Technology
Best Budget Tablet 2024: Top 10 Cheap Tablets
![Samsung Galaxy Tab A9, Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE and Apple iPad 10.2 (2021)](https://blogaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Best-Budget-Tablet-2024-Top-10-Cheap-Tablets.jpg)
Despite early promise, tablets haven’t quite replaced laptops for most people.
As a result, you may be reluctant to spend the premium price required to get some of the best tablets out there.
If that’s you, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ve reviewed and ranked the 10 best budget tablets you can buy.
Android and Amazon Fire tablets dominate here, and all come in at under £250/$250. None of the iPad models that Apple sells are that cheap (unless you get a refurbished one), so we’ve included the most affordable model at the time of writing.
Of course, this is when you’re buying the tablet new. For a wider selection of cheap slates, see our guide to the best refurbished tablet deals.
Why you should trust us: Tablet reviews and buying advice have been a staple of Tech Advisor’s coverage since the original iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab arrived in 2010.
We’ve seen tablet makers scramble to offer the biggest, brightest, highest-resolution, fastest-refreshing, toughest, displays; we’ve seen an arms race in processors and graphics in the quest for the ultimate portable performance; continued improvements to accessories and software to make for the best possible productivity experience; a push for batteries that can go – never mind all day – but all week; and new technologies that enable water resistance and vastly improve audio.
We’ve held your hand through a fascinating journey of tablet hardware, and today – some 14 years later – it’s the software smarts and once impossible to imagine AI capabilities that glue us to this path. We perform in-depth, real-world testing on every new tablet that’s worth buying, including budget devices. We integrate them into our daily lives for the most authentic experience possible and making sure we are in a position to give you the best possible buying advice.
Best budget tablets 2024
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 – Best overall
Pros
- Slick, compact design
- Solid performance
- Impressive display
- Great value for money
Cons
- Slow charging
- Disappointing cameras
- Blurry scrolling at times
- Not available in the US
If you’re on a budget or just need a cheap tablet, there’s no better option than the Galaxy Tab A9.
It costs just £169 in the UK, yet offers everything most people need from a cheap slate. That includes solid everyday performance, an attractive 8.7-inch display and solid battery life. With a design that could easily pass for a device twice the price and Samsung’s intuitive One UI software over Android, there’s a lot to like here.
However, it’s not all good news. The charging speeds and cameras both need work, while scrolling can feel slow and produce a ghosting effect. There’s also no 5G support, but 4G will be absolutely fine for most people.
While not perfect, Samsung’s focus on getting the basics right means this is a tablet that’s easy to recommend. Provided you’re happy with Android, it’s the budget tablet to beat.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 review
2. Apple iPad 10.2in (2021) – Best cheap iPad
Pros
- Best selection of tablet-optimised apps
- Large, bright 10.2in display
- Support for Apple Pencil
Cons
- Dated design
- More expensive than other budget tablets
Price When Reviewed:
$329 (64GB) | $479 (256GB)
The 9th-gen regular iPad was released back in 2021, but it remains a great tablet. And with discounts often bringing it under £350/$350, it’s still the best affordable Apple tablet you can buy.
The iPad experience is a premium one no matter the model you opt for, with iPadOS offering a suite of tablet-focused features and functionality that make it easy to use, even if you’ve never used an iPad before. It also has the widest and most high-quality selection of tablet-optimised apps of all the devices here.
Even in 2024, Apple’s A13 Bionic is a capable chip that ensures the iPad can comfortably run the vast majority of apps on the App Store. The 10.2-inch display is a joy to use, especially with Apple’s TrueTone tech (for automatically adjusting colour balance based on your environment) and support for the first-gen Apple Pencil.
So, yes, while the iPad is a more premium entry-level tablet than those from Amazon and Android manufacturers, it still boasts the best all-around experience of them all.
Read our full
Apple iPad 10.2in (2021) review
3. Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE – Excellent Android option
Pros
- Lightweight and refined design
- Excellent audio
- 90Hz display
- Great battery life
Cons
- Slow charging
- Only two major OS updates
- Some bloatware
- Not available in the US
For just £199, the Redmi Pad SE offers a very good all-round tablet experience.
That starts with the design, which looks the part and is clearly inspired by more expensive tablets. The 11-inch, Full HD LCD display also holds its own, especially with a 90Hz refresh rate.
Don’t expect amazing performance from the Snapdragon 680 chipset, but it is powerful enough to for day-to-day usage – even with just 4GB of RAM.
An already-generous 128GB of storage is expandable via microSD, while punchy audio and two-day battery life are both better than you might expect.
