TCL 40 NXTPAPER
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until September 2025 · Buy-by September 2023
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~2-year update track record — on that basis the 40 NXTPAPER should be supported until around September 2025. Buying it today still gets you about -0.8 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: TCL's policy · last verified 2026-06-17 · how we compute this
Our verdict
The phone that put NXTPAPER eye-comfort displays on the map, now an aging but affordable reader's pick with support around ended.
Pros
- Matte NXTPAPER display is gentle on the eyes and glare-free outdoors
- Generous 8GB RAM, 256GB storage and 33W charging for its class
- Pleasant clean software for reading and media
Cons
- 4G only and launched on the older Android 13
- Helio G88 and 90Hz screen feel dated, and security coverage ran to about 2025
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.78-inch IPS LCD NXTPAPER (matte anti-glare), FHD+, 90Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G88 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 50MP |
| ultra-wide | 5MP |
| macro | 2MP |
| front | 32MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 5,010 mAh |
| Charging | 33W wired |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 168.2 × 75.3 × 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 195 g |
| Materials | Plastic frame and back, glass front |
| Water resistance | Not rated |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 13 with TCL UI at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, USB-C 2.0, microSDXC, 3.5mm jack, fingerprint reader |
| Update policy | ~1 years of updates (our estimate from TCL's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
What is special about the TCL 40 NXTPAPER?
It was among TCL's first NXTPAPER phones, using a matte anti-glare display that mimics paper to cut glare and blue light, with a grayscale e-reader mode.
Does it have 5G?
No. The 40 NXTPAPER is 4G-only; the separate 40 NXTPAPER 5G variant adds 5G with a different chipset.
Is it still getting updates in 2026?
Likely not. TCL did not publish an official policy, and based on its typical budget cadence security support was estimated to end around 2025, so it is now near or past end of support.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-17.