ZDNET’s key findings
- The Blackview Tab 18 The Android tablet is currently available for $260.
- This great 12-inch Android tablet has it all – large display, powerful processor, plenty of RAM, and plenty of power to handle everything the average user needs.
- I wish the screen could be a bit brighter for use in direct sunlight.
I love my iPad Pro, but Apple’s 12.9-inch behemoth isn’t cheap. People looking for a cheaper but comparably sized alternative will have to turn to Android.
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Unfortunately, I’ve found most large Android tablets to be bulky and awkward to use, so it’s refreshing to finally find something that’s elegantly designed and nicely designed, and comfortable to hold – even for long periods of time.
The Blackview Tab 18 meets all these criteria and more.
View at S.click.aliexpress
Technical data of the Blackview Tab 18
- Advertisement: 12 inch 2.4K, FHD+ IPS, resolution 1200 x 2000, screen-to-body ratio 86.6%
- CPU: Octa-core MediaTek Helio G99
- R.A.M.: 12 GB LPDDR4X (12 GB RAM expansion)
- ROME: 256GB UFS2.1
- Max. capacity of microSD/TF card: Up to 1TB
- Operating system: DokeOS_P 4.0 (based on Android 13)
- Card slot: Two hybrid card slots; 1 x SIM +1 TF or 2 x SIM
- Cameras: 8-megapixel front camera from Samsung, 16-megapixel rear camera from SK Hynix
- battery: 8800 mAh, supports 33 W fast charging
- Speakers: Four Harman Kardon surround sound speakers
- Color: Turquoise Green, Glacier Blue, Space Grey
- dimension: 277.6 x 173.2 x 7.9mm
- Weight: 632 g (1.4 lbs)
The first thing I noticed about this tablet is how thin and light it feels.
With a thickness of 0.3 inches/7.9 mm and a weight of 1.4 pounds/632 grams, this device is slightly thicker and slightly lighter than the 12.9″ iPad Probut for a budget Android tablet, it’s a refreshing change not to hold a tablet that feels like it’s made of concrete.
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Sure, I’d put this tablet in a case to protect it from accidents caused by carelessness and gravity, which would make it as bulky as my iPad Pro, but it’s nice to see a thin and light Android tablet.
It’s also a sleek and smooth tablet, with glass and metal blending together to create a stunning look and feel. The Space Gray finish on my Tab 18 was flawless and resisted scratches, scuffs, and even fingerprints well.
Speaking of fingerprints: The Tab 18 has a fingerprint reader And Facial recognition biometrics that gives you the ability to easily log into the tablet.
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The 12-inch display is also a treat. It’s big enough to get real work done, sharp enough to make longer reading or video watching sessions comfortable, and bright enough to be easily visible in a variety of conditions. The touch function is pleasant and responsive, resulting in a very natural feel. The TÜV-certified low blue light rating is a nice extra for anyone worried about these wavelengths disrupting their sleep patterns.
The display is large enough to do real work.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
And then there are those four Harman Kardon surround-sound speakers, which create an immersive soundscape that takes you out of the world around you and immerses you in the game or movie—or business meeting—you’re listening to. I’m no audiophile—I grew up with blown speakers and poor-quality headphones with that sweaty sponge—but to my ears, the sound output from this tablet was fantastic, whether I was watching Netflix, playing a game, listening to my growing backlog of Audible audiobooks, or having a phone conversation.
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The 8,000mAh battery lasts for about 10 hours of web browsing and general tasks like email and editing documents. Playing games and watching videos shaves an hour off the battery life, which isn’t bad. That’s really a great battery life for a budget 12-inch tablet.
Combining the large battery with the 33W fast charging that can charge the battery from zero to 50% in about an hour, I had no battery worries at all. I’ve seen much worse performance on much more expensive hardware.
In terms of thermal management, I expected the tablet to get warm and comfortable when under heavy load. It did get warm when things got tough, but the thermal management system that Blackview built into this system, with a heat dissipation area of over 12,000 mm2, ensured a cool user experience with the tablet never exceeding 40°C (104°F).
Although the Tab 18 cannot keep up with high-end hardware, it is more than sufficient for most users.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
There’s nothing more unsettling than trying to use a tablet that’s slowly getting warmer and warmer until you think, “Oops, am I going to burn myself on this thing?” I pushed the Tab 18 as hard as I could for extended periods of time, and at no point did it get to the point where I felt it was getting hot.
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If you look beyond your expectations of a stunning tablet with top performance, you will not be disappointed with the Blackview. The Octa-core processor and 12 gigabytes of built-in RAM ensure a smooth user experience.
The cameras on this device are acceptable at best. They compare well to the best cameras from a few years ago, but they don’t match the processing power that higher-end devices do when it comes to photos. At the extremes of photography – low light or full daylight – the cameras struggle. But for normal shooting in normal conditions, they’re perfect for those looking to get likes on social media, and also for taking photos for reports and other work or school-related activities.
Again, think about the price. $299. Not so long ago, you couldn’t even dream of a 12-inch tablet for anywhere near that price. Now you can get one with a powerful processor, lots of RAM, lots of storage, and decent cameras for $140 more than Apple charges for a 3-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable.
Buying advice from ZDNET
The Blackview Tab 18 is a great tablet, ideal for work, school, or if you want a tablet for the living room or workshop. I’ve put this device through its paces and have no complaints. The price makes it an unbeatable deal if you’re willing to forego an Apple or Samsung logo on the back. Ultimately, you’ll have to dig deeper and pay more if you want more power and performance – power and performance that most users never really use. If you want a tablet and not an ego booster, the Tab 18 is worth a look.
