TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G VS TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G

Both the TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G and the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G share a number of identical design fundamentals: they weigh exactly 190 g, carry the same IP54 ingress protection rating, and are both described as water resistant. Neither features a rugged build or a foldable form factor. In practical terms, IP54 means both phones can handle splashes and light rain but are not suited for submersion, which is a reasonable but not exceptional level of protection for this category.

Where the two diverge is in their physical footprint. The 60 NxtPaper 4G is measurably slimmer at 7.9 mm versus the 60 SE NxtPaper 5G's 8.2 mm, and its overall volume is noticeably smaller at 99.97 cm³ compared to 103.47 cm³. The 4G model is also slightly narrower (75.5 mm vs 76.2 mm), though it is a touch taller (167.6 mm vs 165.6 mm). The net effect is that the 4G variant has a somewhat more compact and slightly more pocketable profile, even if the differences are modest enough that most users would not notice them in casual daily handling.

On design, the TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G holds a narrow edge: its slimmer thickness and smaller volume make it the more refined form factor of the two. However, since the weight is identical and both phones share the same protection standard, the advantage is marginal and unlikely to be a decisive factor on its own.

Both phones use an LCD IPS panel, so neither offers the deeper blacks or superior contrast of AMOLED technology, and both lack HDR support of any kind. Screen sizes are nearly identical at 6.8″ for the TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G and 6.7″ for the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G — a difference that is imperceptible in everyday use. The more consequential divergence lies beneath those similar dimensions.

Resolution and refresh rate tell two very different stories here. The 60 NxtPaper 4G packs a 1080 x 2460 px resolution at 395 ppi, which is genuinely sharp — text is crisp, fine detail in photos renders cleanly, and icons appear well-defined. The 60 SE NxtPaper 5G, by contrast, drops to 720 x 1600 px at just 262 ppi, a density where individual pixels can become visible, particularly during reading or fine-detail tasks. On the flip side, the 5G model refreshes at 120Hz versus the 4G model's 90Hz, meaning scrolling and animations appear smoother on the SE — though this benefit is far more noticeable in fast-paced content than in typical daily usage.

The clear winner for display quality is the TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G. The jump from 262 ppi to 395 ppi represents a substantial and visible sharpness advantage that outweighs the 30Hz refresh rate deficit in most real-world scenarios. Users who prioritize screen fidelity for reading, media, or general browsing will find the 4G model's display markedly more refined.

The chipset gap between these two devices is significant. The TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G runs on the MediaTek Helio G92, built on an older 12 nm process, while the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 on a modern 6 nm node. The smaller the process node, the more transistors fit on the chip, which generally translates to better performance per watt — meaning the 5G model can do more while generating less heat and consuming less power.

The benchmark numbers reinforce this gap decisively. The 60 SE NxtPaper 5G scores 2012 in Geekbench 6 multi-core and 782 single-core, compared to 1407 and 441 respectively for the 60 NxtPaper 4G. That is roughly a 43% uplift in multi-core and a 77% jump in single-core performance — the latter being particularly relevant for everyday responsiveness like app launches and UI interactions. The 5G model also benefits from faster 2133 MHz RAM versus 1866 MHz, and a higher memory bandwidth of 17.07 GB/s versus 13.41 GB/s, which helps when multitasking or handling data-intensive tasks. The one area where the 4G model pulls ahead is storage: it offers 512 GB of internal storage compared to just 256 GB on the 5G variant, which is a meaningful practical advantage for users who store large amounts of media locally.

For raw processing capability, the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G holds a clear and substantial advantage across every performance metric. The storage trade-off is real, but users who prioritize snappier day-to-day performance and future-proofing will find the 5G model considerably more capable under the hood.

Camera hardware splits meaningfully across these two devices. The TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G leads on raw megapixel count with a 108 MP primary sensor paired with a 2 MP secondary, while the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G opts for a 50 MP main lens alongside a more capable 5 MP secondary. The 4G model's higher-resolution sensor can capture more detail in well-lit scenes and allows for more aggressive cropping, but megapixels alone do not determine output quality — and notably, neither phone includes optical image stabilization, which is a more impactful omission for low-light or handheld shots than sensor resolution. The 5G model's secondary lens at 5 MP is also considerably more useful in practice than the 4G's 2 MP companion, which is typically limited to depth-sensing roles.

The selfie camera gap is stark: the 4G model ships with a 32 MP front-facing sensor versus just 8 MP on the 5G variant. For users who prioritize portrait shots or video calls, that is a substantial resolution advantage. However, the 60 SE NxtPaper 5G counters with an exclusive feature: slow-motion video recording, absent on the 4G model. Both phones cap standard video at 1080p at 30 fps, and share the same manual controls suite and HDR photo mode.

