13 Best 8-inch Tablets in 2021

Tablets come in all shapes and sizes and these devices offer the power of a laptop and the portability of the smartphone for those who are always on-the-go. Though the tablets come in various display sizes, an 8-inch tablet when compared to a 10-inch or even a 12-inch panel will be easier to carry around and offers better battery usage due to the small screen size.

With the advancement in tablet software, most of the modern machines now support an external mouse and a keyboard using wired or wireless connectivity allowing these machines to be used as a full-fledged computer

These machines will be useful for students, working professionals, and house makers and can be used for both personal and professional purposes. An 8-inch tablet can also be used for playing games like PUBG or Fortnite at the higher and fluid graphics, offering console-like gaming on a compact form factor.

Best 8-inch Tablets

1. Best Overall: Apple iPad Mini

CPU	A12 Bionic
RAM	3GB
Storage	64GB
Display	8-inch QHD (2048 x 1536)
Battery	Up to 10 hours
Weight	1.25 pounds
OS	iPadOS 13

Even if you are not into the Apple ecosystem, the Apple iPad mini is one of the best compact tablets with an 8-inch screen. The tablet has a metal unibody design with a premium build quality and the tablet has everything that you can expect from an Apple iPad. 

Coming to the performance aspect of the tablet, it is powered by the 7nm A12 Bionic processor with a custom GPU designed by Apple and the same processor also powers the iPhone XS series, and is the second most powerful chipset from the company.

The new iPad mini offers 3GB of RAM, though it might seem a bit less when compared to the Android counterpart, the iPadOS is highly optimized to run smoothly in just 3GB of RAM.

In terms of storage, the tablet offers 64GB of high-speed memory. Just like every other iPads, you can expand the storage on this model, but one can use an external USB device that uses a lightning port.

On to the software experience, the iPad runs on the customized iOS called the iPadOS and it now supports both external mouse and keyboard input. This model will receive software updates for the next few years and will also get new features via firmware updates.

One of the highlights of the iPad mini is the display it carries. The tablet packs an 8-inch screen with 2K resolution of 2048 x 1536p with higher pixel density, offering a rich multimedia experience. The display has a bit of bezel on four sides and it does have a physical fingerprint sensor at the front of the display, allowing a faster and quicker way to login to the device.

Both Apple and third-party players make excellent external keyboard cases and some of them even come with an integrated touchpad or a mouse, allowing the device to be used as a full-fledged computer.

This 8-inch tablet has a sleek design with a metal back that also helps the device with heat dissipation. The device just weighs 1.25-pounds and it has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a lightning port for both data transfer and charging. 

In terms of battery life, the new iPad mini can last up to 10 hours with regular usage, and with tools like iMovie, one can easily even edit a 4K resolution video without any issue.

2. Best for Reading: Fire HD 8 Plus

CPU	2.0GHz Quad-core processor
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Display	8-inch HD (1028 x 800)
Battery	Up to 12 hours
Weight	0.78 pounds
OS	FireOS based on Android

If you are in the market for an affordable tablet based on the Android OS, then the all-new Fire HD 8 plus is your best bet, as it offers a higher value-for-money proposition.

This tablet is powered by an octa-core processor using little big architecture and the processor can operate at 2.0GHz, capable of offering a good gaming experience. Due to the faster GPU, you can also do basic video and photo editing on this machine.

The tablet offers 32GB of internal storage and it can be upgraded up to 1TB using an external microSD card slot. As per the RAM, it is packed with 3GB memory and should be more than enough to handle basic multitasking and it can also play some games without any issue.

In terms of software experience, the device runs on Android-based Fire OS, so you might not be able to access some of the apps and services offered by Google. However, the store on the Fire OS does pack most of the apps and games that one might have been using on a device with support for Google Play Services.

Coming to the display, the tablet has an 8-inch screen, offering a native resolution of 1028 x 800, which is a bit low as one might prefer a device with at least FHD resolution, however, if you’re looking for studies or reading, this is one the best you can get.

