TCL Tab A1 Plus Review: Budget Tablet with Premium Display

The TCL Tab A1 Plus is a budget Android tablet that prioritizes screen quality over other features. It features a 12.2-inch, 2400 x 1600 pixel LCD panel with a 120-Hz refresh rate and 3:2 aspect ratio, offering sharp and vibrant visuals. The aluminum unibody design is thin (6.7 mm) and lightweight (542 grams), with an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance. To keep costs low, TCL used an older Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip and modest cameras (8 MP rear, 5 MP front). Performance is adequate for web browsing, video streaming, and multitasking, but not for gaming. The tablet ships with Android 16, with updates guaranteed only to Android 17 and security updates for at least two years. It includes multitasking features like split-screen and Magic Hub, plus AI tools such as Gemini and Smart Translator that work offline. Battery life lasts a full day of heavy use, and fast charging reaches 100% in under 3 hours. Priced nearly $200 less than the base iPad, the Tab A1 Plus is recommended as a secondary device for budget-conscious buyers.