Thanks to their large screens and capable processors, tablets are generally excellent devices for entertainment and productivity. The good news is that it’s surprisingly easy to find impressive slates for well under $300. PCMag has been covering tablets since the first iPad was released 16 years ago, so you can trust that we know which ones truly excel. Our current Editors’ Choice winners, Apple’s 11th-Gen iPad, Amazon’s Fire HD 10, and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A9+, span the three most popular tablet operating systems and provide exceptional value. All of the models on this list have their own merits, so it’s worth reading our full reviews of each. Be sure to scroll past the list for additional buying advice on affordable tablets.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
March 31, 2026: With this update, our lineup of recommended affordable tablets remains unchanged. The existing picks have been vetted for currency and availability.
- Affordable
- Good build quality
- Decent display
- Alexa Echo Show mode
- Limited app selection
- Amazon-focused content
Slotting in between the Fire HD 8 and the Fire 11 Max, the HD 10 offers a 10.1-inch, 1,920-by-1,200-pixel screen, a decent octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32 or 64GB of internal storage. We also like the microSD slot (which supports cards of up to 1TB) and the Echo Show mode that turns the tablet into a smart display. And with an operating time of 10 hours and 18 minutes in our battery rundown tests, it outlasts the other Fire tablets.
Amazon Prime households: Amazon Fire tablets are ideal for accessing Amazon’s vast library of services, including Audible and Prime Video. Its large display can show movies and TV shows in full HD, so you get a nice, sharp picture as you kick back.
Casual users: If you think you’ll just occasionally use a tablet, the Fire HD 10’s price makes it easy to add to your household. When not in use, it can double as a smart display with its Echo Show mode.
Operating System
Amazon Fire OS
Dimensions
9.69 by 6.49 by 0.34 inches
Weight
15.3 oz
Screen Size
10.1 inches
Screen Resolution
1,920 by 1,200 pixels
CPU
MediaTek
Storage Capacity
32 GB
Battery Life
10 hours, 18 minutes
Learn More
Amazon Fire HD 10 Review
- Most affordable iPad
- Good everyday performance
- High-quality hardware
- Improved storage options
- No Apple Intelligence
- Hardly anything new
With the same starting price as its predecessor, the 11th-generation iPad is a terrific deal. Its 11-inch display is perfect for consuming media and large enough to handle basic productivity tasks. It features a USB-C port, which is compatible with the same type of charging cable used by the latest iPhones. Additionally, the A16 processor should offer terrific performance for several years. You can even get a version with 5G support.
Complete newbies: If you’ve never touched a tablet, the Apple iPad is one of the most intuitive options available. There’s a reason people often refer to any tablet as an “iPad.” The 11th-generation model is powerful enough to handle a wide range of tasks, from productivity to creativity. In many ways, the iPad is the perfect starter tablet.
Apple users: If you’ve got a MacBook Pro, iPhone, or Apple TV, adding an iPad to the mix is a natural fit. All the apps you’ve purchased for your phone should be available on the iPad, typically with a design that leverages the larger screen. The tablet is also tightly integrated with Apple’s laptops and can act as a second display.
Operating System
IPadOS 18
Dimensions
9.79 by 7.07 by 0.28 inches
Weight
1.05 lbs
Screen Size
11 inches
Screen Resolution
2,360 by 1,640 pixels
CPU
Apple A16
Storage Capacity
128 GB
Battery Life
Up to 10 hours
Learn More
Apple iPad (11th-Gen, 2025) Review
- Affordable
- Large screen
- Good performance
- Expandable storage
- Software aids productivity
- No fingerprint sensor
- Low base storage
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ has a modern, understated design and provides respectable performance thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor. The 11-inch LCD features a sharp resolution of 1,920 by 1,200 pixels and an adaptive refresh rate of 90Hz, ensuring smooth animations. The tablet’s 64GB of starting storage is on the low side, so be sure to get a microSD card or upgrade to the variant with 128GB if you need more storage. Samsung plans to support the Tab A9+ until fall 2027, so it should remain up to date for some time.
Samsung Galaxy phone owners: If you own a Samsung phone, the Galaxy Tab A9+ pairs seamlessly through your Samsung account. You get a shared clipboard for easy copy and paste across devices, and the tablet can place and receive phone calls through your linked phone, so you don’t have to switch devices.
Style-conscious users: Often, there’s a trade-off between quality and cost, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ breaks this trend by offering refinement and a low price. Each part of the tablet flows into the next with high precision. For a device slightly over $200, the Tab A9+ looks and feels like a much more expensive tablet.
