The Best Small Refurbished Tablet in 2026: iPad mini 6 vs iPad 8th Gen vs Galaxy Tab S7
The best tablet is the one you actually pick up. Thirteen-inch tablets are impressive and mostly live on a desk; a compact tablet goes in a bag, a glovebox, an airline seat pocket or one hand on the couch. If you want a tablet you will genuinely use every day, small wins.
Here are the three compact tablets worth buying refurbished in 2026, and how to pick between them.
Quick comparison
| Tablet | Screen | Stylus | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad mini 6 | 8.3" edge-to-edge | Apple Pencil 2 | One-handed use, reading, travel |
| iPad 8th Gen | 10.2" with home button | Apple Pencil 1 | Cheapest capable iPad |
| Galaxy Tab S7 | 11" 120Hz LCD | S Pen included | Android users and note-takers |
iPad mini 6 — the genuinely small one
The mini 6 is the only tablet on this list you can comfortably hold and use in one hand. The 8.3-inch display runs edge to edge with no home button, it charges over USB-C, and it supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, which snaps to the side magnetically. It is the best travel tablet Apple makes and the best e-reader that is also a full computer.
Buy it if: you read a lot, you fly or commute, you want a tablet that lives in a bag rather than on a desk, or you want a compact device for sheet music, recipes or field notes.
iPad 8th Gen — the value pick
The 8th-generation iPad is the cheapest way into a capable iPad, full stop. The 10.2-inch screen is bigger than the mini, the classic home button with Touch ID is fast and reliable, and it handles streaming, browsing, schoolwork and video calls without complaint. We stock it deep, so colors and capacities are easy to find.
Buy it if: you want maximum tablet for minimum money, you are buying for a child or a shared household device, or you want the largest screen on this list for the lowest price.
Galaxy Tab S7 — the Android choice
If your phone is a Galaxy, the Tab S7 is the natural companion. The 11-inch display runs at 120Hz, which makes scrolling and inking feel noticeably smoother than either iPad here, and the S Pen is included in the box rather than sold separately. Samsung's DeX mode also gives you a desktop-style interface when you connect a keyboard.
Buy it if: you are in the Android and Galaxy ecosystem, you want a stylus without buying one separately, or you want a high-refresh screen for the price.
Wi-Fi or cellular?
Cellular tablets carry a price premium and a monthly line fee, and most people tether to their phone instead. Buy cellular only if the tablet will be used somewhere your phone will not be — a work vehicle, a job site, a kid's device without a phone. Otherwise Wi-Fi plus hotspot is the cheaper answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the iPad mini big enough to replace a laptop?
No, and that is not its job. If you want a tablet that replaces a laptop, you want a larger screen and a keyboard — we compared the options in iPad or MacBook. The mini is a companion device, and an excellent one.
Which small tablet is best for kids?
The iPad 8th Gen or 6th Gen — larger screens, lower prices, and cases are cheap and easy to find. Our best iPad for kids guide covers setup, parental controls and durability.
Does the Galaxy Tab S7 come with the S Pen?
Yes — Samsung includes the S Pen in the box, which is a real cost advantage over an iPad where the Apple Pencil is sold separately.
How long will these tablets keep getting software updates?
Newer models get longer runways. The iPad mini 6 has the most support life left of the three here, followed by the Galaxy Tab S7, then the iPad 8th Gen. If you plan to keep the tablet five-plus years, spend up for the mini.
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