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TCL's NXTPAPER 14 tablet can switch between full-color and paper-like display modes for reading, note-taking, streaming, and annotating sheet music. (Billy Cadden)
Tabletsare among the most versatile devices you can buy. The best ones are equally adept at helping you get work done on the go as they are at serving as mini TVs you can watch videos and play games on when you're away from home.
TCL's NXTPAPER 14 tablet takes things to another level by mimicking the look and feel of an e-reader you can use for reading, note-taking, and annotating sheet music. It even comes with a 4096-pressure-level T-PEN stylus that attaches to the tablet magnetically.
The 14.3-inch 2.4K display has three different modes, so you can choose whichever one you need for specific activities:
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Regular Mode:bright, full color for watching movies and taking video calls
Ink Paper Mode:e-paper look and feel for reading, note-taking, and viewing or annotating sheet music
Color Paper Mode:similar to color e-ink displays, this mode uses soft, low-saturation color for viewing comics and making digital art
The A4 screen size is ideal for reading and annotating sheet music. Most tablets are either too wide or too long for musicians, and it can be really annoying to read digital sheet music on their screens. TCL's tablet removes that obstacle, plus, the Ink Paper mode takes away the glare so you feel like you're looking at normal paper.
An anti-glare coating, blue-light reduction, and DC dimming all work together to reduce eye strain. TCL's Eye Care Assistant will adjust the screen to match your environment and nudge you to look away from the screen every now and then.
The Ink Paper experience translates well to reading ebooks and taking notes on the tablet. It's almost like having an e-reader in that mode. Then, as soon as you need to watch videos or get some work done, you can switch right over to Regular Mode and have your tablet again.
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A MediaTek Helio G99 processor and 8GB RAM power the tablet, which runs Android 14. You get 256GB of built-in storage, which should be more than enough for your downloads, since most things live in the cloud these days.
When you need to work on the tablet, you can use multi-tasking mode to have a split-screen or floating windows with your favorite apps. You can also use the tablet as a portable display and connect it to your laptop to mirror or extend the display on the 14.3-inch tablet.
It's also great for video calls, with its 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel front-facing cameras and 8-megapixel camera on the back. All three support 2K video, so you'll look sharp on-screen. The tablet has good sound, too, with its quad stereo speaker system.
The 10,000mAh battery should last you quite a while before you need to recharge it. In just two hours, the tablet can go from 0 to 100%, thanks to 33W fast charging.
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All in all, it's a great device to bring with you on the go, whether you need to get work done or have some fun. It's just 0.27 inches thick and weighs 1.67 pounds, so it's easy to pop inside a backpack or tote bag.
The $340 price tag is roughly on par with Apple's more affordable iPads, and it's much more affordable than theiPad Promodels and high-end Samsung tablets that are similarly sized and capable. If you've been looking for a tablet that can do it all and double as an e-reader for books and sheet music, this might just be the tablet for you.
