Back to school means back to screen time, whether that’s note-taking, catching up on lectures, or scrolling between classes. TCL’s Back to School sale is knocking up to 30% off its whole NXTPAPER lineup, tablets and phones built with a matte, paper-like display that cuts glare and blue light without losing color or clarity.
The sale runs through Sept. 1, and prices start as low as $116. Students can even stack an extra 5% off sitewide through StudentBeans, the free student discount platform.
Best tablet deal
$189.99
at TCL
$279.99
Save $90
Why we like it
The Tab A1 Plus has a 12.2-inch 2.4K display and a 3:2 aspect ratio, so there’s more room to read, write, and multitask than the standard widescreen tablets most students are used to. The 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling and note-taking feeling smooth, and TÜV Rheinland-certified low blue light plus DC dimming mean it’s built for the marathon study sessions where regular screens start to strain the eyes.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip and LPDDR5 memory handle multitasking between apps without slowing down, which helps when you’re bouncing between lecture notes, a PDF textbook, and Spotify.
And at under a pound in a metal unibody, it’s light enough to carry around campus all day, with IP54 splash resistance so a spilled coffee doesn’t end your semester early.
Mashable Deals
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Best phone deal
$199.98
at TCL
$284.99
Save $85.01
Why we like it
According to NXTPAPER, the 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G display filters 61% more blue light than a typical screen, which helps when you’re staring at it between classes all day, and the matte finish stays readable outdoors without the glare.
You’re also getting a 120Hz refresh rate, a 50MP camera setup, and a 5,010 mAh battery that should get you through a full day of lectures. Pair that with 5G, 256GB of storage, and an extra 5% off through StudentBeans, and it’s an easy phone to recommend for students this fall.
