TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra

A couple of years ago, I had my first experience with TCL’s NxtPaper technology when I reviewed the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper. Last year's model is this TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra (I wonder why they moved the word 'NxtPaper' before the model name), and now we have this year's TCL NxtPaper 70 Pro (with 'NxtPaper' staying where it is)! Last year's model certainly feels like the 'flagship' still, however, when specs across the three are compared. I'll refer to them as 50, 60, and 70 throughout to keep things clean.

The only problem for me - favouring smaller phones generally - is that the 60 is huge! It feels more like a notepad than a phone, frankly, especially when bundled with the 'notebook' style flap-over case and attachable silo for the pen. And that's intentional, I think. I do have this bundle here and have had it for some months now, snagged in an Amazon Prime Day sale last year. It remains for sale, even with the 70 in the mix, thus supporting the notion for me that they consider the 60, indeed, as their flagship. But it's a flagship 'phone' for that growing number of people who rarely, if ever, take phone calls any longer and want a scribing/reading pad.

I sent the 60 over to my friend Gareth Williams as he fancied a look, and you can read his findings on my blog via this link: Gareth Williams on the TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra. I then sent the phone to another friend who doesn't have sight - Steve Nutt at CompRoom - as he wanted to test the phone and see what TCL were doing in terms of accessibility, under their skin on top of Android. His brief findings are as follows: “Everything worked normally, except for the launcher, which can easily be changed for Nova, or some other launcher that works. Basically, TalkBack Actions don’t work on TCL's launcher. Actions are where you can flick up or down with one finger to different options like Move Item, Remove, Uninstall, etc., and then double-tap the requisite option. So, to move items about on the screen, you have to long-press them and then you can move them. This worked. But I recommend anyone having one of these phones to change the launcher to one which does have these TalkBack Actions. All my general apps worked fine.” Do check out Steve's service via the link above, which caters in all sorts of ways for people without sight (or those partially sighted).

While I've been deliberating over this review, Android 16 arrived as a huge 7.5GB OTA download with Google's May 2026 Security Patch. It started on Android 15 (obviously), and TCL promise to update it to 17 and 18 eventually, so three OS updates and Security Patches until September 2032 - seven years, which is very nice if it happens! I don't believe that in all my years of reviewing Android phones I've ever seen a system update file being 7.5GB. Wow. They must be rebuilding the whole OS/ROM from scratch! Everything seems to work fine after the update though, so all good. There are some Android 16 base tweaks which everyone gets in terms of UI, Quick Settings, icon style and notification enhancements.

There's a new charging animation, which is neat; the addition of more home screen grid layout options (4x5 and 5x5); some 'deep sleep' and battery protection stuff; a bit of a refresh for their camera app UI; and some other tweaks here and there. Nothing to get too excited about, except that it's arrived at last - which is encouraging. A year after Google released Android 16 (who are now onto 17)! Nothing has been done about the lack of choice to merge the left/right pull-downs - Notifications left, Quick Settings panel right. An option to join them up, in the more traditional way like Samsung have now done, would give choice back to the user.

One way in which the recent updates have helped the phone, while it has been on its travels, is that the T-Pen works much more fluidly. When I was testing it a few months back, it was 'breaking up' on the screen, latency could be poor and certainly the 'edges' of the screen were not reliable to write on. In order to be sure of consistent contact/scribing, I had to stick to a middle 'oblong' at the centre of the screen. This was put down by the community as an issue to do with the fact there are magnets in the case and cover which interacted badly with the T-Pen. Even with the case/cover off, it still behaved badly because there are also magnets in the phone itself so that the cases/covers clack into place as they should.

The T-Pen uses the EMR standard, Electromagnetic Resonance. A sensor board behind the display emits a faint, continuous electromagnetic field. Inside the T-Pen is a tiny copper coil and capacitor circuit. When the pen gets near the screen, it absorbs energy wirelessly from that magnetic field. The now-energised pen circuit alters the magnetic field and reflects a signal back to the screen. The display sensor reads this reflected signal to calculate the pen's exact location, pressure level and angle. Because the energy transfer happens instantly and continuously through the air, the pen functions perfectly without a battery, charging port or any Bluetooth stuff. But this is no Moto Pen Ultra (or old Samsung S-Pen) with clever 'air gesture' functions/support. It's a pen! You get some spare nibs in the box, as eventually they will wear down - TCL reckon 'up to' six months, depending, clearly, on how much you use the pen!

There's a button on the side of the T-Pen. By default, press and hold to turn it into an eraser in their bundled TCL Notes app. You can also press and hold it while hovering so as to then use it on-screen as a selection/lasso - and if you hover over the screen in many apps, you get a pop-up context menu from which to choose functions. All this used to be customised in the phone's settings, but it seems that with Android 16, TCL have removed this menu and are relying on Google's built-in tools (like GBoard's write-in-text-field) or developers to build in functionality app-by-app. It seems very odd. Maybe it's a bug/mistake and they will bring it back with an update. But for now, yes, it very much depends on what app you're using. Perhaps this was another casualty of having fixed the magnets problem, as above.

The screen is what this phone is all about though, and as I write, there is news from TCL that they have developed an OLED version of their NxtPaper technology. But for now, with this generation and previous, it's an LCD. A lovely 7.2" 1080p LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate, a ratio of 19.5:9, returning 358ppi. Because of the nature of the screen technology, this is not the saturated experience for the eyes that OLED brings. And that's (for now at least) the point, really. It's supposed to look after your eyes and stop people getting headaches or whatever. The 60 has v4 of the NxtPaper tech, over v3 in my now much-neglected 50 Pro! From the TCL blurb, I summarise, followed by the possible implications for their newer OLED tech...

TCL are after a display experience that provides genuine relief from eye strain. NxtPaper technology utilises Circular Polarized Light to mimic the way natural light reaches the human eye. By rotating light waves in a circular motion and integrating nano-matrix lithography, the display achieves exceptional clarity and vivid visuals that feel remarkably akin to reading from physical paper. Beyond its unique texture and feel, the device is anchored by seven core eye-care pillars - including zero flickering, blue light purification and anti-glare properties - all backed by rigorous TÜV and SGS certifications (whatever they are)! We get professional-grade colour accuracy during the day and TruePaper Restoration and dim-light protection to reach as low as 2 nits at night. And the screen smartly adjusts between the ambience to maintain a calm, natural and comfortable viewing experience. MuseFilm imaging technology is in the mix too, which apparently bridges the gap between high-performance digital displays and the soothing, strain-free readability of a traditional book.

This LCD panel obviously sets a high bar for eye comfort, they claim, but their move to OLED, as mentioned above, brings some trade-offs (assuming we ever see it beyond concepts at trade shows). OLED resolves the 'brightness ceiling' and contrast limitations of the LCD models, offering a jump in peak output to 3,200 nits while retaining the signature anti-glare, paper-like matte finish, they say. Crucially, this upgrade pushes the core eye-care experience even further, with Circular Polarized Light efficiency climbing to 90% and blue light emissions dropping to a minimal 2.9%. Even with the inherent challenges of OLED, TCL maintains its 'flicker-free' promise through a 3,840Hz PWM dimming rate, ensuring that the soothing, strain-free viewing experience remains intact. For people expecting a more mainstream media-consuming experience, rather than the compromise in muted colours, vibrancy, or HDR performance, the OLED advancement essentially offers the best of both worlds - the punchy, high-contrast brilliance of a flagship smartphone screen, with the gentle, natural light character that makes NxtPaper what it is on LCD.

