The best small tablets of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

iPad Mini tech specs: Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display | Processor: A15 Bionic | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Colors: Space gray, pink, purple, starlight | Cameras: 8MP rear, 1080p video. 12MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage | Weight: 0.65 pounds | Dimensions: 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery life: 10 hours

Apple’s iPad Mini is our top pick for the best small tablet thanks to its A15 Bionic chip, making it a powerful tablet packed into a small package. The iPad Mini was last updated in the fall of 2021 with new features like support for the 2nd gen Apple Pencil, a slightly bigger screen size, and a USB-C port for charging and data transfer.

Review: Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen.) review

There’s a spot on the right side of the tablet to charge the Apple Pencil, making it a great tablet to draw or write notes on. Plus, the size makes it portable enough to bring wherever you need it.

ZDNET contributor, Jason Cipriani, went hands-on with the iPad Mini and said, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t absolutely fascinated by it.” 

“Its compact size is more manageable,” Cipriani wrote. “I don’t have to move my keyboard and mouse or trackpad out of the way to make room. Within a few hours, the iPad Mini quickly became my preferred device for taking notes.”

Of course, you’ll also get iPadOS 16 with features like shared tab groups, Stage Manager, and external display support if you ever need to see something on a bigger screen. Ultimately, you get all these things for less than what you would pay for an iPad Air or an iPad Pro.