Don’t let your passion for reading suffer, just because you cannot carry heavy books everywhere with you. You can find many tablets and e-reader in today’s market to read books, magazines, research papers, and comics in PDF format. Now you can download and read thousands of e-books, magazines, research articles, and case studies in PDF format on tablets and e-readers.
Since you can read books in PDF format on the large screens of tablets and e-reader on the go, these are a great option for people who travel a lot. However, when the market is flooded with hundreds of different e-readers and tablets, finding a device according to your taste and requirements is quite challenging. To make your way easy, I reviewed the nine best tablets to read PDFs you can buy in 2024.
Top Tablets To Read PDF
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7″; 8 GB Wifi Tablet
If you are looking for an inexpensive yet reliable tablet, consider Tab A7 by Samsung. This tablet features a 7-inch multi-touch HD display making it a great option for reading PDF. The tablet comes equipped with a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and 1.5 GB RAM, making it a real deal-breaker under $150.
What I found most impressive is the 8GB storage that is expandable via a micro SD card. This storage space is big enough to store large PDF files and other stuff like music and videos. The tablet comes with a 5.0 MP AF camera and a micro slim slot making it an all-purpose tablet.
Additionally, it uses the Android 5.1 lollipop OS. I was able to download different apps, E-readers, and e-books without facing any compatibility issues. Samsung GALAXY Tab 7 offers many connectivity options, including WiFi, WiFi Direct, and Bluetooth.
Another exciting feature of this tablet is the music app with a playtime of 100 hours which you would appreciate if you are a music lover. Another thing I found impressive is its 4000 mAH battery which lasts around 8 hours under mixed-use, but when I used it continuously, it lasted for around 6 hours.
- Affordable
- Powerful 4000 mAH battery
- Android OS
- Snapdragon 410 chipset
- small screen size
- Average performance
Samsung Galaxy Tab A is a nice deal for people looking for an affordable device for reading PDF. Although it has a relatively small screen size, many people find it sufficient to go through their daily PDF files and related tasks.
2. Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa Hands-Free
Fire HD 10 tablet is one of the most inexpensive but reliable reading tablets you can buy in 2024. This multi-purpose tablet is a great device for streaming videos, watching movies, playing games, reading PDF, and browsing. The feature that helps the tablet stand out as the best tablet to read PDF is its 10.1 inch IPS display. It has full HD resolution and a fairly large screen; this tablet is an ideal e-reader for all types of users.
Furthermore, it comes powered with a quad-core processor and 2GB RAM that delivers uninterrupted performance for reading and other casual tasks like browsing and streaming videos. The tablet is available in 2 storage variants, 32 GB and 64 GB, for a slight price difference. The storage is expandable upto 256 GB using a micro SD card.
Based on an Android OS, the tablet lets you download different types of apps, e-reader, and other stuff like that without showing any compatibility issues. The tablet comes equipped with stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, taking your music and movie experience to a new level.
You can also use Alexa hands-free for pausing, playing, and making hands-free video calls. You can enjoy e-magazines, movies, shows, and other entertainment stuff by getting a prime membership of Amazon or Netflix. Finally, I loved the tablet’s battery life that is around 7-8 houses under mixed-use.
- 10.1-inch large display
- Full HD resolution
- Supported by Amazon Alexa
- Exceptional sound experience
- Issues with Wifi connectivity
- issues with Non-Amazon cloud services
If you are looking for powerful hardware at a reasonable price, Fire HD 10 is a real treat for you. A powerful quad-core processor and 2 GB RAM deliver impressively seamless performance for reading, browsing, watching movies, and playing games.
3. Kindle Paperwhite E-reader
Amazon is a trustworthy brand when it comes to buying e-readers or tablets. Kindle Paperwhite is one of the globally famous and top-rated e-readers by Amazon. Kindle Paperwhite features a 6-inch display with a high resolution of 30 PPI giving you an exceptional reading experience.
I found this reader very eye-friendly and didn’t notice any screen glare or shades even in the daylight. The tablet features an e-ink display that is best to read and has a low impact on your eyesight. Plus, an adjustable light makes the e-reader best in all situations like day and night.
This e-reader by amazon supports different reading formats, including PDF and DOCX. Plus, it has an amazing typography feature that lets you read large letters without getting eyestrain. Also, the page layout and margins automatically adjust to the work giving you a seamless reading experience.
What sets this e-reader apart from its counterparts is its battery life. The battery lasts for around 2 weeks with a single charge which is a real bonus for the people who travel often. Additionally, this e-reader is backed by 4 GB memory, allowing you to save a large number of ebooks and PDF files.
- Adjustable bright light
- Seamless reading with zero eyestrain
- Exceptionally long battery life
- Lightweight and handy
- The screen size is a bit smaller
- Absence of page-turning buttons
Kindle paperwhite is a purpose-built e-reader that lets you read PDF and many other formats with maximum focus and minimum eyestrain. Plus, its powerful battery lasts for weeks, making it a perfect device for power users.