So yes, that's the blurb. I can't see how they're going to do OLED and retain anything like the battery life, even if they do somehow manage to retain the properties of the LCD for all the above-noted benefits. So we shall see. For now, I shall plough on with my observations of things as they are now!

First things first: the screen in the 'normal' mode is a delight to touch, look at and run the finger around. It does, with that top layer, make it feel very much like touching paper, with or without the T-Pen. It's smooth and silky, a bit like the 'paper screen protector' I have for my Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, but smoother/more subtle. It's amazingly bright at maximum - I have adaptive brightness on and am so often staggered to see that the slider is almost at the bottom! Compared to an OLED panel, one can get away with much lower brightness levels and still see what's going on very clearly, at least inside and away from direct sun. When you try that, you realise immediately that this is no e-ink/e-paper screen like a Kindle or Boox device. The latter simply get better with more light. This doesn't. It remains usable for me in bright sunlight, and often better than the average OLED screen (though these seem to now get brighter and brighter by the minute), so yes, it's a muted experience but I can still use it fine. This doesn't change really with the other modes, though you'll do much better reading in sunlight by not turning on the 'dark' option in the Max Ink Mode. In fact, that makes a huge difference.

There is reflection on the screen, but again, it's nothing like the average glass screen of most modern (or ancient) phones and devices. Holding this next to the latter shows very clearly that although reflections are not anything like as pronounced, they are still there - and if the light source is particularly bright (like the sun or an overhead lamp) you'll do better just moving it slightly off-axis from the direct line of light. It's hard to describe in words but, for the average OLED, I'd score reflectivity, generally, about 90% and with this, maybe 30%.

The slider switch on the side gets the user between the Modes: Colour Paper Mode, Ink Paper Mode, and Max Ink Mode. Colour Paper Mode is the least severe change and offers a 'colour ink display'. This knocks out the wallpaper, makes the background white, and offers colours throughout still, but they are muted - again, hard to describe in words, but very much like looking at a sheet of white paper and having coloured pens/crayons to draw on it. You retain access to all functions of the phone, as if the Mode were off otherwise. Perfectly usable, but you can't switch it to Dark Mode (that I can find) so it's white and bright! Ink Paper Mode is much the same as colour, except that everything's in mono. Again, wallpaper goes, turns white, no way to make it dark, just (even) easier on the eyes and even more battery-efficient. On either of these modes, video watching is acceptable (even somewhat enjoyable for a change in mono) though, yes, muted colours/shades of grey and nothing like a rich, saturated OLED experience (or even the main LCD one). But it's somehow quirky, different, and nice!

Max Ink Mode is the big one, though. It maximises ease on the eyes, they say, and yes, it can be turned dark, wallpaper gone, you can add seven of your own apps to the mix, but that's it - making only those the 'live' ones (along with the aforementioned core connectivity and basic apps), which means notifications only arrive from those apps and provides for its own kind of 'focus mode' with fewer distractions. If you do make any of your seven apps a video one (I tried TikTok) you get pretty much the same experience that you do using the Ink Paper Mode. But I guess that this mode is more suited for less-demanding apps and services, a notion supported by the inclusion of Bookshelf which you get to by a right-swipe. So if you have Google's Feed turned on as your right-swipe option in other modes, it gets replaced with this here - and it's unavailable as an option in other modes, even if you turn Google Feed off. You can, however, get to the same app in the other modes - it's simply called Book.

As an aside, the system can get confused with dark/light mode I have found. If you leap between the display modes a lot, the main settings' display setting, set to dark, I find in Light again. I think I have narrowed it down to Max Ink Mode. If you switch that to Light Mode, it applies it system-wide (and doesn't change it back when turning it back to dark inside Max Ink Mode). The same is also true (and even more broadly) with regards to Android's System Colours 'Themed' (or in TCL's case) 'Monocolour icon' toggle. Turn that on (which I like to do), switch over to Max Ink Mode (where they are not supported), back to normal mode - and the toggle is off. Furthermore, if you use a 3rd party Launcher of any description, make it the default, go to Max Ink Mode and back again and the system has returned you to TCL's own Launcher again. The Max Ink Mode seems ruthless in terms of system-wide changes once fired up (but more of that later).

Book(shelf) is TCL’s own app/service, not a third-party one. It is a native, system-level component of the package and serves as a centralised 'hub' for one's reading media. It acts as a kind of curated 'launcher' or a digital library management tool specifically optimised to make use of the paper-like display characteristics of the phone. It is free to use (for now) and is intended to bridge the gap between one's local file storage (EPUBs, PDFs, etc.) and a clean, visual interface that makes the phone feel more like a dedicated e-reader. A simplified, high-contrast library view that minimises system resources and distractions, in keeping with the philosophy of Max Ink Mode (and reducing eye strain and battery usage) - though, as I say, it can be used system-wide too. A dedicated reading portal.

Book(shelf) also has a Bookstore tab in the UI. This is not a 'marketplace' for reading material. You can't 'buy' books there. It's a curated repository managed by TCL. What is in there tends to be 'classics', public domain stuff or promotional content that TCL provides access to for free. Search for and download whatever you can find. It's a nice option for people starting out, for sure, who maybe don't have their own files. You do need to be signed into a TCL account (which is simple to do) in order to access the Book(shelf) repository, but for those who prefer privacy, they can bypass this feature and just use their own files. And reading on this screen, whichever mode one uses really, is just great. Not that far away from e-ink/paper except in the most challenging of lighting situations.

So the question is, does all that blurb actually work, I wonder? I have to admit that I've been using the phone for a couple of weeks now as my primary and I don't really notice any difference with eye strain or headaches. But then I didn't get them before! I'm probably not the best guinea pig for this. I know, I'll head online and see what those who do suffer are saying...

For users who experience immediate physical symptoms (migraines, blurred vision, burning eyes) when using standard high-refresh OLEDs, this technology is frequently described as a turning point. The most enthusiastic feedback comes from those who identify as PWM sensitive. They report that while other flagship phones - even those with high-end OLEDs - trigger headaches within minutes, they can use the NxtPaper for 5–6 hours without symptoms. These users often praise the combination of circular polarisation and the matte finish. They describe the experience as calm and soothing, explicitly noting that the reduction in glare and the softening of the light emission makes the screen feel less aggressive than traditional glass. Some users who are sensitive to light dislike NxtPaper precisely because of the matte finish. They find the haze or texture of the screen actually increases strain for them, preferring the sharpness of a standard glossy display. It’s a classic YMMV scenario really, where the physical structure of the screen works for some but acts as a distraction or visual irritant for others. A small group of users reports that it didn't solve their issues, often because their eye strain is linked to other factors (like blink rate or specific colour sensitivity) rather than just flicker or glare.

So it feels like a bit of a niche solution - it is built for a specific physiological need, not just for better display quality in the traditional, specs-chasing sense. The consensus among those who need it seems to be that it allows them to engage with tech in a way that feels healthier, even if the price is a slight reduction in display sharpness compared to a £1,000 flagship. If you, like me, don't really have symptoms to test with this stuff, you have to rely on others and, presumably, TCL's research done with people who suffer. I guess that if they weren't convinced, they wouldn't have got into the huge cost of producing devices globally with this tech inside. On the other hand, they might be banking on the "quirky difference from the norm" aspect in a world where handheld device innovation has somewhat plateaued. People are looking for something unique. LP records. Digital cameras. Compact Cassette tapes. Handheld gaming machines. Maybe that's cynical of me, though. As a side note, Honor seem to be working hard on this too, as described in other reviews here, but certainly working with OLED, unlike TCL, skipping the LCD stage. It'll be interesting to see where this goes, for sure.

