Peter Frisch with TCL's Nxtpaper mobiles, where you can choose between black/white and colours with just one button. Photo: Stian Sønsteng
– It is difficult to communicate something new in an industry where everyone eventually offers the same. But, with Nxtpaper we actually have something that sets us apart.
That’s what Peter Frisch, who is responsible for TCL’s sales of mobile phones and tablets in the Nordics, says when we meet him at the mobile fair MWC in Barcelona in the first week of March.
Frisch describes TCL’s position in these product groups as challenging, with a market share of 1.5 to 2 percent.
This is how TCL shows how the Nxtpaper screen provides less reflection. Photo: Stian Sønsteng
In the past year, TCL has gone from selling mobiles under 2,000 kroner to establishing itself in the mid-segment up to 4,000-5,000 kroner. Frisch points to Nxtpaper technology as the biggest driver behind this change.
Annonse
– We have a patent to reduce blue light, which makes screens more comfortable for the eyes. You don’t get as dry eyes and can work longer even with a lot of screen time, says Frisch.
Nxtpaper in several levels
He describes the Nxtpaper concept as a combination of a traditional reading surface and a regular screen.
– If you read newspapers, articles, or documents, it is comfortable to remove reflections and read in black and white. Then you also get two to four days of battery life on tablets and up to seven days on the mobile, says Frisch.
Annonse
The technology has previously been available in some TCL mobiles, but the breakthrough came according to Frisch when the feature got a physical switch on the side of the mobile.
- It made it easier to switch between full colour and black and white, instead of going into menus. Now we are taking the next step and moving from LCD to amoled with the same technique. It is the first time TCL has amoled on tablets or mobiles, says Frisch.
The launch has not been without challenges.
- It is difficult to communicate something new in an industry where everyone eventually offers the same. But with Nxtpaper, we actually have something that sets us apart, says Frisch.
Focusing on multiple segments
TCL is working in three clear product segments going forward: entry-level models with LCD, the mid-segment with amoled, and a Nxtpaper segment that is at the very top. Frisch believes the technology will particularly appeal to users over 30 years old.
Annonse
- This is a bit more for those who work daily with screens or read a lot, he says.
The price level for the first model with amoled is not entirely clear, but Frisch suggests the upper part of the mid-segment. He believes TCL as a mobile brand is on the rise in the Nordics.
- We are growing in TVs, routers, watches, tablets, and mobiles. The portfolio is becoming broader, and interest is increasing, says Frisch.
Children's watches with new features
TCL has been producing children's watches for ten years, and the current model has been on the market for four years. According to Frisch, this is a segment that has grown significantly.
- When schools have introduced mobile bans, parents still want to communicate with their children and see where they are. Many then choose a children's watch instead of a phone, says Frisch.
Now TCL is launching Movietime MT48.
TCL has a full portfolio with 4G and 5G, outdoor antennas, mesh, wifi routers and fibre routers. Photo: Stian Sønsteng
- It has dual GPS bands for very accurate positioning, and parents control all communication through an app. There are also AI features where children can request, for example, a parrot as a background. The battery lasts two and a half days, and it is IP68 rated. Four colours are available, but we are bringing in grey and sand in the Nordics, says Frisch.
He also presents a new concept, the TCL Tbot.
- It is a charging station that looks at you and responds. Children can ask questions or set an alarm. We believe it will be a good way to get children to remember to charge the watch, he says.
Routers and tablets
TCL is also big on routers.
- We are number one in Europe for routers with sim cards. We have a full portfolio with 4G and 5G, outdoor antennas, mesh, wifi routers, and fibre routers, and we work with the largest operators, says Frisch.
The charging station TCL Tbot. Photo: Stian Sønsteng
He also presents a new tablet model with Nxtpaper technology.
- It functions as a writing surface, almost like a Remarkable. But we add the functionality of a regular tablet, with better battery, camera, pen, and AI features. This becomes a tablet as a plus on top of a pure writing surface, says Frisch.
TCL Note A1 Nxtpaper is an 11.5-inch tablet with a 120 Hz screen, low blue light, and Crystal Shield glass. It supports pen use, has eight microphones, 256 GB storage, and an 8,000 mAh battery.
– With AI tools such as handwriting-to-text, translation, and summarisation, it is designed for productivity, says Frisch.
TCL Tab A1 Plus Nxtpaper has an upgraded Nxtpaper screen with 30 percent less reflection and 75 percent wider optimal viewing angle, for a clearer and more comfortable viewing experience.
Frisch believes the next year will be crucial for TCL's telecom products.
– We have a lot of new things. Nxtpaper means we actually have something unique. It creates interest, and then we can grow in the Nordics, he says.
The article was previously published in the print edition of the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen no. 2/2026, which was distributed in week 16. Here you can read the article and browse through the digital edition of the magazine. You can read all editions of the magazine digitally, from no. 1/1937, at elektronikkbransjen.no/historiskarkiv.
