Top 8-inch tablets for every budget and need in 2024

Though not the most popular choice on the tablet market, 8-inch tablets are favored for their unique perks - a compact size that’s easy to carry and hold, paired with a screen big enough for any task. Most importantly, despite the smaller size, they still pack the power you want and need.

This article explores what might be the best 8-inch tablet for you. Whether you're into reading, drawing, or gaming, no matter your budget, we've got you covered.

Key takeaways

We’ve considered the best 8-inch tablets on the market to find our recommendations. First, the best options for general-purpose tablets:

• Best premium all-rounder: Apple iPad mini

• Best midrange tablet: Samsung Galaxy A9

• Best budget tablet: TCL Tab 8

But if you have a specific use in mind, then you might want to consider:

• Best tablet for drawing: Deco Fun S

• Best tablet for reading: Kobo Sage

• Best tablet for streaming: Amazon Fire HD 8

• Best tablet for gaming: Apple iPad mini

The best 8-inch tablets on the market  for all budgets

The best 8-inch tablet for you will not be the best for everyone, that’s why we’ve produced a range of recommendations, so you can find the ideal tablet whatever your needs.

Best premium: Apple iPad mini

Are you the sort of person who’s always doing different things? Do you need a tablet to match, making it effortless to switch between a relaxing read of your favorite, to watching the latest action blockbuster or playing a game, to doing accounts on a spreadsheet? Then the Apple iPad mini is the best 8-inch tablet 2024 has to offer.

Apple created the market for tablets with the iPad, and are still the brand most people will name when they think of the best 8-inch tablet.

The iPad mini does not boast the highest specs of Apple’s iPad range, but it packs enough power to do almost anything you would want. Its main drawback is that, like all Apple products, it also carries a premium price tag.

Best midrange: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9

Midrange does not mean low quality. With the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 range of tablets, you can get an incredibly capable device for less than half the price of an iPad mini and still get one of the best 8-inch tablets on the market. Samsung is well-known for their tablets, and their experience shows in the Galaxy Tab range.

You can pick up an A9, the latest in their line of everyday tablets, and the best Samsung 8-inch tablet, for about a third of the price of an iPad mini. It boasts a processor that is more than capable of handling anything but the most demanding tasks, and comes with a standard 64 GB memory, which is enough for plenty of films or photos, and boasts an HD screen. It is not a cheap feeling tablet, either, with a sturdy metal frame.

Best budget: TCL Tab 8

Thanks to the Android operating system, there are plenty of cheap tablets available if price is a critical factor. However, that does mean that while you might have the same operating system as a premium tablet, the device might sometimes lack the power you’d find from the best 8-inch tablet.

The TCL Tab 8 is an example. A typical Android tablet it can, just about, do everything any other tablet can, but it might take a little longer! Costing less than $100, but often even cheaper in sales and offers, one of its strengths is that you won’t feel the need to coddle it and can throw it in a bag and go.

However, to get the price that low, there are compromises. It only offers 32 GB of storage, the processor is only moderately powered, and the screen is adequate, but far from the sharpest on the market.

The best 8-inch tablet for various scenarios

But what if you are looking for something for a specific purpose. Most tablets are generic, screen-based, devices, but if you know that you are mainly, or only, going to be using your tablet for one thing, then your best 8-inch tablet might be a bit more specialized.

Best for drawing: Deco Fun S

Although all tablets offer some drawing functionality, and many offer dedicated styluses, it can be far from an ideal drawing experience. The smooth screen lacks the resistance of paper, and slower tablet processors can result in frustrating lag. A better option is a dedicated drawing tablet.

The Deco Fun S takes advantage of the fact you will already have a desktop or laptop computer that is more powerful and has a bigger screen than a tablet. It leverages your existing equipment to create the best 8-inch tablet drawing experience possible.

Compatible with all major operating systems, you can usually just plug it in. It has a sensitive, paper-like interface, it even comes in different colors to suit your style. Plus, because it’s a dedicated device, it gives you the best possible drawing experience for the lowest price.

Best for reading: Kobo Sage

Reading is another activity where you can benefit from having a dedicated device. Most tablets use backlit LCD or OLED screens, these not only drain batteries, but also affect you more directly, exposing you to blue light that disrupts your natural circadian rhythm.

Opting for the best 8-inch tablet with an eInk screen gives you a comfortable reading experience that’s like paper, even in direct sunlight.

