The best cheap tablets of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

Back-to-school season is here and it's the perfect time to pick up a new tablet without overspending. There are plenty of affordable tablets that punch well above their weight in price when it comes to prepping for class, managing assignments, or just streaming in your downtime. 

We tested the best cheap tablets of 2025 to help you find the perfect tablet for kids, your own casual use, work, studying, or travel. 

Also: The best drawing tablets

Best tablet deals of the week

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus 64GB Wi-Fi 11-inch Tablet (Graphite):  $140 (save $80)
• Apple iPad 11-inch 128GB Wi-Fi Retina Tablet (Blue, 2025 Release):  $274 (save $75)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Oxford Gray):  $230 (save $170)
• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black):  $70 (save $70)

What is the best cheap tablet right now?

Whether you need a new tablet for work or are just looking to upgrade without spending a fortune, we've rounded up the best cheap tablets based on our hands-on experience and testing. Our top pick is the Apple iPad (9th generation), but we've also reviewed and included options from Amazon, Lenovo, and more for under $400.

The best cheap tablets of 2026

Apple's tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is arguably the best cheap tablet on the market. The $329 price tag covers the same features you'd expect from Apple's other tablets. This includes years of iPadOS updates and access to the App Store, but without the premium price Pro and Air models.

Review:Apple iPad (2021)

The ninth-generation Apple iPad, announced in 2021, includes an A13 Bionic processor and more storage options. While the 10th-generation iPad was announced in 2022, ZDNET editor June Wan said the 2021 version is still a good buy. It's also $120 cheaper. 

"Even if you're shopping for personal use, if your intended uses are mainly video streaming, note-taking, and playing tablet games, then the ninth-generation iPad should suffice," Wan said. 

The base model offers 64GB of storage, but you can opt for 256GB if you need more space. The entry-level iPad can be paired with Apple's Smart Keyboard and an Apple Pencil, converting it from a tablet to a 2-in-1 laptop. Overall, 98% of people who purchased this generation Apple iPad at Best Buy would recommend it to a friend and gave it a rating of 4.9 stars out of 5.

iPad (ninth-generation) tech specs: Display: 10.2-inch Retina display | Processor: A13 Bionic | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver, space gray | Cameras: 8MP rear, 1080p video, 12MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage | Weight: 1.07 pounds | Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, Lightning port | Battery life: 10 hours

• Great processor
• Lots of storage
• Decent screen size

• No Face ID option

Apple's tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is arguably the best cheap tablet on the market. The $329 price tag covers the same features you'd expect from Apple's other tablets. This includes years of iPadOS updates and access to the App Store, but without the premium price Pro and Air models.

Review:Apple iPad (2021)

The ninth-generation Apple iPad, announced in 2021, includes an A13 Bionic processor and more storage options. While the 10th-generation iPad was announced in 2022, ZDNET editor June Wan said the 2021 version is still a good buy. It's also $120 cheaper. 

"Even if you're shopping for personal use, if your intended uses are mainly video streaming, note-taking, and playing tablet games, then the ninth-generation iPad should suffice," Wan said. 

The base model offers 64GB of storage, but you can opt for 256GB if you need more space. The entry-level iPad can be paired with Apple's Smart Keyboard and an Apple Pencil, converting it from a tablet to a 2-in-1 laptop. Overall, 98% of people who purchased this generation Apple iPad at Best Buy would recommend it to a friend and gave it a rating of 4.9 stars out of 5.

iPad (ninth-generation) tech specs: Display: 10.2-inch Retina display | Processor: A13 Bionic | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver, space gray | Cameras: 8MP rear, 1080p video, 12MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage | Weight: 1.07 pounds | Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, Lightning port | Battery life: 10 hours

Amazon's Fire tablets -- specifically the Fire HD 8 and HD 8 Plus--are among the most affordable tablets you'll find. The Fire HD 8 Plus is the cheapest tablet on our list at only $120. The company also redesigned the formerly square and hard-edged tablets, adding a more round design that looks and feels fantastic. 

What's the difference? The HD 8 comes with 2GB of memory, while the HD 8 Plus has 3GB of memory, wireless charging support, and a faster-wired charger in the box. Amazon customers praise this affordable tablet for its image quality, crisp display, and quick charge time.

