Small Tablet for Reading & Entertainment: 4 Picks
If you want a small tablet for reading and entertainment, the best options are the Apple iPad mini (6th generation), the Amazon Fire HD 8, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, and the Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd generation). Each offers a different balance of price, performance, and ecosystem, so the right choice depends on your budget and whether you prioritize app selection or affordability.
What Makes a Tablet Good for Reading and Entertainment?
For reading, you want a screen that is sharp, bright, and easy on the eyes, with a high-resolution display (at least 1080p) and good color accuracy. For entertainment like streaming video, you also need decent speakers, a fast enough processor to handle 1080p or 4K video smoothly, and a battery that lasts through a movie or a long reading session. A small tablet—typically 7 to 9 inches—is lighter than a full-size iPad or Android tablet, making it easier to hold for long periods, whether you’re in bed, on a commute, or on a plane.
Comparison of the 4 Best Small Tablets
Here’s a quick overview of the four main contenders, with their key specs and what they excel at.
- Apple iPad mini (6th gen): 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, A15 Bionic chip, support for Apple Pencil (2nd gen). It’s the most powerful and expensive option, with access to the full App Store and the best tablet app optimization. Battery life is around 10 hours. The screen is 2266×1488, making it excellent for reading and high-res video.
- Amazon Fire HD 8 (12th gen): 8-inch HD display (1280×800), quad-core processor, up to 13 hours of battery life. It’s very affordable, often under $100, but it runs Amazon’s Fire OS, which is a fork of Android that does not have Google Play Store access by default. You can sideload apps, but it’s more limited. It’s great for Kindle reading and Prime Video, but less ideal for general Android apps.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite: 8.7-inch TFT display (1340×800), MediaTek Helio P22T processor, 3GB RAM. It runs full Android with Google Play, so you get all Android apps. It’s a budget option with decent performance for basic tasks, but the screen is not as sharp as the iPad mini, and speakers are mono. Battery life is around 8 hours.
- Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd gen): 8-inch HD display (1280×800), MediaTek Helio A22 processor, 2GB or 3GB RAM. It’s the cheapest option, often under $70, and runs Android Go edition (a lighter version of Android). It’s fine for basic reading and light video, but it’s slow with multiple apps open and the screen is dim. Battery life is around 8 hours.
How to Choose the Right One for You
Start by deciding which ecosystem you prefer. If you already own an iPhone or use Apple services, the iPad mini will integrate seamlessly. If you use Android, the Samsung or Lenovo are better. Then, consider your budget: the Fire HD 8 is the best value for pure media consumption if you don’t mind Amazon’s app store limitations. If you need the best screen and performance for reading comics, magazines, or PDFs, the iPad mini is worth the premium. For a cheap Android tablet that still supports Google apps, the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is the sweet spot.
Common Problems and How to Avoid Them
One common issue with budget tablets is low storage (often 32GB). For reading and streaming, this is usually fine, but if you plan to download movies for offline viewing, get a model with 64GB or use a microSD card (the Fire HD 8 and Galaxy Tab A7 Lite both support expandable storage). Another problem is screen glare outdoors—all four are reflective, so consider a matte screen protector if you read outside. Finally, battery drain can be an issue if you leave Wi-Fi on; turning it off when not needed extends battery life.
Cost and Value: What You Pay For
The prices vary widely. The Fire HD 8 often retails for $89.99, but frequently goes on sale for under $70. The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is usually around $159.99, but can be found for $100 or less. The Lenovo Tab M8 is typically $79.99, but sometimes drops to $60. The iPad mini starts at $499. The iPad mini costs 5-8 times more than the others, but you’re paying for a much faster processor, a better screen (with True Tone and wide color), and years of software updates. For reading, the extra cost is hard to justify unless you also need a tablet for note-taking or demanding apps.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re open to slightly larger screens, the standard iPad (9th or 10th gen) is 10.2 or 10.9 inches and starts at $329, offering a better value than the iPad mini for most people. On the Android side, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (10.5 inches) is often priced similarly to the A7 Lite and offers a larger screen for media. If you only care about reading, a dedicated e-reader like the Amazon Kindle or Kobo is lighter, has an e-ink screen that’s easier on the eyes, and has battery life measured in weeks, not hours—but they can’t stream video or run apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Google Play on the Amazon Fire HD 8?
Yes, it’s possible by sideloading the Google Play Store APK files, but it’s not officially supported and can break with system updates. The process requires enabling “Apps from Unknown Sources� and installing four APKs in a specific order. It works for many users, but if you want a hassle-free Android experience, choose the Samsung or Lenovo instead.
Is the iPad mini good for reading in bed?
Yes, it’s one of the best tablets for reading in bed because it’s small (under a pound) and has a very bright screen with True Tone that adjusts to ambient light. However, the screen is still LCD, so it emits blue light; you can enable Night Shift to reduce eye strain. Some people still prefer e-ink for bedtime reading.
Which tablet has the best battery life for streaming?
The Amazon Fire HD 8 claims up to 13 hours of battery life, which is the longest among these four. The iPad mini lasts about 10 hours, and the Samsung and Lenovo around 8 hours. Actual battery life depends on screen brightness and whether you’re using Wi-Fi.
Can I use a stylus on any of these tablets?
Only the iPad mini supports a stylus (Apple Pencil 2nd gen) and it works very well for note-taking. The others are not compatible with active styluses; they only work with capacitive styluses that simulate a finger, which are not precise enough for writing.
Do these tablets have parental controls?
Yes, all four have built-in parental controls. Amazon Fire tablets have a robust “Amazon Kids� mode that lets you set time limits and content filters. The iPad has Screen Time, and Android tablets have Google Family Link. These are all free and easy to set up.
Are these tablets good for playing games?
The iPad mini is excellent for gaming due to its powerful A15 chip. The Fire HD 8 can handle casual games like Angry Birds, but not demanding 3D games. The Samsung and Lenovo are similar to the Fire—okay for light games, but they will lag on graphics-heavy titles.
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