BARCELONA—TCL often uses Mobile World Congress to showcase new hardware, and I got a sneak peek at some really cool tech.
First up is a new version of TCL’s Nxtpaper technology. TCL isn’t calling it Nxtpaper 5.0, but it will succeed Nxtpaper 4.0. For now, it’s called Natural Light; it’s an apt name.
To date, TCL has built its Nxtpaper screens on LCD panels. Nxtpaper is the company’s blue light reduction technology that allows the screen to operate in four modes: full color, muted color, black and white, and ereader. The first three of these permit full usability of the phone and its app. The last dumbs the phone down to an ereader, enabling only some functions and apps.
TCL Natural Light Display (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Three things came together to make this new version work. First, TCL has achieved a 90% circular polarization rate. This is mostly to cut down on glare. Blue light purification reduces the amount of blue light being emitted by the screen by 15% to as low as 2.9%. Lastly, it can automatically adjust brightness and color temperature to match the surrounding environment. It follows the natural light patterns of the day to help with circadian rhythms. It also includes an anti-flare coating and a light-homogenizing film that provides a more adaptive reading experience in ereader mode. For numbers, we’re looking at 3,200 nits of brightness and 100% P3 color gamut coverage.
TCL Natural Light Display (Credit: Eric Zeman)
All I can say is that it looks incredible. It basically eliminates glare and is easy on the eyes. I really liked how it could change its tone depending on the light coming in from the windows. I can’t wait to see this on a phone or tablet.
Speaking of tablets, TCL had the Tab A1 Plus and the Tab A1 Plus Nxtpaper for me to look at. It’s an affordable, full-sized slate that you can use for productivity or entertainment.
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TCL Tab A1 Plus (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The A1 Plus, which sounds like it could go on your next steak, has a 12.2-inch screen with 2,400 by 1,600 pixels in a 3:2 aspect ratio. It reaches 450 nits in regular use and peaks at 550 nits in Sunlight mode. It has a quick refresh rate of 120Hz. This is a regular LCD. The Tab A1 Plus Nxtpaper adds TCL’s eye care treatment to reduce glare and blue light.
Other specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, 6GB or 10GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The tablet supports microSD storage cards up to 2TB. The tablet has an 8,000mAh battery, a 5MP front camera, and an 8MP rear camera. It connects via Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0, both of which are disappointingly dated. The A1 Plus has four speakers, but only one mic.
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TCL Tab A1 Plus (Credit: Eric Zeman)
I like the feel of the rear panel, which has some grit to it. I appreciate the circular camera module on the rear; it has a simple, elegant look. The weight isn’t too much, and it feels well-made.
The A1 Plus comes in Space Blue and will be made available to US buyers in April or May, while the A1 Plus Nxtpaper is set to go on sale in Europe only later this year.
Last, TCL announced that the Nxtpaper 70 Pro, announced at CES, will go on sale in the US starting in April. The company hasn’t shared pricing yet.
About Our Expert
Eric Zeman
Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics
Experience
I’m PCMag’s managing editor for consumer electronics content, overseeing an experienced team of reviewers and product testers. I’ve been covering technology for about 25 years. Prior to PCMag, I worked at outlets such as Android Authority, Fortune, InformationWeek, and Phonescoop.
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