Inevitable compromises come in the form of slow charging, annoying additions to Xiaomi’s MIUI software and only two years of Android version updates. But with three years of security updates, it’s still easy to recommend.
Read our full
Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE review
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ – Great large tablet
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Premium design
- Great quad speakers
- Intuitive software
Cons
- Slow charging
- Disappointing camera
- Underwhelming battery life
- Not available in the US
Samsung’s 2023 budget tablets were so good that we had to include both models. At £239, the Tab A9+ is significantly more expensive than the regular model, but introduces several upgrades.
The big one is the larger 11-inch display, which delivers great visuals and a 90Hz refresh rate. Performance from the Snapdragon 695 is a noticeable improvement, and it introduces 5G support. You also get the same slick design, impressive speakers and Samsung’s intuitive One UI skin over Android.
You also get a much larger battery than the regular Tab A9, but overall battery life is a little disappointing. The charging speeds and cameras could also be improved.
At this higher price point, those shortcomings are more significant. But there’s no doubt that the Tab A9+ is a great tablet that compares favourably to most of the competition.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ review
5. Oppo Pad Air – Best for content consumption
Pros
- Premium design
- Large, high-res display
- Decent performance
- Lightweight, sturdy build
Cons
- No fingerprint reader
- Only 60Hz refresh rate
- Middling camera performance
- Not available in the US
Price When Reviewed:
Not available in the US
The Oppo Pad Air isn’t a tablet that feels cheap in the hand, thanks to the combination of an all-metal body and angled edges reminiscent of premium models of iPad, though a textured plastic panel on the rear helps tell the two apart. It’s also lightweight as the Air branding suggests, weighing in at just 440g.
The 10.3-inch IPS LCD display sports an impressive 2000 x 1200 resolution, with vibrant colours and great viewing angles combined with quad-speakers making it ideal for watching content on the go. The only catch is that it’s capped at 60Hz. While that’s fairly regular for a budget tablet, it’s worth noting that many cheap slates now have high refresh rate screens.
Performance is in line with other budget options with a Snapdragon 680 processor, though it does perform well in benchmarks There’s also at least 64GB of storage to store your apps and games.
There are sacrifices to be made – the camera performance is middling, there’s no fingerprint reader and Oppo’s ColorOS isn’t the ideal UI for big-screen tablets – but if you’re looking at a decent all-rounder at an entry-level price, the Oppo Pad Air is a tempting option.
Read our full
Oppo Pad Air review
6. Nokia T21 – Best Android software
Pros
- Sharp & colourful screen
- Sleek design
- Long battery life
- Near-stock Android
Cons
- Middling performance
- Display dimmer than T20
- Charger not included
Price When Reviewed:
Not available in the US
If you’re looking for a cheap tablet with simple software, the Nokia T21 is an excellent choice. It’s running essentially stock Android with some useful additions including the ability to use the tablet as a second screen with Windows devices.
Once again, the 2K screen is impressive even if it is a little dimmer than the T20 and there’s a lot of good stuff for the asking price including solid battery life, a nice design and an LTE option for those that need data on the go.
The main issue here is that the Oppo Pad Air is only slightly more expensive with superior design and performance. But if slick software is your number one priority, the T21 is the way to go.
Read our full
Nokia T21 review
7. Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) – Best value tablet
Pros
- Compact form-factor
- Hands-free Alexa
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Entry-level performance
- Limited apps
- More expensive than previous generations
Price When Reviewed:
From $99.99. Model reviewed $129.99
While the Amazon Fire HD 8 has traditionally represented good value for money, that’s beginning to slip – especially if you opt for the ad-free model, or one with more storage.
The 2022 model has no real improvements bar USB-C, and if you want an ad-free experience, that’ll cost you an additional £10/$10.
That said, it does everything you’d expect from a Fire HD tablet, including an Echo Show mode that’ll let you use Alexa with your voice, stereo speaker support, a built-in microSD card slot and wireless charging.
You’ve got access to a range of apps and games via Amazon’s Appstore, though you won’t be able to download apps from Google Play or use any Google services despite Fire OS being based on Android.
Read our full
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) review
8. Amazon Fire Max 11 – Affordable productivity option
Pros
- Nice screen
- Optional keyboard and stylus
- Great handwriting recognition
- Good performance
Cons
- Limited apps
- No Google
- Only 64GB base storage
Price When Reviewed:
From $229.99
It might be the most expensive tablet Amazon makes, but it’s still very affordable and within the price cap we set for budget tablets. Though that changes if you want to add the keyboard case that’s sold separately.
