In the market of electronic reading and writing devices, E Ink electronic ink technology has long monopolized the “paper-like display” field. However, the motion blur and lag caused by low refresh rates have confined it to reading scenarios. While the iPad is smooth and colorful, the blue light and glare from its screen cause eye discomfort for long-term users. TCL’s Note A1, launched at CES 2026, stood out with a crowdfunding achievement of $1.28 million through differentiated innovations.
The biggest highlight of the Note A1 is abandoning E Ink and adopting TCL’s self-developed NXTPAPER Pure liquid crystal technology. This technology features blue light filtering and anti-glare functions, has passed TÜV flicker-free and paper-like display certifications, and is paired with an anti-fingerprint coating to perfectly simulate the diffuse reflection effect of real paper. As a standout in the latest electronics news, it boasts a 16.7 million full-color gamut, 120Hz high refresh rate, and 2200×1440 high resolution, addressing both the display limitations of e-paper and the eye-protection drawbacks of traditional LCD/OLED screens, thus attracting professionals from industries such as design, architecture, and education that require color for creative expression.
In terms of writing experience, the Note A1’s T-Pen Pro stylus delivers an outstanding performance. As the world’s first product to obtain TÜV Rheinland pencil-style certification, it is equipped with a precision motor that can simulate the damping feeling of pencil friction and the smoothness of a ballpoint pen. The micro-vibration haptic feedback highly restores the paper-pen interaction. Combined with <5ms ultra-low latency, a dual-nib design, and one-click transcription function, it constructs a complete “paper-pen illusion system” to meet professional writing needs.
Positioned for business scenarios, the Note A1 is equipped with an 8-microphone array and the Inspiration Space system. It supports real-time transcription of over 10 languages and dialects, AI summary generation, and mutual translation of more than 40 languages. Users can also circle content on the screen with the stylus to save it to the inspiration library with traceability, making it an efficient productivity tool for professions such as journalists and lawyers who need to process large amounts of voice information.
To enhance focus, the Note A1 has made extreme trade-offs: It removes the Google Play app store, comes with a minimalist pre-installed system, and cancels the cellular network module and front camera to reduce distractions through physical restrictions. It only supports sideloading core office applications via APK.
This seemingly “incomplete” paper-like tablet accurately hits the needs of the niche market, proving the demand for “professional tools with clear scenario orientation” in the consumer electronics field and providing a new path for differentiated competition in the industry.
