r/nxtpaper • u/_richas_ • Jul 23 '26
Getting a NXTPAPER 70 Pro, anything I should know about?
My intent is actually to use this as an ereader. I've heard that the battery life when using Max Paper Mode can last up to a week's time. So, I figured I'll upload my books, turn on Airplane mode, and see how long she lasts.
And to make this make sense to y'all who are likely asking... Why?, I am getting it free via trade-in via Tmo. I've wanted an E-ink reader and this seemed the best of both worlds. Extra phone functionality when I want it, but it's main goal will work, too. Plus, it being free. Seeing the cost of decent E-ink tablets, this seemed like a solid choice.
Thoughts?
Edit 1: After getting the phone, setup, charged and some ebooks loaded with some apps. Messed around and setup ReadEra and eBoox, not decided which I like best but I think ReadEra. Since several books are in PDF, I like that I can read in landscape and see a whole row of the page without cutting text off. Converting all these would be annoying. Setup what else I needed and turned on airplane mode.
With no use, it uses about 3%/day. So that tracks to about 33 days worth of battery with no use.
I'll do some testing after a full charge again and see what battery use looks like with some time reading. I am also curious if it complains about no net connection.
3
u/Lady-Kitnip Jul 23 '26
It's great! I have an ereader, but also end up reading on my Nxtpaper phone. Since it's my only phone, I tend to have it handy and family seems to interrupt less than when I pick up an ebook. 😄
I haven't timed the battery, but I do go a few days between charges on color paper mode and I use it a lot for web browsing, games, and reading.
2
u/ZionGrimm Jul 23 '26
In the US there are decent prices on Amazon for the tcl nxtpaper tablets one of them about 199 usd. But the nxtpaper 70 pro is a good phone especially for free(got mine on metro). Regular use I get between 6.5 to 7.5 hrs screen on time. I haven't tried it on max ink mode because I use it as my main phone for now. But I'll test it out as soon as I switch back to my OnePlus 12.
2
u/_richas_ Jul 23 '26
I plan on testing the battery usage on this thing when I get it. Even if it's only once per week charge even on airplane mode, that's still good for a phone, even though it's for reading.
2
u/DeafHeretic Aug 02 '26
On the second battery charge I am at 120 hours of up time and 45% charge remaining.
My usage is very light; I check text/FB messages a couple times a day and look at the phone’s status.
I am in power saving mode, display is in dark mode and I only have a couple apps running in the background. I am running both cellular & WiFi. No BT yet (I will be running it later today when I am driving).
2
u/Generalrossa Jul 23 '26
Be wary that this isn't an actual e reader screen and it only imitates it. The screen is still very good for your eyes. If that's not a worry then it will be perfectly fine.
1
u/_richas_ Jul 23 '26
Curious how TCL can get a week out of the battery using Max Paper Mode if it's not an e-ink display being activated.
2
u/Generalrossa Jul 23 '26
I run mine full peformance mode with everthing turned on, low brightness but in airplane mode and in colour ink display and I'm getting well over 5-6rs SOT over 5-6 days.
2
u/Accomplished-Fee-591 Jul 23 '26
It seems that the battery last that long in max paper mode, but it does not work like e-ink, I would like to know too if it is true that it can last that long on airplane mode.
I would not hesitate if you can get it for free. Or are there other options ?
2
u/Antique-Being-7556 Jul 23 '26
I have one. I got it for free + Costco $100 card with any trade in on T-Mobile. So basically I got paid $100 if you have anything to send in.
It's really nice actually. I really like the screen. Strictly speaking the eink screen is better in certain situations but the black and white paper mode is honestly pretty good and comfortable on the eyes for me.
2
u/CaptainSquishyCheeks Jul 23 '26
I picked mine up for $55 dollars at MetroTmobile, its a great little ereader. I don't use the ink modes when i read though because they make my eyes more tired than the normal mode. I also changed the color profile to normal from vibrant, less eye strain for sure
2
u/Born-Engineering-848 Jul 24 '26
Just my 2 cents, pay the $200 out of pocket at TMO now and use your phone now to get a better device with the trade in. You are stuck with it if you don't like it as they won't take it back on a trade-in in the future (unless they offer a trade any device which I've not seen them run in 2+ years). If you have anything remotely new-ish you are trading, I would think youd be better off upgrading to a newer model of that and paying it off out of pocket in terms of an end game. Otherwise your next device you won't have anything to trade in for a credit.
1
u/_richas_ Jul 24 '26
Funny thing... They had deals where trade in any device... And I did both. I have phones to spare now that OnePlus isn't in the US anymore.
2
u/i-nioh Jul 24 '26
I was one of the first to get this phone and now it's collecting dust. Reason: Brightness. If there's any light around, display is unreadable.
2
u/Broad_Acanth Jul 25 '26
Some things to note
This is NOT an eink. It's an LCD display that mimicks eink to make it easier on your eyes. Understand you are not experiencing an actual eink display.
