13 Best 8-Inch Tablets in the Market Today

 

These electronic devices ride the line between smartphones and laptops, thanks to their sporty size.
Friends, family, and of course yourself, can use an 8-inch tablet to play games on the go, watch movies, or even comfortably do a bit of work, thanks to the tablet’s decent screen size. Add in the fact these portable devices can be securely tucked away on your person without weighing you down, and it is pretty easy to see why an 8-inch tablet is an ideal gift.
That said, there is no point in buying just any tablet, especially when the price for a good one is financially feasible these days. So, to help you decide which one, or three, tablets you should get this year, we have created the following guide. Read on to review all of the best 8-inch tablets on the market today and then take an in-depth look as to why 8-inch devices are likely more preferable to any other size. Without further ado, here’s our list:

 

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4

 

 

In this specific category – it’s a good and cheap tablet. If you’re looking for a budget tablet that can get on the LTE network by itself, then I’ll say the Samsung Tab A 8.4″ is worth taking a look at Furthermore, it had a WiFi speed of 100 Mbps which isn’t bad, enough for video chatting and watching HD movies. Battery life is up to 12-hours, in reality from our test we got 7-hours. Charing the tablet from 0% to 100% took around ~ 3-hours.

The display is really great for the price with good viewing angles. The battery life is decent even if you’re playing games, watching youtube, or movies. If you want to get a tablet under 300-dollars, it’s a pretty great choice. Well, there’s a reason why this tablet is at the top of this list.

You can get the full Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 Review here.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 9 OS with One UI
• Display: 8.4-inch TFT display
• Resolution: 2.5D curved glass with 1920×1200 pixel resolution
• Processors: Exynos 7904 Processor and MALI G-71 MP2 GPU
• RAM: 3 GB
• Storage: 32 GB storage with up to 512 GB dedicated to SD card.
• Battery: up to 12-hours
• Cameras: 8 MP rear camera and 5 MP selfie camera
• Connectivity: It has Bluetooth 4.2, OTG, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi, and Dual-Band WiFi.
• Design: It has a glass screen, a plastic frame, and a plastic chassis design.
• Other Features: It is a dual sim tablet with a headphone jack, GPS, and radio.
• Weight: 0.68lbs

Pros 👍

• This device comes with the LTE network service unlike the other Samsung tablet modules with only WiFi
• It is very affordable
• Fits perfectly into your hands and you can use it with one hand with no hassle
• Come with face ID for extra security

Cons 👎

• Comes with Android 9 installed
• 32 GB of storage is low
• You cannot connect any other accessory like a keyboard

 

2. Apple iPad Mini 5

 

 

FYI: this tablet is 7.9-inches. We had a debate if should we even include this tabled under the 8-inch category, but hey, it’s just 0.1-inch, right? So here it is. It’s also under 7-inch tablets. 

Apple released the new Apple iPad mini 2019 model on March 26, the first refresh of Apple’s 7.9-inch iPad mini since 2015, and it now packs some serious power again.

The tablet is equipped with an A8 chip making it very powerful. As a user of this product, you can design different graphics, download movies, make notes, draw, and do much more stuff depending on your daily activities. Regular use can see the tablet last up to 10 hours. It also has two cameras that can record 720p videos which quite decent. The quality and performance of this device is outstanding, but it’s also on the high-end side, when it comes to price, due to that fact, we can give this tablet a better position.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: iOS
• Processor: hexa-core A12 chipset
• Storage: 64 GB & 256 GB
• RAM: 3 GB
• Camera: 7MP front camera, with a 8MP rear camera
• Display: 7.9 inch
• Resolution: 2048 x 1536
• Size: 8.46 x 5.71 x 1.89 inches
• Weight: 0.65lbs
• Port: 2.0 USB
• Battery: 10 hours (average 6-hours)

Pros 👍

• Highest quality display with support for “wide color” (DCI-P3) “True Tone” to adjust color temperature and brightness.
• Support Stylus (first-generation Apple Pencil)
• Above-average performance
• Easy to carry (compact and lightweight)
• Affordable

Cons 👎

• Outdated design
• No second-gen Apple Pencil support
• no USB-C Port’

 

 

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3

 

 

The new tablet from Samsung. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3. Released in 2020 September. (in 2021, January 19 finally released in the USA) The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 that was unveiled in October 2017.

