I Tested a $250 Budget Phone and It Didn’t Make Me Look Like a Cheapskate

The TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G is an impressive budget phone that meets or exceeds the specs of its 50 series predecessors — and in many ways outperforms the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G at a similar price.

The shiny bonus features are the eponymous NxtPaper digital ink and e-reader modes and cloud-based TCL AI. You might not use these features regularly — the NxtPaper digital ink was great for night-time reading but I’d rather write my own emails than use the AI assistant — but they’re solid value adds to a $250 phone.

This phone hits top marks for everyday use. Its screen is large, the 120Hz refresh rate is buttery smooth and the battery lasted me throughout the entire day, even with frequent use. If you take a lot of selfies, you’ll enjoy a big 32-megapixel upgrade to the front-facing camera, though the camera system is otherwise similar to TCL’s 50 series phones.

Compared to other phones in a similar price range, the TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G delivers where it counts for day-to-day use, and its impressive bells and whistles sweetened my experience with the phone.

TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G’s design, screen and battery

The 60 XE NxtPaper 5G has a 6.78-inch display that’s just as big as the TCL 50 XL 5G’s screen and larger than the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G’s 6.7-inch display. The 60 XE NxtPaper 5G’s 1080p resolution panel with a 120Hz refresh rate also outperformed the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G at a similar price.

That large display makes games easier to play. I was able to take in the stunning visuals of the mobile game Sky: Children of the Light without my fat thumbs obscuring my vision, though the phone got uncomfortably warm against my hands after a 15-minute play session.

When reviewing the TCL 50 XL 5G, CNET writer Mike Sorrentino pointed out how its speakers muddied audio mixing with the volume cranked up. I found myself having a similar problem with the 60 XE NxtPaper 5G, which was a big pain point when I was using the phone on the train and couldn’t simply keep upping the volume at my leisure. You could, as I did, cup a hand around the speaker to hear it better, but it’s easier to use the 3.5mm jack — an enviable feature long abandoned by pricier phones — and plug in some headphones.

One big surprise on this budget phone was the 8GB of RAM — doubled to an effective 16GB by using part of the storage for extra memory — which made swapping between apps effortless and let me jump from streaming videos to graphically intensive games with little to no trouble.

Crucially, 8GB of memory is the sweet spot that more or less enables AI capabilities on a device, and TCL AI is enabled on the 60 XE. It’s a simple cloud-based LLM that helps with writing tasks, so don’t expect anything like Google’s Circle to Search feature. Even so, it can draft basic email templates if you struggle to find the right words for a given situation.

The 60 XE is working off of a MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus processor, which is the same silicon powering the TCL 50 XL and the TCL 40 X, though it seems that TCL managed to optimize the processing power of the 60 XE to avoid the 50 XL’s relatively quick battery drain.

At the end of the day, all these specs are bundled together in an aesthetically pleasing package. The 60 XE NxtPaper 5G is 0.32 inches (8.2mm) thick and fits smoothly into any pocket (including the too-tight jeans I made the mistake of wearing) and the back of the phone has a pretty blue rippling design that’s pleasant to look at on the rare occasion that it’s set face-down. It’s a budget phone that doesn’t make you look like a cheapskate, which is always worth appreciating.

CNET has several tests to help benchmark a phone’s battery life. In our YouTube streaming test, in which we stream videos at 100% brightness for three hours, the TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G’s battery life drained to 90% at the one-hour mark, 80% at the two-hour mark and finished the test at 71% battery.

The TCL 50 XL drained from full to 62% in the same test. The 60 XE NxtPaper shares display specs with the 50 series phone, but TCL seems to have optimized power use on the newer device. We’re still in the process of reviewing the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, so for this comparison, we used our results for the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G. The A15 5G beat both phones, draining from 100% battery to 83% battery during the YouTube streaming test.

In our 45-minute battery endurance test, I put the 60 XE NxtPaper through its paces. I watched YouTube videos, ran a Google Meet call and played Sky for 10 minutes each, then browsed Bluesky for 15 minutes. In that time, the phone’s battery dropped from 100% to 91%.

I also timed how long it takes to charge the phone using the included 18W wired USB-C charger. The 60 XE NxtPaper went from 15% to 100% in 2 hours and 16 minutes, though the Samsung Galaxy A15 charges faster with its 25W charger.

When it comes to software, the 60 XE has TCL’s 50 series — and even the Samsung Galaxy A15 (for now) — beat. It runs Android 15 with a custom TCL UI and comes with TCL’s standard promise of one major software upgrade, to Android 16, plus two years of system security updates. This isn’t great, especially compared to Samsung’s promise of four years of software updates and five years of security updates for budget phones. Even if you fall in love with the 60 XE NxtPaper 5G, you’ll want to trade it in after a couple of years once TCL abandons its system security.

Fortunately, the 60 XE NxtPaper avoids the carrier-locked bloatware that TCL 50 XL users had to deal with. You’ll get only the usual Google suite of preinstalled apps, and you won’t have to worry about the obtrusive T-Mobile Play feed being an eyesore.

