In the Android segment, there are hardly any tablets that can compete with the iPad mini, despite its high asking price. There are a few exceptions, such as the Red Magic Astra, but you’ll have to take the import route for it in the US. TCL is now addressing the compact Android tablet gap with the Tab 8 NXTPAPER 5G, a small slate that only costs $199.
What makes it special?
The palm-friendly TCL tablet comes with an 8.7-inch (800 x 1340 pixels) screen featuring the in-house NXTPAPER 4.0 display tech. It offers a natural paper-like surface texture that not only reduces the reflection and glare problem, but also cuts down on the blue light exposure. As a result, the visual experience is easier on the eyes, and you are also saved from the other harms of blue light, such as eye fatigue.
TCL says the display comes with “nano-etched layers that provide an anti-glare surface, minimizing fingerprints and smudges.” The tablet also features a dedicated button that lets you switch the display mode, going from color paper to monochrome ink mode.
Recommended Videos
This one is a smaller variant of the TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus tablet that was announced earlier this year. The same display technology is also available on the TCL Nxtpaper 60 Ultra smartphone, which was revealed in September, packing triple rear cameras and a color-switching screen.
What else is on the table?
The biggest strength of the TCL Tab 8 NXTPAPER 5G tablet is its eye-friendly display, the compact build, and an attractive $199 asking price, which is nearly a third of the iPad mini’s sticker value. The tablet is currently available from Verizon, but will soon be up for grabs from Total Wireless stores, too.
The rest of the tablet’s hardware includes:
RAM and storage: 4GB RAM / 64GB ROM + MicroSD card storage expansion up to 2TB
Processor: Octo-core MediaTek MT8755
Software: Android 15
Battery: 6000mAh, 15W charging
Cameras: 8-megapixel rear + 5-megapixel front
Connectivity: Single SIM (Nano)
In my experience, this screen tech offers a lovely reading experience, and won’t hinder your video-watching experience too much.