TCL has already sold one of the new tablets it announced at CES 2023, and its entry-level features make it a good choice for kids and casual users.
TCL announced multiple tablets at CES, and one of them – the TAB 8 LE – is now available from T-Mobile. Most products announced at CES usually don’t make it to store shelves until later in the year, like the Lenovo Smart Paper and TCL’s own high-end tablet, which won’t arrive until mid to late 2023. However, some of them become available immediately or shortly after the multi-day event.
The TAB 8 LE is an entry-level tablet with 4G connectivity, making it an excellent choice for those who are frequently on the go. Unfortunately, it seems T-Mobile and Metro by T-mobile are the only carriers selling the device, and it is not available for sale unlocked on TCL’s website. Nevertheless, its sub-$200 price tag makes it a compelling option for those who want a tablet for their kid or a cheap one for casual use, like watching shows and reading books.
It ships with Android 12
As the name suggests, the TCL TAB 8 LE is an 8-inch tablet with an HD display, like the also-affordable Nokia T10, with an Eye Comfort mode that helps to reduce visual fatigue. TCL only revealed a few of the TAB 8 LE’s key specs when it launched the device at CES, but potential buyers have a much clearer picture now that it’s available. There is a MediaTek MT8766 quad-core chipset under the hood, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. 32GB of storage isn’t nearly enough, but users can take advantage of the microSD card slot to add up to 512GB of expandable storage to the tablet.
There are 5MP cameras on the front and back of the tablet, so this shouldn’t be the go-to photography device for most users, especially considering the lack of an LED flash. Also disappointing is that the tablet ships with Android 12 and not Android 13. Since affordable smartphones and tablets rarely get any major OS upgrades, if any software support at all, Android 12 might be the only version of the OS users get.
The device is powered by a 4,080mAh battery, which TCL says will last a day. It’s not the biggest battery on an Android tablet but it might still take a while to charge, considering its 10W charging speed. On the bright side, it comes with a charger in the box and has a USB-C port. For audio, there are dual stereo speakers and a headphone jack.
Not much will excite users about TCL’s budget-friendly tablet, with its biggest selling point being the affordable price tag. However, there seems to be some discrepancy there. While TCL said in its press release that the TAB 8 LE will be available for $159, T-Mobile is selling the device for $168 (or $7 per month over 24 months). Anyone looking for higher-end TCL tablets than the TAB 8 LE might want to wait for options like the TCL NXTPAPER 12 Pro, though.
Source: T-Mobile, PR Newswire