One can connect a wired keyboard or a wireless Bluetooth keyboard and a mouse with this device. There are also several docking devices, allowing the Fire HD 8 plus to be used as a tablet for typing or even to create a presentation.

This tablet has a plastic unibody design and it makes the device very light with just 0.78-pounds, making it easy to carry. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB Type-C port, making it easy to use additional accessories from your modern smartphones.

As per the battery life, the tablet can last up to 12 hours on a single charge, however, it does not support fast charging. If you are planning to get this tablet for your children, then get the Fire HD 8 kids edition that comes with child-centric features and a design that your child will love.

3. Best for Gaming: Samsung Galaxy Tab A

CPU	2.0GHz Quad-core Processor
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Display	8-inch HD (2048 x 1536)
Battery	Up to 10 hours
Weight	1.25 pounds
OS	Android 9 Pie

Samsung’s tablets always offer premium design and great software experience with stable Android OS. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0-inch is one such device that might be a great pick for those, who want an affordable tablet from a well-established brand.

This model is powered by an octa-core processor with 2.0GHz clock speed and can easily run all your favorite apps like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram without any issue.

The tablet offers 32GB high-speed flash memory with 3GB RAM and users can also expand the storage up to 512GB using a microSD card. In terms of software experience, the tablet runs on Android 9 Pie-based One UI skin, offering optimized software experience and a good gaming capability, even with the games like PUBG. This machine is also expected to receive Android 10 OS based One UI 2.0 update in the coming days.

Coming to the display, the tablet has an 8-inch IPS LCD screen, protected by a 2.5D curved tempered glass to protect the display from accidental scratches. This display offers a good viewing angle and higher contrast ratio and that is a good thing for movie and web series bingers.

It does not have a touchpad or a keyboard, but one can attach an external keyboard to this device without any issue. The device supports both wired and wireless keyboards on the mouse and the wired keyboard can be used without any pairing process.

As per the design, it has a premium metal unibody finish and the tablet has a micro USB port for charging and data syncing along with a 3.5mm headphone jack to connect a wired headphone or even a speaker system with this machine and it weighs 0.76-pounds.

The computer can last up to 13 hours on a single charge and can last for an entire day without any issue. Overall, this is a great mid-range Android tablet with an 8-inch screen.

4. Best for Android Users: VANKYO MatrixPad S8

CPU	1.3Ghz Quad-core Processor
RAM	2GB
Storage	32GB
Display	8-inch QHD (1028 x 800)
Battery	Up to 11 hours
Weight	0.75 pounds
OS	Android 9 Pie

Though the name VANKYO might feel new, it is one of the brands that has been making affordable yet powerful Android tablets with various features and specifications. The VANKYO MatrixPad S8 is the latest offering from the brand that offers a lot of interesting features for the asking price.

This unit is powered by an unknown quad-core processor with a peak CPU clock speed of 1.3GHz and it is more than enough to conduct regular tasks without any issue.

The tablet offers 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage with a microSD card slot. Do note that, it only accepts memory cards with up to 128GB, offering an overall storage space of 150GB. Coming to the software experience, the tablet runs on almost stock Android 9.0 UI, hence the overall software experience is very smooth and fluid.

Coming to the display, just like most of the budget tablets, the VANKYO MatrixPad S8 also has an 8-inch screen with a 720p resolution (1028 x 800). Do note that, due to the lower resolution screen, the tablet can easily handle multitasking, even with the limited amount of RAM.

If you want to use this tablet as a laptop, then it can also be achieved by connecting an external mouse and a keyboard over Bluetooth with ease and one can easily get a wireless keyboard for just a few dollars.

The tablet has a curved unibody design, making this tablet easy to handle even if you have small hands and even with continuous usage, the device does not cause any sort of hard fatigue. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack with a micro USB port and the lightweight design with just 0.70-pounds of weight and it has a good weight distribution and is easy to handle.

