In some ways, the Android tablet market is in a great place right now. If you’re looking for a 10-inch+ tablet and willing to spend several hundred dollars, there’s a slew ofhigh-end Android slatesto choose from. Even just a few hundred bucks can land you a surprisinglygreat midrange tabletwith impressive specs and a quality display. And software developers on both the operating system and app sides constantly work to improve the big-screen Android experience.
But as Android Police Phones Editor Will Sattelberg recently decried, there’s a dearth of premium small tablets, with the most portable devices missing out on modern hardware and convenient features. Sure, you could opt for a tablet-style foldable, but their aspect ratio, price, and relative fragility make them a non-starter for most people. So, we dug deep and can confirm that there are some worthwhile smaller tablets to consider, and this list includes the best models.
Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen, 2021)
Nook 9-inch Lenovo Tablet
Supernote Nomad
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus (2022)
Amazon Fire 7 (2022)
Onyx Boox Tab Mini C
TCL Tab 8 LE
Top compact Android tablets now
In a class of its own
To no one’s surprise, Apple makes the best (and arguably only) high-end compact tablet today. Its form factor, performance, display, and connectivity are second to none — but so is its price, just about. If you’re not attached to Android and can find it on sale, though, don’t pass it up.
Apple’s iPad lineup has easily cornered the tablet market, and far be it from Android Police to argue. The 2021 Mini looks a lot like a miniature 2020 iPad Air in terms of style and makes just a few sacrifices to fit in a smaller package with a slightly lower price. The display’s high resolution and good peak brightness make it useful in most lighting conditions, although we were a bit bummed at the 60Hz TFT panel, considering plenty of phones half the price have way better screens.
Panel type notwithstanding, though, the iPad Mini sports the high performance we’ve come to expect from Apple’s in-house silicon, in this case, the A15 Bionic. The actively updated iPadOS runs smoothly without any hiccups, another common thing with Apple products. And at under 300g and less than 7 millimeters thick, this is just about the lightest and thinnest sub-9-inch slate out there. It definitely looks and feels more premium than the rest.
The only major drawback, as with some other Apple devices, is the cost. A $500 list price for a device with just 64GB of storage definitely qualifies as frustrating, given Apple’s longtime refusal to allow for microSD storage expansion. That said, it’s frequently discounted by $100 at various retailers, which makes it worth considering if you’re OK with learning the ins and outs of the operating system. Also keep in mind that the 7th-generation iPad Mini should be announced sometime by the end of 2024, at which point this one will probably get both a little cheaper, and harder to find in new condition.
Nook and Lenovo’s 9-inch tablet doesn’t make any grand promises, but makes good use of entry-level hardware and runs better than just about anything in its price range. The baked-in Barnes & Noble apps perform especially well, and give it somewhat of an e-reader focus, although it’s pretty versatile outside of just reading, too.
Lenovo normally releases tablets on its own, so this pairing with Barnes & Noble really drives home that the low-cost Nook tablet is mostly meant for reading. In that respect, it’s fantastic, since the built-in apps work great, and it supports the vast range of e-reader apps available on the Google Play Store. It’s a touch brighter and works better for color media than e-ink tablets, too.
While that may be its focus, the Nook tablet can do more than just display words. Its Helio G80 system-on-chip won’t top any benchmark lists, but does a suitable job with most apps. As you might imagine, things like resource-intensive gaming are out of the question, but that’s not surprising in this price range.
Nook 9-inch Lenovo Tablet review: Not over, not under, just achieving
Nook’s $150 new LCD tablet, made by Lenovo, stays firmly in its lane
If you only use tablets for simple tasks, or want a decent e-reader for cheap and aren’t fond of e-ink displays, this is a fine choice. Its main calling card is that, unlike other models we’ve tested in this size and price, it won’t leave you with an interminable wait just for settings menus to open and apps to load. And even though it’s destined to live out its days with Android 12, the software’s still perfectly competent for casual use.
Far from a typical Android tablet, the Supernote Nomad aims to replace your notebook paper with a high-end note-taking experience. To that end, it runs on heavily modified version of Android 11 that leverages the normally lackluster RockChip 3566 SoC to deliver a surprisingly good experience, as long as you know what you’re in for. you’re able to even sideload lightweight Android apps.
E-ink displays are typically found on many of thebest ebook readers, which the Supernote Nomad is somewhat similar to. Rather than helping you read, though, the Nomad’s meant for helping you write by hand. Its matte surface feels almost exactly like real paper, it’s smaller and lighter than many actual notebooks. Its highly specialized software and excellent touch layer and stylus make it one of thebest note-taking devicestoday.