4. Lenovo Tab 4 10 Plus
Lenovo TAB 4 is one of the most reliable tablets and is ideal for reading PDF files. It also works great for watching movies and playing games. With a snapdragon octa-core chipset, this tablet delivers exceptional performance for almost all apps. Plus, it is backed by 2 GB RAM that supports multitasking, and 32 GB storage lets you store all your favorite stuff. You can also expand the memory by inserting a micro SD card.
In addition to impressive performance, the tablet offers a seamless reading experience. The tab is equipped with a 10.1-inch Multitouch display with FHD resolution making it a perfect e-reader. Also, this tab features eye-protection technology that makes it equally useful for kids and adults. Another feature we found useful is parental control. You can limit access to apps and online stuff to provide a safe and secure reading environment for the kids.
Kids would also love the fun stickers, shockproof bumper, and blue-light screen filter included in the package. The tab comes with built-in stereo speakers at the front and a Dolby Atom feature, making it perfect for watching movies. Plus, a combo audio jack, 8MP rear camera, and 5 MP front camera make it a complete fun package.
The tablet supports wireless connectivity via BlueTooth and WiFi. Finally, that tablet has an impressive battery life of around 10 hours under normal use. However, if you play games or stream movies continuously, the battery life lasts only for six hours, which is pretty okay for such a powerful device. It took us around 2 hours to completely charge, which is slightly slower than the modern fast charging devices.
- 10.1 FHD IPS display
- Kids pack and parental control
- Impressive battery life
- Superior built quality
- Slow charging
- Only 2 GB RAM
Although 2 GB RAM is not impressive for a device above $250, it is a great choice for reading PDF files. This tablet with FHD Resolution, adjustable brightness, and eye protection technology lets you read the PDF files and watch movies for hours without getting an eye strain.
5. Kobo Clara HD
KOBO Clara HD e-reader is one of the most inexpensive tablets you can buy today. It is a purposely built e-reader with loads of features giving you a realistic and pleasurable reading experience. What I found most impressive is the E-ink display coupled with adjustable light. The E-ink display with minimum glare creates a realistic paper-like view, and you can read for hours without getting tired.
I was able to adjust the light in for a seamless reading experience in different situations, which is a real bonus for such an inexpensive e-reader. You can adjust the font size, paper layout, and margins for the most comfortable reading experience.
Additionally, this e-reader has a library catalog through which you can access thousands of e-books without any issue. The only thing you need is a reliable internet connection. Plus, it has a built-in dictionary which further enhances your reading experience.
The e-reader has a larger storage space of 8 GB, that, lets you store hundreds of E-books and PDF files. Finally, the tablet has an impressive battery that lasts for two to three weeks depending upon the usage.
- E-ink eye-friendly display
- Library catalog
- Powerful battery
- Affordable
- Small 6-inch screen
Kobo Clara HD is one of the most efficient e-readers with an e-Ink display and minimum glare on the screen. The HD resolution of the screen coupled with adjustable light lets you read the e-books without getting eye strain.
6. 2019 Apple iPad Mini
2019 Apple iPad Mini is with retina display, and multi-color options are a great option for reading colorful magazines, comics, and books in PDF format. It comes with an excellent stylus pen that lets you draw, draw, sketch and take notes just like a real pencil.
The 7.9-inch screen size is large and handy, making it the perfect reading device for kids and adults. Apple iPad mini uses XS chipset A12, which makes it great for watching movies, playing games, and multitasking. The tablet is backed by iPad OS 14,.6, and a type-C port to maintain compatibility with the existing ecosystem. The storage space is around 64GB, which is expandable through a micro SD card.
The Apple iPad mini features improved security systems and is highly protected against viruses and malware. Plus, a fingerprint sensor further increases its security. It is powered by a strong battery of around 10 hours. However, I found out the battery drains out quickly when watching movies or reading PDF at a high brightness level.
- USB Type-C compatibility
- Improved security
- Handy and compact size
- Expensive
Apple iPad mini 2019 is a multi-purpose tablet with a powerful OS and a bright display. Although it is not purposely built for reading, it is one of the handiest and comfortable reading tablets I ever used.
7. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active PRO 10.1.”
If you have no budget constraints, Samsung Galaxy Tab active is one of the best reading tablets you can buy in 2024. This tablet by Samsung is known for its impressive built quality and promises a reliable performance in years to come. It is an IP68 rating device with military-grade construction and has undergone multiple impact tests for rain, sand, water, drops, temperature, humidity, and altitude.
It is the most rugged and durable tablet I ever used, and I highly recommend this tablet for kids of all ages. This tablet is powered by 4 GB RAM and a powerful android Pie 9.0 operating system. These figures reveal that this tablet is a perfect choice for intensive gaming, watching movies, and reading PDF documents and e-books.
With a dynamic super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1536×2152, it gives a string-free reading experience for hours. Plus, a 64 GB internal storage is large enough to keep different apps, photos, e-books, and other stuff without running short of space.
The additional features of this tablet include face recognition, fingerprint sensor, 13 MP rear camera, and a Knox configure app. With the help of Knox configures, you can add new books to the device every day. Samsung Galaxy Active pro features a powerful removable battery that lasts for upto 10 hours under power use.