The tablet can last up to 11 hours on a single charge but it does missout on fast charging and it takes over 2 hours to fully charge using the bundled charger. Overall, the VANKYO MatrixPad S8 is a good mid-range tablet that is easy to handle and carry around.

5. Best Battery Backup: Lenovo Tab 4 Plus

CPU	2.0GHz Octa-core Processor
RAM	2GB
Storage	16GB
Display	8-inch HD (1280 x 800)
Battery	Up to 20 hours
Weight	1.0 pounds
OS	Android 7.1 Nougat

If you are a fan of Lenovo computers, then the Lenovo Tab 4 Plus is the tablet to get to. This is a tablet that is focused on multimedia consumption experience with dual front-firing speakers, offering multi-channel surround sound.

This computer is based on the latest octa-core processor from Qualcomm with a 2.0GHz clock speed with a high-performance Adreno 506 GPU for all the gaming needs.

The computer offers 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, which is a bit less in the 2021 standard. However, as it comes with a USB Type-C port, one can connect an external storage device or can even add a microSD card to get more built-in storage. Though the software experience very stock Android like, it runs on the older firmware version and some apps and games might not work on this machine due to this.

As per the viewing experience is concerned, the tablet has an 8-inch screen with HD (1280 x 800p) resolution with thick bezels across all four sides. However, do note that the side bezels are being used to offer a front-firing speaker and this machine has some of the clear and loudest speakers that we have seen on any tablet of this class.

It is easy to attach an external keyboard or even a mouse with the Lenovo Tab 4 Plus using either wired or Bluetooth connection. There are a lot of keyboards with USB Type-C port and those can also be used with the tablet that offers minimal input lag.

As per the design, this tablet looks very classy even though it has a plastic unibody design. On top of that, the tablet weighs 7.0-pounds and is slightly heavier and it has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB Type-C port for data transfer.

It can last up to 20 hours on a single charge and also supports fast charging. Overall, the Lenovo Tab 4 Plus is a great 8-inch tablet for multimedia enthusiasts.

6. Best for Students: Lenovo Yoga Tab 3

CPU	2.0GHz Octa-core Processor
RAM	2GB
Storage	16GB
Display	8-inch HD (1280 x 800)
Battery	Up to 18 hours
Weight	1.03 pounds
OS	Android 5.1 Lollipop

The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 is not just your average tablet, in fact, this is a tablet for movie enthusiasts and it comes with an integrated projector. So, you can either use this machine as a regular tablet or can use it to project movies, videos, or even to give a presentation at your office.

The tablet is powered by an octa-core processor with 2.0GHz and the built-in graphics can drive both the built-in display and the projector display at the same time.

This computer offers 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage and users can also expand the internal storage using a microSD card slot. This is a bit old machine, as it still runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. However, with Google Play Store support, you can still download all your favorite apps and games directly on the device.

The tablet has an 8-inch screen with a native resolution of 1280 x 800p and is protected by a 2.5D curved tempered glass. As per the projector, it can also project content at HD directly from streaming platforms like Netflix with a single click.

It comes with a built-in kickstand and can be used in multiple angles with a regular keyboard from a desktop PC along with a mouse. This device with a built-in projector just weighs 1.03 pounds. Due to the built-in projector, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 looks a bit unique and could be a great add-on for your electronic devices that too at an affordable price tag.

As per the battery life, the device can last up to 18 hours with support for fast charging, and even with a massive battery. So, if you are into something that is very unique and practical, then the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 will be the device that you can get and even the same money as well.

7. Best under 100: Dragon Touch Notepad Y80

CPU	1.5GHz Quad-core Processor
RAM	2GB
Storage	32GB
Display	8-inch HD (1280 x 800)
Battery	Up to 6 hours
Weight	1.4 pounds
OS	Android 9 Pie

The Dragon Touch Notepad Y80 is a generic Android tablet that is highly affordable when compared to the contemporaries. This is a tablet that offers the latest software experience along with a high-end fit and finish.

