Top 5 Best 8-inch Tablets: Surprisingly Cheap

Samuel J Tan Education, Gadgets, Learning 0

While there are many successful 7-inch tablets, 7-inch isn’t quite the right size for many people especially when used to browse the web. So, if you are not looking for a full size tablet and not wanting to compromise with a small 7-inch screen then 8 to 9 inch tablets may be your thing. Here is a list of the top 5 most best 8-inch tablets currently in the market.

We can certainly see the benefit of an 8-inch tablet as oppose to 7-inch. That extra 1-inch of screen real estate can make browsing the web a lot easier and surprisingly, the price difference between 7-inch and 8-inch tablet isn’t that far off.

Table of Contents

Top 5 Best 8-inch Tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8-inch Tablet – GOOD BATTERY LIFE
Lenovo Tab 3 8-inch Tablet
Amazon Fire HD 8 8-inch Tablet – CONTENT CENTRIC
Lenovo Tab 2 A8-50 8-inch Tablet
Lenovo Yoga 3 8-inch Tablet – BEST BATTERY LIFE

High End Devices

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8-inch Tablet – OCTA CORE, 3X MEMORY, 32GB STORAGE
LG G Pad 8.3-inch – FULL HD DISPLAY, 2X MEMORY
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (WiFi/WiFi+4G LTE) – FASTEST PROCESSOR, 2X MEMORY, FULL HD DISPLAY
Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4-inch – FAST PROCESSOR, 2X MEMORY, 4MP DISPLAY
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch – FAST PROCESSOR, 3X MEMORY, SUPER AMOLED 4MP DISPLAY

With the cost of tablets coming down, users don’t have to settle for a 7-inch due to limited budget. Let’s take a closer look at each of these tablets.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0-inch Tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 inch is powered by a 1.5 GHz processor coupled with 16GB of Storage Capacity and 1.5GB of RAM memory. This Android 5.0 Lollipop Tablet is available in Smoky Blue, White or Smoky Titanium. Those already own Samsung devices such as the Galaxy smartphone will appreciate the Samsung’s Keep All Devices In Sync capability. Using the Samsung Side Sync 3.0 and Quick Connect, link up your Samsung devices quickly and easily and start sharing content and work between your Samsung tablet, smartphone and personal computer.

Multitasking ability first seen here on Samsung tablets lets you do two things at once. Advanced multitasking tools allows you to easily open two apps side by side so you can flip through your photos while browsing online. Check social media and your social calendar at the same time. The Multi Window support on the Galaxy Tab A allows you to do more, faster.

There is also a Kids Mode to gives parents peace of mind while providing a colorful, engaging place for kids on the tablet. Kids Mode let you manage what your kids have access and how long they spend using it, all while keeping your own documents private. Instead of having the app pre-loaded, Samsung lets you download them separately for free should you have kids. It is available from Samsung Galaxy Essentials. Kids Mode keeps your content-and more importantly, your kids- safe and secure.

For productivity, the tablet is sold as the Perfect Office Partner. Download Access Microsoft Office on the tablet using links to Galaxy Apps. You can use MS Word to review, edit and save changes to word documents. You can also use MS PowerPoint and Excel to edit and save changes for presentation and spreadsheet respectively. Using Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage, you could be accessing the same document across all your devices to ensure that the content and formating remains intact. Microsoft offers free 100GB of storage for the first two years enough for all your photos, videos and documents.

The tablet is also made for sharing with Personalized Logins for everyone. Using Galaxy Tab A Multi User Mode, keep favourite settings and apps under each individual login.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

8-inch Display with 1024 x 768 XGA resolution
Samsung Quad Core Processor, 1.2 GHz Qualcomm APQ 8016
1.5GB RAM Memory and 16 GB Flash Storage with microSD Card Slot (Up to 128GB)
5.0MP main camera and 2.0MP front facing web cam
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours internet browsing time, 12 hours video playback or 114 hours music play time with 4200mAh Lithium Ion battery
Connectivity:802.11 a/b/g/n; 2.4GHz+5GHz, HT40, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, WiFi Direct, ear phone jack.
Sensors: Accelerometer, Hall Sensor, RGB Sensor
Dimensions & Weight: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches, 11 ounces (208.3 x 137.9 x 7.4 mm, 313 grams)
Android 5.0 Lollipop

Check Price on Amazon: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8

Lenovo Tab 3 8-inch Tablet

Lenovo Tab 3 8-inch is designed to be a multimedia companion ready for reading, movies and games. The successor to Lenovo Tab 2 8-inch also featured on this list, is now lighter but kept to the same size and profile including the speaker placement. Features include multi user ready with personalised profile and app configurations great for sharing. There is also a kids interface where parents can control their children’s access to websites and apps.