The speakers, stereo, with top and bottom-firing grilles (unusually), are actually surprisingly good. I wasn't expecting much but am pleasantly surprised that, with the focus on the screen tech, it's not just an afterthought. They are certainly loud and the soundstage/stereo separation is balanced well. As we know, it's a big phone so it's clearly, naturally helped in that respect. Even more than 2ft in front of the face, the stereo remains impactful. There's not a huge amount of bass on display but, because it's loud, not much is lost by adding tweaks using our favourite Wavelet App from the Play Store. It's not transformative, but certainly helps. Unlike the DTS Sound setting in the phone's Sounds and vibration settings, which just takes the lack of bass to extremes, replacing it with a tinny tone, but louder. I have it turned off except for when a volume boost is needed in a noisy environment, when it can become handy. Overall, it's a respectable portable media player, good enough for most people, for most uses.

There's no 3.5mm audio socket here, which is a shame as it was present on the 50 Pro - not that I need it! But yes, it does rely on Bluetooth or USB-C ear/headphones (or adapter for 3.5mm) which might feel surprising when the phone is clearly aimed at people who could well be consuming audiobooks as well as text. Having said that, as usual these days, Bluetooth (v5.4 here) is staggeringly good and, armed with the right accessory gear, can certainly pulverise one's eardrums! No complaints really. I think I'm over 3.5mm jacks, away from the desktop.

There are a surprising number of AI tools baked in here by TCL, something I'm not sure that I really expected from such a small player in the Android smartphone scene. I guess that they are tools which make it across to their excellent tablet lineup as well, so broader scope for their R&D for sure. It feels a bit like a Swiss Army Knife too. Text Assist, Writing Assistant, Smart Voice Memo, Real-time Subtitles, Smart Translator, Write a note, e-Signature, GIF Maker, Magnifying window, Recording, split screen and more. And TCL seem to have made the tools a bit more 'context-aware' than simply stand-alone apps. So Text Assist, Writing Assistant, Real-time Subtitles and Smart Translator are integrated into the UI. When the system detects you are in a specific scenario - like reading a PDF in a foreign language for example, or drafting an email - it injects these options into the active window’s action menu, so you don't have to head off, find the app, launch it and do any copy/pasting. I think many OEMs with an AI layer are doing it this way now and, although some may feel that it discourages control, more will be grateful that the tools are just there and they don't have to think/learn much.

There are some stand-alone apps/services for action though, and these (can) live in the editable sidebar, but not app drawer. So you can invoke them from the sidebar rather than relying on the AI to pop them up when it thinks you need them, but much like, for example, MotoAI, you then get a sub-menu pop up asking you what you want to do with the tool. For example, Writing Assist invoked from the sidebar shows you six buttons to tap: Email, Event Plan, Outline, Work Summary, Invitation and Meeting Notification. If you tap them, you get a text box up which asks you to type what it is you want to do, then it goes off and cooks up some text based on what it thinks you might want to do. Let's take Email as the example - I told it that I wanted to email some people to ask their advice about a family party coming up. It did, then offered me options to make it shorter, longer, professional or casual. It then shuffles off to adjust things. When you're happy, you can copy the result and paste it into Gmail (in my case) or anything else in your standard Android Share menu options. If you're not happy, you can adjust the data, add stuff, take away and so on, asking for new versions. Which it does! I guess that one could argue, for this example, that depending on the level of Google AI you have, you might as well just open Gmail and do it in GBoard. Anyway, not everyone is baked into Google like me, so will appreciate the broader appeal for their apps/services.

The sidebar is editable/configurable and you can add pretty much what you like in terms of TCL's AI tools, apps supplied, or installed. It maxes out at 15 icons and can be configured to either be invoked by a handle on the edge of the screen or drag-in-and-hold. Tap anywhere on the screen to get rid of it. It's neat enough. We've seen it done better, but it's perfectly functional. At least it's not as dreadful as Sony's Side Sense! It’s a clean approach to AI, I guess, if not super intelligent and baked-in everywhere. Instead of filling your app drawer with loads of AI icons, they’ve tucked them into the places you might actually need/use them. You could argue, like with MotoAI again, that they're not really AI in a meaningful way, but rather 'macros'. Some of them are actually standard Android functions anyway, like e-Signature (which basically saves an image of whatever you draw and dumps it into one's default Gallery/Photos app) and Split Screen which have been around for years, and TCL is just bundling them together with an in-vogue AI Badge.

One branch of TCL's AI that might be of interest to this audience/reader is AI Podcast and AI Audiobook, which are effectively TCL's implementation of text-to-speech (TTS) which reads your imported books or the documents you’ve opened in the TCL reader aloud. There's a male and female voice to choose, but no way (that I can find) to make it anything other than American English. But other than that, it's not bad. Not a patch on what Google can do, but certainly usable. Again, one can find other tools to use which do it better. AI Podcast takes the text-based content you are currently reading (a long article, a document, or a book) and converts it into a conversational audio summary. Much like Google's LLM feature, it takes the stuff on screen and makes an (American-voiced) podcast with two people chatting. To be fair, even Google's doesn't have a switch away from American accents yet. But anyway, yes, it works. There might be usage limits when doing all this via TCL's cloud/servers. Not sure. I did get told that when I tried to use AI Q&A I had a 10-per-month limit. But that disappeared when I used a book from their repository, so again YMMV on this!

The camera setup on this 60 was a step-up from anything TCL have done before (or since) with the inclusion of a 3x optical zoom lens (and the claim of 6x lossless too by sensor-cropping) via the secondary 50MP f2.4 periscope and with OIS. Other than that, it's fairly ordinary with the main shooter another 50MP with OIS, this time with an f1.8 aperture. There's a wide-angle unit which is 8MP f2.2 and video shooting from the rear camera cluster is capped at 4K@30fps and 1080p@60. Round the front, the selfie is 32MP f2 and can shoot video at 1440p@30fps. The 6x cropped zoom seems to hold up well enough according to people who know, but it's no optical. Use the 3x and walk forward! Users seem to feel that despite strong hardware specs on paper, TCL's Achilles' heel is software optimisation. Reviews have pointed to issues with fast-moving subjects and poor focus speed. While the OIS helps, it doesn't entirely compensate for the lack of flagship-grade image processing that you'd find in something like a Google Pixel or Samsung Ultra. The 8MP ultrawide is the weakest link - a standard, budget-tier sensor that won't match the detail or dynamic range of the main 50MP shooter - or even get close. It’s fine for sweeping landscapes, but it's where you'll most notice the "mid-range" nature of the device. This is not a photographer's phone!

The Camera App's UI is nice enough. Very Apple, like most these days, with a big white button circle, middle bottom, and carousel of text-based buttons above it for changing modes. There is a 'Pro' mode in there which lets the user tinker with various settings; a Night mode which, as usual these days, pulls light from nowhere in exchange for noise; Horizon lock (which I think we saw on Honor phones) which is a kind of built-in gimbal, which kind of works but not 'live', only in the resulting video recording - then a bunch of gimmicky toys that supposedly optimise for different situations like light-trails, indoor concerts and the like. The document scanner seems to do a good enough job, saving to PDF or JPG and the 'Macro' defaults to 3x or 6x zoom. Results are decent enough but far from the closest shots I've taken on other phones. There's some more AI baked into the camera with scene detection and so-called intelligent mode recommendation, should you want to turn them on; what's becoming these days the 'standard' watermark option which is mostly an advert for the OEM really but, yes, some technical details about the shot, date, time etc.; gestures-to-fire the shutter; gridlines; levelers; the usual array of stuff. It's nice enough, but no real surprises.