ZDNET's Kerry Wan also reviewed the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus and said, "for $120, you really can't complain about the performance of the Fire HD 8 Plus." He recommends the tablet for casual browsing, mobile entertainment, or even for a child.

The Fire HD 8 runs Amazon's Fire OS, which means it runs Android apps, but you're limited to apps available in Amazon's own Appstore. Like with most tablets in this price range, performance can be sluggish sometimes, but you'll have no issues shopping, browsing social media, or checking your email on the Fire HD 8 Plus. An added bonus is the 13-hour battery life means you can go longer without having to charge the tablet.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tech specs: Display: 8-inch, 1280x800 display | Processor: Quad-core 2.0GHz | Storage: 32GB or 64GB | Memory: 3GB | Colors: Black | Cameras: 2MP front and rear | Weight: 0.78 pounds | Dimensions: 8.0 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C | Battery: 13 hours

• Very affordable
• MicroSD card expandable storage
• Battery life

• Performance isn't its best feature
• No access to Google apps or services

Amazon's Fire tablets -- specifically the Fire HD 8 and HD 8 Plus--are among the most affordable tablets you'll find. The Fire HD 8 Plus is the cheapest tablet on our list at only $120. The company also redesigned the formerly square and hard-edged tablets, adding a more round design that looks and feels fantastic. 

What's the difference? The HD 8 comes with 2GB of memory, while the HD 8 Plus has 3GB of memory, wireless charging support, and a faster-wired charger in the box. Amazon customers praise this affordable tablet for its image quality, crisp display, and quick charge time.

ZDNET's Kerry Wan also reviewed the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus and said, "for $120, you really can't complain about the performance of the Fire HD 8 Plus." He recommends the tablet for casual browsing, mobile entertainment, or even for a child.

The Fire HD 8 runs Amazon's Fire OS, which means it runs Android apps, but you're limited to apps available in Amazon's own Appstore. Like with most tablets in this price range, performance can be sluggish sometimes, but you'll have no issues shopping, browsing social media, or checking your email on the Fire HD 8 Plus. An added bonus is the 13-hour battery life means you can go longer without having to charge the tablet.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tech specs: Display: 8-inch, 1280x800 display | Processor: Quad-core 2.0GHz | Storage: 32GB or 64GB | Memory: 3GB | Colors: Black | Cameras: 2MP front and rear | Weight: 0.78 pounds | Dimensions: 8.0 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C | Battery: 13 hours

The newly released Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is an affordable Android tablet with an easily detachable display. Lenovo made two notable upgrades with this model: a larger 11-inch display and an additional USB-C port. The former is a mere inch more than its predecessor, but still provides a noticeable upgrade for entertainment, web surfing, and basic work. 

The 2-in-1 concept of this Chromebook remains as compact and portable as ever. A kickstand and keyboard come included with this tablet, upgrading it to a portable work companion. Best Buy customers who have reviewed this tablet add that it makes a great iPad replacement. 

Review: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3

ZDNET's Kerry Wan said this tablet impressed him just as much as some of the more expensive Chromebooks on the market. "The Lenovo's 64GB of internal storage is actually plenty for a Chromebook, even if you plan to download a dozen or so apps," he said. 

The Duet 3's panel has a 2,000 x 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.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 tech specs: Display: 10.9-inch, 2K (2,000 x 1,200), IPS, touchscreen display (400 nits) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 | Storage: 64GB or 128GB | Memory: 4GB | Cameras: 5MP front, 8MP rear | Weight: 1.14 pounds | Dimensions: 10.16 x 6.48 x 0.31 inches | Connections: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, pogo-pin (for detachable keyboard) | Battery: 12 hours

• 11-inch, 2K display enhances the ChromeOS experience
• Kickstand and keyboard included
• 2-in-1 factor

• Speakers are lackluster
• Outdated and bland design

The newly released Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is an affordable Android tablet with an easily detachable display. Lenovo made two notable upgrades with this model: a larger 11-inch display and an additional USB-C port. The former is a mere inch more than its predecessor, but still provides a noticeable upgrade for entertainment, web surfing, and basic work. 

