Small enough to be stored in various places in a vehicle, the Fanttik X8 Apex tire inflator is a powerful tick. It may be slow, but it does the job of inflating properly. A large display shows what's going on inside, and the inflator's internal battery serves as both a USB power port and a bright flashlight.

On the downside, the Fantik X8 has a very short air hose and no cigarette lighter or AC adapter to charge the compressor battery.

The $90 Fanttik X8 Apex tire inflator is one of the smallest inflators available, but manages to be one of the most expensive. Still, it offers portable air pressure, lighting, and USB power in equal measure. The company also sells jump-start battery packs.

One of the smallest tire inflators available, the Fantik X8 Apex is roughly the same size as a portable Bluetooth speaker. Measuring 7.8 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches, it is about one-tenth the size of the Craftsman V20 Tire Inflator and weighs 1.8 pounds. There are also cooling vents on top of the compressor to prevent the X8 Apex's pump and electronics from overheating.

Inside is a 2.6 amp-hour lithium battery pack, and unlike the Craftsman V20 Cordless Inflator and B + D Inflator, it cannot be replaced with a new battery when the battery runs out. The battery is charged via the included USB-C cable, but an AC or 12-volt adapter is not included.

In addition to displaying tire pressure in PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) or Bars, the device's 4-inch display shows the battery's charge level in a large four-element bar graph. It flashes when the remaining charge is below 20%.

The screen also displays modes (bicycle, motorcycle, car, and sportball) and offers a variety of pressures up to 150 PSI

The Fanttik X8 Apex does not have large adapters for air mattresses, beach balls, etc., but does have a sportball needle and an adapter for bicycle tires. The biggest luxury is the X8 Apex's USB power port, which can output 2 amps at 5 volts, more than enough to charge a cell phone or tablet. It also has an LED flashlight that is surprisingly bright and can be set to flash in an emergency.

It is small and easy to carry, but a bit too thick to keep in a pocket. Still, the Fantik X8 Apex compressor is very lightweight compared to the Craftsman V20 Cordless Inflator, for example.

On the downside, the X8 Apex's air hose is only 13 inches long, a fraction of the length of a 15- or 20-foot one. This is not a problem if the tire valves are close to the ground, but in some situations the pump can be left dangling.

Being so small, using the Fantik X8 Apex tire inflator is simple and easy. I screwed the inflator hose onto the wheel of my car and in 3 minutes and 43 seconds I had a flat tire at 30 PSI. This is a little on the slow side, but it wasn't the slowest inflator we tested.

The pump operated with a low whine and the unit tended to vibrate in place. The digital pressure gauge was accurate and stable.

On the other hand, its one-year warranty cannot be compared to RoofPax's lifetime warranty.

Handheld and easy to carry in the car, the Fantik X8 Apex Air Inflator packs a lot into a small, light case. A large display shows pressure and battery status, it can be illuminated at night, and a USB power port can charge a cell phone in an emergency.

On the other hand, the short hose can leave the pump dangling, making it one of the slowest pumps we looked at; at $90, it's one to get if traveling light is important to you.