This device is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor that offers and the right amount of performance and efficiency so that the laptop does not get heated up even with continuous usage. One can also play games on this tablet and run multiple apps at the same time.

The computer offers 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage and users can install all the apps into the internal storage. Those, who want more storage can add a microSD card, up to 128GB that can be used to store multimedia content on the device. In terms of software, it runs on stock Android 9 Pie and is likely to receive an Android 10 update in the future.

The tablet has an 8-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 and it is a bright panel, offering good viewing experience. The display has slim bezels and offers a higher screen-to-body ratio and is one of the most compact 8-inch tablets in the market.

This device does support physical keyboards with both wired and wireless connectivity. However, do note that it can only support one device via the wired connection due to the presence of a single port.

In terms of I/O, the tablet has a charging port and a 3.5mm headphone jack that offers good audio output. The tablet is also slightly on the heavier side with 1.4-pounds but it feels very sturdy to use.

The battery life of the Dragon Touch Notepad Y80 is on the lower side and it can last up to 6 hours on a single charge. Overall, the tablet offers good performance but is slightly heavy and offers average battery life that might not put a hole in your pocket.

8. Winnovo T8

CPU	1.3GHz Quad-core Processor
RAM	2GB
Storage	32GB
Display	8-inch HD (1280 x 800)
Battery	Up to 6 hours
Weight	0.75 pounds
OS	Android 9 Pie

Most laptops come in regular and boring black colors, whereas the Winnovo T8 is one of the few tablets that are available in multiple colors. This machine can be used with regular Bluetooth keyboards and mouse and the entire pairing processor is very fast and you won’t have any disconnection problems between the devices.

This tablet is based on a quad-core processor with a clock speed of 1.3GHz. This processor does offer modern connectivity options like dual-band Wi-Fi along with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity to use this tablet with wireless headphones and speakers.

The tablet offers 2GB RAM and 32GB storage along with a microSD card slot for storage expansion. This means one can install games like PUBG directly on the tablet to get the best possible experience. Coming to the software, the tablet runs on Android 9 Pie with no third-party apps, so the user can only install the apps or game that one might want to install to save the resources on the device.

The tablet has an 8-inch screen with HD resolution of 1280 x 800p and the tablet offers a great movie watching experience with thin bezels and tempered glass protection.

The tablet has a micro USB port for charging and data syncing along with a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to connect their favorite wired headphones to the device. The Winnovo T8 weighs 0.75-pounds and is build well with high-quality materials.

The tablet offers an average battery life of 6 hours and it does support fast charging as well. As per the build, the tablet has a metal frame and uses a textured back panel that offers a lot of grips and protects the device from fingerprint smudges. Overall this is a great tablet for those who want to buy a device that looks pretty and colorful.

9. Best Display: Huawei MediaPad M5

CPU	2.4GHz Octa-core Processor
RAM	4GB
Storage	64GB
Display	8.4-inch QHD (2560 x 1600)
Battery	Up to 11 hours
Weight	0.68 pounds
OS	Android 8 Oreo

The Huawei MediaPad M5 Tablet is one of the most premium 8-inch tablets that one can get based on the Android platform. This model has flagship hardware and a flagship design and it can even compete against some of the mid-range laptops without any issue.

The tablet is powered by the flagship HiSilicon Kirin 960 octa-core SoC with a peak CPU clock speed of 2.4GHz and it comes with a built-in Mali GPU, capable of driving graphics at QHD or 2K resolution.

The tablet comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage and this combination of memory can smoothly handle normal day-to-day tasks. Similarly, the device also supports external microSD card slots and the same can be used to expand the storage up to 512GB without any issue. As per the software, the tablet runs on Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI 8.0 skin on top with lots of third-party customization options.