The camera comparison ends without a clean winner — the right choice depends on use case. The TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G is the stronger pick for selfie-focused users and those wanting high-resolution stills, while the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G offers a more versatile secondary lens and slow-motion video for users who value creative video capabilities over raw resolution.

When it comes to software, these two devices are identical in every measurable way. Both the TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G and the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G ship with Android 15, and their feature sets match point for point across the entire specification list — from privacy controls and dynamic theming to split-screen multitasking, Picture-in-Picture, and offline voice recognition.

Worth noting for prospective buyers is that neither device receives direct OS updates, meaning software upgrades are mediated through TCL rather than pushed directly by Google. This is common among mid-range Android manufacturers but can result in slower or less consistent update delivery compared to phones on Android One or similar programs. Beyond that, the shared feature set is genuinely solid for the segment: on-device machine learning, granular notification and app-tracking controls, and multi-user support are all present on both.

This category is a complete tie. There is no software-based differentiator between these two phones — a user's experience of the operating system will be functionally identical regardless of which model they choose.

Battery capacity is identical across both phones at 5200 mAh, which is a generously sized cell for this class of device. All else being equal, users can expect broadly similar endurance from either model on a full charge. Neither supports wireless charging, and both ship with a charger included — so the out-of-box experience is consistent.

The single differentiator here is wired charging speed. The TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G supports 33W fast charging, while the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G tops out at 18W. For a 5200 mAh battery, this is a tangible real-world difference: the 4G model will meaningfully cut down the time needed to top up from low battery, which matters when charging windows are short. The 18W on the 5G variant is functional but comparatively slower for a battery of this size.

The TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G takes a clear edge in this category. With the same capacity but nearly double the charging speed, it offers a more convenient daily charging experience — particularly useful for users who rely on quick top-ups rather than overnight charging.

Audio is an area of near-parity with one notable exception. Both the TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G and the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G retain a 3.5 mm headphone jack — a practical inclusion that is increasingly uncommon, and welcome for users who prefer wired listening without an adapter. Neither device supports advanced Bluetooth audio codecs such as aptX or LDAC, so wireless audio quality is limited to standard transmission for both.

The single differentiator is speaker configuration. The 60 SE NxtPaper 5G features stereo speakers, while the 60 NxtPaper 4G is limited to a mono speaker setup. In practice, stereo speakers produce a noticeably wider and more immersive soundstage when watching videos, playing games, or listening to music without headphones. A mono speaker, by contrast, delivers sound from a single point, which feels comparatively flat and one-dimensional for media consumption.

For speaker output, the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G has a clear advantage. Stereo sound is a meaningful upgrade for anyone who regularly uses their phone's built-in speakers, and it is the only hardware audio differentiator between these two devices.

The most headline-worthy difference here is cellular: the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G supports 5G connectivity, while the TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G is limited to 4G LTE. For users in areas with 5G coverage, this translates to significantly faster mobile data speeds and greater future-proofing as 4G networks are gradually deprioritized. Beyond that, Bluetooth also favors the 5G model — it ships with Bluetooth 5.4 versus 5.1 on the 4G variant. The newer version brings improvements in connection stability and efficiency, which is particularly relevant for wireless audio and peripheral pairing. Wi-Fi capability is identical on both, topping out at Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).

The shared connectivity foundation is solid: both devices include NFC for contactless payments, a fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C (albeit at USB 2.0 speeds), expandable storage via microSD, dual SIM support, and a full suite of location sensors including GPS, compass, gyroscope, and Galileo. One trade-off to flag is that the 60 NxtPaper 4G includes a barometer — useful for altitude tracking and weather-sensitive applications — while the 60 SE NxtPaper 5G omits it entirely.

Overall, the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G holds the connectivity edge, with 5G support and a newer Bluetooth version representing practical, day-to-day advantages that outweigh the 4G model's barometer inclusion for most users. Those with specific needs for atmospheric sensing may weigh that differently, but for general connectivity, the 5G model is the stronger package.

The miscellaneous feature set is identical across both devices. The TCL 60 NxtPaper 4G and the TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G both include a video light and, most notably, both feature an e-paper display mode — the defining shared characteristic of the NxtPaper line. This technology is designed to reduce eye strain during extended reading sessions by rendering the screen in a way that mimics the appearance of physical paper, which is a meaningful differentiator for this product family as a whole rather than a point of distinction between the two models.

Neither phone features a curved display or sapphire glass protection, keeping both firmly in conventional mid-range territory on those fronts. The absence of sapphire glass is standard at this price tier and carries no practical surprise.

This category is a complete tie — every spec matches exactly. The shared e-paper capability is the most noteworthy feature here, but since it applies equally to both, it offers no basis for choosing one model over the other.