To make it an entertainment tablet, the IPS display comes with HD resolution (1280 x 800 pixels and for sound, it employs Dolby Atmos that adapts to the apps in use through its dual stereo speakers. Powered by a 1.3GHz quad core processor with 1GB of RAM memory and 16GB of storage, the Lenovo Tab 3 8 Tablet is ideal for the entire family. Finally, the IPS display is also an adaptive, adjusting its settings for better viewing comfort under different lighting conditions.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

8-inch HD IPS Adaptive Display 1280 x 800 resolution – HD RESOLUTION
MediaTek™ 1.3 GHz Quad-Core, 64-bit processor
1GB RAM memory and 16GB internal storage with microSD slot for up to 64GB
5MP rear camera and 2MP front camera
Battery Life: up to 9 hours battery life on a single charge from 4290mAh battery
Dimensions & Weight: 125 x 8.9 x 210 mm (4.92″ x 0.35″ x 8.26″), 329 grams
Android 6.0

Check Price on Amazon: Lenovo Tab 3 8

Amazon Fire HD 8

Amazon’s latest Android tablets are now known simply as Fire, the latest being the Fire 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 joining the Fire Kids Edition and Fire HD 6.

Amazon has been quietly revising the Fire HD tablets and Fire HD 8 is lucky enough to be among the first to get an update. Powered by 1.3GHz quad core processor, it offers performance to ensure app launches smoothly and quickly as well as good gaming and video performance.

The Fire HD 8 also features a widescreen high definition display with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution and 149 ppi pixel density. An advanced polarising filiter has been added to reduce glare while IPS offers wide angle viewing and vivid colours and brightness.

The onboard storage options have been doubled for a choice of 16GB or 32GB, the presence of a built-inc microSD slot allows users to add up to 200GB of storage. Amazon also offers free unlimited cloud storage for all Amazon content and photos taken with Fire device.

The battery life of up to 12 hours of mixed use is among the best in our list, enough to get you through the day and night. The 2MP rear facing camera is enough for capturing stills and videos of up to 750p. Front facing camera however is a basic VGA just enough for video calls.

Gone are the higher clocked 1.5GHz procesor and 5MP rear facing camera capable of 1080p video capture which is a shame but we doubt many will miss these when they see the price tag. Amazon has greatly reduced the price on the Fire HD 8 to make it even more affordable.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

8.0-inch 1280 x 800 resolution IPS display with multi-touch (189ppi) and an advanced polarising filter, fully laminated HD display
Quad Core processor up to 1.3GHz
1.5GB RAM and 16GB or 32GB Storage
VGA Front and 2.0MP Rear Cameras
WIFI Dual Band 802.11 a/b/g/c/ac, BT, MicroSD expansion slot (up to 200GB), microUSB
Battery life: 12 hours – GOOD BATTERY LIFE
Dimensions & Weight:8.4″ x 5.0″ x 0.4″ (214 mm x 128 mm x 9.2 mm), 12.0 ounces (341 grams)
Colour Options: Black, Blue, Magenta, Tangerine

Check Price on Amazon: Amazon Fire HD 8

Lenovo Tab 2 A8-50 8-inch Tablet

Here is a low cost 8-inch Android tablet that still packs all the bells and whistles a standard tablet has. The Lenovo A8 is based on MTK 8121 processor running at 1.3GHz with Quad-Core. Notable features include the 8-inch HD IPS display running at 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, integrated front and rear facing camera at 2MP and 5MP respectively which is a surprise bonus at this price and the dual stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus audio system. As you can see from the specifications, it is not very different from the Lenovo Tab 3 8-inch but with better battery life.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

8-inch HD IPS display at 1280 x 800 resolution – HD RESOLUTION
Mediatek MTK 8121 1.3 GHz Quad-Core processor
1GB DDR2L Memory and 16GB eMMC Storage expandable up to 32GB with microSD
2MP front facing, 5MP rear facing cameras
Battery Life: 11 hours (4200 mAh), 20 days standby
Dimensions & Weight: H21cm x W12.5cm x 8.9mm thin ,Weight 360g
Colour options: Red, White, Midnight Blue

Check Price on Amazon: Lenovo Tab 2 A8-50

Lenovo Yoga 3 8-inch Tablet – BEST BATTERY LIFE

Now in its third generation, the Lenovo Yoga 3 with 8-inch display does not disappoint. Ditching the silver case for a grown up black metal effect, it is even more appealing than ever. It has a HD display with IPS technology, the super long life battery and the love-it or hate-it rolled edge profile.