The stylus is also an extra purchase, but delivers a realistic pen experience with very good handwriting recognition. You will have to deal with 64GB of storage unless you spend more and the usual caveat of not having access to the Google Play Store, though.
However, those primarily using Amazon services will get on just fine – the Max 11 offers a nice 2K screen, solid performance and decent battery life.
Read our full
Amazon Fire Max 11 review
9. Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) – Great for the basics
Pros
- Stylish design
- Good performance
- Nice screen
Cons
- Limited apps
- Slow charging
- Basic cameras
Price When Reviewed:
From $139.99
The 2023 model of the Fire HD 10 is a very iterative update compared to the 2021 version, but there are enough changes to make it a better choice for most people.
Design refinements help it look and feel that bit more premium, while the improved 5Mp front camera means it’s preferable for video calls. Charging is up from 9W to 15W, while battery life is also slightly.
Elsewhere, the experience will be very familiar to anyone who’s used a Fire tablet recently. It handles the basics fine, but the chipset still isn’t powerful enough for most demanding tasks.
No native support for the Google Play Store means some of your favourite apps might be missing, but if you’ve established yourself in the Amazon ecosystem, the tight integration of services is convenient.
Slow charging and cheap materials take the shine off the experience, but considering how little you’re paying, it’s still a solid choice.
Read our full
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) review
10. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2023) – Best for kids
Pros
- Stylish & lightweight
- Good warranty
- Well-designed case
Cons
- No Alexa in kids profiles
- Limited apps
- Overpriced
Price When Reviewed:
$189.99
Both a big tablet for kids and a tablet ideal for bigger kids, Amazon’s most expensive children’s tablet is also one of its best.
The HD 10 Kids Pro runs on the same underlying hardware as the regular model, just with a protective case. You also get one year’s free access to Amazon Kids+ (which includes various apps, books and other entertainment ) and a two-year warranty that includes a no-questions-asked replacement if it breaks.
The included case is a little more grown-up looking than the conventional kid bumper, as is the on-screen software experience. The user experience is closer to that of stock Fire OS but makes for easy activity monitoring and leaves out access to certain age-gated content or apps (such as Netflix), which have to be approved by a parent before being installed.
It’s a shame the kid-friendly version of Alexa isn’t supported – even though the tablet itself does facilitate such functionality – and certain kid-suitable Prime movies just don’t make an appearance. There’s also a newer 2023 model, though not much has changed.
Read our full
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro review
Budget tablet buying guide
What screen size do I need?
First, decide on screen size. Do you want a portable tablet with a 7-inch screen, or do you want something larger?
We can’t tell you what’s best for you, but in general, a 7- or 8-inch screen is best if you’re likely to travel a lot with the tablet. Go for something in the 9- to 10-inch range if you split your usage between home and travel, or a bigger device if it’ll be at home most of the time.
Look for an IPS screen (or better yet, an OLED screen), as this technology is almost guaranteed to offer superior colours and viewing angles versus a basic TN display. IPS panels usually offer decent brightness and contrast, too.
Resolution isn’t as important as you might think. Pixel density is a better guide: you need fewer pixels on a smaller screen and vice versa. Look for at least 220 pixels per inch (often abbreviated to ‘dpi’) to keep things looking crisp.
How much storage do I need?
You won’t get much storage in a budget tablet, but that’s fine if your chosen model has a microSD slot for expandability. Some tablets don’t, though, so this is important to check.
Consider at least 64GB if you intend to store any big files or apps on it, but 128GB is usually the sweet spot for most people.
What about cameras?
Most tablet cameras are relatively poor compared to a phone, even if you get a premium model.
Don’t expect great quality photos or videos from any budget slate, but you can get some decent images, so it’s worth checking. We have a section on the cameras in each of our tablet reviews.
Which processor is best?
While higher numbers are usually better, don’t pay too much attention to clock speeds (in GHz) or even RAM.
It’s easy to be fooled into believing a tablet will (or won’t) perform well, based on numbers alone. Read our reviews to find out how each tablet handles in the real world.
What tablet software is best?
If you do decide that a Fire tablet isn’t for you, the most like-minded alternative is an Android tablet.
Android is a great operating system, but it doesn’t follow that all cheap Android tablets are great. There are plenty of no-name brands out there, but as with most tech, you can’t buy one based on specifications alone.
The operating system determines not just which apps are pre-installed, but also which you can download and use.
The Google Play Store has a massive selection and it’s rare to find an app that’s only on iPad and not available to Android users, but it does happen – especially on the tablet front.
iPadOS is arguably the most capable and easy-to-use of all the tablet operating systems, though you’ll be paying a premium for Apple’s hardware.