Open Thread: Auto XS Portable Travel and Game Table

Last Updated on March 9, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated for 2024. 

For many families, the spring and summer months mean travel. Whether it’s just down the road or across the country, the warmer months can be an optimal time to visit grandparents, chill on the beach, hike in the mountains, or whatever you dream of doing.

If you have kids, you know it’s not always easy to travel long distances with them. If you’re like me, your travel preparations and packing routines include stocking the family car with an arsenal of boredom busters: small toys, non-messy art supplies, books, tablets, etc. It can be a challenge to organize all of those small items, though.

Aldi is currently selling something that might help.

What We Know:

Auto XS Portable Travel and Game Table

The 2021 model.

The Auto XS Portable Travel and Game Table (Product Code: 831755 in 2024; Product Code 803073 in 2021) cost $9.99 in March of 2024. That’s less than the $14.99 it sold for in March of 2023, and it cost $12.99 in April of 2022. This is a personal lap desk that appears to be made of a soft vinyl-like material with reinforcement underneath to provide support for drawing or holding books, toys, or electronics. It also features near the top and on side flaps.

This is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time. Aldi does not offer online ordering for its specials, so after this sells out at your local store, that’s it.

In 2019, Aldi sold an Easy Home Activity Tray for $4.99 that provided a flat, solid surface for kids to draw or play in the car, but the 2021 table costs more and appears to be more full-featured.

Auto XS Portable Travel and Game Table

Auto XS Portable Travel and Game Table

The 2021 models.

Here’s more information on the Auto XS Portable Travel and Game Table:

  • Ideal for playing and making art in a car, plane, or train
  • Equipped with many small pockets for markers, books, or toys
  • Includes five pages for games and coloring
  • Features a reusable transparent surface; draw and erase with water-soluble markers
  • Includes a built-in holder for tablets or smartphones
  • Has a strap for easy transportation
  • Available in Black, Purple, Blue, or Green

The older models measured 15.75″ x 12.99″ x 5.9″, but Aldi has not yet shared what the dimensions are for the current model.

While I’ve never owned an Aldi branded portable child’s table, I owned something similar to this when my oldest child was very young. It didn’t work well for us, mostly because our vehicle at the time was on the smaller side. For long trips, our trunk and the backseat were packed pretty full. The lap desk added a lot of bulk, and in a full car we lacked good places to store it if it wasn’t in use on my child’s lap. Additionally, when it wasn’t in use and was set off to the side — often tipped on its side — small items could easily fall out of the pockets and get lost in the backseat. However, if you have a larger vehicle with a designated spot for a table like this, it might be just the ticket to help keep the kids entertained and happy during long trips.

What We Don’t Know:

We aren’t sure who makes this or if it comes with a warranty. We also haven’t yet gotten our hands on this travel and game table to know how well it works. We write open thread posts on products we haven’t been able to try to date, and our hope is that this will serve as a place for people to share about their experiences with the product.


Have you used the Auto XS Portable Travel and Game Table? Tell us what you think about it in the comments. 

About Rachael

Rachael is the Co-founder of Aldi Reviewer. When she isn't busy shopping at Aldi, she enjoys cooking, gardening, writing gothic romance, and collecting more houseplants than she probably should. You can learn more about her at rachaelsjohnston.com.

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