I've tested dozens of tablets - this $300 TCL is a back-to-school powerhouse

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The arrival of the TCL Tab A1 Plus Nxtpaper in time for back-to-school shopping is more than opportunistic -- it just makes good sense. TCL has continuously produced tablets that rival the iPad in performance while staying squarely in the $300 price range -- and I should know, I've tested multiple of them.

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As a smart home reviewer who dabbles in tablet reviews, I've tested all of the latest iPads and multiple tablets from Honor, OnePlus, Samsung, and Lenovo. Yet my everyday tablet of choice is the TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus thanks to its ability to handle everything I need. In fact, testing the TCL Tab A1 Plus Nxtpaper felt like an upgrade in more ways than one.

The Tab A1 Plus Nxtpaper looks like an entertainment tablet, but is strong enough for work and graphic design.

I use the new A1 Plus tablet daily for light work like writing, notetaking, transcriptions, image editing, and graphic design. For entertainment, this tablet has been my new go-to for streaming media, playing mobile games (including quick rendering in Minecraft), and reading.