The tablet has gone through some significant improvement while retaining the same multi-mode form factor. For start, you now get 20 hours instead of 18 hours battery life per charge from its 2-cell Li-Ion battery with Quick Charge 2.0 that charges 75% faster.

It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 212A APQ8009 processor, hence the support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology. The processor is great for 3D gaming as well as immersive entertainment.

Continuing the trend from Lenovo Yoga 2, the stereo front firing integrated sound chamber now supports Dolby Atmos sound for explosive, clear, surround sound. But the biggest upgrade has to be the camera.

Taking advantage of the barrel edge, why not, since the battery and sound chamber is already in there and on some higher models, the built-in projector, it is now used to house a rotating camera. The 8-MP camera can be used as a front or rear camera, simply rotate this 180 degrees.

Unfortunately, there is no Full HD 1920 x 1280 pixel resolution screen as in the previous generation and owners will have to make do with 1GB of RAM Memory.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ APQ8009 1.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor [FAST PROCESSOR]
8-inch FHD IPS Screen 1280 x 800 [HD]
1GB RAM
16GB eMMC Storage
8.0MP Front/Rear Rotating Camera
WLAN, BT, MicroSD slot (up to 64GB), MicroUSB
Dimensions: H14.6 x W21 x D 0.3cm, 466 grams
Battery Life: 20 hours Li-Ion – BEST BATTERY LIFE
Android OS 45.1

Check Price on Amazon: Lenovo Yoga 3 8

HIGH END TABLETS

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8-inch Tablet – OCTA CORE, 3X MEMORY

Samsung’s thinnest and lightest tablet ever, the second generation Tab S2 is set to make other tablet users envious. Stacked with great features like a stunning Super AMOLED display, powerful Samsung Exynos processor and Android operating system, this tablet is ready for anything and to go anywhere.

The five key important features you need to know about the premium tablet from Samsung are as follows. It is the slimmest and lightest tablet weighing only 392 grams and just 5.6mm thick.

It has an immersive Super AMOLED display with a working 4:3 screen ration. Super AMOLED brings true-to-life colour at a high contrast ratio to deliver more details especially in dark areas. The choice of falling on a 4.3 screen ratio makes the screen better for web browsing, reading (books, magazines, newspaper or documents) and in some cases, gaming.

The tablet is powered by the Exynos 5433 Processor offering both power and speed to see and do more with your tablet. Switch between your favourite apps easily and quickly, play games and watch blockbuster movies all without any delay or lag.

Running on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, the Tab S2 is simple and effective to use for anything from web browsing to photo & editing and gaming. It comes with a range of Android apps including Google Play, for downloading extra apps and games.

Samsung has added its own twist to Android, introducing incredible features like Multi Window, which allows you to easily perform multiple tasks on one screen, SideSync 3.0 to let you view and control your smartphone on your Tab S2 and Remote PC to let you access your work computer from your tablet to edit, save, drag or drop documents.

The device connects easily to other devices to allow you to watch content interchangeably between a tablet and a TV without cables. With Bluetooth technology, you can switch between tablet and TV and the quick Wi-Fi connection enables direct and easy sharing between devices as well as keeping you connected online.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Octa-core Samsung Exynos 5433 1.9GHz processor – OCTA CORE
8-inch Super AMOLED display 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution – HIGHEST RESOLUTION
Camera: 8MP rear facing camera, 2.1MP front facing camera – HIGH RESOLUTION REAR CAMERA
Memory & Storage: 3GB RAM memory, 32GB Storage, microSD slot supporting up to 128GB additional storage – TRIPPLE MEMORY, BIG STORAGE
Wi-Fi- 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, Accelerometer, gyro, compass, Miracast, MicroUSB, A-GPS + GLONASS
Battery Life: up to 8 hours
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Dimensions and Weight: 198.6 x 134.8 x 5.6mm, 265 grams – LIGHTEST, SLIMMEST

Check Price on Amazon: Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8

LG G Pad 8.3-inch Tablet (Black or White)

While LG is not new in the Android smartphone game, with the manufacturer being the choice when Google is looking to build their own brand of smartphones, it is not a name you would associate with tablets. However, all that is about to change with the G Pad.

