There has not been something like that before

Android tablets have long been on the decline. A well-known manufacturer from China could breathe new life into the category: TCL. The tablet relies on a very special technology that has not existed in this form before. E-readers are the model.

After more than ten years on the market, Android tablets are now only a shadowy existence. Few Android manufacturers offer tablets at all, apart from known exceptions such as Samsung or Huawei. Despite this meager track record, TCL apparently continues to believe in the success of its iPad competitors and has now announced a very special 8-inch tablet with the NXTPAPER.

NXTPAPER technology connects Android tablets and e-readers

The highlight is the name-giving display based on NXTPAPER technology, which does not require any background lighting and only uses daylight to reflect. This should be easy on the eyes and save around two thirds of the energy compared to classic LC displays. The TCL tablet thus enables usage that corresponds to an ebook reader, reports The Verge. Compared to Kindle and Co., the Android tablet can of course display color. In addition, you should be able to watch videos on the display, so the long switching times of the e-ink displays that are mostly built into e-book readers are no longer given here.

The screen itself measures 8.88 inches and has a resolution of 1,440 x 1,080 pixels. As part of its presentation at CES 2021, the manufacturer promised an “artistic combination of display and paper.”

How to find the right tablet:

Standard tablet food from TCL

Apart from the new display, the NXTPAPER tablet from TCL only brings standard food. The battery measures around 5,500 mAh and an 8 MP camera is located on the back. The front camera comes to 5 MP. WLAN and LTE are also on board, as is Android 10 as the operating system and a headphone input. Interesting: TCL will also include a special reading lamp with the tablet in the scope of delivery, probably to make the tablet usable even in poor ambient light. There is currently no information about the other technical equipment, such as processor or RAM.

The TCL tablet, which is 7.4 mm thick and weighs 316 grams, is due to appear in stores in April. The price is set at 349 euros.