Blackview Mega 8 review - "A powerful tablet in a budget"

• 13-inch FHD+ display
• Runs most games smoothly with a 90Hz refresh rate
• Demanding entries like Love and Deepspace may lag a bit

Tablet, phone, and mini-PC developer Blackview has just unleashed its new Mega 8 tablet. Built in collaboration with Google Gemini AI 2.0, the Mega 8 is crafted with creators in mind. While the Mega 8 places emphasis on content creation and its built-in AI capabilities, I was more curious how it would hold up as a gaming device. Luckily, while Blackview may not have built the Mega 8 with gamers in mind, it's more than capable of smoothly running most games. 

Unboxing the Blackview Mega 8

Available in black, blue and green, this new tablet comes in a pretty standard white cardboard box, inside which you’ll find the Mega 8, USB-C charging cord, a European AC adapter, and a stylus. If you’re outside of Europe, don’t fret about the AC adapter; the cord can easily be plugged into North American-style AC adapters. 

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You’ll notice speakers on the top edge of the tablet, power and volume buttons on the right side, and a USB-C port on the bottom edge. As a bonus, the device comes with a trifold case already on it, the back of which is translucent. It also pairs easily with your mobile controller via Bluetooth, which is always a plus.

Comparable to larger iPad Pro models, the Meg 8 features a 13-inch screen, which is rather enticing if you’re used to standard iPads, like my 10th-generation iPad, which has a screen size of 10.9 inches. I’ll admit it’s the impressive screen size that really had me itching to test out the device.

The Blackview Mega 8 Impresses with a 13-inch Screen

The Mega 8’s oversized Full High Definition+ screen really heightens the level of immersion you’ll experience playing your favourite games. While it may not sound like much, the extra few inches make a huge difference. Whether in doing laps around the competition in Asphalt Legends or Disney SpeedStorm or battling foes, ghouls, and vampires in Vampires Fall 2, the extra-wide 1080p screen gives you that bit of extra detail that enhances your experience. 

Even PC games look and feel great on this AI-powered tablet. While playing Chernobylite and Cyberpunk 2077, I saw no distinguishable difference in quality from what appeared on my laptop screen. You’ll have plenty of room to keep all your favourite shooters, RPGs, and platformers installed with 512GB ROM. The SD card slot lets you expand your storage for a total of up to 2 TB. Further, the device features a 90Hz refresh rate, so you won’t have to worry about lag.

Overall,  Blackview's latest tablet is great for mobile gaming. However, when playing Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, I did notice the snowy backdrop would intermittently flash to black during cutscenes. And battles in Love and Deepspace look a little less sharp than they do on my iPad 10th generation.

The Blackview Mega 8 was Built For Creators

While my primary objective was to assess the Mega 8’s gaming capabilities, one has to appreciate how smoothly it operates apps like Photoshop Express Photo Editor, Adobe XD, and Adobe Capture, thanks in part to its 36GB of RAM and 2.2GHz Octa-core Unisoc Tiger T620 processor.

The mobile versions of Adobe software are obviously not as complex as the traditional desktop ones. However, they’re still demanding applications and it’s pretty cool being able to edit and create images on the go with such ease. Further, you can take quality photographs with the 50MP Sony camera. You can even capture high-quality 1080p video using the main camera.

The Blackview Mega 8 also features an impressive 11,000mAh battery, which the developers claim lasts for 18 hours on Zoom calls. While I’m far too introverted to test that claim, I did notice that I was able to stream Netflix and play games for a considerable amount of time without needing to recharge it.

The Mega 8 will Suit Most Gamers' Needs

Blackview hit it out of the park with this one. While you may see some lag or graphical issues with severely demanding games like Love and Deepspace, the Mega 8 runs most titles without issue.

The 13-inch screen offers a clear and detailed view, regardless of the game you’re playing, and the audio is crisp and smooth. Combine that with a long battery life and the ability to extend storage up to 2TB, and the Blackview Mega 8 seems like a steal at $349.99. If you’re looking for a low-cost alternative to the iPad Pro, the Mega 8 is a solid choice.