TCL has given the 60 Ultra a respectable, versatile lens array, anchored by a genuinely useful 3x optical periscope. However, the experience confirms that a great sensor is only half the battle. Without the flagship-grade software optimisation found in the industry heavyweights, this setup is best described as a high-utility toolkit. It’s perfect for the user who wants flexibility for the occasional zoom or document scan, but it isn't going to satisfy those looking to replace their dedicated camera.

The chipset used here is the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 (4nm) also found on a few Motorola phones I have reviewed over the last couple of years. It works perfectly well for all but serious gamers or people trying to do real heavy-lifting on a phone like video editing with more than a few frames/minutes. I've tested it with some lighter games - including Asphalt 9 car-racing - and I see no judder or break-up, even on this LCD screen. Sure enough, it's not going to be an OLED-like experience with bright, saturated colours that some might expect for gaming, but it copes just fine for most users, for most uses. Copying large amounts of data from my PC was fast enough but, no, clearly not like a device with a faster, more powerful chipset. But these tasks are often one-offs, getting data onto one's phone - or at most, periodic.

The chipset is supported by 12GB RAM (with the counter-productive option to double it using storage - why do they do that)! This unit has got 512GB storage, which is more than enough for me and, I'd argue, most people. In fact, 256GB would have been enough really - and this is also available in some regions. Unlike the 50, there's no microSD Card slot to expand the storage, but, as I say, I can't imagine most need to these days. The 512 and 256 both have 12GB RAM. In my testing, apart from the above caveats with regards to Max Ink Mode, apps stay open long enough - I saw no closedown at all, even when pushed!

The 5,200mAh (non-Silicon Carbon) battery will, no doubt, be helped by using the phone in Max Ink, Ink Paper, or Colour Paper Modes rather than the default full-colour LCD. With Android 16 now installed, 100% charged battery, Max Ink Mode, it reports that it will last 60 hours, so between two and three days. This is very different to the claims of nine days previously under Android 15, which, when tested here, ended up being more like four days anyway. The 50 certainly had/has longer battery life but then the revamped UI for the 60 includes more - for example, being able to use a handful of one's own choice of Apps in Max Ink Mode, as described above, rather than the core, basic, keep-alive apps on the 50. No doubt being able to put what apps you like out there will hit the battery (and estimated longevity). I removed all my apps from the front end of the Max Ink Mode, leaving only the ones which can't be removed - Clock, Phone, Messages, Contacts, and Settings - and the 60-hour prediction didn't change, even after a reboot and Mode switch. But maybe, if that is a factor, it will take time to calibrate and settle. I'll report back/update if I find changes. The battery can be charged at 33W with a beefy-enough brick, in my tests, from flat, getting half the battery filled in about half an hour. Wired charging only here, no Qi I'm afraid - but there is 10W reverse wired charging, so by using a cable, other devices can be topped up, making this phone an emergency powerbank in the mix.

So keen to get stuck into the T-Pen and NxtPaper stuff was I that I completely forgot to do any kind of unboxing or appraisal of the device physically, more than saying it's huge! So here we are then! In the box in the UK, I got the phone, obviously, a USB-C to USB-C cable, no charging brick, a SIM Card Tray tool, and some papers. Because I got the bundle, in another box I got the MagCase with T-Pen and T-Pen holder, which slots into the side of the inside portion of the MagCase. So the MagCase consists of three (or four if you count the T-Pen separately) parts: the case that actually attaches to the back of the phone; a T-Pen silo which, via some side-mounted slots, attaches to the side of the case attached to the phone; the T-Pen which slides into the silo (and eventually magnetically grabs it at the last stage); and the wraparound Notebook style Folio case which attaches magnetically to the inside case and has a flap which comes round the side with an elastic band to hold it all together. Thus proving, really, that TCL are expecting people to use this phone more like a notebook!

Very confusing! So, to clarify: the MagCase (Inside Case) is the slim back cover that snaps directly onto the phone. It contains a built-in, Qi2-compatible magnetic ring. Because the magnets are built directly into this inside case, it serves as the mounting anchor for everything else. The MagFlip Folio Notebook Case can't be attached without the inner case being in place. Because the inner MagCase mimics standard Qi2 magnetic array configurations, it opens up a wide range of universal accessories - Car Mounts, Wallets & Stands and so on. Just don't get a Qi2 charging device as there's no Qi charging of course! Anyway, back to the phone which is 174.5 x 81.2 x 7.6mm and 227g in weight. It has a glass front, plastic back, and frame. It's IP68-rated for dust and water.

Connectivity is very good on all counts in my testing - as long as you're aware of TCL's pesky Auto-launch options within Smart Manager. This caught me out earlier as it disconnected my Moto Watch Fit from its app (and thereby Bluetooth) every time I went into Max Ink Mode. The only way to get it back was to come back out of Max Ink Mode then launch the Moto Watch app again. This got me digging until I found this menu which blocks apps running when it fancies (particularly when in Max Ink Mode, it seems)! I suggest that you simply turn this off - the battery is good enough anyway - toggle OFF 'Automatically manage'. Then scroll down to make sure all the toggles are pushed right and say "Allowed to auto-launch and Allowed to secondary launch". It's so aggressive, needlessly. Very annoying.

The rest of the connectivity is good now; 5G and 4G do a good job with calls and data. My unit has one nanoSIM card slot and eSIM functionality for a second, but I understand that in some regions, the back side of the tray is not blocked so two nanoSIM cards can be used. But even then, you can only have two of the three active at any one time. Bluetooth range seems solid while I've been on walkabouts and I experienced no drop-out in range; WiFi I've tested on three routers and, again, seems solid to me; GPS too - locks on well in my location-based and mapping apps; and NFC does the job nicely between my enabled gear and buying my cheese down at Tesco! There's even an Infrared blaster included here, which, beyond testing, I've never used on any phone - I don't feel the need - but the IR Remote app offers gazillions of hook-ups with all sorts of devices (except for mine, of course)! So yes, there's that if you want it. The USB-C port is OTG, but only v2.0, so no HDMI-Out stuff available. Security is handled by the side-mounted, capacitive fingerprint scanner and face unlock. Both work very nicely so you can have fun seeing which one gets there first! Easy and straightforward to set up.

Incidentally, for more on the UI and options in menus please check out my review of the TCL 50 Pro NxtPaper (link is right up the top in the first paragraph) as much of it remains the same or similar enough not repeat everything here.

The phone leaps about in price quite a lot. On Prime Day it was £419 for this bundle. Then it was suddenly £599 at one point. It's now settled at £499 again, but if you want one, it might pay you to shop around and wait for deals. You can buy one without the T-Pen and MagCase and so forth, but that feels a bit like missing out on much of the fun of this! My one is Nebula Black, but there's also a Lunar White version out there.

The TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra is a difficult device to pigeonhole. It is not a traditional flagship smartphone, nor is it a dedicated e-reader; it occupies a unique, somewhat experimental middle ground. If you view it through the lens of a pure smartphone, you will likely be frustrated by the mid-range performance, the aggressive software that kills background processes by default, and the ruthless way its focus-driven modes override your personal OS customisations.