Slightly bigger than the tablets we have seen so far, with an 8.3-inch display, yet the dimensions aren’t any bigger with its even smaller side bezel. LG claims this to be a pocketable tablet but you would need a jacket or suit pocket to fit one of these.

Some notable apps and features include Slide Aside (saves up to three running apps), QSlide Function (overlay two windows for multitasking), QRemote (control compatible TV, Blu-ray or set top boxes via infrared), Clip tray, (copy and paste multiple items), Capture Plus (screen grab application), Quick Memo, Quick Translator, Multi-User function, Knock On (tap twice to turn on or off the display). Voice Mate (voice command), Life Square (photo journal) and Polaris Office 5 suite.

Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor – FAST PROCESSOR
8.3-inch FHD IPS Screen 1920 x 1200 – FULL HD
2GB RAM – DOUBLE MEMORY
16GB eMMC Storage
1.3MP Front and 5.0MP Rear Cameras
WLAN, BT, MicroSD slot (up to 64GB), WGPS, Q Pair, SmartShare (DLNA) and Miracast
Dimensions: 216.8 x 126.5 x 8.3 mm, 338 grams
Battery Life: 4,600 mAh Li-Polymer
Android OS 4.2.2

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (WiFi/WiFi+LTE)

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is almost impossibly slim and light. This 8-inch tablet packs incredible technology into a portable design that makes it ideal for entertainment. It features a robust design with waterproofing and dust resistance that makes it the perfect tablet to take with you wherever you go. Available in black or white, the Sony Xperia Z3 is a highly rated 8-inch tablet.

Snapdragon 801 2.5GHz Quad Core processor – FASTEST PROCESSOR
8″ WUXGA Triluminos Screen at 1920 x 1200 resolution – HIGH RESOLUTION
2GB RAM – DOUBLE MEMORY
16GB / 32GB Storage
2.2MP Front and 8.1MP Rear Cameras – HIGHEST RESOLUTION CAMERAS
WLAN, BT, MicroSD slot (up to 128GB), MicroUSB, GPS, GLONASS, Miracast
Dimensions and Weight: H124 x W213 x D6.4 mm, 300grams – LIGHT
Battery Life: up to 13 hours battery life – GOOD BATTERY LIFE
Android OS 4.4

Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4-inch Tablet (White or Black)

Here is Samsung’s latest Galaxy tablet series, the Galaxy TabPRO. This 8.4-inch tablet is one of three tablets bearing the PRO in its name. The other Galaxy tablets are Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 and Galaxy TabPRO 10.1.

The PRO is undoubtedly reserved for high end specifications and ultra high resolutions screen, the 8.4-inch TabPRO delivers just that with a 2.3GHz quad core processor and 8.4-inch screen that runs on WQXGA resolution.

That’s 2560 x 1600 pixels with 16 Million colours. The slim and narrow body with is super narrow bezel makes is only marginally bigger than LG G Pad or Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch.

As with all Samsung Galaxy, instead of relying on apps on Google Play, Samsung includes a list of apps that are designed to enhance the tablets functionality.

Some examples of these are e-Meeting (share content with other devices during a meeting with the ability to annotate live, removing the need for print outs, note taking or whiteboard), RemotePC (access to home or office PC over the Internet) and WebEx (video conference tool for remote meeting with up to 8 people in a group voice or video call with the ability to share documents).

Judging from the specs, while this is no iPad mini with Retina Display, Samsung is trying hard to bring a viable alternative to the market.

