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ZDNET Highlights
- The TCL Note A1 Nextpaper is a notes-first device.
- Split View is very useful for recording, transcription and note taking.
- The matte display looks great, but the tablet omits Nxtpaper’s signature mode switcher.
I spent time in TCL’s suite at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to get some hands-on experience with TCL’s Note A1 Nextpaper, and it’s clear that TCL didn’t try to make a general-purpose tablet. Instead, it’s a modern notebook, similar to the reMarkable Paper Pro or Amazon’s Kindle Scribe Papersoft offering, with a highly custom build of Android underneath.
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The digital paper category has begun to split into two camps, with some devices adopting the minimalist approach of E Ink, while others take note-taking on a standard tablet and expect it to work. TCL continues to create a third lane with its Nxtpaper display technology, and now it brings a focused note machine with a full-color, high-refresh display that is designed to be easy on the eyes.
sets the display tone
If you’ve used a Nxtpaper phone or tablet before, you know what to expect here, with a few notable changes. TCL usually gives you a mode switch, so you can hop between full color and a more paper-like mode. The Note A1 takes a different approach, baking the look without any mode switching, and they call it Nxtpaper Pure. After getting used to different methods, this omission stood out to me, but I can understand why TCL took this route, given that this tablet isn’t all things to all people.
This means that the 11.5-inch panel, with its signature matte finish and flatter color spectrum, makes the device geared toward longer productivity sessions. The display also runs at a high refresh rate of 120Hz, which significantly increases the responsiveness of the interface, making it feel more like a modern screen than a sluggish e-reader in my use.
Also: I tested Remarkable Paper Pro, and can’t go back to ‘real’ paper – especially at this price
TCL also talks about eye comfort certification and glare reduction, including a layer of what it calls 3A Crystal Shield Glass, which is directly responsible for the smoothness of the display and the low glare I experienced. The matte finish felt a little more subtle than other Nxtpaper products I’ve tested, including the Nxtpaper 60 Ultra. In comparison, the Note A1 offers a more muted presentation.
The tablet has a solid, tight design that feels slim and light in the hand. TCL made a smart choice with the chassis shape on the edge, integrating the home button around the area intended for gripping. This helped when I held the tablet with my left hand while writing with the included T Pen Pro with my right hand. In photos, that wide bezel looks clumsy, but in use, it gave my hand a place to grip it.
Speaking of the T Pen Pro, the pen supports 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as an eraser function on the back, which I always appreciate. During my demo, the pen magnetically latched easily to the side, so it has room to stay. I noticed that the magnetic pull felt a little loose, and a few unintentional bumps caused it to discolor during my short time with it.
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Writing feels closer to pen on paper than pencil on paper. I felt some resistance and texture, but still felt a slight glide. I also really liked the feel of the eraser implementation, as the rear has a slight pop-down feel that makes the Switch feel intentional.
A purpose-built Android interface
TCL’s NeXT Paper devices typically operate in the Android world, so it’s no surprise that the mobile OS is based on the Note A1. However, the focused approach of this tool means that you will hardly see any signal of it. I couldn’t pull down a normal Android notification shade, and there were no quick settings, either. The only thing that resembled Android was the PIN entry screen to unlock the device from the screen-off state. TCL has created a highly custom interface that keeps you on narrow tracks, and this choice aligns with this device’s mission of avoiding the role of a general-purpose tablet.
TCL acknowledged during my demo that the Android foundation underneath technically leaves the door open for deeper access. I’m left with the impression that TCL knows that the underlying platform leaves room for technically inclined users to experiment, even if TCL doesn’t sell the Note A1 as an app playground.
Too: This $200 Android phone with a paper-like display made my Pixel look great
The home button on the side panel is a programmable shortcut that reacts to single press, double tap and long press behavior, with the long press during my demo jumping straight into recording and live transcription. This integrated action sets the tone for tablets, enabling users to quickly capture ideas without having to search through apps or menus.
Another place this philosophy is evident is in a useful split-view workflow that combines audio recording, live transcription, and note-taking into a single view. I could easily see myself using that layout in real meetings, because it matches the way my brain works when I’m listening, capturing key points, and trying to add my own context.
TCL lists handwriting conversion as a feature in its spec sheet, but the unit I used didn’t offer it. The TCL rep told me the team is still working on it, so I’m interested to see how TCL distributes it in shipping software.
Focus on work and productivity
TCL clearly aims the Note A1 at work and productivity, relying heavily on Microsoft’s ecosystem including Copilot and the Edge browser, and TCL positions that option as the better choice for business users. That said, the cloud offering also includes Google Drive and Dropbox, and TCL has hinted at more destinations appearing over time.
The Note A1 feels like a confident device that leverages the unique strengths of its Nxtpaper technology with a commitment to a very unique function. It feels thin and light, the pen feels sturdy, and that Trio meeting scene makes a strong argument for a dedicated Note device. I also appreciate that TCL is including a folio-style magnetic case, and TCL has talked about a future keyboard accessory that could bring it closer to a lightweight productivity setup.
TCL framed this announcement as part of a broader Nxtpaper push, and the company also introduced the TCL Nxtpaper 70 Pro smartphone, which features a dedicated Nxtpaper key for switching between its more traditional display modes. Together, the phone and the Note A1 show TCL working on a simple concept – creating screens that people can stay on and look at for long periods of time without feeling penalized for it.
