TCL gives parents a monochrome mode to combat kids’ phone addiction

The Nxtpaper 5G Junior ships with a prime of bluish oregon orangish lawsuit included.

TCL has been making its E Ink-inspired Nxtpaper phones for years, but it’s taken the institution until present to recognize that parents are a apt demographic for it. That’s yet been remedied with the Nxtpaper 5G Junior, a kids telephone launching successful Europe with a absorption connected oculus wellness and screentime, which arrives alongside the much mainstream Nxtpaper 60 Ultra.

The Nxtpaper 5G Junior has been announced astatine the IFA commercialized show, but it won’t spell connected merchantability successful Europe until December and volition outgo £159 / €249 (around $250). It volition besides see a protective case. So far, determination are nary plans for a US launch.

Like different caller Nxtpaper phones, the cardinal selling constituent is simply a dedicated fastener that activates Max Ink Mode, which switches the matte show to a monochromatic mode that looks a batch similar E Ink and is easier connected the eyes for reading. The entreaty to parents volition beryllium an other mode to negociate screentime: not conscionable a binary connected / off, but an in-between enactment that’s amended for kids’ eyes and not peculiarly well-suited to playing Fortnite. It extends the device’s artillery life, too.

The telephone includes a assortment of parental controls powered by Google’s Family Link, on with a “Digital Detox” mode to promote steadfast telephone use. TCL has besides created a scope of cutesy characters called the AI Genius Squad, which look similar they’ve been lifted from a somewhat subpar Pixar movie.

One contiguous downside is that this is simply a beauteous large phone. With a 6.7-inch surface and the included case, this volition beryllium a bulky, dense instrumentality that mightiness beryllium a small tricky for smaller hands. It comes with 256GB of retention — capable for plentifulness of apps and games — and dual rear cameras.

TCL is besides launching the Nxtpaper 60 Ultra, the archetypal telephone to vessel with the latest Nxtpaper 4.0 tech, with reduced glare and show flicker. It’s adjacent bigger, with a 7.2-inch show and has a triple rear camera, including a 50-megapixel telephoto lens, positive optional stylus support. It’s launching contiguous successful Europe from €449 (around $525), arsenic good arsenic Asia and Latin America.