NxtPaper screen for easier reading and better battery life

The big selling point of the TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G is its display-altering NxtPaper technology. While not brand-new — TCL brought its NxtPaper phones to the US at CES in 2024 and has used it for years in its tablets — it’s a special feature that adds extra value to a budget phone.

The NxtPaper digital ink display modes are meant to replicate the experience of reading on paper. The 60 XE has a dedicated side switch that toggles among its three modes. I tested them at night while my partner slept soundly beside me. My bright phone screen normally blasts my eyes during late-night doomscrolling, so anything that softens that glare is a welcome reprieve.

The Max Ink mode was the tool I used the least, because it limited the usage of my favorite apps, like Webtoon. Max Ink fully converts the 60 XE into an e-reader, closing most apps and turning the screen entirely black and white. Battery life in this mode is extensive — at 52% charge, the phone predicted nearly 66 hours of use.

You can still check messages, browse the web, scroll social media and more, so there’s a versatile range of apps you can reopen. Personally, the stark black-and-white color scheme still felt like a flashbang in bed, so I only used it once or twice — but it’s an excellent battery saver in a pinch.

The Ink Paper mode’s black-and-white display was gentler on the eyes, blending NxtPaper’s e-reader capabilities with TCL’s signature blue-light-dimming feature. It was admittedly easier on the eyes than Max Ink, but I still wouldn’t choose to brighten my phone primarily with a (greyed-out) light mode.

The saving grace for the NxtPaper modes is Color Paper, the third blue-light-dimming option in the suite. It keeps the screen’s colors intact while switching to a paper-like display that’s easier on the eyes. The end result is slightly washed out hues, but that didn’t get in the way of enjoying my apps. I read half of a manga in one night with the Color Paper mode on, and while I definitely noticed the lack of vibrancy, it actually made everything look a bit like a watercolor painting.

TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G cameras

The 60 XE NxtPaper’s large camera disc comes equipped with a triple-camera system: a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 5-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel depth sensor for calculating depth-of-field effects in portraits or close-up shots. The front-facing camera is 32 megapixels, which is a big step up from TCL’s 50 XL phone.

The main camera captures functional photos with a wide range of color. In this shot of a green corner in my girlfriend’s neighborhood, the light post in the foreground is adequately separated from the background details, though it’s clear how much the elements in the rear blend together.

I also used the main camera to snap a photo of a sauce blend at a Korean hot pot restaurant. Once again, the 60 XE’s camera separates distinct colors but blends similar hues, resulting in a flatter image. Even slight zooming reveals that fine details just aren’t captured.

I also put the ultrawide camera to work during hot pot, snapping a shot of our table once the plates arrived. The foreground is rendered in great detail — you can even see the moisture on the meat — but the background detail doesn’t hold up in comparison.

The depth sensor adds a shallow depth of field to photos, making for nicely detailed shots. I used it to capture these flowers from my girlfriend’s garden, and the vibrant hues really stand out. The rich red bulbs and soft pink petals pop against the background, making the 60 XE feel like it’s punching above its weight for nature photography.

Compared with the photos CNET senior editor Mike Sorrentino took on the TCL 50 XL 5G, the TCL 60 XE’s selfie camera is definitely sharper. Here’s a shot of me at a pit stop during a multi-day trip — it captures the unshaved fuzz on my face in almost uncomfortable detail, but completely washes out the sky and blends the reds of the gas station behind me.

The camera system is a normal corner-cutting point for these budget phones. You won’t be taking any award-winning photos with the 60 XE, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t have any reservations about posting these pictures on Instagram either.

The bottom line: What we think of the TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G

TCL has put together another impressive budget device, combining some features you’d expect from pricier phones with extra bells and whistles that feel special in a $250 product. The 60 XE’s display is much like the 50 XL’s, but its standout camera upgrade is the front-facing selfie lens. And what really sets it apart from other budget phones are the NxtPaper and TCL AI features.

Unfortunately, the 60 XE’s battery life can’t match the Samsung Galaxy A15’s. It also gets uncomfortably hot during mobile gaming. But its biggest drawback is still TCL’s meager promise of just one software upgrade and two years of security updates. Both Motorola and Samsung have stronger commitments to support their budget phones, offering three years and five years of security updates, respectively.

If you have sensitive eyes or you frequently use AI writing tools, the TCL 60 XE NxtPaper is a cut above most other phones you can get for $250. If the extras here don’t matter much to you, you’re probably better off with a Samsung or Motorola phone.

How we test phones

Every phone tested by CNET’s reviews team is actually used in the real world. We test a phone’s features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it’s bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP-rating for water resistance. We push the processor to its limits using standardized benchmarks like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own observations while navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphics-heavy games at high refresh rates.

All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions, from bright sunlight to dim indoor scenes. We try out special features, such as night mode and portrait mode, and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also test battery life through daily use and a series of battery drain tests.

We consider additional features, such as 5G support, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus compatibility, charging speeds and foldable displays, among other useful tools, too. And we balance all this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever price it is, actually represents good value. Though these tests may not always be reflected in CNET’s initial review, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.

Update, Aug. 14: The TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G costs $250.