WIRED rates the TCL Tab A1 Plus 7/10, describing it as a budget tablet that feels more premium than its price suggests. Its main strengths are a high-quality, fast display, a slim aluminium body and useful software features, making it a strong option for media, reading and light productivity rather than demanding work.

The tablet has a 12.2-inch 2,400 x 1,600 LCD display with a 120-Hz refresh rate, 3:2 aspect ratio and 236 ppi pixel density; the reviewer says it compares closely with the base iPad’s resolution and outperforms similarly priced rivals on screen quality. It weighs 542 grams, is 6.7 mm thin and has IP54 dust-and-splash protection, but TCL keeps costs down with modest 8-MP rear and 5-MP front cameras, a 2023 Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, and a short support cycle; it was listed at about $220, versus $280 normally.