TCL P80 Ultra Nxtpaper Review: The Phone That Doubles as an E-Reader

Michael Bennett · 2026-09-28

### Key Features - **Price:** $599 (converted from £479) - **Nxtpaper AMOLED screen tech:** The P80 Ultra has an AMOLED panel that also doubles up as a color or monochrome e-ink screen. - **Versatile cameras:** Considering the mid-range price, the P80 Ultra has a fairly versatile setup, including a dedicated zoom lens. - **Great battery life:** The 5800mAh battery, combined with the power-friendly screen and processor, delivers solid all-day battery life. ### Introduction What if your phone could replace your Kindle without compromising the everyday smartphone experience? That's the idea behind the TCL P80 Ultra Nxtpaper, a sub-$600 Android phone with a glare-free AMOLED display that can transform into a color or monochrome e-reader at the flick of a switch. It's one of the most distinctive mid-range phones around, backed by versatile cameras and solid battery life, but lackluster performance prevents the rest of the experience from matching the brilliance of its screen. ### Design **Nice-looking, but isn't exactly exciting** - Aluminum frame and plastic rear panel - Comparatively lightweight, yet durable The TCL P80 Ultra Nxtpaper is a fairly stealthy thing; glance at it, and you'd think it was a regular phone, not the phone/e-reader hybrid that it actually is. The only real giveaways are the matte screen and the Nxtpaper switch on the bottom-right of the phone. Elsewhere, it's very much your bog-standard 2026 phone; flat-edged with rounded corners, a flat screen and a squared-off camera bump that lives in the upper-right corner on the rear. That's actually one of the main changes compared to the older P60 Ultra, which had a larger, circular camera housing. There is still a bit of a wobble when placed down on a flat surface, but it's not egregious. Now this is a sub-$600 phone so, of course, there are sacrifices to be made in the materials department, but I think TCL has struck a good balance between cost and quality. The aluminum frame gives it a premium feel, while the plastic back keeps it light. It's not going to win any design awards, but it's practical and comfortable to hold. ### Display: The Star of the Show The Nxtpaper technology is what sets this phone apart. With a simple toggle, you can switch between a vibrant AMOLED display and a paper-like e-ink mode. The e-ink mode is perfect for reading in bright sunlight or for reducing eye strain before bed. It's not just a gimmick; it genuinely works. > "The Nxtpaper screen is a game-changer for anyone who loves to read on their phone but hates the glare and battery drain of traditional screens." In color e-ink mode, you can still see images and videos, but they appear muted and have a lower refresh rate. It's best for static content like books, articles, and comics. The monochrome mode is even more power-efficient and offers a true paper-like experience. ### Performance: Where It Falls Short Under the hood, the P80 Ultra is powered by a mid-range processor that handles everyday tasks fine, but struggles with heavy gaming or multitasking. If you're a power user, you might find it lacking. However, for casual use—browsing, social media, and reading—it's perfectly adequate. The phone runs Android 14 with TCL's custom skin on top. It's clean and close to stock, which is a plus. TCL promises two major OS updates and three years of security patches, which is decent for the price. ### Battery Life The 5800mAh battery is a beast. Combined with the power-efficient screen and processor, it easily lasts a full day of heavy use, and up to two days if you stick to e-ink mode. You can get through a whole weekend of reading without needing a charger. ### Cameras For a mid-range phone, the camera setup is surprisingly versatile. You get a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro. There's also a dedicated 2x telephoto lens, which is rare at this price. Photos in good light are detailed and vibrant. Low-light performance is average, but that's expected. ### Verdict The TCL P80 Ultra Nxtpaper is a niche device that nails the e-reader replacement concept. If you're a voracious reader who wants one device for everything, it's a compelling choice. But if you need top-tier performance for gaming or heavy apps, you might want to look elsewhere. At $599, it's a fair price for the unique screen technology and solid battery life. **Pros:** - Unique Nxtpaper display - Excellent battery life - Versatile cameras - Affordable price **Cons:** - Lackluster performance - Average low-light photos - Limited software updates