New tablets are somewhat hard to come by these days but if you're in the market for a pint-sized slate then here are the best small tablets around you can buy.
The tablet market has slowed down significantly over the last few years, so much so that the likes of Sony and HTC don't even make them anymore.
Google's hugely popular Nexus 7 seems like a lifetime ago and Tesco sadly ended the amazing Hudl range. That said, although many are a distant memory, there are a handful of small tablets still around that you can buy brand new.
You can still rely on firms like Apple and Amazon for this kind of device. We're talking tablets with a screen size under 9in, as a typical full-size tablet starts at around 9.7in.
Smaller tablets are typically cheaper than larger models and this also makes them more portable. Small tablets are great for travelling, so you can take TV shows and books with you, without adding much weight to your luggage.
1. Apple iPad Mini (2019)
- $399 (64GB) | $549 (256GB) | $529 (64GB + cellular) | $679 (256GB + cellular)
The iPad mini proves that this form factor is still desirable and useful even in an age of larger smartphones. With the A12 processor at an affordable base price, Apple’s smallest tablet is a tiny powerhouse of a computer.
Yes, the design is seven years old but with the addition of Apple Pencil support and with decent battery life, Apple has breathed new life back into the iPad Mini. Not everyone wants or needs to spend £1,000 on an iPad Pro.
Read our full Apple iPad mini (2019) review
2. Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus (2020)
- From $89.99
Amazon refreshed its 8in Fire tablet for 2020, with more memory and wireless charging, which in turn enables Amazon Echo Show mode; so you can summon Alexa and check the weather with your voice.
While performance isn't markedly different from the previous Fire HD 8, this model will last longer and we'd say the addition of the wireless charging dock is wholly worthwhile if you're considering picking one of these slates up.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 8 (10th gen) review
3. Amazon Fire 7 (2019)
- $49.99
The Amazon Fire 7 may not offer much in the way of improvements over its predecessor - save for a few new colourways - but it's an undeniable bargain all the same.
Highlights include more storage space and a superior selfie camera, which might not seem like much, but considering the other sorts of tablets you can expect to pick up at this price point, there's little else out there that comes close to consideration.
Read our full Amazon Fire 7 (2019) review
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3
- $489.99
Outside of the business use cases it was built for, the Galaxy Tab Active 3 only offers niche appeal to the general consumer, but it's hard to overlook the value of a hardy, ruggedised 8in tablet with a removable battery, all the same.
With military-grade protection and IP68 water and dust resistance, the Tab Active 3 can withstand submersions in sand, water and drops from 1.5m. There’s even a setting which means you can use the touchscreen with gloves, while the S-Pen offers a useful alternative for navigation and productivity.
You pay a premium for such a hardy slate but if that's a feature of importance, nothing else on this list can match the Tab Active 3.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 review
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