Also: Want to gift someone a tablet? Here are 12 great options, starting at $89 Some of the best tablets are downright expensive, and Apple’s iPad Pro can easily push the $2,000 mark. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a reliable and consistent tablet experience – especially when thinking about gifts for this upcoming holiday season. Also:
Don’t know which iPad is right for you? We break down the different modelsWant a bigger screen? These are the best large tabletsDon’t want an iPad? Check out these top-quality Android tabletsThese rugged tablets can withstand just about anythingWant a tablet for your kid? Our picks are not just for entertainment
Apple’s tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is arguably the best cheap tablet. Full stop.
Not only does the standard $329 price tag cover the same features you’d expect from Apple’s other tablets, like iPadOS updates for years and access to the App Store – you also don’t have to pay a premium as you do for the more expensive Pro and Air models.
Read the review: Apple iPad (2021) review: If it’s not broke, don’t fix it
The ninth-generation iPad was announced in fall 2021, and it includes an A13 Bionic processor plus more storage options. The base model offers double the storage, starting at 64GB. Or you can opt for 256GB of storage if you need the space. The entry-level iPad can be paired with Apple’s Smart Keyboard and an Apple Pencil, converting it from a tablet to a laptop.
Apple hasn’t expanded its facial recognition hardware beyond the iPad Pro lineup quite yet, and now the ninth generation iPad is the only tablet left in the lineup with a home button and Touch ID.
What’s the difference? Glad you asked. The HD 8 comes with 2GB of memory, while the HD 8 Plus comes with the same features as well as 3GB of memory, wireless charging support, and a faster-wired charger in the box.
To summarize: The extra $20 for the HD 8 Plus is well worth the investment.
Both Fire HD 10 models boast an octa-core processor, 4GB of memory, 32GB or 64GB of storage. They also include microSD card support up to 1TB.
The full HD display looks clear and provides plenty of space for gaming or watching movies. You’ll get up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 just recently came out and is an affordable tablet with a display that’s meant to be detached from its body. Lenovo made two notable upgrades with this 2022 model: a larger 11-inch display and an additional USB-C port. The former is a mere inch more than its predecessor, but still noticeable added real estate great for entertainment, web surfing, and basic work.
The 2-in-1 concept of this Chromebook remains as compact and portable as ever. You can expect an included kickstand and keyboard to come with this tablet, making it turn into a portable work companion rather than just simply a tablet.
Read the review: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review: One of the best budget Chromebooks just got even better
The Duet 3’s panel has a 2,000 by 1,200 resolution – Lenovo calls it 2K – which is a pleasure to look at. It also has built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 and 4GB of RAM. All this means you can expect a simplified user experience that will get the job done with essential browser tasks like video playing and multi-window browsing, since after all, this is a cheap tablet.
The Lenovo Tab P11 Plus looks a lot like the Chromebook Duet, only bigger and more powerful. Oh, and it runs Android 11 out of the box. It doesn’t come with a keyboard attachment like the Duet, but you can pick one up to expand its capabilities into more of a laptop replacement for $72.
ZDNet has been testing the P11 Plus for some time, and, overall, the tablet has impressed. It’s incredibly thin, and the display looks amazing. Android runs smoothly on it, free of any hiccups or lag.
Read the review: Lenovo Tab P11 Plus review: The budget Android tablet to beat
If you’re looking for a tablet to share with your kids, there’s a dedicated Google Kids Space app on the P11 Plus that makes it easy to hand the tablet to your child and not worry about what they’re accessing. It relies on Google’s Family Link parental controls, giving them access to age-appropriate apps and games.
The construction is solid, and the performance is reliable. If you’re looking for an affordable Android tablet, the P11 Plus is worth considering.
Samsung’s tablet lineup spans all aspects of price and capability. However, the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a good mixture of affordability and usefulness. It’s powered by Android 11, with Samsung’s own twist on the mobile operating system.
The lightweight design and small display make it portable enough to take anywhere, especially if you’re using it to keep your kids entertained with educational apps. Plus, the Tab A7 Lite has a metal frame for some added ruggedness.
It won’t be the fastest tablet out of this group, but it should have better performance than the Fire HD 8 lineup, with the added bonus of access to Google’s app and services.
Nokia’s T20 tablet is a recent addition to the Android tablet market. At $250, it’s affordable, and the hardware feels great to hold. The 10.4-inch display is good enough for watching Netflix or online shopping, and the battery life should get you through most of the day.
It comes with Android 11 out of the box, and Nokia promises three years of monthly security updates and two years of OS updates – meaning it should get Android 12 and Android 13, eventually. There’s a dedicated Google Kids Space that features content specifically for young children, keeping them from accessing your apps while using the tablet.
Read the review: Nokia T20, hands on: A good-value 10.4-inch Android tablet
If you want to spend less on a big tablet, Samsung’s “FE” series of devices are designed with Samsung fans in mind. The company took the best features of its high-end devices, trimmed them down, and released a more affordable product.
The Tab S7 FE has a large 12.4-inch display, a snappy processor, as well as multiple storage and memory options. The device, which comes in various colors, also has a 5G version available if you want to use it while on the go.
Some standout features include face recognition technology, two stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and multi-device connectivity. It also has a great battery life that will last you through at least 12 hours.
The 12.4-inch display is more than suitable for streaming or playing games, and it also comes with an S Pen, which adds even more to its affordability.
If you’re already heavily invested in Apple’s ecosystem of products and services, the 9th gen iPad makes the most sense. It also quickly adds up, becoming the most expensive yet cheap laptop on our list.
However, if you prefer Android you should take a look at the P11 Plus or the Galaxy Tab A7. At more than double the price of the A7, the P11 Plus offers a solid experience with a screen that’s hard to match at this level.
Using the input from all of those factors, we were able to whittle down the list to what you see here. Indeed, there are even cheaper tablets than what’s currently on this list. But when it comes to the low-end, entry-level market for most tech, you get what you pay for. And most of the time, the downfall of cheap tech is its slow performance.
Art students are the ones who will benefit most from using a tablet for classes since they can draw, sketch, and digitally paint similar to how they would with a physical pen and paper. Plus, there are some amazing art apps out there (ProCreate, Adobe Creative Cloud) to take full advantage of a tablet’s processing power and screen resolution.
