Best Cheap Tablets (Updated 2021)

1. Fire HD 10 Tablet

If you are looking for a more advanced Fire tablet, then the Fire HD 10 tablet is exactly what you need. Although it’s pricier than the previous versions of Amazon Fire, it gives you outstanding value and is way cheap relative to the current market.

Coming in at 17.4 ounces, the Fire HD 10 looks and feels like its predecessor, but it is relatively lighter. It is available in a solid black color, but if you prefer brighter colors, you can opt for either the blue or orange versions. Although it has a plastic build, the Fire HD 10 is quite sturdy and will take some knocks and scratches with grace. It is, however, advisable to get a case for it if you are getting it for your kids. The dual speakers, USB ports, MicroSD compartment, and audio jack are all conveniently placed on the left.

In terms of display, the Fire HD 10 packs quite some fantastic specs, considering it is a cheap tablet. It sports a 10.1inch screen and a resolution of up to 1200P, which is quite an upgrade, given a majority of tablets within its price range have 800P displays.

The Fire HD 10 runs on a new updated octa-core 2GHz processor. Add in 2GB RAM, and you’ve got the most responsive and also the best cheap tablet. It is a great tablet if you plan on doing basic productivity tasks such as web browsing and video streaming on Netflix.

As far as battery life is concerned, Amazon did a good job. The Fire HD 10 gives you around 12 hours of runtime, which comes in handy, especially if you are always on the move. However, the camera quality is below average.

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• 10.1inch screen
• 1920x1200P resolution
• USB-C
• 2GB RAM

2. Apple iPad Mini

Having released the last-gen iPad Mini 4 in 2014, Apple’s pint-sized tablet series was a little overdue for a refresh; well, until it released the latest iPad Mini. This tiny iPad performs well above its weight and size thanks to its snappy A12 Bionic chipset. It also comes with a 7.9-inch display, perfectly sized for gripping with one hand and an excellent replacement for bulky iPads.

Besides its small display, Apple has tweaked this iPad to work with the first-ever Apple Pencil. The pencil is lightweight and extremely responsive, making it easy to scribble notes wherever you are. Traditionally, Apple iPads run on the same iOS as phones, but this new iPad Mini features an offshoot of iOS 12. The operating system transforms the device into a powerful workstation equipping it to perform functions like gesture controls.

Its overall display remains unchanged. It still comes with a bezel-heavy design with a responsive Touch ID home button and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Also, the screen has a wafer-thin, fully-laminated Retina display that makes it easy to use the Apple Pencil. What’s new about this iPad mini-series is the wide P3 color gamut that displays a range of colors and True Tone technology to match your environment. This means if you are using the tablet in the park, the screen appears blue, and if using the device indoors, it transitions to a faint yellow tint.

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• IOS 12 Operating System
• Wi-Fi and Cellular Connectivity
• Apple Pencil
• Stereo speakers

3. Fire 7 Tablet

Amazon has always been a pacesetter when it comes to budget hardware, and the Fire 7 is among the most affordable and also the best cheap tablet you will find in the market today. It comes in a black finish but is also available in stunning shades like twilight blue, plum, and sage for those who like colorful devices.

At 10.1ounces and measuring 7.6×4.5×0.4 inches, the Fire 7 tablet is quite compact. It’s, however, not as sleek since the bezels are quite thick. The power button, USB port, microphone, stereo jack, and volume buttons are all at the top, while the MicroSD card slot is on the side. It has 2MP front and rear cameras, which come in handy when video chatting, but not so much when capturing pictures or video recording.

It, however, makes up for what it lacks in camera quality with performance as it is equipped with a quad-core 1.3GHz processor and 1GB RAM. At a glance, this might not seem like much, but it offers outstanding value compared to its competition. It sports a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels.

In regards to the battery life, you get up to seven hours of runtime, which is enough for those who are always outdoors. The Fire 7 is also compatible with Alexa, hence allows hands-free operations. In a nutshell, the Fire 7 tablet offers quite a great bargain and is perfect for video streaming and everyday productivity tasks.