Snapdragon 800 2.3GHz Quad Core processor – FASTEST PROCESSOR
8.4″ WQXGA TFT LCD Screen at 2560 x 1600 resolution – HIGHEST RESOLUTION
2GB RAM – DOUBLE MEMORY
16GB / 32GB Storage
2MP Front and 8MP Rear Cameras with Flash-LED – HIGH RESOLUTION CAMERAS
WLAN, BT, MicroSD slot (up to 64GB), MicroUSB, GPS, GLONASS
Dimensions and Weight: 219 x 128.5 x 7.2 mm, 331 grams
Battery Life: 4800mAh, 10hours browsing, 12 hours video playback, 127 hours audio playback
Android OS 4.4

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (White, Black or Bronze) – BEST IN CLASS

A very similarly tablet from Samsung with Super AMOLED display is also available, see Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch and specification below (WiFi or WiFi+LTE):

Exynos™ 5 Octa (1.9Ghz Quadcore + 1.3Ghz Quadcore) Octa Core processor – OCTA CORE PROCESSOR
8.4″ WQXGA SUPER AMOLED LCD Screen at 2560 x 1600 resolution – HIGHEST RESOLUTION, SUPER AMOLED
3GB RAM – TRIPLE MEMORY
16GB / 32GB Storage
2.1MP Front and 8MP Rear Cameras with Flash-LED – HIGHEST RESOLUTION CAMERAS
WLAN Dual Band, BT, MicroSD slot (up to 128GB), MicroUSB, GPS, GLONASS
Dimensions and Weight: 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm, 298 grams – THIN
Battery Life: 4900mAh, 10hours browsing, 12 hours video playback, 80 hours audio playback
Android OS 4.4.2 (KitKat)

OTHER TABLETS (You Might Consider)

Lenovo A8-50 8-inch Tablet

Here is a low cost 8-inch Android tablet that still packs all the bells and whistles a standard tablet has. At the price point, it is even comparable or cheaper than some 7-inch tablets out there. The Lenovo A8 is based on MTK 8121 processor running at 1.3GHz with Quad-Core. Notable features include the 8″HD IPS display running at 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, integrated front and rear facing camera at 2MP and 5MP respectively which is a surprise bonus at this price and the dual stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus audio system.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Mediatek MTK 8121 1.3 GHz Quad-Core processor
1GB DDR2L Memory and 16GB eMMC Storage expandable up to 32GB with microSD
8″ HD IPS display at 1280 x 800 resolution
2MP front facing, 5MP rear facing cameras
Accelerometer, BT4.0, WiFi 802.11 bgn, GPS, A-GPS, integrated microphone, Micro USB, Micro SD and audio jack. 3G optional
Battery Life: 11 hours (4200 mAh), 20 days standby
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with free upgrade to Android KitKat 4.4
Colour options: Red, White, Midnight Blue

Also available the ultra compact super light Lenovo Tab S8 Tablet with Intel Atom Quad Core Processor 8-inch Full HD Display, 16GB storage and Dual Cameras (8MP+1.6MP). Available in Blue, Black or Yellow.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8-inch

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8-inch is faster and has better battery life compared to its predecessor the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch. It is also the cheaper of the Samsung tablets in our list, see Samsung Galaxy TabPRO and Tab S 8.4-inch below.

The side bezel is also thinner giving it a slender sides. You can read up more about the Tab 3 and how this compares with the Tab 4 in the comparison between the Galaxy Tab 4 vs the Tab 3.

As with all Galaxy tablets and smartphones, Samsung included a whole host of home grown apps and customised the Android OS to make it easier to use but not too much that it burdens the tablet.

Multi User Mode means the tablet is family friendly offering the option to personalise the tablet to your liking keeping their own games, music, photos, apps and more.

The good old multi-tasking feature is now known as Multi Window, previously Dual View, it lets users run two apps at the same time.

With all that app, you would need some extra memory to run them. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8″ comes with half a Gigabyte more more memory taking it to 1.5GB from the standard 1.0GB on the tablets we have seen so far.

Samsung Quad Core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex A7 with Adreno 305
8.0″ 1280 x 800 resolution brilliant and clear TFT touch screen
1536 MB RAM (1.5GB) MORE MEMORY and 16GB Storage
1.3MP Front and 3.0MP Rear Cameras
WIFI, BT, MicroSD expansion slot (up to 64GB), microUSB, MHL, 4G Optional
Battery life: 12 hours
Dimension 210 x 124 x 7.95 mm, 315 grams – LIGHTEST
Android OS 4.4 Kit Kat
Colour Options: Pearl White and Black

Asus ZenPad 8.0 Tablet 8-inch – INTEL CHIP

Balancing beauty and strength, the Asus ZenPad 8.0 has a clean, simple look to add a touch of technical elegance to every outfit. It’s designed to capture high-resolution photos and videos with cinematic audio to make the entertainment leap of the screen.

