TCL unveils new affordable tablet with metal design and launch discount

Earlier this year, TCL announced the Tab A1 Plus tablet in the USA. Now, TCL has launched a slightly tweaked version of the original Tab A1 Plus tablet, which the company calls the TCL Tab A1 Plus NxtPaper. The tablet retains most of the specs from its original model, albeit with few tweaks. Speaking more precisely, the entry-level device boasts a large 10,000 mAh battery with 33 W wired charging. In contrast, the original model has an 8,000 mAh battery and is charged via USB-C with up to 20 W. 

Another difference is TCL has incorporated its in-house NxtPaper display technology into the tablet. It also offers the NxtPaper Key feature for instant switching between ink paper, color paper, and standard mode. The display size and aspect ratio format remain unchanged. The device sports a 12.2-inch IPS panel with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The display outputs at a resolution of 2400 x 1600 pixels, with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness. 

Like the original model, the Tab A1 Plus NxtPaper also has stylus support. Under the hood, TCL’s latest budget tablet is powered by a 4 nm-based Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, which has two ARM Cortex-A76 performance cores with boost clock rates of up to 2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. It packs 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, which is further expandable up to 2 TB via microSD card. 

The selfie camera is now 8 MP, a step up from the 5 MP of the original model. Although the rear camera still has a resolution of 8 MP, it remains unchanged from the original model. Other features include quad speakers, two mics, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, up to 10 GB virtual RAM, and a metal unibody design with IP54-rated splash and dust resistance. Despite boasting a large battery capacity, the tablet measures just 6.7 mm (0.26-inch) in thickness. At 556 grams (1.22 lbs), the table is slightly heavier than the original model, which comes in at 542 grams (1.19 lbs). 

However, these upgrades come with a $100 price bump for the tablet. As for price, the TCL Tab A1 Plus NxtPaper is priced at $399. As part of the launch offer, the company is offering a straight $100 off on its MSRP, bringing the price down from $399 to $299 for a limited time. Available in a single aerolite grey colorway, buyers can purchase the tablet via TCL’s official website and Amazon.