Blackview Blackview Mini Tablet 8.0 Inch, 12GB RAM+128GB ROM Review
The Blackview Link 2 is a $150 Android tablet that's small on size and price. We tested it to see if it's a hidden gem or just another budget letdown.
The 30-Second Version
A bare-bones, $150 Android tablet. It's small, light, and runs Android 15, but performance is just okay. Best for very casual use like video streaming. Worth buying only if your budget is the absolute top priority.
Overview
The Blackview Link 2 is a small, cheap Android tablet that tries to do a lot. It packs an 8.68-inch screen, Android 15, and a big promise of AI features into a $150 package. It's clearly aimed at folks who want a portable media viewer or a basic web browser without spending iPad money.
Performance
Performance is exactly what you'd expect for the price. The Unisoc T310 processor and IMG8300 GPU land in the 44th and 46th percentiles in our database, which means it's fine for light tasks. You can browse the web, watch videos, and run simple apps. But don't expect to game seriously or edit photos. The 12GB RAM figure is misleading—it's 4GB physical plus 8GB virtual expansion, which is why its raw RAM score sits in the 35th percentile. It gets the job done, but it's not fast.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely affordable at $150. 75th
- Compact and lightweight at 329g.
- Runs the latest Android 15 OS.
- Battery life is decent for a full day of light use.
Cons
- Performance is mediocre for anything beyond basics. 34th
- The screen is just okay (35th percentile).
- The '12GB RAM' marketing is misleading.
- Cameras are strictly for video calls.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 2 GHz |
Memory & Storage
| Storage | 128 GB |
Display
| Size | 8.68" |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 |
Physical
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
| OS | android 15 |
Value & Pricing
For $150, you're getting a functional tablet. That's the key word: functional. It won't wow you, but it turns on, runs apps, and plays videos. The value is there if your needs are simple and your budget is tight. Just know you're making significant trade-offs in performance and screen quality compared to even a $300 tablet.
vs Competition
This sits in a different universe than the iPad Pro or Galaxy Tab S10+. A fairer fight is against other budget Android tablets. Compared to an Amazon Fire tablet, you get a cleaner Android 15 experience and more storage flexibility. But the Fire might have better ecosystem integration for Prime content. Next to something like a Lenovo Tab M9, the Blackview has a newer OS but likely similar or weaker raw performance. It's a race to the bottom, and the Link 2 is a contestant.
| Spec | Blackview Blackview Mini Tablet 8.0 Inch, 12GB RAM+128GB ROM | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 11-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” - | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | GPD GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2 GHz | Apple M5 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | — | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 128 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 8.7" | 11" 2420x1668 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 8.8" 2560x1600 |
| OS | android 15 | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | false | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Common Questions
Q: Is the 12GB RAM real?
Not exactly. It uses 4GB of physical RAM and 8GB of virtual RAM, which uses storage space to mimic more memory. Real-world performance aligns with a 4GB device.
Q: Can it run games?
It can handle very casual games. Don't expect to play demanding 3D titles smoothly; the GPU is in the bottom half of all tablets we've tested.
Q: How is the screen for watching movies?
It's fine for the price. The 360-nit brightness and 60Hz refresh rate are average, but the 8.68-inch size is handy for portable viewing.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need a tablet for real work, multitasking, or even moderately demanding apps. Its productivity score in our tests is a low 21.3/100. Also, avoid it if screen quality is a priority—it's in the 35th percentile. You'll want to spend more.
Verdict
Buy this if you need a super cheap, ultra-portable screen for watching videos in bed, reading, or light web browsing. It's a beater tablet for kids or a secondary device you won't cry over if it breaks. Think of it as a big smartphone that doesn't make calls.