Computing & Accessories / Small Tablet PCs

The smaller tablet has some clear advantages over its larger counterparts. With screen sizes of around seven or eight inches, measured diagonally – compared with the nine- and ten-inch screens of full-sized models – these devices offer greater portability and are lighter and more comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Crucially, they are also generally less expensive and this affordability particularly comes into play when parents are looking for a less costly alternative to a full-sized tablet or smartphone to give to children clamouring for a device of their own. Small tablets start at around the €100 mark and there some very worthy models available for €250 or less, comparing favourably to the cost of most full-sized tables and mid-range or high-end smartphones, which typically cost several hundred euro more. The chief drawback to seven- and eight-inch tablets is that the display might be a bit small for some content and the onscreen keyboard is tricky to use if you have lots of typing to do. However, for those who use their tablet for primarily entertainment purposes and who are prepared to compromise on the size of display, these devices are ideal.

Large phone vs. small tablet.

In recent times, manufacturers have been cranking out smaller tablets at a great rate, with numerous offerings on the market. Even Apple, having criticised the very idea of a small tablet, capitulated in 2012 and introduced the iPad mini. But as the number of small tablets on the market has been increasing, so has the number of large smartphones and commentators have noted that the growth of the larger phone could mean the decline of the smaller tablet in the future.
Take, for example, the latest product launches by Apple. The manufacturer again has yielded to popular opinion and, having for years stuck with phone screens that did not exceed four inches, it recently introduced both the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus. However, now that there is an Apple device with a 5.5-inch screen, many may decide to opt for the manufacturer’s “phablet” rather than its 7.9-inch iPad mini 3 – the major difference between the two devices being that you can make phone calls on one and not on the other. Experts have questioned whether consumers who own a large smartphone will really feel the need to also own a small tablet and many think that there may well be a swing back towards full-sized tablets in the future as the substantially bigger screen real-estate offered by the larger devices will be seen as making the purchase of a second device a worthwhile investment.
Despite this, the growing interest in larger phones is unlikely to kill off all demand for smaller tablets as not everyone will want to carry around a phablet and will still see the need for a tablet at home. And as noted above, the family market may also keep small tablets from dying out as parents seek out small and less expensive devices for their children.

Tablets on test.

Time will tell how the future of the small tablet will pan out but, for the moment, there is certainly a wide range of devices to choose from. All the products in our reports are assessed by expert, independent laboratories and our test programmes evolve to take account of new developments in any given product area. We are always trying to improve our tests in order to offer the best possible advice to consumers and, to better reflect the shifting usage of tablet pcs, we have introduced some changes to the way we test these devices. In addition, given the growing capabilities of this product category, our tests have become ever-more stringent and rigorous. For this reason, there are some changes in terms of the scores achieved by older products when we retested them to directly compare them to newer models.

The prolific Samsung has produced an excellent small tablet that has managed to oust Apple from the top spot in this category, which successive iPad minis have enjoyed since they first made an appearance in late 2012. With its stunning 2560 x 1600 resolution screen and superfast processing within a very slim and ultralight frame, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 has outperformed Apple’s just-launched iPad mini 3. From our test results, you can see how these high-end, newer devices measure up against less expensive alternatives and older models.

When displaying prices we do not show reduced prices or special offers as these may no longer be available by the time you read this. As some of the tablets on test have been around for a while, retailers may be offering them at sale prices and it is worth shopping around to find the best value you can. You may well be able to find many of the tablets on test at a significantly lower price than quoted here.

It should also be noted that test results are for the lowest-specification version available. If there are larger memory options or 3G/4G connectivity available, the versions of the tablets with these additions scored slightly higher than their lowest-specification versions. They will also be more expensive, sometimes significantly so.