TCL launches NXTPAPER phones & tablets in Australia
Wed, 4th Nov 2026 (Today)
TCL Electronics Australia has launched its latest NXTPAPER device range in Australia, comprising two smartphones and three tablets.
Aimed at people who read on screens and want lower glare, the devices include a side button called the NXTPAPER Key, which switches them into dedicated reading modes. The range is available through major Australian retailers including JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and Harvey Norman.
The line-up includes the TCL P80 Ultra smartphone at AUD $999, the TCL P80 Pro smartphone at AUD $799, the TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER tablet at AUD $1,299, the TCL TAB A1 Plus NXTPAPER tablet at AUD $599 and the TCL TAB A1 NXTPAPER tablet at AUD $449.
Users can switch between three display settings: Regular Mode, Paper Ink Mode and Max Ink Mode. TCL says Max Ink Mode uses a monochrome display, silences notifications and extends battery life for longer reading sessions.
The launch adds to a broader product line. TCL is also releasing the K70 Series, which includes the TCL K70 5G at AUD $329 and the TCL K70 4G at AUD $299. Its wider tablet portfolio also includes the TAB A1 Plus with a standard display at AUD $499 and the TAB A1 Kids Edition at AUD $399.
Phone range
The P80 Series is TCL's first smartphone range to combine NXTPAPER technology with a 1.5K AMOLED display. Both handsets have a 6.83-inch 120Hz display, 8GB of RAM expandable to 24GB, a 5,800mAh battery, and support for Google Gemini and Circle to Search.
The P80 Pro includes a 50MP main camera, 256GB of storage and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. The P80 Ultra adds a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto camera and 512GB of storage.
Kurt Bonnici, Telecommunications Business Manager at TCL Electronics Australia and New Zealand, said reading on screens had become a bigger part of everyday device use.
"Australians are spending more time looking at screens than ever, and a lot of that is reading - whether it be emails, news, books or social media - but most smartphone and tablet screen technologies still aren't built for it," Bonnici said.
He said TCL was trying to address the trade-off between display quality and reading comfort.
"Until now, people have had to choose - a vivid, high-quality screen that tires your eyes, or a paper-like e-reader that sacrifices colour and everything else your phone can do.
"Whether you're browsing in the midday sun or in bed last thing at night, you shouldn't have to compromise. That's where NXTPAPER technology comes in - with the NXTPAPER Key, you can quickly and easily switch your phone or tablet into a paper-like reading mode, without having to keep a second device at hand," Bonnici said.
Tablet line-up
On tablets, TCL says its NXTPAPER screens use what it calls 3A Crystal Shield Glass, with anti-glare, anti-reflection and anti-fingerprint coatings. The display treatment is intended to reduce smudges, reflections and screen sparkle while keeping brightness more consistent across viewing angles.
The Note A1 NXTPAPER is positioned as an eNote device for work and study. It has an 11.5-inch 2.2K display, a 3:2 aspect ratio, an 8,000mAh battery, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
It also includes the T-Pen Pro, which TCL says offers haptic feedback designed to mimic the feel of writing on paper. The device supports transcription, translation and note-taking tools, and includes controls for bookmarking recordings, saving on-screen content and organising files.
The TAB A1 Plus NXTPAPER has a 12.2-inch 2.4K display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 10,000mAh battery, 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage expandable to 2TB. The TAB A1 NXTPAPER has an 11-inch 2.1K display with a 90Hz refresh rate, an 8,000mAh battery, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage expandable to 2TB.
Both tablets support Extend Mode and Mirror Mode for PCs running Windows 10 and later, and both ship with a flip case and T-Pen 2. TCL says the tablets use low blue light settings intended to reduce eye strain while preserving colour.
The devices arrive as electronics makers continue looking for ways to distinguish handsets and tablets in a crowded market, with display comfort, note-taking and reading use cases becoming a bigger focus in product design.
The five NXTPAPER devices are now on sale in Australia through major retailers.