TCL's latest E Ink tablet gives you a full-color screen - without this one big compromise
The Note A1 Nxtpaper tablet beats Kindle and Remarkable with this display tech.
TCL
TCL just announced the release of its latest digital paper tablet: the Note A1 Nxtpaper, with a 120Hz refresh rate, full-color display, and an ultra-thin (5.5mm/0.2 inch) form factor.
TCL combined its Nxtpaper Pure digital paper technology with an LCD display for this device -- a first for the brand -- resulting in vibrant colors and no ghosting. This brings the device closer to a traditional tablet or iPad (at least visually) while maintaining a focus on productivity.
TCL
The tablet is designed for the same specific demographic: working professionals, students, and creatives who want a robust digital paper device with out-of-the-box software integrations and a desire to be free from the inherent distractions found in Windows or Android OS.
Office-ready productivity features
The Note A1 seeks to differentiate itself, however, with a host of office-ready productivity features, including AI meeting transcriptions, real-time translations, and one-tap AI summaries. It also features wireless screen casting, allowing you to easily share what's on the display in impromptu presentations.
Additionally, TCL included seamless file sharing via Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, as long as devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This single-click file sharing opens up more practical use cases for sharing what's on the device with collaborators.
Also: This Kindle nearly replaced my Remarkable tablet with just the display itself - but there's more
We tested TCL's Nxtpaper 11 Plus, where we first saw this hybrid display experimentation. On that device, you switch from regular tablet mode to e-reader mode with the push of a button. Here, the TCL Note A1 features Nxtpaper technology but doesn't swap back and forth, instead utilizing the built-in combination display and staying at 120Hz by default.
Notebook-style design
Physically, TCL's Note A1 Nxtpaper features the standard notebook-style design, with a thick left-side bezel for gripping the 11.5-inch display, framed in black with a magnetic strip for storing the stylus on the right side. It also features an 8,000mAh battery -- more than the competitors -- suggesting the color display might be a little more power hungry.
Pricing and availability
The Note A1 Nxtpaper is available for pre-order early access on Kickstarter, with an expected launch date at the end of February 2026. TCL has set the expected retail price at $549, making it cheaper than both of the previously mentioned digital paper tablets and lower priced than the Boox Note Max, which runs on Android 13.