To be clear, this is very much not your average Android tablet. The quad-core RockChip hardware driving will struggle under the load of all but basic apps, but Supernote’s own software works swimmingly for taking notes enjoying books and other still media. Not for nothing, it is technically based on Android 11, and the manufacturer actually updated it after release to officially allow side-loading apps. This does, of course, come with the caveat that it just can’t handle everything from the Play Store, but savvy users have already installed a laundry list of useful applications to increase the Nomad’s vesratility.
Supernote Nomad tablet review: Real paper is old news
A note-taking experience that feels just right
That post-launch software support, plus things like a recently updated desktop app and a small but fervent near-cult following, say a lot of good things about this svelte slate. Matt Sholtz, Android Police Editor, was eager to chime in on how convenient and streamlined the entire note-taking and management processes are. It’s the smallest recent note-taking tablet, and easily one of the best, if you’re OK with the decently large investment as well as the price of accessories (including the sold-separately stylus). It’s even pretty good at drawing.
Underpowered, but still user-friendly
While it defines the concept of a high-end Android tablet, Samsung also makes some great entry-level models like the Tab A7 Lite. It’s not very fast, but you can find it dirt cheap due to its age. It’s also one of the few with optional cellular data connectivity.
It wouldn’t be a roundup of the best tablets without a showing from Samsung. The 2021 Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is the Korean tech giant’s only offering smaller than 9 inches, and it’s a decent one, despite its faults. Chief among those faults is the mediocre-at-best performance, which significantly limits what kinds of apps you can use.
On the bright side, you’ve got Android 14 and Samsung’s renowned One UI interface to look forward to, with all the customization, convenience, and efficiency they entail. If you plan to use your tablet for basic tasks like web browsing, organizing your schedule, and keeping up with it, the A7 Lite will serve fine.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite review: An Amazon Fire HD 8 alternative, no sideloading required
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite gives the Amazon Fire 8 a run for its money as the budget king for streaming content
It’s also one of the few in this class to come in a 4G LTE-enabled version, although that one’s a little harder to come by. You’ll probably have to opt for the international model, which lacks a U.S. warranty. Overall, if you’re looking for something basic for the essentials and decent software, the Tab A7 Lite is worth considering.
A little restrictive, but still worth considering
Amazon’s Fire tablet lineup aims to make it as easy as possible to enjoy multimedia content, even if it’s not so much engineered for a typical Android experience. The Fire HD 8 represents the most powerful compact model, and does an especially good job if you install the Google Play store after you get it.
The Fire tablet series gets a little flak for its somewhat restrictive UI, which isn’t entirely unwarranted. But you may take a few simple steps totweak your Fire tablet, like side-loading the Google Play Store to make it feel more like Android than Amazon ever intended. And don’t worry about breaking any functionality. While not all Android apps work perfectly, you can turn this normally locked-down device into something quite convenient.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus (2022) review: Who is this for?
Kids? Adults? The compact size is tempting, but the grass is greener elsewhere.
Like other tablets in this size and price class, it doesn’t wow in terms of performance or display quality. But it’s absolutely fine for watching your favorite movies or TV shows or managing your email and other communications. The extra gig of RAM compared to the non-Plus version makes a difference, too, and the list price of $120 isn’t bad.
The smallest, cheapest, and most basic
The Amazon Fire 7 is as small as they get. Consequently, it’s also as cheap and durable as any Android tablet you’ll find. If you don’t need something fancy, but maybe just something to occupy a kid at a restaurant or yourself on a commute, it’s worth considering.
Nobody’s claiming the Fire 7 is anywhere near high performance, but its $60 MSRP doesn’t either. This is the kind of tablet you get when you need a device that won’t break (physically or in terms of software) but can provide entertainment during dull moments or digital connectivity on the fly. Will the display quality win any awards? No. Can you log into a 3D shooter and enjoy blistering frame rates? Absolutely not, but that’s not what it’s for.
Amazon Fire 7 (2022) review: Budget, indeed
Your smartphone probably beats this budget tablet’s sluggish performance, but not its price
The Fire 7 performs well at the simplest tasks, and not much else, but you can certainly rely on it for those. It’s made even better when you tweak it just like its slightly larger sibling, as mentioned above, particularly byside-loading the Google Play Store. The device’s poor performance will limit your app options, but you’ll still have plenty of useful widgets and other software to make this a worthwhile, small investment.
