The TCL TAB A1 NXTPAPER is an Android tablet with a matte LCD, so it will behave differently from a NOOK GlowLight’s E Ink screen. Barnes & Noble lists a November 19 release, rather than guaranteeing a delivery date. The NOOK app comes preinstalled, and it is also available free for other Android tablets.
On November 6, Barnes & Noble listed the tablet at $249.99 and the GlowLight 4 at $149.99. That is a $100 difference before any eligible membership discount. The larger color screen and Android apps need to justify that extra cost for your reading.
The NXTPAPER screen
NXTPAPER is TCL's name for a paper-like, full-color display it introduced in 2021. TCL etches the glass for a matte, low-glare finish and filters blue light at the hardware level instead of tinting the screen yellow.
TCL describes an 11-inch-class NXTPAPER screen. The matte finish and illuminated display behave differently from a reflective E Ink screen.
Ink Paper and Color Paper modes soften the image for reading, and Regular mode is for video and photos. TCL says selected apps can stay in Regular mode while the rest of the tablet uses a paper mode.
TCL lists a MediaTek Helio G100 chip and an 8,000 mAh battery for the NXTPAPER model. If you are also considering the standard-screen TAB A1, compare the screen finish and included accessories before choosing.
Battery life is the open question
A GlowLight’s month-long battery claim depends on a short daily reading session and a specified light setting. It is not a month of continuous reading. The TCL’s battery capacity alone cannot establish an equivalent reading runtime.
For the TCL, B&N's page gives the battery size and says it's designed for hours of reading, audiobooks and streaming. TCL calls it all-day power and rates charging at up to 20 W. Neither page gives a reading-time figure that sits beside the GlowLight's month.
The LCD and its illumination use power differently from E Ink. Plan for tablet-style charging, but do not infer a measured runtime difference from the screen type or battery capacity alone.
Buying it from Barnes & Noble
The NOOK app is the same one B&N offers free on Google Play for any Android phone or tablet, with your NOOK purchases syncing across devices. Having it preinstalled only saves you the download.
Booksellers in B&N stores help with setup, connectivity and basic troubleshooting, and the tablet carries a one-year warranty. The optional NOOK Protect plans cost $39.99 for two years or $54.99 for three, with coverage subject to the plan terms.
Premium members get 10 percent off NOOK devices, which brings the tablet to $224.99. The T-Pen stylus and the flip case are sold separately.
We think the in-store help is the real argument for buying this tablet at B&N. If you'd never take it to a bookstore counter, the preinstalled app shouldn't sway you.
Who it suits
The color screen earns its price over a GlowLight with comics, cookbooks, magazines and picture books. So does handwriting, if you add TCL's T-Pen 2, which has two swappable tips. At 426 grams, it's a two-handed tablet for a couch or a desk.
For plain novels in bed, a smaller GlowLight is easier to hold. Keep it unless the TCL’s color pages, larger screen or Android apps would change what you read.
