4 compact tablets perfect for reading and entertainment

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It’s easy to watch a movie or TV series when you’re slumped in front of a smart TV or larger home theater setup. What can be more difficult is enjoying the same type of content on the go. Smartphones can certainly make good mobile entertainment devices, but for many they are too small for full immersion, while full-sized tablets make great entertainment devices but don’t travel often due to their size.

Likewise, book lovers can easily carry any of the best e-readers, but these devices are poor when it comes to watching video content. For book lovers, movie buffs, and anyone who needs to consume content on the go, a compact tablet can be the perfect balance among all other portable media devices. Although compact tablets feature smaller screen sizes and a smaller overall footprint, many come with the specs and features needed to make a solid portable entertainment device.

As consumers of media content at all levels, we have some experience finding the right device for reading and entertainment on the go. We also took a hard look at what the compact tablet market has to offer right now. Based on our own experience with similar devices, we have selected compact tablets that easily fit into a backpack and are perfect for different types of media consumption.

The iPad, in general, probably needs no introduction, as it is one of the most distinguished tablets on the market. But one of the most overlooked models in the lineup is the Apple iPad mini. It’s as compact as an Apple tablet, making it ideal for media enthusiasts who want to travel light. It has an 8.3-inch screen that reaches 500 nits of brightness. This is useful in outdoor situations and in bright rooms where you cannot control the lighting.

For readers, the iPad mini has Apple True Tone, a feature that automatically adjusts the color temperature of the screen to somewhat mimic the way paper appears to the human eye in different conditions. As for features for watching movies and other high-resolution content, the iPad mini supports P3 wide color and has stereo speakers for users who want to watch without headphones. In our Apple iPad mini review, we discuss its performance improvements and its A17 Pro chip is powerful enough to stream high-quality videos and play video games.

While this compact tablet can fit easily into almost any bag, it’s a little harder on the wallet. Apple has recently raised prices on most of its products, and the iPad mini hasn’t been immune. It now starts at $599. The iPad mini, however, remains a tablet, even for its price. It’s a good option for readers and movie buffs who want to use the Apple software ecosystem. Native apps like Books, Music, and Apple TV come preinstalled, and third-party options like Spotify, the Kindle app, and apps for streaming services are available in the App Store.

On the Android side, Samsung offers a wide variety of tablets focused on multimedia consumption. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 is one that makes sense for users on the go. At 8.7 inches, its screen is slightly larger than the iPad mini’s but still small enough to keep the tablet compact overall. Thanks to the Android platform, all kinds of multimedia applications are available, including those for reading books, listening to music and watching movies.

The screen has a 90Hz refresh rate, which keeps the visual interface smooth when scrolling through PDFs or browsing long articles on the Internet. One of the features that really makes the Tab A11 shine when it comes to watching media is Dolby Atmos. You can also connect Bluetooth headphones as well as wired headphones via the tablet’s 3.5mm audio jack. That said, the combination of 4GB of RAM and the MediaTek Helio G99 won’t be enough for playing demanding games or doing heavy multitasking. Additionally, the 64GB of storage may seem a bit cramped for many users.

One thing to note about the Tab A11 is that it may be difficult to find in stock at various retailers. It’s priced at $150 on Amazon, but international versions are pretty easily available there as well. The used market is always an option, but if you’re interested in the Tab A11 and see a new one in stock, you’ll need to act quickly. The tablet’s combination of portability and affordability makes it a quick sell.

Amazon created its Kindle line for digital bookworms, but dedicated e-readers aren’t particularly suited to consuming other types of media. For versatile media enthusiasts, Amazon also offers its Fire tablet line. For media lovers on the go, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is the perfect size. Streaming videos, browsing social media, and relaxing with a book are all comfortable on its 8-inch screen. Despite being one of the smallest tablets on the market, the Fire HD 8 still manages up to 13 hours of media consumption between battery charges. Alexa is also built-in, which users can tap to listen to music or find something new to watch using just their voice.

Where the Fire HD 8 doesn’t compare as well to some other tablets is in screen resolution. At 1,280 x 800 pixels, it’s significantly lower than high-end compact tablets. But this is a budget tablet, and for many users, the gains in price may offset the losses in screen resolution. Additionally, it comes with 4GB of base RAM and 64GB of storage, which might not appeal to power users and gamers. The Fire HD 8 regularly retails for $130, but it’s a regular product to get discounts on Amazon, often priced at $90.

There are plenty of free apps for Amazon Fire tablets, which can be installed from the Amazon Appstore alongside a number of entertainment apps. Users who want to keep their own media libraries with them on the go can also expand the Amazon Fire HD 8’s internal storage with a microSD card.

For those who take portable entertainment seriously, the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is a tablet worth considering. It’s packed with specs across the board, including an 8.8-inch display with 2.5K resolution and Lenovo’s PureSight technology. At its core, the Legion Tab Gen 3 is designed for gamers, but its specs also translate to immersive visual experiences. The 165Hz refresh rate creates a smooth interface for readers, and the 900 nits of peak brightness keeps the screen visible even in direct sunlight.

This tablet is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and comes with 12GB of RAM. These allow the tablet to complete tasks without lag. Although hardware like this can sometimes drain a portable device like the Legion Tab Gen 3, Lenovo has included a large 6,550 mAh battery and two USB-C ports with fast charging capabilities. Just like other Android tablets, the Legion Tab Gen 3 offers easy access to entertainment apps through the Google Play Store.

While this tablet almost guarantees an awesome entertainment experience whether at home or on the go, it’s overkill for users who spend most of their entertainment time reading. With a starting price of $500, the Legion Tab Gen 3 probably costs more than a digital bookworm would like to spend. Lenovo’s lineup also includes the Lenovo Tab One, priced at $140 and retains a compact size without any of the capable hardware that comes with the Legion Tab Gen 3.

There is no shortage of tablets on the market, although it can be difficult to find one that easily goes with you wherever you go. After studying a wide variety of compact tablets on various platforms, we turned to our own experience as bookworms, movie buffs, and tablet users to narrow down the features most important for on-the-go entertainment. Things like display resolution, battery life, and access to streaming and personal media contributed to this situation. We also recognized the fact that some users might want these tablets only for light entertainment and might not require exorbitant hardware. As a result, we’ve also included budget options that should still be ideal for watching content and reading. Ultimately, we settled on compact tablets that somehow stand out as compact media consumption devices while remaining solid all-around options.