Operating System
Android 13
Dimensions
10.1 by 6.6 by 0.3 inches
Weight
1.06 lbs
Screen Size
11 inches
Screen Resolution
1,920 by 1,200 pixels
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
Storage Capacity
64 GB
Battery Life
7 hours
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Review
- Large, sharp screen
- Useful multitasking modes
- Stylus and fast charger included
- Supports microSD cards
- Display could be brighter
- No IP rating
The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro comes with a stylus for writing and drawing, strong multimedia support, and productivity-tuned software. Its spacious screen and smooth performance make it a good all-around choice for work and play.
People looking for a laptop stand-in: Lenovo often includes a PC Mode in its tablets. The Idea Tab Pro runs apps in resizable windows, similar to a traditional laptop, and represents a significant improvement over stock Android’s multitasking capabilities. If you need to get work done, PC Mode gives you the power and versatility to do it, and the tablet’s large screen makes juggling apps easier.
Scribblers and note-takers: This low-cost tablet comes with an accessory not always included by other manufacturers: a stylus. Lenovo includes its Tab Pen Plus, allowing you to try your hand at sketching or annotating. A stylus is also really handy for using Circle to Search by Google.
Operating System
Android 14
Dimensions
7.44 by 11.49 by 0.27 inches
Weight
1.37 pounds
Screen Size
12.7 inches
Screen Resolution
2,944 by 1,840 pixels
CPU
MediaTek Dimensity 8300
Storage Capacity
128 GB
Battery Life
8 hours, 21 minutes
Learn More
Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Review
- Big, vibrant display
- Stepped-up design
- Respectable performance
- Amazon ecosystem access
- Limited app selection
- No clear path to future OS versions
The Fire Max 11’s 11-inch, 2,000-by-1,200-pixel screen is ideal for watching shows and movies on the go. Amazon doesn’t cut too many corners on the specs either, outfitting the tablet with 4GB of RAM, an octa-core MediaTek processor, and up to 128GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD). Thanks to its titanium frame and minimal bezels, it looks and feels more premium than the company’s other tablets.
Power users on a budget: The Fire Max 11’s real-world performance is good and, in some ways, comparable with the Apple iPad. If you prefer using multiple apps simultaneously or want to browse your Amazon media, the Max 11 can handle it.
Parents who need one tablet for multiple children: Just like your favorite streaming services, the Amazon Fire Max 11 supports user profiles. Parents can create kid profiles and use Amazon’s parental controls to set age filters, block or allow specific content, and manage store access.
Operating System
Amazon Fire OS
Dimensions
10.20 by 6.44 by 0.30 inches
Weight
1.1 pounds
Screen Size
11 inches
Screen Resolution
2,000 by 1,200 pixels
CPU
Mediatek MTK8188J
Storage Capacity
64 GB
Battery Life
7 hours, 55 minutes
Learn More
Amazon Fire Max 11 Review
- Affordable
- Good battery life
- Lightweight
- So-so display
- Limited app support
- Poor cameras
Refreshed for 2024 yet still priced under $100, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is speedier than the Fire 7. It features a larger, higher-resolution screen, provides sufficient power to run basic streaming apps and games, and boasts enough battery life to last a full day. It won’t rival midrange and high-end tablets in performance, but it’s capable enough for basic entertainment needs.
Road warriors: If you simply desire something that has a larger screen than your phone when commuting or taking trips, the Fire HD 8 gives you an 8-inch screen for not a lot of money. It’s large enough for watching videos, but small enough to throw into a bag or even a pocket, making it a great travel companion.
The AI-curious: This tablet features three significant AI capabilities that demonstrate how on-device tools can be useful throughout the day. Webpage Summary transforms lengthy articles into concise, skimmable summaries with bullet points. Writing Assist helps you draft and polish text inside apps like Mail and Notes. Wallpaper Creator makes custom backgrounds from simple text prompts. These tools save reading time, streamline quick writing, and enable you to create playful visuals.
Operating System
Amazon Fire OS
Dimensions
7.94 by 5.40 by 0.37 inches
Weight
11.88 oz
Screen Size
8 inches
Screen Resolution
1,280 by 800 pixels
CPU
Hexa-core 2.0 GHz
Storage Capacity
32 GB
Battery Life
9 hours, 41 minutes
Learn More
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) Review
- Innovative screen
- Strong wireless connectivity
- Affordable
- Poor outdoor visibility
- Mediocre battery life
- Short software support window
TCL’s Tab 10 Nxtpaper 5G, exclusive to Verizon, delivers fast C-band network speeds and stands out for its matte, paper-like display that refreshes smoothly without any ghosting. Otherwise, the device’s good performance and expandable storage make it a compelling choice.
The persistently online: If you always need an internet connection, no matter where you go, this tablet features 5G in addition to Wi-Fi, so you can stay online at any time.