Overall it’s a good tablet, but it’s segmented for workspace people or hikers. People on the go. Since you can use it with gloves it makes it perfect for nurses, doctors, since it’s shock-absorbing it’s great for construction workers and the S-pen makes it great for transporters. Would it be a great entertainment device? No! But it wouldn’t be the worst. It has a low resolution, not the best sound, and low storage. You can definitely watch movies, YouTube and use it for video meetings, etc. But if that’s your main purpose for the tablet, we would suggest something bigger with better resolution e.g. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

Galaxy Tab Active 3 for those working in the field.  As Samsung said themselves – “built for the way your business gets done”

The tablet will launch with Android 10, but we imagine Samsung will update the slate to Android 11 once available.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 10.0
• Display: 8-inch
• Resolution: 1920 x 1200
• Processors: Octa-core Samsung Exynos 9810
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64/128GB
• Battery: 5050mAh, User Replaceable, can last up to 10 hours
• Cameras: 13MP AF + front camera 5.0MP
• Other Features: Shock absorption, water-resistant, S pen
• Port: USB 3.1 Gen 1, Pogo Pin
• Weight: 0.94lbs

Pros 👍

• Water-resistant
• Comes with Stylus pen
• Fits perfectly into your hands, can be used with gloves
• Anti-shock (up to 1.5 meters)
• Removable battery
• Rugged and durable
• Biometric access – a fingerprint scan

Cons 👎

• Availability (in the US)
• Low resolution
• Low storage

Check Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 Full Review

4. Lenovo Smart Tab M8

 

The Lenovo Smart Tab M8 tablet isn’t all that original though. The Lenovo Smart Tab M8 is the successor to Lenovo Tab M8.

While the Smart Tab M8 comes equipped with some pretty nice features, there is a significant lack of quality in performance, even for a budget tablet. If you’re looking to entertain your kids – it’s a nice choice, plenty for kids to do, if you want it to buy it just to watch youtube videos and work as a voice assistant while you’re cooking – good choice. Small routine tasks – emails, video calls would work well on it, but if you want it to use for more difficult tasks, it’s probably not the best pick.

It’s a solid device, overall. For its price – $99 it’s pulling its weight.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android Pie
• Processor: MediaTek Helio A22 Processor (Quad-Core, 4 x A53 @ 2.0 GHz)
• Storage 32 GB eMMC
• RAM: 2 GB
• Camera: Front 2 MP Fixed-Focus, Rear 5 MP Auto-Focus
• Graphics: PowerVR GE8320
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280 x 800
• Size: (in mm): 8.2 x 199 x 129 ( = 0.32 x 7.83 x 5.08 in)
• Weight: 0.67 pounds (305 g )
• Port: The microUSB,  3.5mm audio jack, microSD card slot
• Battery: 5100 mAh Lithium-Polymer up to 14-hours

Pros 👍

• Attractive design
• Bundled charging dock
• Budget-friendly
• Battery life
• Integration with google assistant

Cons 👎

• Old and outdated OS
• Weak audio
• Weak performance

5. Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus 2020

 

 

$130 for a tablet. What is it good for? Mostly entertainment. If you think of Amazon’s Fire HD 8 Plus tablet the same way you approach other tablets, you’re going to be dissatisfied. They’re technically tablets, but the technology in them can’t keep up with the kinds of things you normally associate with tablet computers. You won’t be able to do those things you can do on iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab’s. It’s mostly fit for kindle book and video browsing and web-browsing.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android (9.0 Pie), FireOS UI
• Processor: Quad-core, 2000 MHz, Arm Cortex-A53, 64-bit, 12 nm
• Storage: 32GB (Storage extension possible up to 1000GB)
• RAM: 3GB
• Camera: 2 MP
• Graphics: ARM Mali-G52 MP1
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
• Size: 7.95 x 5.39 x 0.38 inches (202 x 137 x 9.7 mm)
• Weight: 0.78lbs( 355.0 g)
• Port: Type-C (reversible)
• Battery: up to 12 hours

Pros 👍

• Alexa assistant
• Wireless charging
• Battery life
• Budget-friendly
• Amazon Prime content
• Fast charging

Cons 👎

• Limited applications due to OS
• Amazon Prime membership is a must
• One-color option
• More expensive than Fire HD 8 model

 

6. Lenovo Tab 4

 

