, providing vivid and accurate colors for photos, video content, and other media. AMOLED technology improves contrast levels, providing deeper blacks and a more immersive visual experience, making the device ideal for media viewing and gaming. While it doesn't have the cutting edge features of an ultra-high refresh rate display, the 60Hz refresh rate is smooth enough for everyday use and casual gaming.
Performance and Software :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, which is a great choice for a mid-range smartphone. This processor balances performance and efficiency, making it ideal for everyday tasks, social media, web browsing, and media consumption. It can also handle light multitasking and casual gaming without any noticeable lag or stuttering. However, it's not designed for demanding gaming, and you may need to lower the graphics settings for demanding titles. The device comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which is plenty for the price. This configuration will be enough for most users, providing enough memory to easily switch between apps. If you need more space for apps, photos, and videos, the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper supports expandable storage via a microSD card slot, allowing for up to 1TB of additional storage.
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper runs on Android 12 with TCL's UI customization. The interface is clean and relatively intuitive, offering a mostly unchanged Android experience with additional features like Smart Manager that helps optimize system performance and battery life. The phone also has a dark mode for those who prefer a more subdued interface.
Customization options aren't excessive, but there is some unwanted software present, including pre-installed apps that can't be removed. Still, the experience is smooth and user-friendly, and most users will appreciate the balance of customization and simplicity.
Camera System :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper offers a well-rounded camera setup that meets the needs of everyday photographers while offering more flexibility for those who love taking photos. The camera system on the back includes:
- 50MP Primary Sensor: This is the standout feature of the camera array, offering excellent detail, clarity, and color reproduction in good lighting conditions. The larger sensor allows it to capture more light, resulting in better low-light performance compared to many other budget and mid-range phones.
- 8MP Ultra Wide Camera: Ideal for taking landscapes, group photos, and wide-angle shots, this sensor offers a wider field of view, but distortion and blurring around the edges is common in budget and mid-range phones.
- 2MP Macro Sensor: The macro camera allows for close-up shots that capture intricate details of small objects. While this is a nice addition, it's not as versatile or useful as other lenses and may result in lower image quality in some cases.
- 2MP Depth Sensor: The depth sensor helps with portrait photography by allowing for more accurate background blur (bokeh) and improving overall subject separation in a photo.
On the front, the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper has a 16MP selfie camera that can take clear photos for selfies and video calls. The front camera captures great details and has good color accuracy. It also comes with software enhancements like AI Beauty mode, which can enhance your selfies with subtle touches.
In terms of photography, the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper excels in sunlight conditions, offering vibrant colors and good dynamic range. Low light performance is decent but not as strong as flagship devices, resulting in some noise in dark environments. The ultra-wide and macro cameras offer some versatility but are not exceptional and may experience distortion or poor image quality in certain situations.
Battery Life :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper has a 5000mAh battery, which is plenty for a device in this category. The large battery will easily get the phone through a full day with moderate screen use for activities like browsing, streaming, and social media. With occasional use, the phone's lifespan will be even longer, making it ideal for anyone who needs a reliable device to get through the day. The device supports 18W fast charging, allowing for relatively fast charging. It's not as fast as the industry-leading fast charging solutions found on some flagship devices, but it should be enough for most users who need to charge their battery in a short amount of time. There's no support for wireless charging, but that's common for phones in this price range.
Connectivity and other features :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper comes with a full complement of connectivity options, including 5G support, which is becoming increasingly important as 5G networks spread across the world. It also comes with Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and GPS for reliable connectivity. The phone also supports dual SIM, allowing users to use two SIM cards simultaneously. This is especially useful for those who want to keep work and personal phone lines separate or for those who travel abroad. It also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a handy feature for those who prefer wired headphones over Bluetooth.
Conclusion :
The TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper is an innovative and versatile smartphone that focuses on delivering a premium display experience, solid performance, and a well-balanced camera system at an affordable price. The outstanding features of the NxtPaper display provide a viewing experience that is easy on the eyes and comfortable, making it ideal for users who spend a lot of time using their phone. The device has a great design, a capable camera setup, and good battery life, making it an excellent choice for those looking for an all-round device.
