TCL NXTPAPER Note AI Review: Paper-Like Display Meets AI Productivity

Unboxing the TCL NXTPAPER Note AI (0:00)

Today we're going to unpack a new device by TCL, the Note AI NXTPAPER, a next-generation note-taking tablet. As I started to unbox this device, I really started to get excited for what's to come. As AI starts to be introduced across all these different tablets, for many of us that have been using AI at our desktop, using ChatGPT and other tools, you can find the benefits of it, the productivity enhancements you're able to see in your everyday life. As we start to see integrations into the tablets and devices we use every day, there are going to be some pretty awesome features you'll want to learn for yourself.

In this video I'm going to show you this new tablet by TCL and how they've integrated AI into the note-taking world. I'll show you some cool things I was really excited about, and give you an overall first impressions review of this product. When I was able to unbox it, I was impressed by the packaging itself. The quality of what they packed was really good. I was excited to see that they gave me extra nibs. There are two different types of nibs, and I'll showcase those later in the video. You're going to want to see not only how they work, but how you get them on and off.

Build Quality and Design Overview (1:08)

With this device in your hands, it's going to feel really solid. It has a lot of strength to it. I especially love that they put these rubber nibs on here in conjunction with the camera. A lot of tablets that have a camera don't always lay flat on your desk. In this case, those little nibs give some friction so you get a solid experience when you're writing and you don't get that wobbly feel. Overall it's about 5mm in thickness. The screen has a refresh rate of 120Hz, which when it comes to handwritten note-taking helps eliminate a lot of those ghosting images because the screen is constantly refreshing. It does run on Android, which really opens up a lot of doors, including the ability to connect with OneDrive and OneNote.

Keyboard and Folio Case Walkthrough (2:19)

It does have a keyboard, and as I would expect it's a folio style. There's a little notch for the camera. You pick this up, find that camera notch, pop it in, and it fits pretty well. There's a second mic cover. If you flip it around, you'll see there's a little nub. This attaches and comes around to conceal everything nicely. There's a spot to magnetically attach your pen so it connects and charges. The cover comes off easily if you don't want the bulk, and it doesn't fall off on its own. When you want the keyboard, you flip it up and it connects. It has a scissor kickstand feel. You can create text notes or handwritten notes, and in both cases you can make annotations as well as type in your handwritten notes.

NXTPAPER Display and Writing Feel (3:53)

I really love the quality of the screen. I think it's bright. I love the home button, which serves a number of different features. With the fingerprint reader set up, I can use my finger to pop it open. If I push it twice, it opens a new note. Once goes back to home. Three times starts an audio recording. There are other features you can configure in settings, including auto-rotate, brightness adjustment, audio output, and the ability to cast to another screen via Android's casting tools.

Note-Taking Tools, Templates, and Smart Drawing (5:06)

When you get into the device itself, one of the initial notes is an actual guide on how to use the device. Very straightforward. You can see how to take text notes, how to make multiple-page notes, how to do free landscape form notes so you can go as big as you want and zoom in and out. They have a handful of different templates already preloaded, including text templates. If you're looking to create a diary or meeting agenda, there are pre-formatted areas to help you get started. It also has a smart draw feature that autocorrects shapes as you draw them.

Looking at the tools across the top: there is the eraser tool with object or pixel options and size control. The lasso tool, which is critical for note-taking, especially if you follow any of my other content. And a handful of pen tools. I'll use the ballpoint pen. You can switch between pens, change thickness and color, and even use a custom color eyedropper. The lasso can select all your content and change all colors at once, which is a feature I haven't seen in a lot of tablets. You can do multi-selection and change everything in one step.

Stylus and Interchangeable Nib Comparison (8:24)

You can copy and delete selections easily. There's a shape mode where you draw a shape and it autocorrects to a clean circle or oval. There's a measuring tool that shows angle in real time and snaps at 45-degree and 90-degree increments, so you know you're locked in place before you make that line. There's also a highlighter tool, an undo button, and the ability to draw a text box and type in it on screen or with the keyboard, whatever your preference is.

AI Features: Summarization and Inspirational Space (10:06)

I want to show you what you can do when you're actually in a meeting. I took Cornell notes during an accounting meeting where we went over the budget, how much we were going to spend on our monkey exhibit, staffing costs, insurance, promotion dates, and action steps.

