TCL NxtPaper 11 Plus Review: The Paper-Like Tablet to Replace Your E-Reader and iPad

Every year at Mobile World Congress, there’s one device that sneaks in under the radar and ends up capturing the imagination of people who are frankly a little jaded by endless spec bumps. In 2025, that device is TCL’s NxtPaper 11 Plus. It’s not the fastest, the flashiest, or the most expensive tablet on the show floor. But it has something none of the big boys can quite match: a screen that feels different.

The secret sauce is TCL’s NxtPaper display technology, now in its third generation, and the 11 Plus is the most convincing expression of it yet. Imagine a display that combines the low glare and soft finish of paper with the color richness of LCD. It’s like e-ink and LCD had a stylish baby that decided to show up to MWC wearing matte armor.

The result? A tablet that feels like it was built for the way we actually use screens in 2025: reading, streaming, writing, working, and doing all of the above for hours without eye strain.

Design and Build: Slim, Minimal, Practical

The NxtPaper 11 Plus keeps things clean. It’s slim (just under 7mm), weighs in at around 470g, and comes in a matte metallic finish that’s more understated than showy. You won’t mistake it for a premium aluminum iPad Pro, but you won’t feel shortchanged either. TCL has leaned into practicality: this is a device designed to be tossed into a bag, carried around the house, or propped up in a coffee shop.

The bezels are slim enough to feel modern but not so razor-thin that accidental touches become a daily irritation. That’s important, because this tablet invites handling. Unlike glossy competitors that demand careful wiping every hour, the NxtPaper’s matte finish shrugs off fingerprints. It’s a small but significant detail that underlines its “real-world ready” personality.

The NxtPaper Display: Matte, Gentle, and Surprisingly Versatile

This is the heart of the device, the thing that makes people stop mid-demo at MWC and go, “Oh wow.” TCL’s NxtPaper tech applies a special multi-layer coating that reduces reflections and mimics the diffuse quality of paper. The effect is subtle but striking: text looks sharper, colors are saturated but never harsh, and glare is practically eliminated.

For reading, it’s a dream. You can sit outdoors and still see your content clearly, something glossy tablets fail at spectacularly. For writing, the screen has just enough texture to make stylus input feel natural, like pen on notebook rather than pen on glass. And for streaming? It manages to stay vibrant enough that Netflix and YouTube don’t feel dull.

Sure, it won’t match the inky blacks of OLED or the 120Hz fluidity of an iPad Pro. But that’s missing the point. The NxtPaper 11 Plus isn’t chasing spec-sheet bragging rights. It’s chasing usability. And in the category of “tablet you can stare at all day without your eyes revolting,” it wins.

Performance and Specs: Modest but Capable

Under the hood, TCL has equipped the 11 Plus with a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage (expandable via microSD). On paper, that’s mid-tier hardware, but in practice, it feels perfectly matched to the device’s mission.

Android 14 runs smoothly, multitasking with split-screen apps works without hiccups, and casual gaming (think Genshin Impact at medium settings or Asphalt 9) feels fluid enough. This isn’t a powerhouse built for 3D rendering or hardcore esports. But for browsing, note-taking, streaming, and productivity, it’s more than capable.

And let’s be real: most people don’t buy tablets to edit 4K videos. They buy them to read, work, and relax. TCL seems to understand that better than most.

Battery Life: A Genuine All-Day Device

One of the benefits of the NxtPaper screen is efficiency. TCL claims up to 12 hours of mixed-use battery life, and in practice, it holds up. Reading ebooks, browsing, watching some Netflix, and doing a bit of light work easily stretches into a full day without reaching for the charger.

USB-C charging (with 18W support) isn’t the fastest in the world, but it’s convenient, and the battery’s endurance means you won’t be topping up multiple times a day anyway.

Cameras: More Functional Than Fantastic

Tablets are never camera-first devices, and the NxtPaper 11 Plus doesn’t try to change that. The rear 13MP camera is serviceable for scanning documents or the occasional quick snap, while the front 8MP wide-angle camera is geared toward video calls.

For Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams, the front camera does its job well. The wide field of view is handy for framing, and TCL has added AI tweaks to keep lighting and focus consistent. It won’t rival your smartphone, but it doesn’t need to.

Audio: Surprisingly Strong

One pleasant surprise is the audio system. The NxtPaper 11 Plus packs four speakers with DTS audio support, delivering sound that’s louder and fuller than expected at this price point. It’s no iPad Pro, but it’s absolutely good enough for movie nights or background music while working.

Add a headphone jack (yes, still here) and Bluetooth 5.2 support, and you’ve got flexibility whether you’re old-school wired or fully wireless.

Software and Productivity: Android With Extras

Running Android 14 with TCL’s light UI skin, the experience is mostly stock and uncluttered. You get Google’s suite of apps plus TCL’s own additions like e-reader and note-taking tools designed to take advantage of the matte display.

Stylus support is included (though the pen is sold separately), and this is where the NxtPaper 11 Plus really shines for students or professionals who like handwriting. The matte texture transforms scribbles into something that feels natural, far less slippery than glass.

Google Kids Space is built in, making it family-friendly, while multitasking with multiple windows feels smooth enough to replace a light laptop for many users. Pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard, and suddenly you’ve got a portable writing machine.

Day-to-Day Use: Who It’s For

This is where the NxtPaper 11 Plus carves out its niche. It’s not a do-everything tablet. It’s a do-the-important-things-right tablet.

• Students will love it for reading PDFs, annotating notes, and attending online classes without their eyes getting fried.
• Professionals can use it as a second screen, a note-taking pad, or even a lightweight travel laptop replacement.
• Readers who have struggled choosing between e-readers and tablets might find their perfect middle ground here. Books look great, but so does YouTube.
• Families get a durable, affordable tablet that works equally well for homework, video calls, and entertainment.

If you’re a hardcore gamer, video editor, or someone who demands OLED-level punch, this isn’t for you. But if you live in the gray zone between productivity and content consumption, it nails the brief.

The Bigger Picture: Why NxtPaper Matters in 2025

Screen fatigue is real. We spend 8–10 hours a day staring at glossy displays that are too bright, too reflective, and too unforgiving. TCL is addressing a problem most companies are ignoring, and the NxtPaper 11 Plus is proof that the solution doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

It’s not a perfect device. The chipset is midrange, the stylus costs extra, and the cameras are just okay. But none of those undermine the core vision: a tablet you actually want to use for hours.

Verdict: The Tablet That Feels Like It Was Made for Humans

The TCL NxtPaper 11 Plus won’t dethrone the iPad, but it doesn’t have to. Instead, it rethinks what a tablet should feel like in 2025. Soft on the eyes, flexible in use, affordable in price: it’s a refreshing reminder that innovation isn’t always about bigger processors or brighter screens. Sometimes, it’s about making technology feel better.

If you’re a student, a reader, a casual worker, or just someone tired of eye strain, this might be the tablet that steals your heart too.