The 2-in-1 concept of this Chromebook remains as compact and portable as ever. A kickstand and keyboard come included with this tablet, upgrading it to a portable work companion. Best Buy customers who have reviewed this tablet add that it makes a great iPad replacement. 

Review: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3

ZDNET's Kerry Wan said this tablet impressed him just as much as some of the more expensive Chromebooks on the market. "The Lenovo's 64GB of internal storage is actually plenty for a Chromebook, even if you plan to download a dozen or so apps," he said. 

The Duet 3's panel has a 2,000 x 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.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 tech specs: Display: 10.9-inch, 2K (2,000 x 1,200), IPS, touchscreen display (400 nits) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 | Storage: 64GB or 128GB | Memory: 4GB | Cameras: 5MP front, 8MP rear | Weight: 1.14 pounds | Dimensions: 10.16 x 6.48 x 0.31 inches | Connections: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, pogo-pin (for detachable keyboard) | Battery: 12 hours

When it comes to tablets for kids, ZDNET writer Maria Diaz says it's all about durability, fast performance, and warranties or replacement policies. Amazon's Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is a great option for parents who want to give their kids some tech for learning and reading purposes without shelling out a crazy amount of cash.

With the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, if your kid breaks it within the first two years, you can send it back, and Amazon will replace it, no questions asked. Even with this replacement policy, Diaz pointed out how durable the tablet is, as it underwent a couple of drops unscathed while she was testing it. 

Your child will have access to thousands of solo games, apps, and collaborative games to play with their friends. The tablet comes included with one year of Amazon Kids+, which is just another reason Diaz prefers these tablets for her little ones. 

Overall, 98% of customers who have purchased this tablet at Best Buy would recommend it to other parents and gave it an overall rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tech specs: Display: 10.1" 1080p display (1920 x 1200) | Processor: Octa-core processor - 2x Arm Cortex-A76 | Storage: 32GB with up to 1TB of additional storage for purchase | Memory: 3GB RAM | Colors: Happy Day, Mint, and Nebula | Cameras: 5MP front- and rear-facing camera | Weight: 23 oz | Dimensions: 7.5 " x 10.1" x 0.7" | Connections: USB-C and microSD slot | Battery: 13 hours 

• Fast performance
• Amazon replaces broken tablets within two years
• Durable

• Slower processor and fewer higher-end features than iPad

When it comes to tablets for kids, ZDNET writer Maria Diaz says it's all about durability, fast performance, and warranties or replacement policies. Amazon's Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is a great option for parents who want to give their kids some tech for learning and reading purposes without shelling out a crazy amount of cash.

With the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, if your kid breaks it within the first two years, you can send it back, and Amazon will replace it, no questions asked. Even with this replacement policy, Diaz pointed out how durable the tablet is, as it underwent a couple of drops unscathed while she was testing it. 

Your child will have access to thousands of solo games, apps, and collaborative games to play with their friends. The tablet comes included with one year of Amazon Kids+, which is just another reason Diaz prefers these tablets for her little ones. 

Overall, 98% of customers who have purchased this tablet at Best Buy would recommend it to other parents and gave it an overall rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tech specs: Display: 10.1" 1080p display (1920 x 1200) | Processor: Octa-core processor - 2x Arm Cortex-A76 | Storage: 32GB with up to 1TB of additional storage for purchase | Memory: 3GB RAM | Colors: Happy Day, Mint, and Nebula | Cameras: 5MP front- and rear-facing camera | Weight: 23 oz | Dimensions: 7.5 " x 10.1" x 0.7" | Connections: USB-C and microSD slot | Battery: 13 hours 

What is the best cheap tablet?

The Apple iPad (ninth-generation) base model is the best cheap tablet. Although it is the most expensive tablet on our list, it is also the most capable, with a beautiful display, long battery life, and a strong processor.

*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.

Which cheap tablet is right for you?

It comes down to what you plan on using the tablet for. If you're already heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem of products and services, the ninth-generation iPad makes the most sense for the best cheap tablet. It also quickly adds up, becoming the most expensive "cheap" tablet on our list. 

However, if you prefer Android, the best cheap tablet option might be 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. 

Amazon's Fire tablets are the slowest out of the group, but they're also very affordable and offer a different experience altogether. I often recommend these cheap tablets to parents who want to help their kids learn or simply keep them entertained, especially while traveling. 