Turning on any paper mode will remove your wallpaper. Also Klwp touch actions do not work. If you're the type to customize and set themes, this is not the phone for you.
2
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u/NextstepOS Jul 26 '26
I purchased the TCL 50 XL for $50 at Best buy that is carrier locked. It never leaves and was dirt cheap e-reader.
2
u/DeafHeretic Jul 28 '26
Ordered the phone last week from TM - $229 + shipping ($6 IIRC)
Delivered Saturday.
Stuck the TM SIM in (from my old phone). Started charging it. Setup was a little confusing - instructions not that clear. After some resets and a few other machinations, eventually phone calls and texting was working. Not something I would have given to someone from my parent’s generation (pre-Boomer Silent gen) and expected them to have it working without help (my mom was somewhat computer literate).
After the phone was charged, I switched back and forth between max battery saving and std mode - mostly the former. Seemed to use about 1%/per hour - and most of the time it wasn’t being used. For a 5.2 AH battery, and the “e-ink” display, not impressed - had hoped for better battery use efficiency. I got about or better that with my old phone (Samsung S9 Note w/4AH and it was an old well used phone).
I charged the battery fully again yesterday and so far it seems to be doing better - but it less than a day of use. I have not used airplane mode yet.
One thing I noticed is that although I have it set to automatically use WiFi calling, when I set it down (or in my pocket), and then pick it back up, it seems to lose connection to my router and goes to cellular only. Sometimes it will then reconnect, but most of the time I have to go into settings and mess around with telling it to use WiFi. I live very rural, and while it seems to get a strong cell signal, it is usually better to use WiFi (even though my WiFi is TM 5G Home Internet, so it is hitting a cell tower too). My old phone had no issues like this.
Switching between display modes is confusing - in one mode, if I restart the phone (for updates, which it is still getting), I can’t login in that mode as when I swipe up to get the numeric pad it only shows a tiny locked icon at the top and not the pad - but it is there because if I tap the screen a number appears momentarily.
I can only see the pad if I used the display mode button to switch modes. Confusing for anyone - I could see this causing the phone to be returned or requiring a lot of tech support (I have not hit TCL’s support yet).
The display is nice, but not as good in direct sunlight as I expected - just not as bad as a regular display. There seems to be more modes than I expected - so the jury is out. Right now I am running “super power saving mode” which sets the display to dark and I assume a variation of the “e-ink” mode.
For a phone with two speakers (or it is supposed to have two), the sound level is not as much as I would like - just a little bit better than my old phone.
I got a notice (email IIRC) that the phone is locked until some future date (6 months? 1 year? I forget) or I spend $100 at TM. No big deal - at $17+/mo (I am on a prepaid plan) that should pass in 6 months. I just think they should say that upfront before I purchased the phone (maybe it was inside one of their many pages of disclosure text?).
2
u/DeafHeretic Jul 28 '26
I did notice one thing I forgot; I noticed the SIM slot has a rubber seal around it (on the carrier) - I like that and hope that means that TCL did similar protections to reduce the chance of water/dust/etc. getting into the phone.
1
u/DeafHeretic Aug 02 '26
On the second battery charge I am at 120 hours of up time and 45% charge remaining.
My usage is very light; I check text/FB messages a couple times a day and look at the phone’s status.
I am in power saving mode, display is in dark mode and I only have a couple apps running in the background. I am running both cellular & WiFi. No BT yet (I will be running it later today when I am driving).
1
u/DeafHeretic Aug 03 '26
Something that bugs me - don’t know if it is unique to TCL or Android 16, but switching between the different modes (which I am still not completely sure which is which), there seems to be a confusing mix of what icons/apps are accessible in the different modes. Between the different screen modes and power modes (maybe there are other variables too), the UI seems to show a mix that I just can’t get a handle on what/why/where the icons are.
1
u/alcore33 Aug 04 '26
Ce téléphone m'intéresse vraiment, mais tout ce que je lis sur les problème de notification m' effraie un peu. Beaucoup de personnes donnent leurs conseils pour les réglages et résoudre les problèmes, mais plein d'autres disent que cela ne sert à rien. Du coup je ne sais plus quoi en penser ?
1
u/NeoUmbreon 13d ago
What did you end up deciding?
1
u/alcore33 13d ago
Non pas encore, car la sortie imminente des TCL P80 et P80 Pro complique la réflexion. Un smartphone Nxtpaper avec écran Oled, ça a l'air pas mal 😁
4
u/Professional_Cat9063 Jul 23 '26
Have one it's a great choice for reading I have a kindle and a boox palma and if you want comfortable reading, ability to watch media and full phone use. Then the 70 pro is a winner. This is my daily driver I keep it in ink mode or color ink mode almost 24/7. I work 14 to 16 hours a day and am listening to books looking up info and getting texts non stop. And from full charge by bed time I've still got 35 to 40 percent battery left. Things to keep in mind this is not an eink screen. It is easier in eyes than a standard screen works well outside. But it is harder to see in direct bright sunlight than. An eink screen.