The Best Small Tablets Of 2025: Expert Tested And Reviewed

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Many group coming opt for smaller tablets, though our flexible and foldable smartphones whitethorn yet gain a larger portion of nan market. A mini tablet makes a awesome integer companion. They're awesome for reference connected nan beach, watching videos, aliases entertaining nan kids connected agelong car trips. These mini devices -- pinch show sizes ranging from astir six to 10 inches -- tin beryllium conscionable arsenic powerful arsenic their larger counterparts offering accelerated performance, entree to your favourite apps, and vibrant displays.

If you're looking to acquisition your first tablet, you should see 1 of these small, light, and often budget-friendly options. Some of our favorites see nan iPad Mini and Amazon's Fire tablet lineup.

Also: Best Windows tablet

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What is nan champion mini tablet correct now?

My prime for nan champion mini tablet is nan iPad Mini (7th gen), acknowledgment to its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina show and weight of conscionable nether 1 pound. In addition, Apple tablets person agelong been considered immoderate of nan champion successful nan market.

ZDNET performs extended hands-on testing pinch various tablets of each sizes while we are compiling our recommended tablets list. We person researched and tested compact-sized tablets from Samsung, Apple, Amazon, and different brands for those looking for thing much portable.

Read connected to find retired our apical recommendations for nan champion mini tablets of 2025.

The champion mini tablets of 2025

Apple's iPad Mini is our apical prime for nan champion mini tablet arsenic a compact, powerful instrumentality that ticks galore boxes.

Why we for illustration it: We for illustration nan iPad Mini owed to its A17 Pro Chip -- nan aforesaid powerful processor recovered successful the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max -- that is besides compatible pinch Apple Intelligence.

The iPad Mini was updated past twelvemonth pinch caller features. These see Apple Pencil Pro support and Apple Intelligence capabilities for illustration Writing Tools, nan redesigned Siri, Priority Notifications and Messages, Summarization tools, Smart Reply, and nan Clean Up instrumentality successful Photos.

There's a spot connected nan correct broadside of nan tablet to complaint nan Apple Pencil, making it a awesome tablet for those who worth nan action to tie aliases constitute notes. Customers who bought nan iPad Mini reported successful reviews that they were impressed by its artillery life, durability, and display.

They besides noted its portability, which allows it to fresh successful purses and bags, peculiarly for intermezo purposes.

Review: Apple iPad Mini (seventh-generation)

Who it's for: ZDNET writer Maria Diaz tested nan Apple iPad Mini and said, "The iPad Mini 7 is compact and fast, and its Apple silicon processor is built to past for years." She besides added, "Buy nan iPad Mini 7 for nan intermezo tablet it is." So, if you want an all-rounder and a instrumentality that is suitable for streaming and different intermezo purposes, see this option.

Who should look elsewhere: If you aren't a instrumentality of nan Apple ecosystem, cheque retired my different apical picks.

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If you're looking for thing moreover smaller and cheaper than nan iPad Mini, nan Amazon Fire 8 tablet is a great fund tablet pick.

Why we for illustration it: The Fire tablet's 8-inch surface has a 1280 x 800 HD display, truthful you tin watercourse movies aliases play video games without hauling astir a bulky product.

It's an upgrade connected nan bequest Fire 7, which is besides a awesome entry-level tablet. This upgraded exemplary offers 32GB of storage, which tin beryllium expanded up to 1TB, alongside improved processing powerfulness and up to 13 hours of artillery life. There are besides 2 cameras, 1 beforehand and 1 rear-facing.

Along pinch nan expertise to inquire Alexa questions, you tin position and negociate your Alexa-connected smart location devices. You tin power cameras, lights, and outlets utilizing your sound aliases by tapping nan dedicated Devices fastener successful nan bottommost navigation bar.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a small, affordable tablet for streaming, reading, and intermezo extracurricular of nan Apple iOS ecosystem.

This tablet tin beryllium purchased connected Amazon for $65, which is much than reasonable for a mini tablet. If you're consenting to salary a small more, you tin region lockscreen advertisement support.

Who should look elsewhere: If you want much power, see an Apple iPad Mini instead.

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If you want a tablet chiefly for reference connected nan roadworthy aliases astatine night, Amazon's Kindle should beryllium connected your radar.

Why we for illustration it: The upgraded 12th-generation Kindle offers astir of nan specs from nan erstwhile model, pinch a fewer caller additions. These see different exterior colors -- Matcha and Black, a brighter beforehand light, a higher opposition ratio, and a faster page-turn rate.

ZDNET editor Nina Raemont besides tried nan caller Kindle hands-on and was peculiarly impressed pinch its lightning-fast performance, particularly erstwhile compared to older models.

Review: Amazon Kindle (12th-generation)

"While I was reading, I noticed that nan page-turning and book-loading speeds were importantly quicker than connected my Kindle Oasis aliases Kindle Paperwhite from 2022," Raemont wrote.

The 12th-generation Amazon Kindle is disposable for a budget-friendly value of $90 astatine Amazon.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a tablet chiefly for reference much comfortably than what you expect from accepted tablet screens.

