Light as a feather, thin as one of these tablets.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
In the beginning, tablets looked more like the televisions that strap onto the back of a car's seat more than something out of "2001: A Space Odyssey." However, I'm happy to report that the times have changed and so have tablet designs.
After Apple released the iPad (let's give credit where credit is due), aesthetics and design became a more prominent selling-point for the emerging portable devices. Overall, tablet girth has declined, ushering in the new era of thin slates, and we've gathered the ones so sleek, their predecessors wouldn't even recognize them if they saw them walking down the street.
This post focuses on tablets smaller than 8.9 inches, but if you're interested in a bigger display without sacrificing too much bag space, check out our top picks for thinnest and lightest large tablets.
| Thickness (in inches) | Weight (in pounds) | Screen size (in inches) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 | 0.28 | 0.73 | 8.4-inch |
| Google Nexus 7 | 0.34 | 0.66 | 7-inch |
| Amazon Kindle FireHDX 7 | 0.35 | 0.66 | 7-inch |
| iPad Mini with Retina Display | 0.29 | 0.73 | 7.9-inch |
I'd say the Kindle Fire HDX is one of the most pocket-friendly tablets, since it's so small.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Amazon continues to impress in its approach to tablets with its latest 7-incher. The Kindle Fire HDX rocks a supersharp screen and smooth performance, all in a small and light package. Its angular design is comfy and compact to hold or carry, and it stylishly stands out in the saturated pack of 7-inch tablets. For Amazon Prime members, the Kindle Fire tablets are a no-brainer, but if you're hesitant about the restricted Android-based Mojito OS and lack of Google Play store, there are alternative (and affordable options) available (like the tablet below).
Amazon continues to impress in its approach to tablets with its latest 7-incher. The Kindle Fire HDX rocks a supersharp screen and smooth performance, all in a small and light package. Its angular design is comfy and compact to hold or carry, and it stylishly stands out in the saturated pack of 7-inch tablets. For Amazon Prime members, the Kindle Fire tablets are a no-brainer, but if you're hesitant about the restricted Android-based Mojito OS and lack of Google Play store, there are alternative (and affordable options) available (like the tablet below).
The Google Nexus 7 is small in size and price.
(Credit: CNET)
Google Nexus 7
Google set a precedent with the original Nexus 7, offering a pure Android tablet with zippy performance at an affordable price, and the second iteration of the Nexus 7 continues in that fashion. It has few bells and whistles, yet its simplicity suits it and matches its minimal comfortable and lightweight design. It's as light as the Kindle Fire HDX (above) and only beats the Amazon slate in depth by a small margin.
Google set a precedent with the original Nexus 7, offering a pure Android tablet with zippy performance at an affordable price, and the second iteration of the Nexus 7 continues in that fashion. It has few bells and whistles, yet its simplicity suits it and matches its minimal comfortable and lightweight design. It's as light as the Kindle Fire HDX (above) and only beats the Amazon slate in depth by a small margin.
Ahh yes, the token Apple tablet.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Apple iPad Mini
The invention of the iPad helped steer tablets into the mainstream and the iPad Mini model replicates the successful, sleek aluminum slate but in a more portable form. It's the smallest iPad available and rocks one of the most high-end designs, and if you're already wrapped into Apple's robust ecosystem, choosing an iPad is an easy decision.
The invention of the iPad helped steer tablets into the mainstream and the iPad Mini model replicates the successful, sleek aluminum slate but in a more portable form. It's the smallest iPad available and rocks one of the most high-end designs, and if you're already wrapped into Apple's robust ecosystem, choosing an iPad is an easy decision.
The Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 packs more pixels than any tablet available.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4
Samsung's latest 8-inch slate edges out the competition by packing a bigger, more impressive display in a comparably slim and trim profile. Though not as small as the 7-inchers above, the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is worth the extra space -- and cash, if you got it. The 8.4-inch tablet stuns with its 2,560x1,600-pixel-resolution screen, and it currently holds the title of tablet with the highest pixels-per-inch at 359ppi. It performs smoothly, comes with a ton of preloaded Samsung software (or bloatware, if you're a hater), and if you fancy a high-end small tablet that runs Android, this is your best choice.
Samsung's latest 8-inch slate edges out the competition by packing a bigger, more impressive display in a comparably slim and trim profile. Though not as small as the 7-inchers above, the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is worth the extra space -- and cash, if you got it. The 8.4-inch tablet stuns with its 2,560x1,600-pixel-resolution screen, and it currently holds the title of tablet with the highest pixels-per-inch at 359ppi. It performs smoothly, comes with a ton of preloaded Samsung software (or bloatware, if you're a hater), and if you fancy a high-end small tablet that runs Android, this is your best choice.
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