And now for something completely different
If you’re looking for a highly functional Android-adjacent tablet but aren’t so concerned with streaming video, look no further. Technically an e-reader, the Onyx Boox Tab Mini C and its E Ink display deliver a decidedly non-smartphone-y experience, complete with the versatility of the Google Play Store.
The Onyx Boox Tab Mini C, like otherOnyx e-readers, is a legitimately interesting device. It fills a different niche than typical Android tablets, which normally sport bright, bold LED panels and put watching video at the forefront. In contrast, the E Ink display of the Mini C doesn’t do all that well with video — especially color video — but instead makes writing and drawing an absolute pleasure.
Part of this comes from the nature of the display itself. The non-backlit E Ink technology has a significantly different look than typical LED panels, and in this case, adds color output to the paper-like appearance we’ve come to expect from quality e-readers. But wait, there’s more: A stylus input layer from none other than industry leader Wacom makes this one of the most useful and novel drawing tablets we’ve seen in recent years. If you want to take notes or make sketches on a compact, portable device, few better options exist than this relatively small and light Onyx.
Onyx Boox Tab Mini C review: Colorful and compact, but not without compromise
All the specs are here, but the lack of a store holds the experience back
It has its drawbacks, but if you’re looking for a combination of a drawing tablet and an e-reader that fits easily in a purse or backpack, supports an extensive amount of Android apps, and can even reproduce video at passable quality, this is basically the only option. And that’s not a cop-out; it’s a truly unique device in terms of design, hardware, and software. While very noticeably different from a standard tablet, it still comes with the Google Play Store installed, so you’re able to get tons of functionality out of it. Artists, students, and busy professionals alike will likely love the Tab Mini C — if they can handle the $400 price tag.
An entry-level cellular data-connected tablet
Simplicity is the name of the game with the TCL Tab 8. It’s as affordable as anything else and even more limited than most in terms of hardware and software capabilities, but its 4G LTE support makes it an interesting choice for someone who wants to stay connected at a low cost.
As weird as the term “phablet” is, that’s basically what we’d call the TCL Tab 8 LE, and it fills a pretty specific niche. If you want 4G LTE data connected to a device that’s bigger than a phone but smaller and less costly than a midrange tablet, this is one of just a couple of viable choices. You’ll need to pick up agood microSD cardfor any appreciable app installations, but those are pretty cheap, and so is the Tab 8 LE.
So, while we wouldn’t recommend it for most people (and wouldn’t recommend the Wi-Fi-only version for anybody), it does have its uses.
Choosing an affordable, compact tablet
We’re happy to report that the Lenovo Nook offers good entry-level performance, and even if it’s marketed as an e-reader, it’s a great general use tablet as long as you don’t try to push it too hard. That’s a welcome change, considering the poor experiences we had with Lenovo’s previous compact slates, neither of which we recommend over the Nook at this point.
For high performance, the iPad Mini’s really your only option. It’s an especially good prospect when it’s on sale, and fortunately, it usually is. As long as you’re OK with adapting to iPadOS, you won’t find a better small tablet experience, and nothing really comes close.
We’ve also highlighted a device that’s definitely premium, but not quite like the rest. A few of us here at Android Police have and love the Supernote Nomad, because it’s remarkably useful, but doesn’t really provide the full Android experience that we spend plenty of time buried in, anyway. If you’re not planning on watching videos or browsing social media, but instead want to write and draw by hand, it’s worth a look.
There is stillhopefor the future of compact Android tablets. The outlook might not be incredibly optimistic, but it’s not necessarily bleak, either. As generational upgrades to high-end devices get ever more incremental and software support lifespans longer, you’re able to expect low-cost devices to slowly adopt better hardware and, therefore, more long-term usefulness. But for the moment, these mostly affordable (and in some cases novel and unique) small tablets offer plenty of usability, now and for at least a couple of years into the future.
Small doesn’t get better than this
So, what is an iPad doing on the Best Small Tablets page on Android Police? Well, to put it simply, there are many great small tablets, and the iPad does many things right – even if storage and the price is a little outside what we would consider budget-friendly. It’s excellent for gamers, getting work done, entertainment, and pleasure, and if you’re able to live with iPadOS and Apple’s limitations, it’s one of the best compact tablets out there.
The iPad’s limitations are making Android tablets more compelling
Let’s settle this for once: the iPad isn’t the default tablet anymore
