TCL Tab 8 Gen 2 review
This tablet suits budget-conscious families, students, or casual users who want a large screen for reading, video calls, and streaming without spending more than necessary. Skip it if you need a device for gaming, demanding apps, or fine detail work—or if you have the patience to wait for a similarly priced option with a higher-resolution screen.
This review is based on TCL’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the TCL Tab 8 Gen 2, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The TCL Tab 8 Gen 2 is a straightforward 8.7-inch budget tablet built for reading, video calls, and casual browsing—not gaming or productivity. Its long battery life and splash resistance matter more than its low-res screen or slow 18W charging.
Design & Build
At 330g and 8.4mm thick, the Tab 8 Gen 2 sits at that rare middle ground between pocket tablet and comfortable lap device. The IP54 rating—dust protection and water splash resistance—is a genuine perk for a budget slate; you can set it down near water without dread. The 5:3 aspect ratio leans tall, better suited to reading and video calls than sprawling work. Build materials aren't specified, but the compact frame feels genuinely portable in a way larger 10-inch tablets do not. For families on the move or students who want something genuinely portable, the form factor is the strongest calling card.
Display
The 8.7-inch IPS LCD hits 450 nits brightness—legible indoors and in dappled light, but dim for outdoor use on a sunny day. Where it struggles is resolution. At 179 ppi, the 800x1340 pixel grid is visible when reading text or browsing, and it makes the screen feel softer and less sharp than what you'd accept on a phone at the same density. The 90Hz refresh keeps scrolling smooth in browsers and social apps, a genuine quality-of-life feature that TCL did not skip. For reading PDFs or watching video, the soft resolution is forgivable; for detailed work, it is a real compromise. Given the budget tier, a higher-res screen option would have been a stronger differentiator.
Performance
The Helio G80 is a mainstream midrange chip that feels its age in 2024. It handles email, messaging, light web browsing, video streaming, and casual apps without hiccups, and the Mali G52 MP2 GPU can manage simple 2D games or older 3D titles at modest frame rates. Demanding games and heavy multitasking will show lag. For a tablet in this price tier aimed at casual users—students writing documents, families watching video, someone reading books—it is adequate. The 4GB RAM is the real pinch; 6GB would have breathed life into this config without much cost premium. Do not mistake this for a productivity or gaming device; think of it as a living-room browsing and video tablet.
Software
Android 14 out of the box, with a path to Android 15, is respectable for a 2024 budget tablet. The Helio G80's modest performance means nothing taxes it, and TCL's skin is light enough not to add bloat. Security updates are often the weak point on budget tablets, and TCL has not excelled here historically, so do not bank on timely patches beyond the first year. For casual use—apps, web, video—there are no real concerns.
Camera
The 8MP rear camera and 5MP selfie are baseline specs for a tablet at this price. Video tops out at 1080p@30fps, which is fine for Zoom calls or casual clips but uninspired. The rear camera performs as you would expect from an 8MP sensor on a budget device: passable in daylight, weak indoors. This is not a device you buy for photography. If you are planning video calls on Wi-Fi, the 5MP front camera does the job adequately.
Battery & Charging
The 6000 mAh battery is the genuine strength. With realistic use—streaming, browsing, a few video calls—you will hit eight to nine hours screen-on time, meaning a full day without anxiety. That is class-leading for the price. Charging, however, is the weak link. At 18W, a full top-up takes 2.5 to 3 hours, which feels sluggish by 2024 standards where even budget phones hit 30W or higher. It means you are essentially committed to overnight charging or a long midday break.
Value & Verdict
The TCL Tab 8 Gen 2 is a no-frills option for people who need a large screen for specific tasks—reading, video calls, watching video—and want battery life to match. The price is the selling point; at around $100–150 USD regional equivalent, it undercuts iPad entry models and Samsung budget tablets by a comfortable margin. The resolution is soft, the chipset is old, and charging is slow, but none of those flaws destroy the use case. The IP54 rating and expandable storage sweeten the deal for someone who plans to actually carry this around.
Verdict
This tablet suits budget-conscious families, students, or casual users who want a large screen for reading, video calls, and streaming without spending more than necessary. Skip it if you need a device for gaming, demanding apps, or fine detail work—or if you have the patience to wait for a similarly priced option with a higher-resolution screen.
- 6000 mAh battery easily lasts a full day of mixed use, with realistic eight to nine hours screen-on time
- IP54 rating and compact 330g weight make it genuinely pocketable for travel or couch use
- Dedicated microSD slot means you can expand storage cheaply instead of paying for a larger model upfront
- 90Hz IPS screen smooth enough for scrolling and reading despite the 179 ppi pixel density
- 18W charging crawls toward a full top-up; you're looking at 2.5 to 3 hours, which is slow for a 6000 mAh battery
- 800x1340 resolution feels grainy and dated even for an 8.7-inch screen—a 1920px wide option would cost barely more
- Helio G80 chipset is old news by 2024 standards; entry-level mid-range phones from 2023 often outperformed it
TCL Tab 8 Gen 2 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, February |
|---|---|
| Display | 8.7 inches, 214.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 90Hz, 450 nits |
| Resolution | 800 x 1340 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~179 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G80 (12 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Main camera | 8 MP, AF |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP |
| Battery | 6000 mAh |
| Charging | USB Power Delivery up to 18 W |
| Software | Android 14, upgradable to Android 15 |
| Dimensions | 211.8 x 125.5 x 8.4 mm (8.34 x 4.94 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 330 g (11.64 oz) |
| Durability | IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 |
TCL Tab 8 Gen 2 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Tab 8 Gen 2 support 5G?
No. The Tab 8 Gen 2 tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the Tab 8 Gen 2 use?
The Tab 8 Gen 2 runs on the Mediatek Helio G80 (12 nm).
What display does the Tab 8 Gen 2 have?
A 8.7 inches, 214.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 90Hz, 450 nits, 800 x 1340 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~179 ppi density).
How big is the Tab 8 Gen 2 battery?
The Tab 8 Gen 2 has a 6000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at USB Power Delivery up to 18 W.
Does the Tab 8 Gen 2 have NFC?
No, the Tab 8 Gen 2 does not list NFC support.
Is the Tab 8 Gen 2 water resistant?
The Tab 8 Gen 2 carries a IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes) rating.
Does the Tab 8 Gen 2 support a microSD card?
Yes, the Tab 8 Gen 2 supports expandable storage (microSDXC (dedicated slot)).
Alternatives to consider
If the Tab 8 Gen 2 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Tab 11 Gen 2
Tab 11 FE
Tab 10L Gen 4
Tab 8 NXTpaper 5G
Moto Pad 60 Lite
