TCL P80 Ultra pairs Nxtpaper with OLED

The TCL P80 Ultra combines the company’s Nxtpaper display technology with an OLED panel for the first time. The Verge’s Dominic Preston says the matte screen is the phone’s standout feature, offering deeper blacks, stronger contrast and richer colors than earlier Nxtpaper models.

Nxtpaper first appeared on TCL phones with the 2023 TCL Nxtpaper 40, after arriving on tablets in 2021. The technology combines a matte finish with a paperlike texture and low-power monochrome modes. On the P80 Ultra, the matte screen also enables an always-on display, which was missing from earlier Nxtpaper phones.

Preston describes the phone’s performance as sluggish and its photo quality as average, despite a triple rear camera. He says the display is bright, has an anti-glare effect, and remains comfortable to view at high brightness or in dim rooms. Its smooth, satiny surface also makes swiping feel less sticky.

A side toggle activates Paper Mode, which reduces color or switches to monochrome and lets users exclude individual apps. Max Ink Mode is monochrome and limits access to most apps and operating system features to reduce power use and distractions.

Preston connects the screen to Apple’s iPhone Duo, whose inner display has a matte coating intended to reduce the visibility of the foldable screen’s crease. He has not tried the Duo. He writes that its outer display is not matte and speculates that Android brands may imitate the feature within the year.