Factors to consider when choosing the best cheap tablets:

There are a few factors we consider before adding these cheap tablets to this list. Those include: 

• Price: When looking for the best cheap tablets, we first narrowed down the list by looking at prices at the bottom third of the tablet market. That means anything roughly $350 to $400 or less, with the majority of our options between $100 and $200. 
• Hands-on experience: Once I had a price point, I started reading reviews and tapping into my own personal experience, as well as those of other ZDNET staff who have used these tablets. Most of the tablets on this list have been reviewed by our writers, so there's a level of trust and first-hand experience we are pulling from when we curate these best lists. If we haven't tested the product ourselves but still include it on the list, it is because the product is highly regarded and we have done enough research to believe it has a spot on this list. 
• Durability: A nice tablet is good and plenty, but it should also last you a long time to truly get your money's worth. Many of these tablets have rugged features, so that if you end up accidentally dropping it it won't shatter and the screen won't crack. 
• Performance: The downside of a cheaper piece of tech is, unfortunately, slower performance. We sought out tablets with high-performing CPUs and above-average performance, so even if you do end up opting for an inexpensive device, you aren't sacrificing high performance for a low cost. 

How we test tablets

The ZDNET team chose all of the tablets included in this list based on their performance when tested in the real world. When we test tablets, we typically follow the same routine for each one to see which performs best.

• Display: We measure the brightness level in different lighting conditions and assess color accuracy. 

  We also compare the display's performance with what the manufacturer promised, test the screen's responsiveness to touch, and assess the performance of any extra features, like a manufacturer's stylus.

• Performance: For real-world performance metrics, our reviewers measure how quickly the tablet reacts to input, assess game performance and frame rates, test how the tablet handles having multiple apps running simultaneously, measure the time it takes to launch apps, and even assess the tablet's temperature during intensive tasks. 

• Battery life: We test different scenarios for battery life, including measuring how long the battery lasts while streaming, web browsing, using productivity apps, and playing games.

• Camera and audio: For cameras, we evaluate features like resolution, aperture, low-light performance, autofocus accuracy, dynamic range, color accuracy, image quality, sharpness, and video quality. For audio, we look at the sound quality and overall listening experience, including audio clarity at different volumes, stereo separation of left and right audio channels, maximum volume level in various environments, and if there is perceived distortion.

For a deeper look into our testing process, check out our comprehensive tablet testing methodology. 

What brand is best for tablets?

The best cheap tablets come from brands including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Lenovo.

You can find more cheap Android tablets than cheap Apple tablets, but Apple usually has tablet deals during big sales events or holidays, so keep your eyes peeled.

Are cheap tablets good for students?

That depends on the kind of classwork someone will be doing. Younger children may benefit from using a tablet over a traditional laptop. With intuitive touch controls, it will be easier for them to navigate through menus and apps required to attend virtual classes or to turn in assignments. Older students will be doing more intensive coursework. Tablets aren't best suited for things like word processing or making spreadsheets, but a keyboard attachment can certainly help bridge that gap. 

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.

How much storage do I need in my tablet?

You'll want at least 8GB of storage, but thankfully, many new tablet models come with much more than that. A basic 9th generation iPad starts at 64GB while the Amazon Fire 10 Plus starts with 32GB. This gives you more than enough storage for apps, photos, and music without making your new tablet sluggish.

The best cheap tablet options on this list all have great storage capacities. 

Are tablets cheaper than laptops?

Generally speaking, a tablet is going to be much more affordable than a traditional laptop. For basic home use, like web browsing or streaming video and music, you can pick one up for just a few hundred dollars. But if you want something more specialized, like content creation or graphic design, the price significantly increases.

What is the cheapest iPad?

The cheapest iPad you can get is the standard ninth-generation iPad. On Apple's website, it retails for $329, which is almost $200 less than the iPad Mini and over $450 less than the iPad Pro. 

Also: The best iPad models

Are there alternative cheap tablets to consider?  

There are plenty of other cheap tablets to consider, including the ones below. Also, if the tablet you want is out of your price range, you can always wait for sales events for deals on discounted tablets. 

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