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• 7 inch screen
• 1024X600P
• 1GB RAM
• USB 2.0

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1

If you are looking for an affordable tablet with a relatively bigger screen for streaming or viewing and editing files, the Samsung Galaxy A 10.1 is the best cheap tablet for that description. It packs a bunch of features that offer you plenty of bang for your bucks. To begin with, it is sleek and also the most stylish tablet you will find within that price bracket.

It has an aluminum build and super-slim bezels, giving it that premium appearance only found in high-end models. It, however, has an inch of plastic on the back near the antennas, which is not a deal-breaker as the plastic is more functional than aesthetic as it aids with antenna transmission. Samsung also ditched the physical home button too.

The controls, that is, volume and power buttons, as well as the MicroSD card slot, are perched on the right side while the headphone jack is right on top. The USB-C charging slot is, however, on the bottom. Right next to this port are two stereo speakers, compatible with Dolby Atmos, and which deliver quite an impressive sound. The only downside with the speakers is that they’re both placed on the same side.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 gives you a resolution of 1920x1200P, which is quite impressive for a tablet at its price range. It has large viewing angles, making it great for video viewing and file editing. It also boasts equally remarkable performance. It comes with 2GB RAM and runs on a 1.6GHz octa-core processor, which means it offers a fast and smooth-sailing user experience. In regards to storage, you’ve got up to 64GB, and as for battery life, you have ten hours’ runtime.

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• 10.inch screen
• Dual + Dolby Atmos audio system
• 1920x1200P Resolution

5. Lenovo Tab M10

Lenovo adds another affordable tablet to its family-friendly models, the Lenovo M10. It comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 quad-core 2.0 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, and 16 GB of internal storage, hence its exceptional performance. In addition, Lenovo includes a switchable children’s mode that provides kid-friendly content. If buying the device for your kids, you never have to worry about the kind of content displayed on the device.

Its overall build is pretty sturdy. The plastic casing has a rubberized surface that provides a comfortable feel, and its finish prevents the device from slipping. Moreover, the small gap between the metal frame and the plastic case adds to this tablet’s grip. Lenovo also equips the M10 with a USB Type-C port, which is pretty rare for a tablet within this price range.

The port supports the USB 2.0 standard cable. Also, it comes integrated with a Smart Dock capability that converts the M10 to a smart speaker via Amazon’s Alexa. You only need to connect the tablet to the dock using pogo pins, and you are good to go. Another feature that sets the M10 apart is its face recognition technology that eliminates the need to set up passwords. Once the device recognizes your face, it logs you in.

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• Dual front-facing speakers
• Face recognition
• Dolby Audio
• Kids Mode

6. All-new Fire HD 8 tablet

While it costs a little more than its predecessor, the USB-C charging, improved Wi-Fi performance, and upgraded processor makes the All-New Fire HD 8 a great bargain. Amazon upgraded its RAM from 1.5 GB to 2 GB, which means you can use effectively more graphically intense applications. Also, its front-facing camera is conveniently located at the top when in landscape mode. This means you can use Zoom and use other video-calling apps without tilting the device.

Apart from the few upgrades, its long-lasting battery life gives you value for money. It lasts a whopping 12 hours, thanks to the combination of software updates and a 2GHz quad-core MediaTek 8168 processor. This means you can use the device all day, and with its USB-C charging capability, the tablet attains a full charge in less than five hours.

The All New Fire HD 8 features an exclusive Amazon-based OS called the Android P. The OS is particularly useful for Amazon Prime members as they can access Amazon’s video content, music, and ebooks. Moreover, you can access video streaming services like Hulu and Netflix. Parents buying the device for their young ones will also find the OS useful as it supports Amazon’s AppStore, which boasts much kid-based content. Overall, this tablet is a perfect device to buy in any household since it can be used by both the old and the young effectively.

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• 1280x 800 resolution
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Connectivity
• USB-C Charging
• Amazon AppStore

• Storage: 16 or 32 GB

7. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0’’

The lack of Google Play App Store on Amazon’s All-New Fire HD is a bit of a downer despite its impressive upgrades. If looking for a device within this price range or lower, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A makes a good bargain. It has some pretty decent specs allowing you to play games, binge watch Netflix movies, and, more importantly, get unrestricted access to Google Play App Store.