- Powerful Android OS
- Eye-friendly display
- IPX68 rating
- Impressive battery life
- Very expensive
- Heavy device-3 lb +
Samsung galaxy Active pro tablet comes packed with powerful RAM and android OS to deliver exceptional performance. The tablet with a large screen and superior display lets you read PDF documents and e-books at the best of your ease and comfort.
Buyer’s Guide
You can judge tablets on the basis of their specifications like OS, RAM, ROM, and battery life. However, it is quite challenging to figure out whether a particular device is ideal for reading PDF or not. For example, a tablet might be a great option for intensive gaming but show compatibility issues with reading apps and PDF files. Therefore it is critical to look for some specific feature in a tablet to read df.
Screen Size
Since we are dealing with the best tablet to read PDF, screen size is one of the most important factors to consider. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the size of the screen, the easier it to read the text. Reading on a small screen is quite stressful, and you cannot keep your focus for a long time.
For general reading purposes, you can get a tablet around 7-inches at a comparative price. However, if you read ebooks and large PDF files on a regular basis, you should consider a screen size of 9-inches or above.
Resolution
The quality of text and document you will read depends largely upon the resolution of the screen. Higher resolution means crispier and easy to read text and figures. Although the resolution of the screen is important it is not a critical factor for reading tablets.
A higher resolution on a large screen prevents the screen glares and flash to prevent eye irritation and eye strain. You can get the 800×480 regulation at an average price, but if you can spend more, an FHD resolution is ideal for reading documents and ebooks in PDF format.
Display Type
The E-Ink display is a famous display type found in most E-readers. It’s not a backlit display, and you will need an external light source to read the PDF. It gives you a pleasurable and realistic reading experience with minimum eye fatigue.
However, multimedia tablets feature IPS multi-touch display types, which is another great option. You should look for tablets with adjustable brightness. These tablets are ideal for reading colorful magazines, pictures, and comics.
Storage Space
Storage space is an important feature of any tablet. If you go for multimedia tablets, you should look for large storage space as you will store many other things like different apps, photos, and videos. The storage of the tablets should be at least 32 GB. However, if you go for an E-reader like Kindle Paperwhite by Amazon, storage space between 4-8 GB is enough. You should also look for expandable storage space.
Network and Connectivity
Network and connectivity options play an important role when you are outside the home. Inexpensive tablets and readers support only WiFi which limits its use. You cannot download ebooks and other PDF stuff outside the home. However, modern tablets offer 3G/4G cellular networks making it easier for you to download your favorite stuff anytime anywhere. Bluetooth connectivity is another important feature for offline sharing and connectivity.
Durability
A reading device should be rugged enough to withstand accidental drops, encounters with water, and other extreme environmental factors like water, temperature, and humidity. Durable construction is critical when you are buying the tablet for your kids. a rugged construction with a waterproof IPX68 rating should be your preference for a long-term experience.
Weight and Profile
Since we are looking for a tablet to read PDF files, it should be comfortable and handy to use. A lightweight and compact profile reduces muscle and hand fatigue making it easier to read for long hours.
Battery life
Finally, the battery is one of the most crucial considerations. For a seamless and uninterrupted reading experience, you should go with a powerful battery. For multimedia tablets, the average battery life is around 6 hours under mixed-use.
However, some premium options offer a battery life of 10 hours or even more. The E-readers have a relatively long battery life; for example, the battery of Kindle Paperwhite lasts for around 2-weeks.
FAQs
Can Android Tablets read PDF files?
Yes, Android tablets can read the PDF files if they have an Adobe Acrobat PDF reader. You can download the Adobe Acrobat app from the Google play store to read ebooks, magazines, and other stuff in PDF format on your tablet.
Why can’t I open a PDF on my tablet?
There could be multiple reasons behind this issue, for example
The PDF file is not downloaded properly. It happens when you have a poor internet connection.
When PDF file is encrypted
Your tablet doesn’t support the PDF format. You need to install a best PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat to open the PDF files on your tablet.
Is Kindle better than a tablet?
If you are looking for an only-reading device, then kindle is a much better option than tablets. Kindle e-readers are lightweight, feature E-ink dipsy for minimum fatigue and eye strain, and longer battery life. Since you won’t get any social media notifications on an e-reader, you can focus on reading in a better way.
Conclusion
E-readers and tablets are a blessing in disguise for the people who love reading on the go. All products on our list are top-rated and come from well-known brands; we have picked our top-three favorites to make your way easier.
Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa Hands-Free for its 10.1-inch display, affordable price, FHD resolution, and 64 GB storage
Kobo Clara HD for its lightweight profile, eye-friendly E-ink display, a built-in dictionary, and library catalog
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7″; 8 GB Wifi Tablet for its lightweight profile, 4000 mAH battery, quad-core processor, and bright display
Keep in mind that the display type and brightness of the screen are two main factors you should consider. Too much brightness produces screen glares, especially in sunlight, making it harder to read. Therefore it is recommended to use the blue-light filter on the e-readers or tablets.
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