The best cheap tablets offer bright screens and decent battery life, which are the two most important factors to consider when buying any tablet, at any price.
For professional users and creatives, some cheap tablets (namely those from Samsung and Apple) even offer support for accessories like the Samsung S Pen and Apple Pencil, though you’ll want to consider one of the best tablets, best iPads, or best Android tablets if you’re planning on running demanding software.
The still-capable Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) is our current pick as the best cheap tablet for most people because it offers typical Apple performance at a wallet-friendly price. Alternatively, the even cheaper Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 and Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) are equally attractive options for those on a budget.
In this guide, we’ve highlighted the best cheap tablets to buy in 2024. Every device in the below list has been subjected to a full TechRadar review, so you can rest assured that our recommendations are based on real-world judgments.
Most of the below tablets are older-generation models, so you may have to visit third-party retailers to pick them up, but where possible, we’ve provided links to those retailers under each entry.
Quick List
Apple’s iPad 10.2 (2021) has a fantastic 10.2-inch screen and handy video call features that make it the best cheap tablet overall. It’s not the cheapest tablet on our list, but if you can afford it, you’ll be set for years to come, as it’s still being supported with iPadOS updates.
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2. Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
The Amazon Fire HD 10 doesn’t exactly set the tablet world on fire, offering only a small upgrade over its predecessor. But for streaming, gaming and web browsing, it’s a more-than-capable device.
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If you prefer a more versatile Android tablet, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A8 is among the best bargain tablets from the premiere Android manufacturer. This Galaxy Tab is great for watching movies, and offers strong battery life to keep you working or entertained.
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For the best cheap small tablet, Amazon’s 8-inch Fire HD 8 Plus is a pint-sized wonder. Its screen quality isn’t great, but if used with an optional dock, it essentially becomes an Echo Show.
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Axel is TechRadar’s Phones Editor, and has been reviewing and writing about the best mobile devices (tablets included) for several years. Based in the UK, he handles news and feature coverage for the phones section of the site, and regularly edits TechRadar’s phones-related reviews and buying guides. You’ll find Axel’s byline on over 1,500 TechRadar articles.
The best cheap tablet in 2024
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Below, you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best cheap tablets in our list. We’ve tested each model extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best cheap tablet overall
Despite its age (or perhaps because of its age), the Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) takes the crown as the best cheap tablet to buy in 2024. Sure, it’s now over three years old, but this great all-rounder is compatible with iPadOS 18, and will remain compatible with future software updates until at least 2027.
This tablet’s marquee features include a gorgeous 10.2-inch screen with True Tone technology, so its colors and brightness automatically adjust to suit the light. In testing, we found that True Tone proves especially useful for outdoor use, where bright sunlight might otherwise pose a challenge.
The iPad 10.2 (2021) also offers a handy Center Stage feature when taking video calls, which means the camera keeps you in frame at all times. iPadOS 15 (or iPadOS 18, if you update to the latest version of Apple’s OS) keeps things running well with easy-to-use multitasking features and the ability to place widgets anywhere on the screen, and this tablet’s A13 Bionic chipset remains capable for most everyday tasks.
During our testing of the iPad 10.2 (2021), we recorded 10 hours of battery life, which, while not the best (see the Amazon Fire HD 10 for that), is still decent enough. There’s no Face ID, but for a cheap tablet, it’s hard to fault how well the iPad 10.2 (2021) just works.
Read our full iPad 10.2 (2021) review
The best cheap Amazon tablet
Amazon’s best Fire tablet isn’t the cheapest tablet around, but it’s fairly solid if you’re not fussed about having an extensive ecosystem to dig into. Nevertheless, you get some strong specs for not a lot of money with this device, including a Full HD 10.1-inch display that we found is well-suited for watching movies and playing games.
In testing, we recorded a very respectable 13 hours of battery life with the Fire HD 10, so you needn’t worry about its endurance when you’re on a lengthy trip. Its tough design should make it weather any bumps and knocks on said trip, too, just don’t expect it to win many admiring looks, as its design is rather dated.
There are, of course, some caveats here, including the fact that you’re limited to playing within Amazon’s walled garden of Fire OS, which includes lots of unremovable apps. And for people with the Fire HD 10 from 2021, we’re not convinced that this is a compelling upgrade. But for those of you who want a tough and no-frills tablet, the Fire HD 10 is definitely still worth considering in 2024.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) review
The best cheap Samsung tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has since been replaced by the newer Galaxy Tab A9, which we’re currently testing (hence its absence from this list), but while the latter device offers slightly better specs – specifically, it boasts more RAM and is 176g lighter – the Galaxy Tab A9 has at least made the still-excellent Galaxy Tab A8 cheaper than ever in 2024.
The Galaxy Tab A8 is Samsung’s answer to Apple’s best cheap tablet, which you’ve seen above. If you’re looking for an Android-powered iPad rival on a budget, this (or indeed the new Tab A9) is the slate you should consider. With Google’s Android operating system providing plenty of flexibility, coupled with a large HD display, the 10.5-inch Tab A8 is great for movies and web browsing.
We found that this tablet also benefits from a long battery life, so you can indulge in a movie marathon; just be aware that it can take some time to charge. It’s not the most powerful tablet around, and overall we’d give Apple’s cheapest iPad the edge. But for media and basic app use around the house, this is a strong choice.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 review
The best cheap small tablet
The 8-inch Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is essentially the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020), but just made a little bit better, so it’s no wonder it’s one of the best cheap tablets. It has more RAM at 3GB, supports wireless charging (so you can use it with an optional dock that brings it close to an Echo Show), and comes with a speedier charger than the standard Fire HD 8.
Beyond that, it’s much the same as its cheaper sibling. But that in itself makes it faster than the previous generation of the Amazon Fire HD 8, and you get much more storage to play with, too.
In testing, we found that the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus still isn’t the fastest of slates, but it holds its own for what it costs, and if you want a small-sized tablet and smart display all in one, it’s a top choice – though for just the tablet part, you might want to consider the standard Fire HD 8 (2020) instead.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus review
FAQs
What is the best cheap tablet?
The best cheap tablet on the market right now is Apple’s iPad 10.2 (2021). Despite its age, it still gives you a gorgeous 10.2-inch screen, great app support and handy video call features. If you’re looking for an Android device, though, then we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8.
How to choose the best cheap tablet
There are always compromises on cheaper products, so in choosing one of the best cheap tablets, it’s important to identify where corners have been cut, and whether those things matter to you. Equally, if anything in particular is very important to you, be it the battery, screen or anything else, make sure that the tablet you’re considering performs well there.
There are also variables that apply no matter how much you’re spending. For example, you might want something relatively small, light and portable, such as an 8-inch screen and a weight of under 400g.
Or maybe you want a big, immersive 10-inch display. Operating systems are worth considering too, with the options typically including Apple’s iPadOS, Android, and Amazon’s Fire OS.
You’re not going to get a master of all trades at a low price, but it’s very possible to find the balance you need.
How we test
In this best cheap tablets guide, we’ve only included tablets that we’ve fully reviewed. That means that we’ve used every entry extensively and delivered a final verdict on them. That process includes testing every key feature and using them as our main tablet, just like a typical buyer would.
This allows us to easily rank and compare different tablets, factoring in their specs, performance, price, value, age, screen quality, battery life, and any other factor worth considering.
With that information, we know exactly which ones to include and which to exclude, and whenever a new cheap tablet is released, we’ll compare it to the other entries in this list before deciding if or where it should be placed.
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