The Best Cheap Tablets for Kids — Because You Know They’ll Just Drop Them

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When it comes to buying a new gadget or device, all too often it seems as if you can have affordable or you can have quality and access to all the newest bells and whistles, but you can’t have both at the same time. But that’s not the case when it comes to the best cheap tablets for kids, which offer stand-out features, must-have durability and enough speed to keep kids occupied and engaged, like the excellent picks below. 

Since there’s plenty to consider when choosing a cheap tablet for your family, The Real Deal turned to Sascha Segan, the lead analyst for mobile at PCMag.com, for his advice. Before you hit “add to cart,” think about your kid and what you’re looking for in a cheap tablet. For younger children, that might be as simple as good parental controls, a few educational apps and ways to watch a cute video or read an interactive book with a caregiver or parent. Older kids are going to use tablets to make art, play games, stay in touch with friends and tackle schoolwork, too. Or maybe you’ve got a voracious reader who would benefit the most from an e-reader. 

Read on to see the six best kid-friendly tablets, including a cheap tablet under $100 that won’t become obsolete after just a few months. Then keep scrolling to hear all of Segan’s suggestions in our buying guide. 

The Expert’s Pick for Best Cheap Android Tablet Under $100

Onn. 8” Tablet at Walmart

Our expert says that in terms of rock-bottom, ridiculously cheap Android tablets, Walmart’s Onn. 8-inch tablets are the best bet. And though it’s not the speediest tablet in town, PCMag reports it’s a “surprisingly good value,” and absolutely holds its own for basic tasks, like streaming video, accessing social media or reading. 

Why We Love It: It’s the price, first and foremost, that’ll catch your eye, and who can blame you? In fact, you can get multiple tablets for less than the cost of most other single tablets. But beyond its biggest selling point ($$$), it does the job, gives you access to the Google Play store, and is straightforward and simple enough to use. Don’t just take our word for it: an impressive 90% of Walmart reviewers recommend this budget buy. 

The Cost: $76 at Walmart, plus free 2-day delivery

Overall Best Cheap Tablet for Younger Kids

Amazon’s Fire HD 10 Kids Edition 

In recent years, Amazon has really upped their game when it comes to meeting the needs of families with younger children, Segan says, successfully putting together bundles of tablets, accessories and content which really speak to what parents need — especially for smaller kids. Case in point is the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition, with its no-questions-asked two-year warranty, access to a huge library of age-appropriate content, and easy-to-use parental controls. It’s available in sky blue, lavender and aquamarine. 

Why We Love It: This tablet has “everything a parent needs for kids 10 or younger,” Segan raves, including “a big, rubbery case, strong parental controls, a two-year warranty and a curated content library full of kids’ books and games.” 

Cost: $199.99 at Amazon 

Overall Best Cheap Tablet for Older Kids

2020 Apple 10.2-inch iPad 

Sure, Apple iPads aren’t known for being the cheapest kids on the block, but don’t forget to factor in longevity. Our expert says you can expect an iPad to last your kid (or you) five years, and Segan adds that Apple’s base model has become both more affordable and more powerful in recent years, so you’re getting a whole lot of bang for your buck. Besides, “Once you get to middle school, there’s really no alternative to an iPad. There’s huge social pressure among kids that age to be able to use iMessage and FaceTime, and an iPad gets you there without having to buy the kid a phone; iPads also have an absolutely unmatched set of apps and games, including the ability to tap into Amazon’s curated Kids+ library. (Just make sure to turn purchasing controls on!).” 

Pick one up in gold, silver or space grey. And don’t forget a big, rubbery case, adds the pro. 

We We Love It: Aside from all the reasons Segan ticked off above, the large screen, excellent resolution, thoughtful accessibility features and the tablet’s sheer speed make this an excellent all-around tablet for any age, kids and adults alike. 

The Cost: $299 at Amazon 

The Best 2-in-1 Cheap Tablet & Chromebook

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 (13-inch) 

Chromebooks are useful for schools where Google docs and Google Classroom reign supreme, but tablets are tops for reading and watching videos. Solution? Get your child this 2-in-1 tablet and Chromebook in one, so they can engage with their device however they’d like. Set it up as a tent, tablet or laptop, use the keyboard or touchscreen. They can switch this up as often as they seem to switch up their moods!  

