TCL 40 NXTPAPER review: A matte paper-like display that is easy on the eyes.
A phone that reads like paper.
TCL 40 NXTPAPER uses the company's signature matte, anti-glare display tech to mimic the feel of paper — reducing eye strain and glare for readers. A niche but genuinely differentiated screen in a sea of glossy OLEDs.
01Display
72/10072/100 is one of the weaker display results among mid-range phones of 2023 — 7 points under the average. Check the rows below before buying for this.
02Camera
62/10062/100 is one of the weaker camera results among mid-range phones of 2023 — 7 points under the average. Check the rows below before buying for this.
03Performance
56/10056/100 is one of the weaker performance results among mid-range phones of 2023 — 12 points under the average. Check the rows below before buying for this.
04Battery
80/10080/100 — right at the average for mid-range phones of 2023.
05Build
66/10066/100 is one of the weaker build results among mid-range phones of 2023 — 10 points under the average. Check the rows below before buying for this.
- NXTPAPER matte display — easy on the eyes, glare-free
- Big battery + microSD + 3.5 mm
- 50 MP main + 32 MP selfie
- 60Hz refresh + Helio G88 slow
- No 5G
- Matte screen dims colours
How this review is built: every section score, spec row and comparison on this page comes from SpecEagle's tracked catalogue — scores weight measured specs against the 148-phone cohort of mid-range devices released around the same time. We don't publish invented lab anecdotes. Spot an error? .