When Amazon declares a product is their “Choice” you know it is going to be a good product. Or at least, a really popular item with lots of good reviews. And that is exactly what the Lenovo Tab 4 is! A great 8-inch tablet, worthy of being bought as a present for a friend or family member. Or two. After all, the device is available for only about $120. But that’s just a number. Let’s talk about what you get for your money.
Although this 8-inch tablet is equipped with Dolby internals, a household name in speakers, Lenovo graciously opted to include a headphone jack. So, between the brand name speakers and on-the-go plug-in essential, this 8-inch tablet has all your audio needs covered.
In addition to the impressive speakers, Lenovo equipped this bad boy with a battery capable of being used for about 20-hours. During that time span, the device never skimps on its exceptional responsiveness. This means if playing games is your jam, this 8-inch tablet will be a keen ally. Other nifty features included are a pair of front-facing speakers and a micro SD card slot.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 7.1 Nougat
• Processor: 1.4 GHz Snapdragon
• Storage 16 GB Flash Memory Solid State
• RAM: 2 GB DDR3_SDRAM
• Camera: 5 MP
• Graphics: Integrated Graphics
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280×800 pixels
• Size: 8.3 x 0.3 x 4.9 inches
• Weight: 1.11 pounds
• Port: USB Type-C
• Battery: 20-hours

 

7. Vanquisher 8-Inch Ultra Rugged Tablet Windows 10 Pro

 

Another device equipped with an ear jack is the Vanquisher 8-inch Ultra Rugged Tablet. As you may have guessed by the name, this device is designed
to withstand a lot of damage. After a quick review of the Amazon page, you will quickly find out this 8-inch tablet is marketed to those looking for field equipment. But do not let that deter you if you can afford the $450 price tag.
So, what does it take for an 8-inch tablet to be considered “field equipment”?
When manufacturing this device, Vanquisher followed military standards for tablets, specifically in regard to standing up to the harshest conditions. This means you can comfortably hold the Ultra Rugged Tablet in one hand, without having to worry about dropping it. And if you do so happen to let this tablet fall from your hands, the odds of it being damaged are ridiculously low. Having this much protection also means this 8-inch tablet can be used in basically all weather conditions.
And if that is not enough to have you screaming “here, take my money”, get this. The device has a built-in GPS system, which means you can use it to navigate the wilderness, even if your network doesn’t reach that far. This can be great for long-distance hikes into the middle of nowhere, or a camping trip to a similar location. Just be sure to bring along a solar charging battery charger.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Windows 10 Pro
• Processor: Intel Atom
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 2 GB
• Camera: 5 MP
• Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280 x 800
• Size: 8.7 x 0.5 x 5.5 inches
• Weight: 1.43 pounds
• Port: USB 3.0
• Battery: 8 hours

 

8. ASUS ZenPad 8

 

Just shy of 77% screen-to-body ratio, ASUS made our list of best 8-inch tablets this year, due to the pristine imagery and selfie capabilities. The device comes with ASUS’s very own VisualMaster software, which makes viewing scenes through the camera virtually indistinguishable from what you see with 20/20 vision. Other nice to have features for phenomenal pictures include the following.

• Low light mode, which means decently bright photos around sunset without having to use the flash
• Panoramic mode, capable of capturing almost 150 degrees from a camera viewpoint
• Beautification mode, for all you Instagram, models out there
• Shutter lag reduction, ready to capture all the real-world events as they unfold

In addition to the profound camera perks, ASUS makes a lot of in-house software and a good portion of them are included with this 8-inch tablet. Be sure to check this one out if you want to know what it feels like to get a bunch of extras without overpaying in the process. Just be sure to outline exactly what you are gifting if you decide to give this device away as a present this year.
Otherwise, recipients may not appreciate how awesome your gift is.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• Processor: 1.3 GHz
• Storage: 16 GB
• RAM: 2 GB DDR3L SDRAM
• Camera: 5 MP
• Graphics: Intel Quad-Core
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280 x 800
• Size: 8.2 x 4.8 x 0.3 inches
• Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Port: USB 2.0
• Battery: 8-hours

 

9. Samsung Galaxy Tab A

 

User-friendly, sleek, and inviting. Sound good? Then top off your holiday shopping session this year with a couple of Samsung Galaxy Tab A’s. For about $200, this 8-inch tablet comes with 2 GB RAM, a quad-core processor, and 32 GB of disk space. This impressive combo means binge watching Netflix for 14-hours in daylight or an awesome all-night gaming session is in store for whoever owns the Samsung Galaxy Tab A.
But if gaming or watching videos is not your thing because you are always on the go, do not let that deter you from buying this device! In addition to playing music for approximately 150-hours, this tablet can take some really nice pictures. And with a Micro SD card slot, you can hold about 250 GB of pictures without having to delete a single one.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 5.0
• Processor: 1.2GHz quad-core
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 2 GB
• Camera: 5 MP
• Graphics: Mali-T 830
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280×800
• Size: 8.35 x 0.35 x 4.88 in
• Weight: 0.79lb
• Port: USB Type-C
• Battery: 14-hours

 

10. ZTE K88

 

 

