Barnes & Noble has opened pre-orders for a co-branded TCL Tab A1 NXTPAPER at $249.99, with the NOOK app pre-installed. It is due for release on November 19, 2026. Underneath, it is the same 11-inch matte-screen tablet TCL already sells. The retailer’s listing marks the T-Pen Stylus and Flip Case as sold separately.
Pricing and Availability
The Barnes & Noble edition costs $249.99 and is available to pre-order on the retailer’s website. Orders are limited to 10 per customer, and the tablet is due on November 19.
The standard model costs the same. At the time of writing on November 6, the regular TCL Tab A1 NXTPAPER was $249.99 on Amazon. That listing says the T-Pen 2 stylus and a case are included. Android Authority also reports the standard model sells for $229.98 on TCL’s own website, a figure we could not check ourselves.
What the NOOK Edition Actually Adds
The main difference is software. NOOK comes pre-installed, so a Barnes & Noble library is ready from first boot. But the NOOK app is a free download on Google Play for any Android phone or tablet. Anyone buying the standard model can add it in a minute.
The other difference is the store. This edition is a Barnes & Noble exclusive, which suits readers who already shop there. For everyone else, the trade is plain. As of November 6, $249.99 at Amazon bought the standard tablet with a pen and case. The NOOK edition costs the same and leaves both as extra purchases.
Display Modes
The NXTPAPER screen is the reason to consider this tablet at all. It has an anti-glare matte finish and three modes: Regular, Color Paper and Ink Paper. Ink Paper switches to a monochrome look that sits closer to an e-reader.
That makes it a reasonable fit for long reading sessions, which is exactly where a bookseller would want it. The hardware behind the screen is a different story.
TCL Tab A1 NXTPAPER Specifications
The specs match the standard TCL Tab A1 NXTPAPER we covered in September. That means MediaTek’s Helio G100, a light revision of a 2022 design. It also ships with Android 16 while Android 17 is rolling out to other devices. Barnes & Noble’s page does not list RAM. Android Authority says it has 6GB, like the standard model, which Amazon lists as 6+128GB.
- Display: 11-inch NXTPAPER, anti-glare; Regular, Color Paper and Ink Paper modes
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G100, octa-core
- Memory and storage: 6GB RAM (per Android Authority); 128GB, expandable up to 2TB via microSD
- Battery: 8000mAh
- Cameras: 8MP rear, 5MP front
- Audio: quad stereo speakers with Sound Booster
- Durability: IP54 dust and splash resistance
- Software: Android 16, Google Gemini built in, NOOK app pre-installed
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
- Accessories: T-Pen Stylus and Flip Case sold separately at Barnes & Noble
Source: Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Android Authority
This post was written with AI assistance from public sources and published under the editorial responsibility of AndroidPure’s editor. How we work.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
