The TCL Note A1 is a kinder, gentler tablet
The Verge has reviewed TCL's Note A1 Nxtpaper, a tablet that sits between a standard colour tablet and a distraction-free E Ink device such as the Remarkable Pro. It uses TCL's signature low-glare matte display and ships with a pressure-sensitive stylus whose haptics mimic the feel of pencil on paper, with software modelled on Remarkable's minimalist note-taking interface rather than a conventional Android home screen.
The review found the A1's 8GB of RAM and 120Hz LCD screen adequate for browsing and video, offering wide viewing angles and vivid colours, though blacks are weaker than OLED and the review unit showed slight screen dimming in one corner. Weaknesses include tinny built-in speakers, no physical volume buttons, a home screen with limited customisation options, the omission of TCL's battery-saving monochrome Max Ink Mode found on other Nxtpaper devices, and a side navigation gesture that repeatedly interrupted note-taking. Overall, the reviewer concluded the tablet does a reasonable job as both a tablet and note-taking device but lacks the polish of devices purpose-built for either task.
- TCL's Note A1 Nxtpaper blends tablet and paper-like note-taking features.
- Matte display and stylus haptics mimic writing on real paper.
- Decent all-rounder, but lacks precision of dedicated devices and misses Max Ink Mode.
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TCL is best known for televisions and budget-friendly phones, but it also makes "Nxtpaper" devices, tablets and phones with screens designed to look and feel more like paper than a typical glossy display. The Note A1 is the latest of these, a tablet aimed at people who want something between a normal tablet, which is good for browsing and video but easy to get distracted on, and a simple digital notepad like the Remarkable, which is built purely for writing and reading with no colour or apps to speak of.
The Verge, a technology news and reviews website, has tested the device to see how well it manages that balancing act. Its findings matter because more companies are chasing this middle ground between conventional tablets and single-purpose e-readers, and how well TCL's attempt works could say something about whether that compromise is worth making, or whether buyers are better off picking one type of device and sticking with it.