Why We Love It: Because of its versatility for all ages, usefulness for both fun and academics, reasonable price point, impressive battery life (up to 10 hours in ideal conditions), under three pounds weight and all-over popularity, this is an all-around winner.  

The Cost: $366 at Amazon 

Another Excellent Cheap Fire Tablet

Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

Segan says, “The smaller Fire HD 8 Kids Edition saves you a bit of money and is good for Geronimo Stilton books and Toca Boca-type games, but it lowers gaming performance (I wouldn’t use it for Roblox, most critically) and isn’t quite big enough for reading comics.” In other words, great for young kids! It’s available in blue, pink and purple. 

Why We Love It: For the preschool set, this is an ideal buy. It has more than enough to keep them entertained and like the Fire 10, comes with all sorts of wonderful content; a nice, grippy case; that two-year warranty and a cheap price tag. 

The Cost: $139.99 at Amazon 

The Best Cheap Reading Tablet

Kindle Kids Edition

If you’ve ever tried to concentrate on a task on your computer, only to be lulled away by the siren song of Instagram or that adorable t-shirt your neighbor was wearing that you need to search for right now, you’ll understand the benefits of a reading-only tablet, like the Kindle Kids Edition. Not only is this lightweight device wonderful when traveling or commuting to school, but the black and white, glare-free screen makes bedtime reading relaxing instead of blue-light “can’t fall asleep” energizing. Plus, there are no games or ads distracting them, so they can lose themselves in a novel. Available in blue, pink, rainbow birds or space-themed covers. 

Why We Love It: Impressive battery life (we’re talking weeks of reading!), a free year of Amazon Kids+ (FreeTime Unlimited), the “terrific value” and Kindle’s two-year guarantee. Priceless: supporting a child’s lifelong love of reading, particularly in a day and age when kids encounter all sorts of digital distractions.   

The Cost: $109.99 at Amazon 

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Apple Pencil 

Artsy tweens and teens will love pairing their iPad with an Apple Pencil. It is incredibly intuitive to use and turns their tablet into a canvas they can explore to their heart’s content. It’s equally helpful for taking notes on a document or creating a to-do list or just doodling and daydreaming. 

Why We Love It: Expands the capabilities of an iPad, and makes an awesome gift idea. 

The Cost: $89 at Amazon 

Cheap Tablets for Kids Buying Guide

The Essentials for Any Tablet for Kids  

Look for, “durability, availability of content and parental controls,” says Segan. “They’ll always want a stream of new books and videos and you want to make sure they don’t end up either with inappropriate material or inappropriate access to your credit card.” And since kids drop things, a case is another essential. Seriously. 

Stick to the Big Names 

According to Segan, “The two big players here are Apple and Amazon. While there are other tablet vendors you see knocking around, they fall short in terms of content, controls or reliability.” Though you may be enticed by the price tag, he doesn’t think most Android tablets offer the value that Amazon’s and Apple’s do for parents, and he warns, “they tend to leave you a lot more ‘on your own’ when putting together your kid-friendly bundle.” 

Avoid “Toy” Tablets

You might be tempted to buy one of the educational tablets aimed at kids, but Segan says they’re so restricted that they end up having very short lifespans. Better to get one of the best cheap tablets from the list above, and, since parents and caregivers are “media mentors” to children, sit with your child to find the most engaging, age-appropriate content for them. Zero to Three has a helpful guide on selecting media to get you started. 

Should We Splurge for the Extra Insurance?

That’s a no from our pro. “Amazon Kids tablets come with a two-year warranty, and in two to three years they’ll probably want a different device anyway. [Meanwhile] iPads tend to be very reliable over time.” 

Gimme the Mini?

Hold off on buying a new iPad mini for the time being. Rumor has it the iPad mini 6 is heading our way, with major upgrades that may make this the holiday gift of winter 2021. 

The post The Best Cheap Tablets for Kids — Because You Know They’ll Just Drop Them appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.