Allison interviews Sara Yin from TCL about their NXTPAPER line of tablets, which use an LCD-based “electronic paper” display rather than traditional e-ink. These tablets come in multiple sizes, ranging from 8.7 inches up to 14.3 inches, forming a family that has gone through four generations of development since 2021.
Sara explains that the NXTPAPER displays are designed to be easy on the eyes, with a matte, anti-glare, and anti-reflection surface that looks more like paper than a glossy tablet. The screens still produce bright, vivid colors, so they feel like full-featured tablets rather than dull e-readers.
A key feature of these products is their different viewing modes: “ink paper mode” and “color paper mode.” Ink paper mode turns the interface into black and white, providing an e‑ink–like reading experience while still allowing normal tablet functions such as Gmail and office apps. Color paper mode keeps color but gives content a softer, almost cartoony look that works well for magazines, color books, and comics.
Sara notes that switching modes does not sacrifice refresh rate, so users still get smooth performance compared to standard tablets. Because these modes reduce the demand for rendering full-saturation color constantly, they also extend battery life beyond that of typical LCD tablets, especially during long reading or study sessions.
Learn more at https://www.tcl.com/
Using a Screen Reader? click here
Transcript of Interview:
Allison: I’m in the TCL booth with Sara Yin and I’m really excited to hear about their e-ink tablets. You have color, full color e-ink tablets here that we’re looking at, right?
Sara: Actually, it’s e-ink like tablets. It’s based on LCD display. But in TCL, we introduced this technology from 2021. And so far, we developed four generation of next paper display, yeah.
Allison: They call it next paper, NXT paper, correct?
Sara: Next T, next paper. NXT paper, but it’s called next paper, okay, yeah. In this category, we developed the tablets from 8 in to 14 in. This is a baby in this family, 8.7 in, and this is 11.5 in. And this is the largest one, 14.3 in.
Allison: So let’s talk about the technology here. So these look like beautiful displays. They’re kind of a little bit of a matte finish, but it’s really pleasing to the eye. The colors are bright and vivid.
Sara: Yes. Actually, it’s an anti-glare and anti-reflection display. But the magic is here. Not only the display, we also introduce some software innovations into these tablets, so you can enjoy color paper mode and ink paper mode. So in ink paper mode, you can enjoy a real e-ink like view experience.
Allison: So what’s happened on the screen here is she’s we’re looking at a traditional tablet. It’s showing Gmail and the office suite and things like that. We’re on a tablet, but it’s just gone completely black and white when she switched to that mode.
Sara: Yes, yes. You can still use Gmail and everything like a normal tablet. But at the same time, the main purpose for this mode is for reading comics or essays for studying like this.
Allison: Sure, why bother with the rest? So show me the middle mode. It was color, but it was e-ink?
Sara: It’s called color paper mode, yeah.
Allison: Okay, it’s cool. It just kind of oozes into it. So it’s almost cartoony.
Sara: Yes. Yes. It’s perfect for reading magazines like color books, comic books, something like that.
Allison: Now, does that change the refresh rate or anything as you’re reading if you’re looking at something in these different modes?
Sara: No, it doesn’t sacrifice the refresh rate at all.
Allison: Okay. So you sort of corrected me and I’m not sure I understand now. The sign here says it’s full color electronic paper display. So it’s not e-ink?
Sara: Actually, it’s not e-ink.
Allison: Okay, it’s just a way of talking about these different modes of doing the electronic paper you were showing me?
Sara: Yeah, we’re trying to explore more possibilities with the LCD display.
Allison: Okay. Okay. They’re beautiful tablets. And who makes these? These are made by TCL?
Sara: Yes.
**Steve: ** Battery life?
Allison: Yes, does it affect battery life to be in these modes?
Sara: Oh, of course, the battery life will be much longer than the normal tablet when used in these modes. Ink paper or color paper mode. When you’re in these modes it lasts much longer.
Allison: Ok because it’s not having to refresh all those colors and saturation…if people wanted to learn more about the TCL next paper displays and tablets, where would they go?
Sara: You can find all our tablets information on our website, official website.
Allison: Which is?
Sara: www.tcl.com.
Allison: Very good. Thank you very much.
Sara: Thank you.