As we mentioned above, the Lenovo tablet offers a pristine audio experience. On the other hand, the Vanquisher device is the go-to for a durable handheld. Which is great for those who are interested in either or. But what if you wanted an 8-inch tablet capable of offering both?
That’s where the ZTE K88 comes in.
For protection, the K88 is equipped with Gorilla Glass. This type of material makes it possible for the device to stand up to quite a few tumbles before any damage starts showing. Bear in mind, this toughness does not come at the cost of quality. Expect your viewing experience to be high-quality, without lag or pixelation.
Now, on to the internals. Like Lenovo, this 8-inch tablet comes with Dolby speakers and a Snapdragon processor. Combining these two in one device produces a delightful experience, regardless of whether you are using the combo to play games, watch videos, or crank tunes. The device even holds up well when trying to view content with the sun looming over it.
And for all you selfie lovers out there, do not worry. The ZTE K88 has two 5 MP cameras, one in the front and another in the back.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• Processor: 1.5 GHz
• Storage: 16 GB
• RAM: 2 GB
• Camera: 5 MP / 5 MP
• Graphics: MTK Wireless Type: 802.11 B/G, 802.11B,
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280×800
• Size: 8.5 x 0.3 x 4.9 inches
• Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Port: USB Type-C
• Battery: 48 hours

 

 

11. LG G Pad F

 

 

Hands down, LG makes great products. Matter of fact, I have bought a few LG items in the past and the majority of them have stood the test of time. And those that did not? LG replaced, for free, including shipping.
Now that you know a bit more about the integrity of the company, let us introduce the G Pad F.
When developing this 8-inch tablet, the main thing LG focused on was precision. The built-in stylus and zero-gap touch are perfect for any artist looking to get the most out of their tablet experience. Picture creating pixel-perfect imagery the first time around without having to tap undo a million times. Nice right? Add in the vibrant, glamorous colors the G Pad F can produce, and you can probably see why this device is a must-have.
That said, those in other occupational fields, such as drafting, will enjoy the confidence bestowed upon the user when using this tablet as well. You really cannot beat pinpoint precision when you absolutely need it.
Oh, and feel free to take some really nice selfies after you finish creating your masterpiece. This 8-inch tablet is built for such endeavors as well. So, be sure to pick yours up this year for about $175. Also, do consider getting one for your favorite family member, if they have been really good this year.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 6.0 (Marshmallow)
• Processor: 8032
• Storage: 16 GB
• RAM: 1 GB
• Camera: 5 MP
• Graphics: Adreno 305
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280×800
• Size: 8.3 x 0.3 x 4.9 inches
• Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Port: Micro-USB
• Battery: 40 days

 

12. TCL Tab

 

 

We’re pretty excited to add the newest LTC tablet to our best 8-inch tablet list. It was released in 2020 September. Availablity is still an issue, currently only available in Verizon. An 8-inch tablet with an FHD+ (1200×1920 pixel) display. Internally, you’ll find an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 CPU, 32 GB of built-in storage (with an option to expand its memory with a microSD card), and 3 GB of RAM.

 

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 10.0
• Processor: octa-core 2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 3 GB
• Camera: 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras.
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280×800
• Size: 8.24” x 4.93” x 0.34
• Weight: 0.71lbs
• Battery: up to 24 hours

 

13. VANKYO MatrixPad S8

 

 

It’s quite rare to find other tablets than Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, Apple, but there’s another – VANKYO. Andriod tablet. Is it great? no! But it’s cheap. That’s exactly how we would describe it – not great, but cheap. It’s still good for media consumption and basic communication – emails, messenger, etc.

So why is it on the list? Well, let’s just say – if you would break it or lose it you wouldn’t get mad, and sometimes people need diversity.

Specifications 🔧

• OS: Android 9.0 Pie OS
• Processor: Quad-core Cortex-A7 up to 1.3 GHz
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 2 GB
• Camera: 2 MP front camera and 5 MP rear-facing camera
• Display: 8 inches
• Resolution: 1280×800
• Size: 8.21 x 4.89 x 0.35 inches
• Weight: 0.71lbs
• Battery: up to 10-hours

 

Which is a better 8-inch or 10-inch tablet?