However, if you view the 60 Ultra as a digital sanctuary tool - a notepad-sized device built specifically for reading, scribing and eye-health-conscious consumption - it starts to make much more sense. The NxtPaper display technology is the star here, offering a genuinely soothing, paper-like experience that lives up to its eye-care promises for many, even if it trades away the vibrant punchiness of an OLED panel. With the addition of a versatile periscope zoom lens and a comprehensive suite of "AI-elevated" productivity tools, it serves as a highly capable toolkit for those who want to disconnect from the always-on nature of modern glass-slab flagships.

The TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra is a niche device for a specific type of user: the weary tech enthusiast who wants the power of Android but needs a break from the strain of high-refresh, high-glare OLED screens. It is a Swiss Army Knife of eye-friendly productivity, provided you have the patience to navigate its quirky software settings and the space in your pocket for its considerable footprint. It’s not for everyone - but for those it is for, there is simply nothing else quite like it on the market. (Thanks to my research assistant Gemma!)

Obsession (2025)

Written, directed and edited by Curry Barker, Obsession is a supernatural horror film that explores themes of romantic entitlement and the horrific consequences of selfish desire.

Bear (Michael Johnston) is a timid 'nice guy' who works in a music shop in a small American town. He’s deeply in love with his co-worker, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), a childhood friend. He’s far too shy to make a move, assuming he wouldn’t stand a chance, while she views him as a lifelong, platonic friend.

The gang they socialise with includes Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) and Sarah (Megan Lawless). Bear finds himself in a curiosity shop one day looking to buy a replacement necklace for Nikki, who has lost hers. Whilst browsing, he stumbles upon a One Wish Willow - a novelty toy that is supposed to grant a single wish to the person who breaks it in half. There is a catch: only one per person. Clearly, the mysterious, otherworldly organisers of this supernatural scheme would notice if someone tried to cheat the system - a detail we must remember for later!

Bear buys one on a whim, not realising for a second that it might actually work. After a night out with the group, Bear gives Nikki a lift home. They flirt in the car, but he knows she has no romantic designs on him; frustrated, he pulls out the One Wish Willow and wishes that Nikki would love him more than anyone else in the world. Guess what? It works. Nikki is immediately all over him, inviting him in and promising him the world.

Bear thinks his luck has changed, and we follow them as they develop a relationship. They are soon inseparable, living in each other's pockets at the expense of their friends, with Nikki having eyes for nobody but him. He is head-over-heels and can’t quite believe his luck - that is, until things start going pear-shaped! Thirty-five minutes into the film, Nikki starts behaving erratically. She becomes dangerously jealous, prone to manic outbursts and will scream blue murder if she doesn't get what she wants. She becomes deeply manipulative and, when necessary, violent to maintain the status quo.

Bear learns from a customer service number on the back of the box that his wish can only be undone by death. Eek! In the midst of all this, it turns out there have been underhand goings-on within the group; secrets are revealed, proving they were perhaps not as tight and loyal as we were led to believe at the outset. The rest of the film follows Bear as he tries desperately to placate Nikki’s outrageous behaviour whilst searching for a way to undo the damage caused by this sinister, supernatural trinket. It culminates in a bloody finale that attempts to explain the structure of the scheme and the dark impact it has on those who dare to dabble with it!

It’s all good fun and undeniably silly. The two leads do a great job - especially Navarrette, who handles the bizarre material brilliantly - and Barker, along with the cast and crew, is clearly having a blast. It is fairly frantic in places, leaving you guessing what on earth is going to happen next. Much of the film is set inside Bear’s apartment, providing a controlled environment to lay out the gory special effects, which are quite well done. There is only one cheap jump-scare - instead, the film relies on a sense of dread in spooky dark corners and lingering close-ups that often create a genuine chill. It’s available on various streaming services now in the UK, so yes - go and have some fun with it is my vote!

Biscuit Dunking Fun!

The evolution of the biscuit and its subsequent marriage to the humble cup of tea is a fascinating journey that stretches from Roman ration-bread to the modern-day dunking ritual. The term biscuit finds its roots in the Latin panis biscotus, or 'bread twice-cooked'.

Originally, these were designed purely for utility: by baking bread, then drying it out in an oven, it became incredibly resistant to spoilage. The earliest biscuits weren't the sweet snacks we know today. They were functional, long-lasting rations for travelers and soldiers.

By the 16th century, these evolved into 'hard tack' - famously 'tooth-dulling' slabs of flour and water that were essentially indestructible! Sailors were forced to soak them in whatever liquid was available - beer, brine or soup - just to make them edible! This is the true, albeit unglamorous, ancestor of the modern dunk! It wasn't until the 17th century, with the expansion of global trade and the tragic rise of the sugar plantation system, that sugar became accessible enough for bakers to transform biscuits into something more palatable, moving them from naval rations to a sweet dessert course.

The pairing of biscuits with tea is largely a Victorian-era phenomenon. While tea drinking became a fixture of British society after Catherine of Braganza introduced the custom to the court in the 17th century, the 'afternoon tea' ritual gained massive popularity in the 19th century. The Duchess of Bedford is often credited with popularising the mid-afternoon meal to stave off hunger before dinner. Biscuits were the perfect, easy-to-serve accompaniment.

Interestingly, for a long time, dunking was considered 'infra dig' or socially unacceptable - something relegated to the privacy of the home or the habits of children. However, the comfort of the practice eventually overcame these Victorian sensibilities, fueled by the fact that dunking actually does improve the experience. Scientific studies have shown that dunking can increase flavour release by up to 11 times.

Modern favourites like the Digestive and Hobnob are essentially designed for the dunk. A Digestive is widely considered the champion of structural integrity, whereas a Ginger Nut requires a much more precise, timed approach to avoid a dunking disaster - the dreaded collapse of the biscuit into the tea! Various researchers (with not much to do) have calculated the 'optimum dunk time' for different biscuits, often suggesting around 3 seconds for a ginger nut and up to 8 seconds for a Digestive, depending on the temperature of the tea.

Today, as we know, this ritual is deeply ingrained in British culture - a simple way to find a moment of comfort in a fast-paced day. Whether you're a cautious dipper or a confident dunker, it remains a quintessentially shared experience. So it’s quite a transition - from a piece of rock-hard ship's biscuit dipped in brine to a chocolate Digestive in a proper cup of tea! (Credit: Gemini!)

Moto Watch (2026)

My favourite 'smart' watch of the moment, and for many months now, is the Moto Watch Fit. I love how slim and sleek it is on my wrist, and the oblong shape maximises the amount of information and the easy-view aspects of it for me. I do understand why some will prefer the more traditional 'round' watch, though, even if it loses, by definition, some of the above. So when MotoPR sent over the 2026 Moto Watch, I wasn't convinced that I'd be looking to switch. But we'll see!

First things first: here is a link to my review of the Moto Watch Fit so you can click through and grab the context. Neither of these are WearOS watches, but, as I say over there, this certainly has some advantages. It's nicely boxed in Moto's now-usual white eco-friendly cardboard, and inside this £130 edition you get a Matte Silver watch, a charging pad for the back of the watch which has a USB-C plug on the end of a short cable, a silver stainless steel bracelet and a second, silicone strap in Pantone's Herbal Garden colour - which is a kind of lime green. There's also a vice/clamp thingie which enables the user to remove links from the steel bracelet if it's too long. No additional links are supplied, but it's quite long; most people won't need more, I guess. I didn't need to take any out, but I have huge wrists! The good thing about the strap/band system here is that it uses standard 22mm pins, so for those of us who don't fancy either of the supplied options, we can use our own preferred strap. Which I have done!

