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Ever since the release of the first iPad, tablets have been getting better and better in terms of their screens, performance, and features. There have already been plenty of design changes, but the original form and look are still kind of the same. But which is the best tablet for reading? To answer this question we have to look at which are the lightest tablets, with the brightest and highest resolution screens out there. These tablets also need to have access to the biggest e-book libraries out there, otherwise they will not be a good machine for reading. Also, if you’re looking for a reading device that is smart too, shouldn’t it be smaller so it is closer in size to a book? Let’s find out.
These are the best tablets for reading
Sorry Android fans. The newest iPad mini is simply unbeatable, and the best tablet for reading you can buy. The recently released 6th Gen iPad mini has an 8.3-inch LCD screen with much tinier bezels than its predecessor. It is also only 6.4mm thick and weighs 293g, making it very comfortable, and the tablet that most resembles a book on this list (except for the Kindle e-reader). Its screen is bright, offering vivid colors and excellent pixel density. The 6th Gen iPad mini also has True Tone, which adjusts the color temperature of the display according to the lighting that surrounds you. This way your eyes don’t get as tired, especially during the night.
Otherwise, the new iPad mini is what anyone would expect from Apple. It has a premium design with an aluminum back and frame. It is powered by the blazing-fast Apple A15 Bionic chip, coupled with 4GB of RAM. It has a very good 12MP camera, which can record a 4K 60fps video. The front selfie shooter is also 12MP, and it is a very impressive sensor capable of taking excellent selfies.
Apple iPad Mini (2019)
The iPad Mini has been on the market for a while now, and Apple has kept the design almost unchanged compared to the one of the first iPad Mini. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Why change something that just works? The 2019 iPad Mini is light as a feather, weighing just 300g. It is also very compact, with its 7.9-inch 4:3 display not taking this much space. The display also gets very bright, with its maximum brightness peaking at 533 nits.
All of this makes the iPad Mini one of the closest tablets to a book. It is also very thin, 6.1mm to be exact. The 2019 iPad Mini is powered by an Apple A12 processor, which still offers plenty of speed in 2021. This tablet’s battery should last at least 10 hours of use. An advantage for some over more modern iPads would be the headphone jack found on this one. The current iPad Mini is also pretty affordable, and ever since Apple finally introduced a successor, which we mentioned above, the 2019 Mini has been seeing major discounts across retail stores. It is also important to note that this tablet supports the Apple Pencil. Because this tablet runs iPadOS, it can take advantage of apps like Apple Books, which has a large library.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020)
Android tablets, especially the small ones, have been on the decline for the last few years. This means that the choice among these gets smaller and smaller. But the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) is a really good tablet, especially considering it is also pretty affordable to buy. As its name suggests, it has an 8.4-inch display, which is an FHD LCD panel.
Just like the iPad Mini, the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) is very pocketable and light, making it perfect for reading while you’re on the go. This lightness also means that it will be easier to hold for long periods of time, making it a very good tablet for reading. As for the rest of its specs, they are nothing spectacular. The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) has an Exynos 7903 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM, which does the job. Its cameras are also mediocre, but the same can be said about the iPad Mini (2019) too. The battery should last you through the day.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)
The 11-inch iPad Pro is a wonderful, high-end tablet. It is a performance beast, with its Apple M1 desktop-class processor, has a great 120Hz high-resolution display, and a premium build quality. Its cameras are also the best in the business, as far as tablets are concerned.
We included this one on this list because of its amazing display and weight of just 466g. We think this tablet has the best balance between a nice reading companion and a good entertainment device on this list. The 2021 iPad Pro also has a great audio system with 4 stereo speakers. Batter-wise it doesn’t disappoint either, with it offering around 10 hours of use on a single charge. We know it is a bit expensive, but you get what you paid for, so it’s worth it in the long run. The Apple Books library is a large one, which makes the tablet a nice reading buddy to have.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)
Last but not least is Amazon’s 8-inch tablet offering. The Fire HD 8 as its name suggests has a display with an HD resolution (1280 x 800). It also has 2GB of RAM and 32 or 64GB of storage. Don’t be alarmed by the small amount of RAM, as this tablet runs on Amazon’s perfectly optimized version of Android. Keep in mind that this tablet doesn’t have Google Play store. In order to download apps the Fire HD 8 uses the Amazon store.
There are good tablets for reading
There isn’t a lot to choose from in terms of tablets suitable for reading. Somehow fewer and fewer companies think about readers, releasing 13-inch tablets that focus on entertainment and productivity. But the choices you have are still good, even if they need a bit of a refresh. That’s why we would recommend you wait for the upcoming iPad Mini redesign, which should finally put a stop to that, at least in the iPadOS world. You can also just go for one of Amazon’s devices on this list, especially if you’re looking for a tablet only for reading.
