The TCL 60XE switches from color to grayscale in an instant – and it's the coolest thing I saw at CES

• I found the TCL 60XE NXTpaper 5G phone on the show floor at CES, as I didn't want to leave Vegas without seeing it.
• It switches from a color screen to a grayscale one in seconds.
• It won TechRadar's Best Mobile Phone of CES 2025.

In between hands-on time with Sony’s prototype Xyn headset and getting a remote drive around Las Vegas, I headed for TCL’s extravagant booth at CES 2025. Why? Well, the answer lies in the GIF below, showing a smartphone switching from a color display to a grayscale one that rapidly extends the battery life.

This is the TCL 60XE NXTpaper 5G Android smartphone, which, thanks to the custom display technology, can transform from an FHD+ to one that resembles a matte grayscale that's kind of akin to a newspaper. Still, it’s a fully functional Android phone with TCL’s user ...