You can buy the black version of the watch - Pantone's Volcanic Ash - with just a matching colour strap and no steel bracelet, reducing the package to £89. I have to be honest and say that if I were buying one, I'd have gone the cheaper, black way - but my Phones Show Chat co-host Joe Hickey loves the silver one and the all-macho steel-linked bracelet! Each to their own, I guess, and it's great to have the choice. The round face and steel bracelet certainly make the watch feel much more like a 'traditional' one over the Watch Fit style. I'm trying hard to like it rather than my favourite Watch Fit - not helped by the arrival of the Pebble Time 2! So many options! I have reviewed the Pebble Time 2 here on my blog, incidentally, but that's a very different beast.

So yes, the Moto Watch is traditional, chunky and circular. It features a large 47mm sandblasted aluminium case with a rotating crown and a physical button on the right side. It is basically a classic chronograph-style watch. Whereas, the Moto Watch Fit is sleek and rectangular, using a smaller 44.5mm x 38mm aluminium alloy case with just a single physical button. It is built for a more understated, sporty look. The circular Moto Watch is heavier at around 40g (though closer to 35g without that steel strap), while the Watch Fit is incredibly light at just 25g - you don't know it's there! The Moto Watch has a 1.43" circular OLED display covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with a stylised, non-rotating (and certainly not functional in any way) fairly wide 'bezel' around the circumference. You don't get that with the Watch Fit, so consequently, you are able to see more screen in terms of overall area. Both watches have an Always-on Display with lots of colours and great brightness (over 1,000 nits), but the Watch Fit's larger 1.9" rectangular OLED screen (also Gorilla Glass 3) with its 348 x 442 resolution seems clearer to me - probably because of the shape - and the AoD options just seem to fill more of the panel.

Both the Moto watches operate under their lightweight RTOS software rather than having a shot at Google's WearOS, but they're keeping things relatively simple - and making battery life so much better. These are for a different kind of user who doesn't need to be deep-diving into the complexities of WearOS. As I said in my Watch Fit review, it's neat, refreshing and, I contend, for most people, is all they need. Gym-going, workout-centric exercise folk will likely be best served elsewhere, though to be fair, Moto has stuffed in meaningful data syncing and lots of workout/exercise options here too, with this new watch, in partnership with Polar's health suite.

Polar's health suite includes advanced insights like Nightly Recharge Status and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) tracking. For runners, it features upgraded dual-frequency (L1/L5) GPS for much tighter accuracy around buildings or heavy tree cover. Whereas, the Moto Watch Fit uses a standard, proprietary optical sensor stack for heart rate and stress data. While it still tracks over 100 sports modes and includes automatic walking/running detection, it relies on standard single-band GPS. It lacks the deep, algorithmic data recovery and sleep coaching metrics provided by the Polar engine on this new watch.

Neither of these watches will replace a full Wear OS device, meaning no Google Wallet/NFC payments and no app store; however, their hardware differs considerably. The new one has 512MB RAM and 4GB of eMMC storage, which allows you to sideload up to 150 songs for local, phone-free playback via Bluetooth headphones. It features a built-in microphone and speaker, enabling Bluetooth calling directly from the wrist. It also has a barometer and an altimeter. If paired with a recent Moto phone supporting MotoAI, both watches get 'catch-me-up' type summaries and services. The Moto Watch Fit has unspecified storage, so no local music saving. It doesn't have a loudspeaker or microphone either, meaning it cannot handle phone calls. It's more of a notification pass-through device that controls your phone's media playback, sets timers and pushes phone alerts. It's worth mentioning that both watches can be happily paired up with any Android or iOS phone via Moto's app and everything works perfectly well - except for that one exclusive MotoAI feature that requires an Android Moto phone with MotoAI onboard.

Battery life on both watches is excellent, not being bogged down by WearOS or the like. The new watch is supposed to run for 13 days with basic use. In real-world testing with the Always-On Display enabled, I'm getting 5–7 days. On the Watch Fit, yes, more than that, but not much more. As always, it depends on how you use them - playing music on the new version is certainly a battery-draining activity! The new one features fast charging that supposedly gives a "day's worth" of power in about 5 minutes (perfect for forgetful people rushing out the door), with a full 0–100% charge taking about an hour and a half. The Moto Watch Fit has a more impressive baseline of 16 days of battery, but, as I imply above, it's more like 7–10 for me.

The Moto Watch (2026) is built for the user who wants a traditional, premium-looking timepiece. The addition of local music storage, wrist calling, dual-frequency GPS and Polar's recovery algorithms make it a vastly superior hardware package, despite the bulkier 47mm size. The Moto Watch Fit is a pure, lightweight fitness band masquerading as a smartwatch. It wins on screen brightness (1,000 nits is excellent for outdoor use), waterproofing (5 ATM vs 1 ATM), and wrist comfort, but it lacks the audio, calling and advanced tracking depth of its round sibling. That 1 ATM rating is a point to note for fitness users, as it effectively means "rain and splashes only". So while the new watch has better tracking (Polar), it is actually less suited for swimmers or people jumping into showers than the Watch Fit!

The app on the phone is fairly simple and straightforward. If you make a Moto account you can back up your data to their cloud and then restore it to another watch if switching to a new phone. One thing I found, though, is that you can't switch the data between different watches. So, a backup of the Watch Fit will not be available on the next phone if trying to pair up with the new Moto Watch, and vice-versa. The data is all locked into one watch model. But beyond that, the back up/restore works perfectly well and is quick to execute, unlike WearOS sometimes! The graphs and charts on the app are simple and easy to read, but many of them can also be seen on the watches too. They aren't as clear, obviously, as they are much smaller - but data can be viewed if needed.

As I said at the outset, my heart still belongs to the Moto Watch Fit. For my 63-year-old eyes, that larger, rectangular screen is just so much easier to see at a glance. Plus, at a featherweight 25g, I completely forget I'm wearing it, and the superior 5 ATM waterproofing means it survives the daily routine without a second thought. But I cannot deny the sheer hardware value Motorola has stuffed into this new 2026 Moto Watch either. For £130 (or an absolute steal at £89 for the black version), you're getting dual-band GPS, local music storage, wrist calling and those genuinely excellent Polar health algorithms. If you're a casual runner, or simply someone who prefers their tech to look and feel like a proper, traditional chronograph, this is a big step up from the Watch Fit.

Just remember the trade-offs - you are sacrificing decent water resistance, losing a bit of screen space to the circular form factor, and gaining a noticeably chunkier device. However, by swerving the battery-draining bloat of WearOS, both of these watches offer a wonderfully refreshing, multi-day alternative to the mainstream smartwatch market.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you want strapped to your arm. A sporty, invisible notification screen? Stick with the Watch Fit. A handsome, feature-rich timepiece that won't die before bedtime? The 2026 Moto Watch is a superb option. As Joe would undoubtedly agree, each to their own!

Motorola Edge 70 Fusion - Battery Beauty!

The first, and possibly most important aspect of this device to point out at the top of the shop is that Moto are providing this phone in two battery-size editions. A 5,200mAh and 7,000mAh. They are both Silicon-Carbon batteries but one makes the phone fatter and heavier than the other. The smaller one is 7.21mm thick and it would seem was originally the one destined for the UK/EU (no doubt because of EU regulations). The bigger one is 7.99mm thick and it looks like originally destined to be the 'global' model, particularly for India and South America. But now, the Motorola UK's website is offering both units, with the exact same name, for purchase.

