GoKawiilRita El Khoury / Android Authority
While iPad might be the obvious leader in the tablet space, I’ve never been a big fan. While we did own a second-gen iPad for a few years, I eventually switched exclusively to Android tablets. Going back as far as Android Honeycomb, I’ve experienced tablets from numerous brands, including ASUS, NVIDIA, and Samsung.
I’ll admit that much of the draw has been value proposition, but I also truly enjoy the flexibility Android brings that you just won’t find with iPad OS. Unfortunately, the range of hardware is a whole other story. Over the last several years, the Android tablet market has shrunk considerably.
You’ll still find a range of tablets from Amazon, Lenovo, Samsung, and a few others. The big change is that most manufacturers have moved away from smaller, sleeker high-end tablets in favor of screens ranging from 10 inches to the massive 14.6-inch display on the Tab S10 Ultra.
These days, if you want to get a tablet with an 8-inch or 9-inch display, you’ll find your options are limited mostly to budget devices. This is exactly the situation my family ran into around 2020, as we looked to replace our aging Tab S2 8.0. We eventually settled on the Galaxy A 8.4. As someone accustomed to more flagship-level experiences, I found it to be a bit too sluggish for my needs, but it served my kids well.
Fast-forward to early 2026, and it was no longer cutting it by any measure. My boys were older and needed more. So I shopped around, hoping to find something that was small, reasonably affordable, and yet at a more flagship-level. While we considered buying a newer Galaxy Tab A or going with a flagship Android tablet with a larger display, we ultimately settled on the latest iPad Mini. This was a big change for us, but honestly, it’s been mostly a positive one.
Would you like to see more options when it comes to smaller Android tablets? 26 votes Yes, we need more flagship-tier tablets with sub-10-inch displays. 77 % No, you're better off with a bigger tablet if you want flagship performance. 19 % Not sure/ Other (Tell us in comments). 4 %
What our family loves about the iPad Mini
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The most obvious thing that drew us to the iPad Mini was its size. You won’t find any other tablet in this size range that comes even close to the level of performance it offers.
... continue reading