TCL Tab A1 Plus (2026) Review: An Inexpensive Tablet That Doesn’t Feel

TCL also offers what it calls the Magic Hub, a type of side cabinet where you can store notes or photos for later use. The Magic Hub sits on the right side of the screen, and while I’ve only used it a little on TCL phones in the past, it’s really useful here, especially when used with picture mode. I often need to jump from one tab to another, and although I can do this manually, it’s much easier and faster to use Magic Hub.

To increase usability, TCL supports what it calls the extension option, which allows you to use the Tab A1 Plus as a second monitor for your laptop or PC. There’s also a glass screen, which shows off your big screen, though I haven’t used it much.

There are a number of AI-based tools baked into the A1 Plus if that’s what you’re after, including Gemini, Writing Assist, and Smart Translator. They work on hardware (offline), so while they provide more privacy and are good for basic applications, their utility is limited compared to cloud-based AI tools.

Battery life is excellent, lasting a full day of heavy use—surfing the web, working, listening to music, and playing a baseball game or two. It also charges quickly, taking at least three hours to reach 100 percent. Standby mode does a good job of conserving the battery when you are not using the tablet for a while.

Should You Buy?

If you’re looking for a budget Android tablet, this is the best one I’ve tried. Although its performance cannot compete with the leading products, it is enough to use a tablet for many people. The main competition here is Lenovo Idea Tab Pluswhich also packs a 2.5K screen but doesn’t have a 120-Hz refresh rate, and the colors looked a little off to me, giving the TCL the edge. However, Lenovo enjoys the longevity of supporting Android updates. The biggest name in budget tablets is the Samsung Tab 11, but its 1080p screen is close to the TCL Tab A1 Plus. If you want an entry-level Android tablet that’s as close to a model iPad as possible, the Tab A1 Plus is the one to get.