When shopping for a tablet, most of us use the same specifications as we do when looking for a new laptop. Namely, we want the device with the best internals and the biggest screen size. Unfortunately, this type of thinking usually ends up leading us down a trail doomed to be uncomfortable in the long-run. Here is why.
Laptops are typically going to sit on your lap, or on a desk. Which means they will be about an arm’s length away. Due to this, the screen needs to be a decent size so we can see clearly, even if we do not have vision problems. That said, tablets are usually never that far away. Matter of fact, most tablet users prop them up against something when playing a video, kind of like how we do with our smartphones.
Speaking of which, phones are designed to be in our hands and close to our bodies, specifically our faces. As such, manufacturers design phones for this type of activity, hence why on average most smartphones are about 5 inches. This ideal size makes it possible for our phones to fit securely in our pockets, travel with us, and provide us entertainment when we want it most.
Now, back to our tablet debate. An 8-inch tablet is pretty close to cell phone size. Due to this, a smaller tablet offers most of the perks outlined above when discussing why manufacturers make smartphones about 5 inches long. On the other hand, 10-inch tablets are about double the size of a smartphone. So, yes, you get double the viewing experience.
However, the benefit of having those extra inches is typically nullified due to the loss of those smartphone-related conveniences we mentioned above. For example, you are probably not going to be able to quickly slip your 10-inch tablet into your pocket. Plus, the extra weight from all those extra inches is going to bring on arm fatigue fairly fast.
Unless of course, you prop the tablet up somewhere. But given the size of a 10-inch device, someone is very likely to spot it and try to swipe it. Especially if you put it at the recommended viewing distance.

What is the lightest 8-inch tablet?

According to our listing, the Apple Mini 5 is the lightest 8-inch tablet on the market today at 0.65lbs, the second lightest tablet is Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 with 0.68lbs. To compare, here are the other super lightweight 8 inch tablets, ranked in the list below:

• LG G Pad F: 0.76lbs
• VANKYO MatrixPad S8: 0.7lbs
• ASUS ZenPad 8: 0.8lbs
• ZTE K88: 0.8lbs
• Samsung Galaxy Tab A: 0.79lbs
• TCL Tab: 0.71lbs
• Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus/Amazon Fire HD 8: 0.78lbs
• Vanquisher: 1.43lbs
• Lenovo Tab 4: 1.1lbs
• Lenovo Tab M8: 0.67lbs
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3: 0.94lbs
• Apple Mini 5: 0.65lbs
• Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4: 0.68lbs

 

What is the newest Samsung 8 inch tablet?

Samsung released Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 on March 27, 2020. It’s a budget tablet. It has 3 GB of RAM and storage up to 512 GB. It’s currently at the top of the list when it comes to Samsung budget tablets.

The tablet is 7.1 mm thick, and also weighs just 309 grams, so it’s very convenient for an 8-inch(8.4-inch to be more specific) tablet.
Due to the current situation in the world (COVID-19) the logistics are disturbed and it’s complicated to purchase this tablet. The options are limited.

Also, there’s a new tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 that has been released in 2020 September, but there are still issues with availability in the United States.

Buyer’s Guide

Our buyer’s guide is designed to review the best 8-inch tablets on the market today. However, there is quite a bit more to consider before committing to a purchase. The topics listed below outline what you should consider before purchasing a device to suit your needs.

Size

As we mentioned above, 8-inch tablets are ideal for comfort and convenience. Ideal devices remain lightweight and portable while providing crisp, clean entertainment.

Price 💰

As always, price matters, especially during a holiday shopping spree. Remain in the budget this year by opting to go with devices that are under $100. Many of the 8-inch tablets on our list fall into this category, without sacrificing much, so be sure to be selective when choosing yours.

Versatile

When reviewing the best 8-inch tablets, we highlighted the ideal use for each device. That said, there are quite a few that are versatile enough to encompass a plethora of needs. Try to grab one of them if you are unsure as to what the device will be used for when you gift it.

Battery Life 🔋

This metric is mandatory. Higher-end devices can last upwards of 12-hours or more. However, the downside to this is the user will be less likely to get up and move about, which can have adverse effects on health. Take this into consideration when evaluating your purchase.

WIFI Connectivity 📡

These days, WiFi is a must. That said, having GPS available even without a connection can be a lifesaver. Look into this functionality if you intend to be off-grid or in an area will little service.

Display 🖥

The better the resolution, the clearer the picture. If this metric is a top priority for you, plan on paying a bit more.

Operating System

If you have a preference for Android, there are plenty of devices supporting the operating system on our list. That said, if you are not partial to either Android or Microsoft, consider getting an 8-inch tablet with dual functionality to suit all your needs.

Port

Micro USBs are pretty universal. These days, the real perk resides in having a Micro SD slot for memory and a headphone jack for enjoying music privately in public.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a lightweight 8-inch tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 is your best bet. At least in our opinion. Based on all the previously mentioned features and considering all things. Otherwise, consider reviewing each 8-inch tablet to see if it suits your needs or the person you intend to buy it for.

These are the top 8-inch tablets in our subjective opinion. We hope this article was helpful, if there are any questions, please, drop us a line below, we will make sure to answer your question as soon as possible. Have a great one.