One feature you're going to find in this tablet that's unlike most others: on the stylus there's a little button. When you hold that button and draw around a set of text, it sends it to an Inspirational Space. From the home screen you can see this Inspirational Space with all your clippings. You can tap on any clipping and see the original note inside it. This is kind of like a collection of everything you're actively doing that matters most to you.

This is where the AI features come in. With a clipping selected, I can hit rewrite, choose more detail, and the AI function will expand the meeting notes. It went through, talked about the meeting, the theme being monkeys, and built out the summary with more depth than what I originally captured. If I had multiple pages of notes, you can imagine this would build out even further. I can also communicate with the AI directly, telling it to add an action plan for a meeting follow-up on February 15th, and it generates an updated version with that information included. I can copy that text and bring it into OneNote or anywhere else.

OneDrive, Outlook, and OneNote Integration (12:33)

As I was navigating the device, I found that in the menu there's a file manager, a transfer option, and also a cloud drive. When I went in there, I saw I could connect to OneDrive as well as Dropbox. I connected to OneDrive. Then I scrolled down and looked at apps. There is Microsoft Edge browser on here as well as Outlook, so you can check your emails, and OneNote.

One thing I really love about these tablets is the distraction-free environment. You don't see all the notifications popping up. But there are also times when you want to be productive and the notes you're taking need to be communicated across different spectrums, whether by email or other tools. When I saw I had the ability to connect to Outlook and OneNote, my eyes lit up. I could pop open an email and send off an agenda. I could open OneNote, slide over, drop in a text box, and paste in those AI-generated notes right inside my OneNote application. I instantly saw the benefits, and I can see a lot of use cases where you get past the distractions but still stay connected to your productivity stack.

Audio Recording and AI Transcription (14:07)

One tool I thought was really cool that's missing from a lot of different tablets is the ability to record audio. I'll create a new note, go to handwritten notes, pick a blank sheet with lines, and here is my canvas. Up here there's a microphone, and there are actually eight mics on here to help reduce directional audio and background noise. I thought it was pretty effective.

I can hit record and it starts. The recording indicator stays visible while I write my note, and I can minimize it or keep it open. When I hit stop, I can start to transcribe that note. Imagine you're in a lecture hall or a meeting. You record the audio, take your own bullet points of what stands out, and when you're done, the device gives you back individual segments that are time-blocked. I can go into AI and ask for a summarization, and it summarizes the recording. I can copy those summarized notes and pull them into OneNote or anywhere else. You can also add a second recording and keep going through the process, almost like chapters in a book or segments across a meeting.

Daily Planning Workflow with Key2Success Planner (16:15)

The next thing I want to show you is where productivity really hits the landing strip with a device like this, and that's using some type of planning system. If you're familiar with the Key2Success Planner, you know that we have a planner that works inside of OneNote. I can go into my daily pages, pull up today's date, and I have my planner right in front of me. What I love about using OneNote is it synchronizes across any Windows, Apple, and Android device.

I can use the note-taking AI features in this device, convert text and use the AI summarization, and still collaborate within OneNote while keeping my planning system intact. I can highlight different activities throughout the day, mark off what I'm able to complete, and stay focused on what matters most, the Daily Key 3. If you haven't learned about our planning system, I encourage you to do so. It's designed for personal, professional, business, and executive use. Whether you're running a household or a multi-location organization, this tool is going to keep what matters most front and center. You can learn more at key2successplanner.com.

Those who follow me also know I have a PDF planner. With OneNote on your other devices, you can dump in a PDF, print a screen, and it'll sync over to this device for annotation updates. With this device being new to market, PDF markup is coming as an update soon.

Final Thoughts: Who the TCL NXTPAPER Is Best For (18:32)

TCL, I think you did a really good job putting together this Note AI device, this next paper generation tablet. Great form factor. I love the different features, the different tools, and the app integration, which I think is amazing. For those looking for a distraction-free experience but wanting to stay productive, this might be something worth considering. If you have questions, check the comments. We'll do our best to answer every single one. I'm Branden Bodendorfer, creator and founder, and Lord willing I'll see you in the next video.