The 7,000mAh unit is also 193g over the 5,200mAh's 177g. Apart from that, it looks like both are the same except for one further aspect, the 7,000mAh unit getting the SnapDragon 7s Gen 3 for UK/EU and the global one, 7s Gen 4. And the 5,200mAh version, 7s Gen 3 across the board. All very confusing, especially as the thickness of the unit makes it physically different. I wonder why they didn't just call the bigger one 'Power' or something to differentiate. I suppose that would make for a long and unwieldy Motorola Edge 70 Fusion Power or the like!

Just to confuse everyone even more, there's also a Motorola Edge 70 Fusion Plus! This shares a very similar design footprint but there are a few changes internally. The Plus acts less like a simple size bump and more like a targeted upgrade for performance and photography. Processing power (though some regions get the SD 7s Gen 4 in the Fusion anyway, as per the above), camera capabilities and battery configurations. The Plus does get 12GB RAM across all models, rather than the 8GB on some Fusion variants, the Fusion has a dual-lens setup in the cameras (which we'll come to later), while the Plus gets triple. It gets the same 50MP main sensor but steps up to a 50MP ultrawide lens and adds a dedicated 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The Selfie also gets bumped to a 50MP sensor capable of 4K video capture. The Edge 70 Fusion Plus doesn't get the 7,000mAh battery though, rather that 5,200mAh one keeping it slim and light (like the Edge 70 and 5,200mAh Fusion). Confused? You're not alone. The Plus model only seems to be available in select markets anyway, but for me - I'd rather forget the Plus and get the big battery!

Anyway, yes, the Fusion that MotoUK PR have sent over for review is the 7,000mAh version, thankfully, as this is clearly the USP and what makes it stand out from the mid-tier range of devices - from Moto and many others. We are, more so than ever before, getting more and more features in the mid-range as OEMs squeeze in as much as they can to compete. None of the others are quite like a Moto though - you might have noticed what a MOTOvator and fan I am!

I do have other Moto phones here, so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up with my Signature and super-slim Edge 70 (links to my reviews). Maybe a tad unfair to put it up against the flagship former, but I reckon that the latter is fair game - and even shares the series' number. I know for a fact that my usual gripe will rear its head here - no Always on Display - but maybe the huge battery can make up for that, or even happily support a third party add-on app running in the background. I chose to use one of my favourites, Always on Display XPath by aodlink and after extended testing with it turned on, I can report that with the app set to 50% brightness, the basic clock, day, date, weather and battery on display, a SIM Card in the phone, connected to WiFi but basically sat doing nothing, the battery was depleted in 2 days. Now, your mileage may certainly vary with that as different AoD apps will be coded differently and if using another you might get more. Or less!

So, that out of the way, the AoD app uninstalled, otherwise exactly the same experiment, setup and criteria - and yes, what a difference! It sat there just the same and the 100% charged battery slowly, very slowly, went down as follows. Each data point is exactly 24 hours after the previous. Day 0 (100%), Day 1 (95%) Day 2 (88%), Day 3 (80%), Day 4 (72%), Day 5 (65%), Day 6 (57%), Day 7 (52%), Day 8 (42%), Day 9 (30%), Day 10 (22%), Day 11 (15%) and finally Day 12 (4%). So on that test, a staggering 12 days of power. However, sitting on a desk not being used, is hardly a real-world experience, so next up is just that, putting it to use with the screen on in the usual kind of pattern, as people would be using it. It was useful, however, to establish a kind of standby time and a line in the sand.

Under normal, moderate daily usage for me (web browsing, streaming, handling notifications, and communication without heavy 3D gaming), three full days is doable. If you use Moto's built-in auto battery management, you can stretch that to four. Even if you hammer it, it's pretty hard to not get through even the longest of a single day. Remember that there's a pretty efficient chipset in the phone and Moto have clearly made sure that this battery is going to be a peach. As above, introduce a 3rd party AoD and it clearly canes it by more than half. Which then begs the question of Moto, given that this phone has an LTPO OLED panel, why on earth they have chosen to exclude a built-in, OEM-optimised and efficient (as we know they are, generally, over 3rd party apps) Always on Display?! It defies logic and I can only conclude that it's a marketing decision in order to make more expensive phones have more features. It's perfectly capable of having this - and, though not a software engineer, I'd be willing to bet that it could even now be added in, if they wanted, in an update. Even the marketing and pricing argument doesn't add up when the Edge 60 Neo, cheaper and with a smaller battery, has an AoD which works perfectly. Even if they think most won't use it, why not just have it as an option, I wonder. Very disappointing.

The same is true of the lack of wireless charging really, though to be fair, this addition, for (no doubt) the price of a dollar or two in parts, is a hardware one. Again, I quote the Edge 60 Neo example of all this having been done right. Still, what do I know?! Fortunately, there's an awful lot more here with the Fusion that, for most folk, will more than make up for these shortcomings. Particularly that fabulous battery! And I do get the argument that with a battery that big, who needs Qi Charging anyway as it won't need charging that often! We all have our foibles! Through all this, if you read my stuff, you'll know that I love Motorola stuff. I'm a huge fan. And these things will be trivial to many! It should be noted that, again, like the Edge 60 Neo, the phone supports 68W wired charging, so armed with an appropriate brick you can get up and running swiftly enough.

So, away from my petty gripes - here's what's in the box. It looks like a UK retail version that has been sent, so this should be the experience buyers will get. The same style hard plastic case (though without the Qi2 magnet ring on the back) that was supplied with the Signature and Edge 70 is here, which is nicely-shaped for good access to everything with proper cut-outs rather than soft plastic covering buttons. I approve. Of course, because of that, it can't be a soft TPU, which has other benefits - the primary one being grippiness. The hard plastic here, like for the other two phones I mentioned, is really slippery. Pros and cons I guess. There's a USB-C to USB-C cable, SIM pokey-tool and papers. That's it - no charger. But we're getting used to that now. At least in Europe.

The box is the becoming-usual simple white one with a Pantone fragrance/perfume that hits the senses as soon as opened up! We're getting used to that too! It doesn't last forever - but maybe a few weeks on the device (and longer in the closed-up box). Nice touch. The phone reminds me of my Motorola Edge 40 in the hand - not for size as this is bigger - but for heft, weight and clutchability! It's a nicely chunky feel which gives a confidence in build and quality. The phone measures 162.8 x 75.6 x 8mm (in this variant), weighs 193g and has a plastic frame. It's IP68/69 rated for ingress of dust and water, and even MIL-STD-810H compliant. This unit has a single nanoSIM slot and eSIM functionality, but regions may vary, so check yours.

As usual with Moto, the 6.78", 1272 x 2772, 19.5:9 OLED panel with 450ppi on the front, which is Gorilla Glass 7i certified, is lovely. Bright (5,200 nits peak), colourful and vibrant. And I love this subtle quad-curve thing that the Edge phones generally get. No ludicrous waterfall edges - just classy-looking 'last minute' turns in the glass to assist hugely with on-screen swipes. I have not had any accidental touches in my review period, but I guess that there is a risk of damage on the edges more so than a flat screen and TPU lifting up and over the edges. But then you lose the premium look/feel of the quad-curve. I'll take the risk, every time as it's gorgeous! The refresh rate of the screen goes up to 144Hz in auto, with some applications designed for it. The 'routine' max is 120. There's an auto option and forced 60Hz for those who want it and (for some reason) feel the need to save battery!

