TCL is positioning the P80 Ultra around a single standout feature: what it calls the world's first AMOLED NxtPaper display. The device blends a conventional high-end OLED screen with a switchable e-ink-style mode, aiming to serve both media viewing and distraction-free reading in one handset.

What the NxtPaper display does

The 6.83-inch panel operates in a standard AMOLED mode that reaches up to 3,200 nits of brightness, runs at a 120Hz refresh rate and offers 10-bit color with strong contrast. A matte, anti-glare finish covers the display, making it noticeably less reflective than a typical glossy screen. That coating slightly reduces viewing angles, though it is not described as a significant drawback.

A dedicated slider on the right edge switches the phone into one of two NxtPaper e-ink-like modes. Flipping it triggers a color-fading animation before the screen shifts to a light sepia tone, with colors largely desaturated apart from faint hints of red. Users can set either mode as the default.

Max Ink mode acts as a digital detox: it strips the interface down to a simple homescreen with a few basic apps, silences most notifications except calls and texts, and puts background apps to sleep. TCL says this extends runtime to as much as seven days of reading. The phone also ships with a reader app offering around 500 free books across several languages, plus AI features that can read a book aloud or generate a podcast-style summary. The app lacks sorting and search options.

Paper Mode converts the full phone interface to black and white e-ink, with most apps rendered in monochrome. Some apps, such as YouTube, can revert to color via a setting. In either NxtPaper mode, the display lights up and unlocks when the phone is picked up, though it does not automatically lock when set back down.

Design and hardware

The P80 Ultra is a large device, measuring 8.3mm thick and carrying a sizable 5,800mAh battery. It has a matte finish across the back, sides and screen, which lends the phone a smooth feel. Color options include Midnight Blue, Sunlit Gold and Burgundy.

The box includes a braided USB cable and a case with a textured rear and cutouts for the buttons and ports, a step up from the basic accessories often bundled with phones in this price range.

Pricing and availability

The P80 Ultra comes in two configurations. The 8GB/256GB model is priced at €550, while the 8GB/512GB version costs €600. Doubling the storage for an extra €50 is unusually inexpensive compared with typical storage upgrade pricing. UK listings place the phone at £479.99 for the 256GB model and £529.99 for the 512GB version.

As a whole, the P80 Ultra is presented as a premium-feeling handset whose combination of a strong AMOLED panel, e-ink flexibility and long battery life gives it appeal beyond its mid-range price point. The dual-mode display remains its defining selling point, targeting buyers who want a single device for both everyday use and extended reading.