3 powerful tablets cheaper than the iPad Mini after price hike

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Due to the shortage of AI-based chips, we are seeing the opposite of what usually happens once consumer technology products have been on the market for a while: price increases. Towards the end of June 2026, Apple increased the prices of most of its products, including the base model iPad mini. It went from $499 to $599, a whopping $100 increase, even though it launched in 2024. However, iPhones were missing out on these price increases. But with RAM-mageddon still ongoing, even that could soon change. If you found the iPad mini affordable at the previous price, then you’re not without alternatives, whether you stay within Apple’s own ecosystem or move to Android.

A few brands, including Samsung and Xiaomi, offer tablets that you can get if the price of the iPad mini has been taken off your hands. Unfortunately, price increases are still coming, so you shouldn’t wait any longer if you’re in the market for a tablet. If you’re not too picky about the condition of the tablet you want, you can always buy a refurbished one. You can even buy a refurbished iPad mini from Apple’s website. Not only does it cost less, but it also includes a new battery and original accessories, like a cable and charger. But if you’re looking for something new, a few options stand out.

An 11th generation iPad was also one of the Apple devices that increased in price in June 2026. It went from $349 to $449, making it $100 more expensive but still cheaper than the $150 iPad mini. But you may be wondering why the smaller iPad mini, with its 8.3-inch screen, is more expensive than the larger iPad with an 11-inch screen. This is because the iPad mini has better specifications. It has an A17 Pro chip (the base iPad has an A16 chip), while also supporting Apple Intelligence, faster Wi-Fi 6e, and Apple Pencil Pro.

Additionally, the iPad mini has a better screen, with a higher pixel density (326 ppi vs. 264 ppi), Wide Color (P3) to display a wider range of colors, and anti-glare coating to see better in brighter environments. But that doesn’t mean the iPad isn’t powerful in any way, because it’s the best iPad for most people in general. Its performance is efficient enough for multitasking and daily productivity.

Gaming on it is also okay, as you can comfortably play on medium to high settings at 60 FPS on highly optimized games. It also supports Wi-Fi 6, which can reach download speeds over 800 Mbps. And even though it doesn’t support Apple Pencil 2 or Pro, you can still get into decent creative workflows that go beyond just doodling in Procreate, with the Apple Pencil 1 (sold separately). You can buy the 11th generation iPad on Amazon for $400 for the 128GB, Wi-Fi only variant.

If you’re okay with switching to Android options for a better deal, you might want to consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, available for $450 on Amazon. The Exynos 1580 processor in the Tab S10 FE is a mid-range chip, so you can’t expect it to be as powerful as Apple’s flagship A17 Pro. The A17 Pro is twice as powerful, achieving scores of 2,972 and 7,397 in single-core and multi-core tests in GeekBench 6 benchmarks, respectively, according to NanoReview. The Exynos 1580, on the other hand, scored scores of 1,356 and 3,888, according to NanoReview.

The Tab S10 FE is no slouch, however, as it can comfortably handle moderate productivity workflows with your favorite apps. In your downtime, you can even play it moderately. It can run a well-optimized game like “Call of Duty: Mobile” at maximum settings with a frame rate closer to 60 FPS. Although its 10.9-inch screen is larger, the pixel density is lower at 249 ppi, making the iPad mini’s display better.

The Tab S10 FE, however, has a few tricks up its sleeve. Of course, the base model has 128 GB of internal storage, but you can expand it with a microSD card. It also has a bigger battery than the iPad mini – 8,000 mAh versus 5,078 mAh. Additionally, the Tab S10 FE comes with the Galaxy S Pen to make note-taking and drawing easier.

Although the Xiaomi Pad 8 is a mid-range tablet, it actually has considerable power thanks to its powerful chip, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. The A17 Pro is still the better processor in terms of single-core and multi-core performance, but the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 bridges the gap better than the Exynos 1580. According to NanoReview, when it comes to single-core performance, the iPad mini scored of 2,972 while the Pad 8 scored 2,972. 2,070 in GeekBench 6 benchmarks. In terms of multi-core performance, the iPad mini scored 7,397, while the Pad 8 scored 6,694. Starting at $379 on Amazon, you can get the Pad 8 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage internal.

The Pad 8 has a better display, however, offering a larger 11.2-inch screen with a pixel density of 345ppi and a resolution of 3200 x 2136. It also has a higher refresh rate of 144Hz, which is better than the iPad mini’s 60Hz and the Tab S10 FE’s 90Hz. And like the bigger screen, the battery is also bigger, with a capacity of 9,200 mAh. It also supports Wi-Fi 7, which improves internet connectivity.

The iPad mini was launched in 2024 and comes with the A17 Pro chipset, which still performs smoothly in most tasks. However, the recent pricing makes the iPad mini seem somewhat overpriced. Our goal in selecting tablets for this list was to find options that might not outperform the iPad mini in performance, but could handle everyday tasks well. We also wanted to include tablets that offered better value in terms of features and price.