The Compactron is a 12-pin vacuum tube family introduced in 1961 by General Electric in Owensboro, Kentucky with the express purpose of keeping tubes in the market for a few more years during the solid state revolution. Television sets were a primary application. Most Compactrons are either multiple tubes (e.g. three triodes in one bulb), or high-voltage and high-power types such as television sweep tubes.

A distinguishing feature of most Compactrons is the placement of the seal-off tip on the bottom end, rather than the top end as was customary with "miniature" tubes. Variations of the Compactron design were made by Sylvania and by some Japanese firms. Manufacture of Compactrons ceased in the early 1990s.

Examples:

• 6AG11 high-mu twin triode
• 6M11 twin triode - pentode
• 12AE10 twin pentode
• 8B10 twin triode - twin diode
• 38HK7 pentode diode
• 6AF11
• 6GB5 beam power pentode with anode cap