This machine has an 8.4-inch display with a native resolution of 2560 x 1600p and the display is protected by a 2.5D curved tempered glass. This display has thin-bezel design and the bottom bezel houses a physical fingerprint sensor that also doubles as a home bottom.

 As per the accessories, one can easily use this tablet with an external keyboard or a mouse with just a single click. Similarly, the tablet also has a dual stereo speaker setup, offering a rich bass and good sound quality making this an excellent tablet for listening to music or watching movies.

Coming to the design, the Huawei MediaPad M5 has a metal unibody design with compact antenna bands across the device, offering good WiFi connectivity and weighs at 0.68-pounds and has a USB Type-C port with support for high-speed data transfer.

The tablet can last up to 11 hours on a single charge and the device also supports fast charging and can fully charge the device in just 1.9 hours. Overall, the device looks premium and offers flagship-grade performance, capable of running games and apps smoothly.

10. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

CPU	1.8GHz Octa-core Processor
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Display	8-inch QHD (2048 x 1536)
Battery	Up to 14 hours
Weight	0.58 pounds
OS	Android 6 Marshmallow

If you are looking for a high-end tablet but don’t want to spend a lot, then it is a good decision to get a tablet that is a few years old and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is one such device that can easily handle modern tasks without any issue. This tablet is powered by an octa-core chipset with four cores clocked at 1.8GHz and the remaining cores are clocked at 1.4GHz, offering a good battery life

The tablet offers 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage with a microSD card slot for additional storage expansion with up to 128GB, allowing users to store music, photos, and HD videos natively on the tablet. As per the software, the tablet runs on Android 6 Marshmallow with custom Samsung UI on top, allowing users to access two apps at the same time.

The tablet has an 8-inch screen with a native resolution of 2048 x 1536p and this is an AMOLED panel, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors. The display is also powered by a 2.5D curved tempered glass and offers protection from accidents. As this device is from a few years before, it has a thick bezel on the top and bottom portion of the display along with a physical home button.

This laptop has a micro USB port and one can connect an external USB storage device or even a keyboard or a mouse using a dongle without any issue. As per the ports, the device has a micro USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The tablet just weighs 0.58-pounds, making it easy to carry around and it also has a metal frame, offering this device a sturdy yet lightweight build.

In terms of battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 can last up to 14 hours with continuous video playback and the tablet also supports fast charging. Overall, even though the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is a few years old, this tablet can easily be used even in 2021 without any issue.

11. LG G Pad F

CPU	1.8GHz Octa-core Processor
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Display	8-inch QHD (2048 x 1536)
Battery	Up to 7 hours
Weight	0.77 pounds
OS	Android 6 Marshmallow

LG makes some of the best budget laptops that might not look premium but offers good performance and can really age well. One such device is the LG G Pad F (AK495), a 2nd Gen 8-inch tablet from the company that looks a lot like the Google Nexus tablet but with custom software based on the Android OS.

This tablet is powered by a mid-range processor from Qualcomm with a CPU clock speed of 1.8GHz along with the Adreno 305 GPU for an elevated gaming experience. However, do not that, you might not be able to modern games at high graphics settings.

The tablet has 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage with a microSD card slot for additional storage expansion. This tablet also has a SIM card slot and it does support 4G LTE and 3G connectivity as well.

On to the software, it runs on custom based Android 6 Marshmallow with features like custom theme supports additional look related tweaks without tampering with the overall performance of the device.

Coming to the display, the tablet has an 8-inch screen with 1280 x 800p and the display has some of the thickest bezels that we have seen on the tablet with a big LG logo at the front. The tablet offers Bluetooth connectivity, and it can also be used to connect a keyboard, mouse, or even a wireless headphone without any issue.

The micro USB port also allows the users to connect a USB OTG device and the same is also used for data transfer between computers. The device weighs 0.77-pounds, making it easy to carry around and the plastic build quality makes it light yet sturdy and might not break or scratch easily like a glass or a metal body tablet. 

