After a new cheap tablet? Whether you’re after Android or iOS you’ll find some top budget options here.
The best cheap tablet field isn’t the largest as there isn’t much of a market for budget devices, compared to mid-range and high-end tablets. However, there are still some good options out there. These include Amazon’s extensive range of tablets such as the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, as well as Apple’s selection such as the iPad 10.2 (2021). The latter is one of the only truly affordable iPads right now. This list has those and more, including an entry from Samsung, in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5. So you’ll find slates that have a range of sizes, operating systems and features below. All you need to decide is which one most appeals. To help with that we’ve ranked them, but not everyone needs the same things from a slate. 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. So these are all things to consider when choosing a tablet, and to help you with that we’ve also included a full specs list for each, plus pros, cons, and an overview. If you’re still in doubt, you can always click through to our full review for each, to get a complete picture of them. If you’re after something with a higher spec, check out our best tablet, best iPad and best Android tablet guides. The new champion of the best cheap tablets, the Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) offers everything its older model did and more. That includes a gorgeous 10.2-inch screen that now has True Tone technology so its colors and brightness automatically adjust to suit the light. There’s also the new and handy Center Stage feature when taking video calls which means the camera keeps you in frame at all times. iOS 15 keeps things running well with easier-to-use multitasking features and the ability to place widgets anywhere on the screen. Elsewhere, the battery life is the same at 10 hours and there’s no Face ID but for a cheap tablet, it’s hard to fault how well this one works. Read the full review: iPad 10.2 (2021) The best of the Amazon Fire tablet range, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus might not be the cheapest but it offers a lot for the price tag.