Kobo’s Sage eReader comes with 32 GB of memory, enough for a library, and a host of additional features. It’s waterproof, making it ideal for the beach or pool on holiday, can connect to your Bluetooth headphones, if you want to play audiobooks, or even music while you read, and has an ergonomic design for one-handed use. eInk’s incredible efficiency also means that you can go weeks between charges, so you never have to put down a book, unless you want to.

Best for streaming: Amazon Fire HD 8

If you just can’t miss your favorite show, then you’ll be looking for the best 8-inch tablet for streaming. And there are a few things you need to consider, the most obvious is the screen quality, but also need to think about the content you will stream.

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus takes care of that. As you might expect, it’s tightly integrated with Amazon’s various stores. That means you can easily access not just Amazon’s award-winning shows and movies, but also buy from their extensive catalogue of other studios. It even has Netflix pre-installed.

The device is geared towards consumption and locked to Amazon’s custom Android OS, which is limited. However, if you want a device for watching shows and movies, plus occasional reading, listening, or browsing, and one that provides exceptional value, the Fire HD is perhaps the best 8-inch Android tablet you can buy.

Best for gaming: iPad mini

The iPad mini’s overall quality makes it great for gaming. But the main reason it’s such a good gaming device is the market share Apple has.

Because so many people use iOS and iPadOS devices, it has attracted countless developers, creating an overwhelming choice of both third-party controllers and game options through both the App Store and Apple Arcade. It might be the best 8-inch tablet all round, but you wouldn’t regret buying it just for games.

Buyer Guides

There are several factors to consider when thinking about what tablet to get.

Operating system: If you are looking for the best 8-inch tablet, then you realistically you have to choose between Google’s Android and Apple’s iPadOS. If you already use other devices from those manufacturers, like Google’s Chromecast or Mac, it can make sense to pick a compatible tablet.

The screen: The screen is usually the main way you interact with the tablet, so think about things like resolution and brightness and how that will work with the conditions you are likely to be in.

Processor speed: Make sure you have a processor capable of doing what you need. But don’t be fooled by big numbers, if you want a tablet for a specialist purpose, a seemingly slower, but purpose-designed processor, will provide the best 8-inch tablet experience.

Storage: For many, having a large storage memory is becoming less important. If you are always connected, whether through Wi-Fi or even your phone and have reliable cloud storage, you might not need as much on-device storage as you think.

Battery: After the screen, the battery is often the largest component in a tablet. This forces manufacturers to balance battery life with things like tablet size and weight, or other components. Always check the battery life to ensure it matches your needs.

The best 8-inch tablets side-by-side

Getting the best 8-inch tablet for you

The 8-inch tablet form factor is an ideal size for many people. Big enough to make the screen usable for reading or watching and even working, but also compact enough to be easy to carry so it’s always with you.

However, smaller sizes typically mean compromises as manufacturers balance battery, processing power, and memory against each other, and price. That means it’s always worth thinking about what you really want to do with your tablet because only you can decide what is the best 8-inch tablet for you.

FAQ:

How to measure tablet size?

Tablet size follows the same convention as any screen, measuring diagonally from corner to corner of the visible screen. Bear this in mind, since factors like the size of the bezel, any buttons, and the ratio of the screen size will affect how big the actual tablet is.

Is eight inches a good size for a tablet?

Tablet size is a personal preference. However, eight inches is a common size because it combines the convenience of a small form factor, while still being large enough to be usable for a range of different uses without straining the eyes or the arms when used for an extended period.

Are eight-inch tablets good for drawing?

It depends on your preference. Eight-inch tablets are great for creating more precise strokes, although a larger screen helps improve your posture when working.

Are 8-inch tablets limited?

The main limit is the battery size, which influences battery life. However, you can minimize the impact of this by choosing tablets that are optimized for your intended use, since these won’t be wasting battery and resources on system processes that are unimportant to you.

Which 8-inch tablet is best for gaming?

Although so much gaming is still PC-based and you might think the best 8-inch Windows tablet is what you would need, sadly, no major manufacturer offers an 8-inch Windows tablet. In our research, Apple’s iPad mini turns out to be the best 8-inch tablet for gaming.

How many inches is a mini tablet?

There aren’t any formally defined sizes for tablets or how they are named, so much depends on what the manufacturer or user defines as mini. However, the term is most often applied to tablets in the 7-9-inch range.