Temu’s absolutely spoilt us to a point where we now have tablets that are the same price as an Uber to the Airport. Android tablets have always been the go-to option for people who want a functional slate without spending iPad money. Apple has firmly planted itself in the premium category, with its cheapest iPad still costing a few hundred dollars, while the Android market is filled with choices that are often priced well below that. Some are excellent value for money, like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab series, while others dive so deep into budget territory that you start wondering how manufacturers are even making a profit. The Teclast M50 Plus is one such device. At just $86, it costs less than a dinner for two in most cities—or, more absurdly, less than an Apple Pencil. Yes, the stylus Apple sells for drawing on an iPad is more expensive than this entire touchscreen computer, complete with a display, battery, processor, and cameras.
That comparison highlights two things. First, it shows just how aggressively budget-friendly the M50 Plus is. If you need a basic tablet for media consumption, web browsing, or even some light work, it’s hard to argue against something that costs less than a pair of high-end wireless earbuds. But on the flip side, it also sheds light on the staggering markups applied to consumer electronics. When a full-fledged tablet is cheaper than a single accessory, it raises the question of how much these products actually cost to make before branding, marketing, and profit margins drive up their prices. The M50 Plus is a rare peek behind the curtain—a reminder that in tech, what you pay isn’t always what it costs.
Designer: Teclast
Before dismissing it as an e-waste disaster, though, let’s give the M50 Plus a fair look. Teclast has been making affordable tablets for years, and while they don’t compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs or Apple’s iPads, they do offer surprisingly usable experiences at shockingly low prices. The M50 Plus follows this formula, packing a 10.1-inch fully laminated IPS display with a resolution of 1920×1200. It’s a step up from the washed-out 720p panels you’ll find on some budget models, and with TÜV Rheinland-certified eye protection, it even throws in a bit of blue light reduction. At 350 nits of brightness, it’s not going to outshine the sun, but it should be perfectly fine for indoor use and the occasional coffee shop session.
Under the hood, the M50 Plus is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85, a processor that sits in the lower mid-range but can handle everyday tasks without much fuss. Web browsing, video streaming, and even casual gaming should run smoothly, thanks to the Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. There’s 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, with the option to expand it virtually by another 10GB—though virtual RAM is more of a marketing gimmick than a real performance booster. Storage-wise, you get 128GB of eMMC space, which isn’t as fast as UFS storage but should be enough for a good number of apps, media, and documents.
The M50 Plus runs on Android 14 with a relatively clean interface. Teclast’s software isn’t as polished as what you’d find on a Samsung tablet, but it does include features like Parallel View for split-screen multitasking and an improved Taskbar for quicker app switching. There are also parental controls, making this an option for kids who need a basic tablet for school or entertainment. For that price it’s surprising for the tablet to even have cellular, but the M50 Plus pulls through with 4G capabilities beyond the obvious Wi-Fi. You obviously can’t expect 5G, but then again how often do people use cellular data on a tablet? Hardly.
Cameras aren’t usually a priority on budget tablets either, so the M50 Plus keeps things simple. A 13MP rear camera with flash support should be adequate for scanning documents and the occasional photo, while the 8MP front camera will handle video calls just fine. No one’s buying this to replace their phone’s camera, and that’s perfectly okay.
With a 7000mAh cell inside, the M50 Plus should last a full day on a single charge with moderate use. It charges via USB-C, which is expected in 2025, but at this price point, you never know when a micro-USB port might make an unwelcome appearance. Dual-channel speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack (yes!), and support for WiFi 5GHz and Bluetooth 5.0 round out the connectivity options. All this sits in a package just 8.3mm thin, which is marginally thicker than the baseline iPad from Apple.
It’s easy to be cynical about a tablet this cheap. After all, budget devices often cut so many corners that they end up being more frustrating than useful. But the M50 Plus makes an honest attempt at delivering value without completely sacrificing usability. It’s not trying to be an iPad killer—it’s a no-frills device for people who need a functional tablet without spending a fortune. Whether that means a secondary screen for streaming, a digital notebook for students, or an affordable option for kids, the M50 Plus proves that, sometimes, less is more.
The post This $86 Android Tablet Costs Less Than An Apple Pencil – Meet The Teclast M50 Plus first appeared on Yanko Design.