At the heart of the ZenPad 8.0 is the new Intel®’s 64-bit Atom™ x3-C3200 processor. Built for mobile computing, the Atom delivers fast processing power combined with long battery life, keeping you entertained throughout the day without needing to recharge.

Asus has created the ZenPad 8.0 with a 76.5% screen-to-body ratio, reducing the bezel width as much as possible, to keep the device compact yet ensuring the visuals deliver a powerful punch.

The display incorporates Asus’s VisualMaster together with Tru2Life and TruVivid technology to guarantee every image strikes a perfect balance between contrast, sharpness, colour, clarity and brightness for true-to-life results. The display uses IPS technology to offer a wide 178-degree viewing angle.

The Tru2Life feature also allows you to adjust the brightness and overall look of the display to suit a variety of lighting conditions, to make reading in direct sunlight or dim light easier on your eyes. The Bluelight Filter also helps to reduce eye fatigue as it minimises the blue light emission from the screen for more comfortable viewing.

Another noteworthy feature is the DTS HD Premium Sound system, constructed with 6 speakers including 1 Subwoofer and six-time audio volume to create a cinematic experience on your portable device.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Intel SoFIA Quad-Cord CPU (C3200) 1.4 GHz Quad-Core processor
2GB DDR2L Memory and 16GB eMMC Storage expandable up to 64GB with microSD
8″ HD IPS display at 1280 x 800 resolution
2MP rear facing, 0.3MP front facing cameras
Accelerometer, BT4.0, WiFi 802.11 bgn, GPS, GLONASS, integrated microphone, Micro USB, Micro SD and audio jack, Stereo Speaker.
Battery Life: 8 hours
Dimensions & Weight: H209 x W123 x D8.5mm, 350grams
Android
Colour options: Red, White, Midnight Blue

ASUS ME181C MeMO Pad 8-inch

Here is a new generation budget tablet from ASUS, the company that brought us the Nexus 7. It replaces the Asus ME180A MeMo Pad 8-inch also featured at the bottom of this article. A slightly grown up 8-inch tablet, the ASUS ME181c adopts the Intel Atom Z3745 quad core processor 1.33GHz with Turbo Boost up to 1.86GHz meaning you get both good performance and battery life.

While the tablet is made of plastic, the build quality is there. At 8.3mm thin, it is also compact, very portable weighing just 320grams and grip friendly with its super narrow side bezels at 8mm.

The new ASUS ME181c uses ASUS’s custom ZenUI with Android OS. The company boast of over 200 upgrades and enhancements over the stock Android and this shows immediately with the home screen.

A smaller and even cheaper equivalent is also available. The ASUS ME176CX MeMO Pad 7 is currently one of the best budget 7-inch compact tablet in the high street.

What You Need to Know

64-bit Intel® Atom™ processor Z3745 Quad Core processor 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost up to 1.86GHz)
8-inch LED Backlight WXGA touch IPS (in-plane-switching) technology delivers 180-degrees viewing angle, 1280 x 800 pixels HD display
Memory: 1GB RAM, 16GB eMMC storage, Micro SD card slot for expansion up to 64GB
Cameras: 2MP front facing and 5MP rear facing cameras with PixelMaster technology for excellent images
Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, MicroUSB, 3.5mm combo audio jack, Miracast for video streaming up to 720p 30fps and aptX CSR Bluetooth technologies for high quality sound over Bluetooth, built-in stereo speakers, G-sensor, GPS and GLONASS
Battery Life: 9 hours 15.2Wh Li-Polymer Battery
Dimensions and Weight: 124.9 x 211.7 x 8.3 mm, 8.3mm thin, 322 grams.
Android 4.4 with ZenUI
Colour Options: Black, White, Purple, Goal

Asus ME180A MeMo Pad 8 inch Tablet

We had a look at the MeMo 7 in our best small tablet comparison article but with an 8-inch screen, that’s 30% more screen space compared to a standard 7-inch tablet. With nearly a third more screen real estate, the MeMo Pad 8-inch with High Definition screen is definitely worth considering.

Even with the bigger screen, you will find that most manufacturer choose to keep their devices slim by going for narrower bezel on for the long sides.

The MeMo Pad 8 is of no exception, measuring only 127mm width, you can comfortably grip the device between your fingers or support this on your palm quite easily.

Notable features include the Asus SonicMaster technology that produces crystal clear sound with its stereo speakers and Audio Wizard app to choose from 5 custom sound profiles to suit you.

