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TCL Note A1 review: A stylus-first tablet caught between note-taking and full Android

TCL Note A1 review: a stylus-first Android tablet with paper-like display, but it falls short as tablet and e-reader.

AI News Feed · 2026-08-26 00:55

The Note A1 is designed as a note-taking device first, The Verge says. Its 120Hz color LCD screen allows video playback and normal web browsing, something E Ink tablets cannot do well. The included pressure-sensitive stylus offers adjustable haptics that simulate the scratchy feel of writing, which the reviewer found convincing enough to lose themselves in writing, though not to the point of mistaking it for real paper.

As a tablet, the device is merely adequate, the review says. Its 8GB of RAM handled media-heavy web pages with minor juddering. The LCD offered generous viewing angles and vivid colors, but blacks were not as rich as OLED, and one corner of the review unit had slight dimming. The speakers sound tinny, and there are no physical volume buttons.

For note-taking and e-reading, the A1 lacks the precision of purpose-built devices like the Remarkable, according to The Verge. The home screen is minimal but offers limited customization; users cannot create custom covers for note collections. TCL's Max Ink Mode, a monochrome setting available on its other Nxtpaper products to extend battery life, is missing. The reviewer also accidentally triggered the back navigation gesture at the screen edge while writing, and there is no option to disable it during note-taking.

The review highlights some strengths: an 8,000mAh battery that lasts a couple of days, an eye comfort mode with adjustable color temperature, responsive yet restrained stylus pressure, and an AI-powered 'Inspiration Space' that clips and tags text and images, similar to Pixel Screenshots. The Verge said the best experience came when the reviewer forgot the tablet's gadget qualities and used it as a canvas for writing and doodles.

The Note A1 occupies a middle ground between a full-fledged tablet and a low-distraction E Ink device, but it feels like it is not quite either, according to The Verge. It may appeal to someone curious about a Remarkable who does not want to commit to E Ink.