A tablet without a stylus or other pen-like device is, well, considerably less useful than one with a stylus. That’s doubly true for students who use a tablet for note-taking. Going with an iPad means paying the premium Apple price and then tacking on more for their Apple Pencil, and you still haven’t gotten to the case to protect your investment. Better solution: The TCL NXTPAPER 14 is down to $350 at Amazon right now, a $120 drop from its $470 list price that gets you a 14.3-inch Android drawing tablet with a paper-like display, pressure-sensitive stylus, and case.
The NXTPAPER 3.0’s matte display technology sets it apart from tablets in and above this price range. It cuts glare, filters blue light, and reduces the glazed-eye fatigue that sets in after a few hours on a glass-faced LCD. Three display modes cover different use cases. Standard Mode handles general tasks and media. Color Paper Mode is calibrated for comics and digital art, where saturation matters but harshness doesn’t. Ink Paper Mode dials everything back toward a reading and writing experience that approximates paper without going full E Ink and losing color. The 4096-level T-PEN stylus and case are included, which is a meaningful thing to note given how many tablets in this range treat the stylus as a separate purchase.
Enough Brainpower
Performance runs on a MediaTek Helio G99, a mid-range chip that handles note-taking apps, design software, and split-screen multitasking without friction. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage cover a student or working artist’s needs; TCL adds another 8GB of virtual RAM from the storage pool for heavier multitasking loads. One limitation: There’s no microSD slot, so the 256GB is what you get on the hardware side.
The 10,000mAh battery supports 33W fast charging and reverse wireless charging. The latter lets the NXTPAPER 14 top off earbuds or a phone when you’re away from an outlet. TCL rates the full charge cycle at two to three hours under optimal conditions. On the camera side, a 13MP and 5MP dual front setup handles video calls, and an 8MP rear camera with autofocus covers document scanning and light vlogging. Four stereo speakers with Smart PA amplification round out the multimedia case, which is a more capable audio arrangement than most tablets at this price offer.
Easy on the Backpack
At 0.27 inches thin and 1.67 pounds, the NXTPAPER 14 is genuinely light for a 14-inch device. The display supports screen mirroring and extended display output, so it can function as a secondary monitor connected to a laptop. This is useful for creative professionals who move between a desk and a bag.
At $350 during this limited-time Amazon deal, the TCL NXTPAPER 14 is a serious option for students, illustrators, and professionals who want a large display built around eye comfort and stylus input. The paper-like screen and included stylus and case at this price are the differentiators, and the savings as compared to the iPad Pro and premium Android tablets run well into the hundreds.