Apple, Samsung and Google may dominate our list of the best phones for 2025, but they’re not the only options out there. There are plenty of budget-friendly alternatives from smaller brands that list for hundreds less than the latest iPhone or Pixel. That includes the TCL NxtPaper 60 XE, which caught our reviewer’s attention with its full-color, paper-like display.
Listing for $250, it’s an impressive budget phone that, in many ways, outperforms the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G at a similar price. And it’s even better now that it’s returned to the all-time low price we saw during Black Friday. Amazon has the 128GB space blue configuration on sale for just $170 right now, which is an $80 discount. There’s no telling how long this deal will last, however, so be sure to get your order in sooner rather than later.
This phone hits top marks for everyday use. Its screen is large, the 120Hz refresh rate is buttery smooth, and the battery lasted CNET’s Tyler Graham throughout the entire day, even with frequent use. If you take a lot of selfies, you’ll enjoy a big 32-megapixel upgrade to the front-facing camera, though the camera system is otherwise similar to TCL’s 50 series phones.
The shiny bonus features on the TCL NxtPaper 60 XE are the eponymous NxtPaper digital ink and e-reader modes and cloud-based TCL AI. You might not use these features regularly, but they’re solid value adds to an already budget phone. The 60 XE is working off a MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus processor with 8GB of memory.
“Compared to other phones in a similar price range, the TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G delivers where it counts for day-to-day use,” Graham wrote in his review, “and its impressive bells and whistles sweetened my experience with the phone.”
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Why this deal matters
The TCL NxtPaper 60 XE is one of the most unusual smartphones we’ve reviewed recently. It’s definitely worth being on your radar if you’re on the lookout for a new budget handset. Already fairly inexpensive, this deal makes it a no-brainer for those looking for something a little different. Just make sure you get your order in sooner rather than later, as this deal could end at any time.
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