The SuperNote app for note taking that includes the ability to annotate, add photo, attach video and insert text. Finally, the Floating App for multitasking and access to several apps simultaneously.

The optional TriCover by Asus, taking its design ques from Apple’s Polyurethane Smart Case provides the all round protection for both the screen and body and is available in a choice of three colours; black, white, pink.

1.6GHz Quad Core Processor
8.0″ 1280 x 800 HD resolution IPS screen for excellent out door reading
1GB eMMC RAM
16GB Storage (and 16GB ASUS WebStorage Space for one year)
1.2MB Front and 5.0MP Rear Cameras
WLAN, BT, MicroSD Expansion Slot (up to 64GB), ASUS WebStorage cloud service, Miracast video streaming, SonicMaster stereo speakers, MicroUSB (with OTG suport), GPS & GLONASS
Dimension and Weight: 212.8 x 127.4 x 9.95 mm 350grams
Battery life: 15Wh Li-Polymer 9Hours
Android OS 4.2

Lenovo Yoga 2 8-inch Tablet [WiFi/WiFi+LTE]

Identical in design to the original Yoga 8-inch and still retains the ultra long battery life of 18 hours, the new Yoga 2 8-inch is now based on the Intel Atom Z3745 quad core processor 1.33GHz with Turbo Boost up to 1.86GHz. While the design is the same, it is slightly higher at about 2-3mm bringing the height to 149mm.

It has also added a new adaptable Mode of use. You can now hold the tablet to read in portrait mode, use the kick stand to watch a show in watch mode, put the tablet flat in browse mode and place the tablet on a hook in the new hang mode.

Lenovo has retained the things we like about the original Yoga; the high definition IPS display at 1920 x 1200, 2GB RAM memory, Dolby Audio Surround and now with Wolfson Master HIFI noise reduction from the front firing speakers, dual band WiFi, high resolution 8MP rear facing AF camera and a 1.6MP front facing camera. There is also a choice of WiFi or WiFi and LTE/4G cellular.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Intel Atom Processor Z3745 Quad-Core processor 1.33GHz (2M Cache, Turbo Boost up to 1.86GHz)
8-inch LED LCD Touch at 1920×1200 pixels resolution IPS display – [FULL HD]
Memory: 2 GB LPDDR3 (64-bit) RAM + 16 GB EMMC storage + 64GB expandable with Micro SD
Cameras: 8 MP AF rear facing and 1.6 MP FF front facing cameras
Battery Life: 18 Hours from 2 Cell Li-Cylindrical – [LONGEST BATTERY LIFE]
Dual band, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, integrated microphone, Micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack, Twin large chamber front speakers with Dolby Audio. LTE Option Available
Dimensions and Weight: 210 x 149 x 21 mm, 419 grams
Android 4.4 Kitkat

Lenovo Yoga 8-inch Tablets (Silver Grey Metal)

We reviewed the bigger Yoga 10-inch tablet and while the rolled side edge may not suit everyone, it does have it’s benefits. it provides the much needed grip when holding the device for reading and tilt when laid flat on the table for typing.

The rolled side turns the running edge into a cylindrical chamber that doubles as battery storage. The built-in fold-out stand is definitely a bonus allowing for multi mode usage; Hold, Tilt and Stand.

We talked briefly about the hold (reading and browsing) and tilt mode (typing and gaming). Extend the kick stand and stand it up right for the Stand mode (watching video, listen to music or video chat).

Lenovo surprises everyone with the Yoga’s built quality. In brushed aluminium finish, the sturdy metal frame body not only looks great but provides a premium feel while other manufacturers op for plastic chassis.

While the fold out stand is aluminium, the backplate however is still plastic. The rolled side edge gives the tablet a slight bulge but this is a small price to pay for the battery life you get.

Quad Core ARM Cortex-A7 1.2GHz
8.0″ 1280 x 800 resolution IPS screen with 178 degrees viewing angle
1GB eMMC RAM
16GB Storage
1.6MB Front and 5.0MP Rear Cameras
WLAN, BT, MicroSD Expansion Slot (up to 64GB), 3G Optional
Dimension and Weight: 213 x 144 mm x Cylinder 21.5mm, thickness 7.3mm tapers to 3mm 401g
Battery life: 2 Cell Li-Polymer 18 Hours [BEST BATTERY LIFE]
Android OS 4.2.2

Toshiba Encore 8-inch Tablet (Windows 8.1)

While the tablets above are powered by Google’s Android OS, here is one from the other side. Based on the full fat Windows 8.1, yes that meant you get access to Windows desktop and be able to install standard desktop applications as oppose to only those from Windows App Store.