The anti-glare 300ppi show makes it easy to publication successful immoderate light, and acheronian mode is simply a lukewarm invited erstwhile you're trying to publication astatine nighttime without letting bluish ray interrupt your slumber cycle. Plus, it weighs conscionable .35 pounds, meaning it'll fresh astir bags and backpacks.

Who should look elsewhere: If you want a tablet much geared toward productivity aliases intermezo apps, see 1 of my different recommendations.

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The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is simply a mini Android tablet that combines affordability and usefulness.

Why we for illustration it: Samsung's tablet lineup spans price, capability, and surface size. Its 8.7-inch surface features a 1340x800 display, making it worthy of streaming and basal tasks.

The Tab A7 Lite is portable and especially pragmatic if you're utilizing it to entertain kids pinch acquisition apps. Plus, nan metallic framework adds immoderate ruggedness.

In addition, you tin grow your retention beyond nan 32GB aliases 64GB allotted. The tablet allows up to 1TB of expandable storage, doubly arsenic overmuch arsenic nan erstwhile model. Overall, 91% of Best Buy customers would urge buying this tablet, giving it an mean standing of 4.5 retired of 5.

Who it's for: ZDNET writer Charlie Osborne, who contributed to this article, selected this exemplary to thief a family personnel commencement a caller business. The reason? It's affordable, has a mini capable shape facet to gaffe easy into a handbag, and is capable to grip day-to-day tasks specified arsenic checking email and utilizing mobile apps pinch ease.

You tin prime up this tablet for $160 astatine Amazon.

Who should look elsewhere: If you want a tablet for reference aliases dense assets use, this mightiness not beryllium nan correct action for you. Check retired different of my favorites.

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If you are looking for an affordable tablet pinch nan controls basal to protect your children, this mightiness beryllium nan correct tablet for you.

Why we for illustration it: This 8-inch, HD tablet comes pinch a assortment of options to let your kids to study and enactment entertained without being accidentally exposed to harmful content.

You tin usage nan Family Link app to show usage, group surface limits, negociate parental power settings, and contented screen. In addition, you tin group up Google Kids Space, which provides curated contented suitable for younger users, including apps, acquisition resources, and books.

If you're worried astir your kid accidentally damaging nan display, a free guidelines and clear lawsuit person been included for further protection.

Customers opportunity that this tablet represents awesome worth for money, though location are immoderate reports of method glitches.

Who it's for: Parents looking for a kid-friendly tablet pinch easy-to-understand and configure parental controls.

If you're interested, this tablet is presently connected waste for $78, a 7% discount.

Who should look elsewhere: It's suitable for kids, but location are amended options retired location for adults, arsenic listed successful my recommendations. Try an iPad, a Samsung model, aliases a Kindle instead.

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The champion mini tablet is nan iPad Mini because of its crisp show and awesome cameras. Plus, nan A17 Pro spot is packed pinch powerfulness successful a mini package. But if you're unsure, nan factors beneath whitethorn sway your decision.

Tablet	Price	Screen size	Display
Apple iPad Mini	$489	8.3 inches	Liquid Retina
Amazon Fire 8	$65	8 inches	1280 x 800 pixels
Amazon Kindle	$90	6 inches	300ppi glare-free
Samsung Galaxy A7 Lite	$160	8.7 inches	1340 x 800 pixels
Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4	$78	8 inches	1280 x 800 pixels

Choose this mini tablet...	If you want...
Apple iPad Mini	The champion wide mini tablet pinch a USB-C larboard for quicker charging and information transfers. It besides comes equipped pinch Apple Intelligence.
Amazon Fire 8	A budget-friendly and well-rounded tablet pinch reasonable artillery life and smart adjunct functionality. Its 8-inch surface has a 1280x800 display.
Amazon Kindle	A mini and portable tablet designed for reference pinch acheronian mode and six weeks of artillery life. Its 300ppi is nan aforesaid show arsenic nan Kindle Paperwhite and nan Kindle Oasis.
Samsung Galaxy A7 Lite	A mini Samsung tablet pinch expandable retention and an exceptional artillery life. The tablet allows for up to 1TB of expandable storage.
Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4	A kid-friendly tablet pinch easy-to-understand parental controls. It comes pinch entree to a hub afloat of curated contented suitable for young users, including books and videos.

We cognize location are a batch of tablets and tablet sizes to take from, but ultimately, these factors should beryllium considered earlier making a purchase:

Size: These tablets scope betwixt six and 8 inches, which defines a tablet arsenic small. Consider whether you want 1 of nan smallest options aliases you want a exemplary astatine nan higher extremity of nan range.
Display: Small tablets shouldn't person to discuss connected an already smaller display, and galore tablets now battalion a punch successful narration to solution and show technologies.
Use cases: One of nan astir important deciding factors successful selecting a caller tablet is what you scheme to usage it for. If you intend to usage resource-heavy applications, for example, opt for a exemplary pinch a powerful processor. You whitethorn prioritize retention abstraction if you want a tablet for storing TV shows, books, and films.
Battery life: A device's artillery life is important nary matter its size, truthful we considered devices that tin past you each time -- but expected artillery life tin vary.
Operating system: What's your favourite mobile operating system? Your prime of mini tablet whitethorn hinge connected whether you for illustration iOS, Android, aliases different OS.
Accessories: While a mini facet successful your decision, you mightiness want a circumstantial color, case, aliases stylus. Research what's disposable earlier you buy.
Price: Tablets alteration successful value scope from affordable to costly depending connected marque and purpose, truthful we made judge to take tablets astatine various value points to accommodate different budgets.

