IPS LCD screens: A feature that makes many people abandon flagships in favor of budget phones.

Many of us struggle to build a healthy relationship with technology and social media . Excessive screen time is rarely a good thing, but setting realistic boundaries is difficult. Smartphones and mobile apps are designed to capture and hold your attention, filling screens with vibrant colors, endless feeds of content, and an inevitable dopamine rush. In the journey of using Android phones purposefully, many wonder what it would be like to use a phone that doesn't always seek their immersion.

 

That prompted them to make a radical change – they ordered a budget phone with a matte, paper-like IPS LCD screen and built-in minimalist digital features to replace their high-end phone. Each time they tried a smartphone in this price range, people were amazed by the complete experience it offered. Many abandoned their iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge , each a 512GB version costing around $1,200, to switch to the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G.

A step backward in every respect except one.

TCL's use of a matte LCD screen with e-paper mode shines through.

 

Many people strongly advocate for matte, anti-glare displays on smartphones, tablets, and laptops. While the dull, textured look of matte screens is disliked by many, it's actually more comfortable for the eyes and less prone to glare. There aren't many Android phones on the market with truly matte screens. When TCL introduced its NXTPAPER 60 series with a matte, paper-like display at IFA 2025 last September, it immediately captured everyone's attention.

Later, some people stumbled upon the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G. It's not as good as the flagship TCL NXTPAPER 60 Ultra or the upcoming NXTPAPER 70 Pro, but it has the same NXTPAPER technology and a matte display panel. There are also other advantages – it's more compact than the 7.2-inch Ultra and significantly cheaper. If you don't like the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G, you only have about $200 left.

But you'll know you made the right choice immediately after unboxing this smartphone. Again, many people hate glare and fingerprint smudges, thankfully these are completely absent on the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G. Using the phone at a desk under screen lighting is always annoying, but not anymore. Bright light or bright sunshine? No problem. See the difference between the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G (left) and a regular Android phone under strong photographic lighting below:

 

The difference is so striking, it's hard to believe. Furthermore, this feature is built into the phone, so you don't need to buy a frosted screen protector or keep the original one to mimic the effect. The display underneath is excellent, using IPS LCD technology with a 1080 x 2460 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It's not OLED , but that's by design – the phone uses a blue light filter and is more eye-friendly thanks to the IPS LCD panel.

NXTPAPER is much better than e-ink screens for phones.

In the search for an eye-friendly, minimalist-designed Android phone, two options to consider are the Boox Palma 2 or Palma 2 Pro, both using e-ink display technology. There are two reasons why many people choose the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G: It's $200 cheaper and offers the option to function as a full-color LCD screen at any time. That's the beauty of the NXTPAPER system. It always functions as a regular Android phone, but after flipping a hardware switch on the side of the phone (the NXTPAPER key), you can switch to a paper-like view.

 

There are four view mode options: Full Color, Max Ink mode, Ink Paper mode, and Color Paper mode. The standard Full Color mode works like any Android phone you're familiar with, displaying vibrant colors behind a matte overlay. Then you can change things up with Ink Paper or Color Paper. These modes mimic the paper-like feel of an e-reader, in black and white or color. This switch also activates Max Ink mode, unlocking a paper-like black and white experience with a minimalist home screen.

Max Ink is like a "basic phone" mode for your Android phone, and it's incredibly smart. This mode closes all running apps and displays a minimalist home screen with only the apps you allow. If an app isn't added to Max Ink mode, its notifications won't appear until you switch back to a different view. This is designed for purposeful phone use, such as reading, without distractions.

This viewing mode is great for reading, mimicking the experience of an e-ink screen without the drawbacks. It also saves significant battery power – with 60% battery remaining, the phone says it will last over 38 hours in Max Ink mode. The ability to simplify your phone and limit unwanted notifications with just a flick of a switch is something everyone wants, and the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G delivers on that.