Toshiba Encore comes with 32GB or 64GB SSD storage and is in direct competition with Dell’s Venue 8 Pro tablet , Lenovo IdeaTab Mixx 2 8-inch tablet and Asus Vivo Tab Note 8 8-inch tablet. Toshiba Encore 8 uses the Intel Atom Z3740 Processor running at 1.8GHz with 2GB DDR3 RAM memomry and an 8-inch display at the resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels.

The device wakes up in less than 300 miliseconds and InstantGo technology ensures that your device syncs all your content continuously and automatically. Avid gamers would appreciate ‘Xbox To Go’ for gaming on the Encore and Xbox SmartGlass that uses the tablet screen as a second screen for Xbox 360 or Xbox One.

Apart from free unlimited calls for a month to any landlines in more than 60 countries and mobiles in 8 countries, you will also enjoy 6 months free access to Xbox Music, the music on demand service that lets you access millions of tracks.

Intel Atom Z3740 1.8GHz Quad-core Processor
2GB DDR3 RAM memory
32GB or 64GB storage
Front facing 2MB and rear facing 8MP cameras
8 inch display 1280 x 800 resolution
1.1 x 13.6 x 21.3 cm, 445 grams
Battery Life: up to 10 hours
Windows 8.1

Kindle Fire HDX 8.9

We reviewed the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ and compared this with the Kindle Fire HDX. Make no mistake, this is Amazon’s High End device with specifications to rival that or Apple’s iPad Air.

The 8.9-inch screen is the biggest in the our line up here running at full HD. Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 has the speed and performance to cope with anything that you throw at it.

The custom Android OS called Fire OS 3.0 nicknamed “Mojito” powers the Kindle Fire HDX, giving your exclusive access to Amazon services. Amazon also promise platform updates and more.

With access restricted to only Amazon AppStore this may not suit everyone but it does provide an easy to use interface and seamless content purchasing experience as well as unlimited cloud storage for Amazon content.

At the end of the day, the Kindle Fire HDX is built as a content consumption device, and who else better to provide that than Amazon. You will have access to apps and games, movies and TV shows, books and magazines, audio books, songs and more.

2.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU, with Adreno 330 GPU
8.9-inch HDX touch screen with 2560 x 1600 resolution at 339 ppi, brightness over 400 cd/m2, Dynamic Image Contrast, reduced glare adn advanced polarising filter. [BIGGEST IN CATEGORY]
2GB RAM
16GB/32GB/64GB Storage
1.3MP front Facing and 8MP rear facing HD Cameras both capable of Full HD video capture at 720p and 1080p respectively. The rear camera comes with LED flash, Electronic Image Stabilisation, Panorama and High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging support. The front camera lets you carry out HD video calls with Skype or take selfies.
Dual Band WLAN, BT, HDMI, Dolby Digital Plus sound enhancement
Dimensions: 231 mm x 158 mm x 7.8 mm, 374 grams WiFi, 384 grams 4G LTE and WiFi.
Battery Life: 12 hours of mixed use or 18 hours on reading only
Android OS 4.0 Custom

Our Line-up

Here is a quick look at our line-up again. For the most up to date prices, please click on the links below [IN THIS COMPARISON]:

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8-inch Tablet – GOOD BATTERY LIFE
Lenovo Tab 3 8-inch Tablet
Amazon Fire HD 8 8-inch Tablet – CONTENT CENTRIC
Lenovo Tab 2 A8-50 8-inch Tablet
Lenovo Yoga 3 8-inch Tablet – BEST BATTERY LIFE

High End Devices

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8-inch Tablet – OCTA CORE, 3X MEMORY, 32GB STORAGE
LG G Pad 8.3-inch – FULL HD DISPLAY, 2X MEMORY
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (WiFi/WiFi+4G LTE) – FASTEST PROCESSOR, 2X MEMORY, FULL HD DISPLAY
Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4-inch – FAST PROCESSOR, 2X MEMORY, 4MP DISPLAY
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch – FAST PROCESSOR, 3X MEMORY, SUPER AMOLED 4MP DISPLAY