The ZDNET squad chose each of nan tablets included successful this database based connected their capacity when tested successful nan existent world. When we trial tablets, we typically travel nan aforesaid regular for each 1 to spot which performs best.

Display: We measurement nan brightness level successful different lighting conditions and measure colour accuracy.
We besides comparison nan display's capacity pinch what nan shaper promised, trial nan screen's responsiveness to touch, and measure nan capacity of immoderate other features, for illustration a manufacturer's stylus.
Performance: For real-world capacity metrics, our reviewers measurement really quickly nan tablet reacts to input, measure crippled capacity and framework rates, trial really nan tablet handles having aggregate apps moving simultaneously, measurement nan clip it takes to motorboat apps, and moreover measure nan tablet's somesthesia during intensive tasks.
Battery life: We trial different scenarios for artillery life, including measuring really agelong nan artillery lasts while streaming, web browsing, utilizing productivity apps, and playing games.

Camera and audio: For cameras, we measure features for illustration resolution, aperture, low-light performance, autofocus accuracy, move range, colour accuracy, image quality, sharpness, and video quality. For audio, we look astatine nan sound value and wide listening experience, including audio clarity astatine different volumes, stereo separation of near and correct audio channels, maximum measurement level successful various environments, and if location is perceived distortion.

For a deeper look into our testing process, cheque retired our comprehensive tablet testing methodology.

Latest news

Amazon is reportedly working connected important changes to its Fire tablet range. The operating strategy hasn't ever been celebrated pinch each user, truthful a caller Fire tablet moving connected Android mightiness beryllium connected nan horizon.
If you're willing successful creating a smart location system, a tablet tin go an fantabulous hub for your controls.
According to reviews, nan 13-inch Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is simply a cleanable summertime and recreation companion.
Apple reportedly launched Asa, an AI chatbot, to amended its income associates' merchandise knowledge.

The smallest tablet surface size connected nan marketplace is six to 7 inches. Anything smaller would beryllium much akin to a smartphone.

It's why you want to see your superior uses erstwhile considering which mini tablet is correct for you. To demonstrate, if you recreation often, 1 pinch a smaller surface will beryllium cleanable for carrying/using connected an airplane. If your purpose is to publication much e-books aliases draw, you'll want 1 pinch a larger screen.

Tablets made by Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft are nan best-made tablets successful position of quality. Amazon has well-rounded tablets successful its Fire lineup but pinch less performance-focused features. Boox is besides proving to beryllium an manufacture underdog, pinch awesome tablets that usability arsenic e-readers and illustrators.

Keep successful mind successful definite cases, you tin brace your different devices pinch nan tablet. In nan lawsuit of Apple tablets, you tin log successful utilizing your Apple ID to entree nan aforesaid apps, pictures, and much from your telephone connected your iPad.

Meanwhile, pinch Samsung devices, you tin instrumentality Samsung Flow. Download nan app connected your telephone and tablet. You tin link your tablet to your telephone via Bluetooth aliases Wi-Fi.

Yes, they tin be. Small Android tablets let you to do everything you would usually do, for illustration reference e-books and video calling, without nan higher value tags.

Their lightweight assemblage and compact creation make them cleanable walking companions. So, if you're searching for nan best Android tablet pinch awesome artillery life and lightweight design, nan minis are an enticing choice.

The smallest iPad is nan iPad Mini which has a surface size of 8.3 inches. It's besides lightweight astatine conscionable nether 1 pound.

Latest updates

September 2025: In ZDNET's September update, we performed important transcript and layout updates. We besides added further accusation connected our replacement picks. We person now besides included nan Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4 arsenic 1 of our favourite mini tablets.

Other tablets we've tested

This mini tablet is large connected fun, pinch 1 twelvemonth of Amazon Kids+ included successful nan price. The 7-inch tablet besides features easy-to-set-up parental controls and a sturdy case. Best of all, it's presently connected waste for only $70.

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If you want a powerfulness boost from nan modular Amazon Fire HD 8, nan Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus comes pinch an estimated 30% processing powerfulness increase. This tablet besides has 3GB of RAM and an 8-inch HD display.

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The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 is simply a fast-charging tablet suitable for activity and entertainment. This exemplary comes pinch an 800 x 1340 8.7-inch display, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.

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The $110 Lenovo Tab One is an fantabulous replacement if you're looking for an entertainment-first tablet. This exemplary offers an 8.7-inch HD display, 64GB of storage, and up to 12 hours of streaming connected a azygous charge.

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If you'd for illustration to research much of nan champion tablets successful 2025, cheque retired our guides connected nan best tablets successful nan market overall, nan champion Android tablets around, and our favourite Samsung tablets today.

Tablets Reviewed & Compared

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