In terms of battery life, the tablet can last up to 7 hours and also supports fast charging. Overall, this is a great tablet for listening to music and watching movies without any issue and is also a good device to read e-books as well.

12. ZTE K88 Trek 2

CPU	1.5GHz Octa-core Processor
RAM	2GB
Storage	16GB
Display	8-inch QHD (2048 x 1536)
Battery	Up to 10 hours
Weight	0.80 pounds
OS	Android 6 Marshmallow

ZTE has been into making affordable tablets and the ZTE K88 Trek 2 is one such device that comes with an integrated modem that offers 4G LTE connectivity. It has an 8-inch display with a native resolution of 1280 x 800p. This is an IPS LCD panel that is a little dull and is not visible properly under direct sunlight.

This tablet is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor with a CPU clock speed of 1.5GHz and an Adreno GPU to handle graphics-related tasks, including gaming. This is a mid-range processor and is also efficient, offering good performance without hurting the battery life in the long run.

The laptop has 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage with a microSD card slot with support for additional storage expansion of up to 128GB. It runs on stock Android OS, even though it is based on the older generation of Android and might not get updated to the latest release. However, with the clean UI, the device performs most of the tasks with ease without any issue and also allows to install games and apps directly on the internal storage.

Like most of the Android tablet, this model also supports externally wired and wireless keyboard and mouse without any issue. However, with the wireless keyboard, there is a noticeable amount of lag between the key input and output.

Coming to the design, the tablet has a plastic unibody construction and the device does look a little cheap due to the quality of the materials used on this machine. With an overall weight of 0.80-pounds, this is one of the most moderately sized tablets that can be a great daily driver.

As per the battery life, the tablet can last up to 10 hours on a single charge and it can also charge pretty quickly. This is a good laptop that offers good after-sale service.

13. Cheap Option: ASUS Z380M-A2-GR ZenPad 8

CPU	1.3GHz Quad-Core Processor
RAM	2GB
Storage	32GB
Display	8-inch QHD (2048 x 1536)
Battery	Up to 8 hours
Weight	0.80 pounds
OS	Android 6 Marshmallow

The Asus Z380M-A2-GR ZenPad 8 has one such feature that is not seen on any tablet. If you are worried about getting the back panel of your tablet scratched, then this is the device to get as it comes with a replaceable back panel and these panels are available in multiple colors.

The device is based on an octa-core processor with a CPU clock speed of 1.3GHz and this processor can easily handle normal day-to-day tasks without any issue. Coming to the memory, the device offers 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage.

As one can expect, this model does have a microSD card slot with support for memory expansion of up to 128GB. In terms of software, the tablet runs on Zen UI based on Android 6 Marshmallow and it does offer a tonne of new features that are not present on the native Android OS.

Coming to the display, the tablet has an 8-inch IPS LCD panel and is made using 2-layer lamination design, offering a good multimedia consumption experience.

The tablet can be used as a laptop by connecting an external mouse and a keyboard without any issue. And one can also use a modern keyboard based on Bluetooth technology as well. However, do note that it has a micro USB port and one has to get a USB OTG connector to use an old-school keyboard or the mouse with the Asus Z380M-A2-GR ZenPad 8.

Coming to the build, it has a plastic finish and the back panels are user-replaceable. The audio output via the 3.5mm headphone jack is above average and it comes with a micro USB port. The tablet weighs 0.80-pounds and it has a very good weight balance making this a perfect tablet to take notes in classes.

In terms of battery life, it can last up to 8 hours and supports 10W charging. So, if you want a laptop with good audio experience, then get the Asus Z380M-A2-GR ZenPad 8.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

Tablets can be a great tool for learning, working, and getting yourself entertainer during this situation. Most of the mid-sized tablets are affordable and do offer a great specs sheet, making these high-performance tablets that can even run professional tasks.

So, if you are in the market, looking for a tablet with an 8-inch screen, then, these are some of the best available models in the market that can easily last for a few years without any issue.