I used my all signed-up, signed-in Motorola Razr 60 Ultra and Google's toolset to do the initial 'copy' wirelessly and for my 150GB or so of data it took about a half-hour or so. All done beautifully well, homescreen layouts, almost all settings, apps, some signed in and ready to use, a few not - and certainly not any financials. So they'd need setting up of course, which is good, right and proper for security. Then, on startup we get that page of "Discover New Apps" full of crappy Games and junk. Fortunately, they can all be unticked, or allow you to 'skip' the page. Is this a phone aimed at 8-year olds?! 

The level of bloatware on setup is not too bad and seems to follow the now-usual pattern with Moto phones. All uninstallable but some hook into MotoAI or baked-in services these days so it might be best to leave Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot and Amazon Music (if you're going to make use of them inside Moto's system) but Adobe Scan AI PDF Scanner OCR, Opera Browser with VPN, Booking and LinkedIn are just add-ons which you're not allowed to set up the phone without installing. Hoops to jump through so that, presumably, the server sees it being installed and they get their claw-back of cash from whatever firm it is. Welcome to the modern world, I guess. Still - I've seen an awful lot worse from other OEMs, plenty not uninstallable (so disable and force-stop instead, forever in ROM).

However, they do, again, especially after system updates, drop a ton of nags for childish games for downloading and installing. Very annoying, but for those of us who know, you need to disable background bloatware and promotional app managers by force-stopping the Moto App Manager responsible for pushing all that sponsored software and promotional games, then delete any unwanted games that have made it through. And after updates, again, they're smartly re-enabling all this so you have to do it again. Very annoying Moto. Stop it and make your phone £50 more! Having said that, maybe some people like it and want it. Each to their own.

The stereo speakers are surprisingly good. They're not that far away from the powerhouse Signature's with nicely balanced tone, a little bass in the mix and more than decent volume. No need for the Wavelet app here - in fact, barely any need to set the Dolby Atmos to anything but 'flat' in terms of EQ either. There's no top-edge 'left' firing speaker, rather the earpiece doubling up, but even so, it does a good job with the stereo and provides a decent enough soundstage up to 18" from the face in landscape while enjoying media. There's Bluetooth audio of course, but no 3.5mm audio jack. The Bluetooth is v6.0 and sounds great. You can also plug ear/headphones into the USB-C port of course and that, too, in my tests sounds great too. Enough to burst the eardrums!

Much like the Edge 60 Neo and Edge 70, there's no physical MotoAI button on the left side of the phone, presumably to save some pennies. This doesn't mean that it's not packed with all the MotoAI tools, as it is! It just means that you have to get to them via the menus/app (or assign the power button or double-tap-the-back [Quick Launch] to invoke them). I don't really think this is much of a miss and, at this stage anyway, I think Moto's AI stuff is still in early days and most users will still be using Google's options. I certainly can't remember the last time I used them for anything beyond testing/reviews. But MotoAI has made a decent enough start and they're clearly trying hard, baking in tools from, as I said above, Perplexity, Microsoft, Amazon Music and more. So we'll certainly keep any eye on progress. For a full rundown of what MotoAI brings, do head for my full overview.

The phone arrived in March 2026 with Android 16 baked in and a promise that it will get Android 19 eventually. There's 5 years of Google Patching Security Updates, so to March 2031 as defined by the United Kingdom’s Product Security and  Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 - so your region may vary on that if not the EU (or under its influence). The phone as I type in June 2026 has the May 2026 Security Patches, so not far behind.

If you get a unit sourced in India you'll get the SnapDragon 7s Gen 4 (4nm) but the international variant drops to Gen 3. I guess that on a testbench there might be differences but in day-to-day here I really don't see any. Probably only picked up by hardcore gamers and, frankly, I'm not sure why they'd be buying this kind of phone if that's them! Everything runs just fine and yes, it's not as fast as higher-spec'd flagships when doing heavy lifting, but for 99% of users, 99% of the time, it'll be just fine.

This unit has 256GB of storage and 8GB RAM but in some regions you can source a 128GB version and also a 256GB one with 12GB RAM, so check your specs locally. For my use these days, I find that 256GB is enough but, as always, it depends on how much data you want to carry with you, how much gaming you're getting stuck into and quantity of high resolution you're shooting and expecting to store. But choose well (if you can) as there's no microSD Card slot here. The 8GB RAM I don't see as a problem and it works just fine, wirelessly, with Moto's Smart Connect on my PC and other equipment for extension. Smart Connect really is impressive and, in my view, leads the 'desktop mode' field still. Yes, even over DeX as, apart from anything else, it has Windows PC software, unlike Samsung who stripped it out. Here's a link to my Summary of Smart Connect.

In terms of connectivity and security, the phone comes with an under display, optical fingerprint scanner which works just fine, supported by Moto's excellent face unlock engine. By the time you lift the phone (in good-enough light), the fingerprint scanner is rarely needed. WiFi is v6e, GPS efficient, NFC does the job and Bluetooth seems to keep up too. Decent connectivity all-round with good range, good lock and all very efficient.

The camera system is heavily geared toward lifestyle photography and social sharing. Featuring a 50MP f1.8 sensor with OIS. It lacks a dedicated telephoto lens and struggles with low-light focus tracking at times. The wide-angle/macro shooter has a 13MP f2.2 sensor and the Selfie is 32MP f2.2. The main sensor does well in good lighting, capturing high-enough detail for the class, accurate white balance and wide-enough dynamic range. The wide-angle produces surprisingly good, consistent detail, making switching between lenses feel natural without sudden colour shifts. The main lens produces good portraits, offering attractive background blur and solid edge detection and for night/low-light, the main camera brightens scenes well and keeps noise under control. However, complex textures (like leaves) can turn into soft, muddy blobs in very low light and autofocus can occasionally hunt. Beyond 2x, detail and dynamic range fall off rapidly.

All cameras are capped at 4K video shooting at 30fps. Daytime footage is sharp-enough and well-stabilised. Low-light video can suffer from wobbling and noise, however. There are extra creative modes like Horizon Lock and Dual Capture, though you can experience autofocus hunting in video mode sometimes. The Pantone thing does help to ensure colours appear balanced and true to real life, particularly on the phone’s display. The shutter generally performs well, but there is sometimes a slight post-processing lag after taking a shot, which can be annoying if you're in a hurry!

The phone is available, as I say, in the UK, for a very good price of £329 as I write, reduced from launch price of £379. It's available in Orient Blue, Sporting Green, Blue Surf, Country Air and Silhouette - depending on market and battery/thickness variant ordered. The Motorola Edge 70 Fusion (7,000mAh version) is a veritable compromise - in the best way possible. By prioritising a huge battery, Moto has carved out a unique space in the crowded mid-range market. While I am still baffled by the lack of an Always-on Display and the inexplicable omission of wireless charging, the sheer longevity of this device is a game-changer for anyone tired of daily top-ups. Yes, the naming strategy and regional hardware variations are confusing, and the 'bloatware' nag-fest remains a frustration, but these are small prices to pay for a phone that can genuinely last three to four days on a single charge with moderate use. If you value endurance above all else and don't mind a slightly chunkier profile, the Edge 70 Fusion is a standout, reliable workhorse that, frankly, makes other mid-rangers feel incomplete. Recommended.