TCL’s Nxtpaper 2.0 Lights Up a New 11-Inch Tablet

BARCELONA—TCL showed off a new version of its Nxtpaper technology at MWC here and the first product that will use it.

Nxtpaper looks sort of like E Ink, but colorized. Nxtpaper 2.0 is 150% brighter than the previous generation tech, pushing up to 500 nits of brightness. This will make any device with the screen much easier to use outdoors or under harsh lighting. TCL also worked to reduce the blue light output of the display, making it less fatiguing for your eyes. The multi-layer glass diffuses light rather than altering it. An added ambient light sensor will allow the screen to adjust its color tone to match the surrounding light.

TCL Nxtpaper 2.0 display
(Credit: Eric Zeman)

“TCL maintains a steadfast commitment to protect eye health while supplying unmatched viewing and productivity,” says Stefan Streit, CMO for TCL Communication.

Nxtpaper 2.0 will make its first appearance in the TCL Nxtpaper 11 tablet. TCL says the tablet has a 2K screen that is assisted by artificial intelligence to enhance multimedia experiences. It supports the T-pen stylus 1 for pen-based input. The screen includes 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity for a natural writing feel. The tablet packs a grayscale mode dedicated for reading.

TCL Nxtpaper 11 tablet
(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Other features include an 8MP user-facing camera for HD video calls, a split-screen multitasking feature, and four speakers for the best possible sound. An 8,000mAh battery is buried within to provide all-day productivity or entertainment. TCL was mum about the rest of the tablet’s specs.

TCL has a traditional LCD version of the same tablet. The TCL Tab 11 has a 5:3 aspect ratio 2K display with an 85% screen-to-body ratio. This tablet is also compatible with the T-pen stylus 1, has 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and an 8,000mAh battery. It will be available with Wi-Fi and with LTE 4GE.

TCL Tab 11 with LCD display
(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The Nxtpaper 11 starts at $249 and will reach Europe and other regions in May. The Tab 11 costs $179 for the Wi-Fi model and $209 for the LTE model. It will also be available in May.

Looking at the Nxtpaper tablet in person was quite something. The screen is compelling. It’s hard not to like the matte finish and glare-free experience. Otherwise, the design is fairly traditional and the materials and manfuacting quality are on point. TCL did not commit to bringing these tablets to the US, which is a shame.