Comic book lovers: This tablet has a 10.4-inch glare-free display that renders comics with a paper-like texture and excellent readability. It looks like E Ink, but it’s not. You can pinch to zoom and flip pages instantly without any ghosting.
The Amazon-averse: Want Kindle-like reading without being locked into Amazon’s walled garden? The Tab 10 Nxtpaper is perfect for that. It runs Android, so you can load Kindle, OverDrive, Libby, or your preferred reading apps. That provides a familiar, paper-like reading experience while allowing you to borrow library books and access content across multiple services.
Operating System
Android 14
Dimensions
9.69 by 6.14 by 0.31 inches
Weight
16.93 oz
Screen Size
10.4 inches
Screen Resolution
2,000 by 1,200 pixels
CPU
MediaTek 8755
Storage Capacity
128 GB
Battery Life
6 hours, 25 minutes
Learn More
TCL Tab 10 Nxtpaper 5G Review
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The Best Cheap Tablets for 2026
Compare Specs
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap Tablets for 2026
What to Look for in a Cheap Tablet
There are many affordable tablets available on the market, accessible from retailers including Amazon, Target, and Walmart. We don’t recommend most of them: They tend to be slow, perform unreliably, have dim screens, and run old versions of Android that are full of security flaws.
When you’re shopping, consider screen resolution. An 8-inch, 1,280-by-800-pixel display lets you comfortably watch 720p HD video and read content. This size and resolution combine to produce 189 pixels per inch (ppi), the minimum you should look for if you want reasonably sharp pictures and text.
A few inexpensive 10-inch tablets are priced at $100 or less, but their screens typically have a low pixel density, resulting in a fuzzy and difficult-to-read appearance.
Apple iPad (2025) (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Pay close attention to storage specs as well. We recommend at least 64GB of built-in storage for installing apps and storing multimedia. If you plan to play large games like Genshin Impact, you may need 128GB because the game requires a significant amount of storage space. Of course, a microSD card slot can’t hurt, especially if you want to download movies to watch on long trips.
If possible, look for 4GB of RAM or more (we make an exception for Amazon’s Fire Tablets). This will help make multitasking smooth(er).
Battery life is another factor to consider; however, you can extend the life of your tablet on the go with one of the favorite backup battery packs.
Does Amazon Make the Best Cheap Tablets?
The best sub-$100 tablets we’ve tested are from Amazon, which often subsidizes its devices by displaying ads on the lock screen and promoting Amazon content throughout the interface. They’re relatively reliable, however, and they get security updates (even if only sporadically). Furthermore, they come with excellent customer support, which differentiates them from others in this class.
Amazon’s slates are also among the best kids’ tablets we’ve tested. They offer a simplified interface, comprehensive parental controls, and Kids+, which is essentially a vast collection of content tailored for children. A Parent Dashboard lets you track what your offspring are doing and restrict their screen time. You can also put multiple user profiles on the tablets. Other Android tablets also let you set up restricted kids’ profiles and configure parental control settings, but Amazon’s options are more comprehensive.
The one caveat with Amazon’s tablets is that they use the Amazon Appstore, which doesn’t have all the apps in the Google Play Store. If you want complete Google Play coverage with unrestricted access to the best Android apps, you should look elsewhere. Yes, you can sideload apps on Fire tablets, but this comes with risks, and we don’t recommend it.
If these choices feel underwhelming, look at our picks for the best Android tablets overall.
Are There Cheap Tablets That Don’t Run Android?
If you want a quality Apple or Windows tablet under $200, you’ll have to dip into the used market. In that case, we suggest you first check out manufacturers’ certified refurbished sales or head to third-party sellers, such as Gazelle and Swappa, which buy used products and test them before reselling.
Recommended by Our Editors
The 11th-generation iPad is the least expensive new iPad. At $349, it’s an excellent value, and it’s often available at a discounted price. Over the past several years, Apple has made the iPad a decent replacement for a basic laptop, with accessories such as the Apple Pencil USB-C and the Magic Keyboard Folio adding value.
We wouldn’t call the iPad a cheap tablet, but there are some good reasons to invest in one. Most notably, you can stay current with software updates for at least several years, which is significantly longer than the typical lifespan of most budget tablets on our list. If you get an older, used iPad, it’s likely to be excluded from the software update cycle within a year or two. We suggest sticking with the 2022-era, 10th-gen iPad if you opt for used.
You could also look at certified used devices at this price level in the Windows world. If your budget is a little more flexible, here’s our list of the best Windows tablets.
Finally, if budget buying feels too much like cutting corners, check out the best tablets we’ve tested. Just be prepared to spend a lot more.