Its 8-inch display features a slight improvement over its predecessor. It has a refined screen-to-body ratio adding to the viewing space, and the rear camera bump is less pronounced. Moreover, with a screen resolution of 1280x 800, the device is excellent for multimedia streaming. The viewing angles and brightness are also impressive, even when using the device in direct sunlight.

Samsung uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, which clocks at 1.4 GHz to power this tablet. Overall it provides consistent performance as you can multi-task, open apps, and play AAA-rated games like the Asphalt 8. When used along with its 32 GB of internal memory and 2 GB of RAM, apps operate faster than tablets with 1 GB of RAM. Its battery life is also stable for a budget tablet. If binge-watching on full-screen over Wi-Fi, the tablet provides 13 hours of watch time.

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• WI-FI, Bluetooth Connectivity
• Android OS
• Expandable memory of up to 512 GB
• 1280X 800 screen resolution

8. Dragon Touch K10 Tablet

The tablet is ideal for those looking for an Android tablet for mere entertainment. You can stream Netflix movies, browse the internet, and read eBooks on its large 10-inch screen. When combined with its 1280 x 800 IPS display, it creates a cinematic experience.

Besides, its exceptional screen resolution, its 178-degree viewing angle enhances your overall viewing experience by increasing brightness and clarity. When combined with in-plane switching technology, you can increase the viewing angles.

What gives this tablet an edge is its ability to get connected to a range of devices. It comes with a micro HDMI port for connecting the tablet to the TV and a micro USB port for transferring data from a laptop. It is also integrated with a GPS sensor that makes navigation possible when using a map offline.

The tablet has an internal memory of 16 GB, which is a little restrictive, but you can expand it to 64 GB using a micro SD card. As for its battery life, the Dragon Touch 10 tablet provides 5-7 hours of operation. If watching videos, the charge lasts five hours, and if reading an eBook, the battery depletes within seven hours. Note, it uses a micro-USB power adapter to charge, hence it may take longer to attain a full charge (4-6 hours).

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• Android 8.1 Oreo OS
• 1280 x 800 resolution
• 178 degree of view angle
• HDMI, Micro USB ports

9. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4’’

Looking for a tablet that doubles up as an entertainment and drawing device? The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is an excellent buy. Available in two versions (64 GB and 128 GB), Samsung gives you more for your money compared to other models. It comes with four months of ad-free YouTube, and with its microSD card slot, you can expand storage to 1TB.

Its full-size S Pen is one feature that makes the S6 Lite stand out. It provides a comfortable grip just as a regular pen but is incredibly responsive, allowing you to perform a range of tasks. You can draw straight lines, create broad and narrow strokes, and shade while applying varying amounts of pressure. Moreover, you can scribble some notes on-screen without launching the Notes App or other pen-enabled apps. It is this feature that makes it easy to use the tablet without a mouse or keyboard.

Besides its versatile S Pen, the tablet is equipped with AKG-tuned speakers and Dolby Atmos surround, which produces exceptional sound. If playing games, you won’t miss out on the sound effects that make the games exciting. Its long-lasting battery is another bonus for this tablet. It provides 13 hours of video streaming on a full charge.

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• S Pen
• Free YouTube
• 2000 x 2000 display resolution
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS connectivity
• Dual speaker system with Dolby Atmos surround

10. Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus has a redesigned body and a host of new configurations. Powered by an octa-core 2.0 GHz processor and 4GB of RAM, this tablet allows you to switch from one app to another with ease.

Unlike the previous alteration, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus includes a brighter 10.1-inch 1080p display. Images look sharp and clear, so you’ll have a seamless time watching your favorite movies.

The dual integrated speakers deliver impressive sounds when listening to music. You can watch during the night without distracting others by connecting headphones through the 3.5 mm stereo jack.

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus makes a perfect companion for frequent travelers demanding extended battery life. The battery can run for 12 hours on a single charge, meaning you don’t have to carry your charger or scramble for spots with power outlets every now and then. It takes four hours to charge the battery from 0 to 100 percent with the included 9W adapter.

The 32GB of storage gives you enough room to store music files, photos, and other documents. Additionally, you can expand the storage up to 1TB through the SD card slot. You’ll be amazed by how fast you can download or stream your favorite content with dual-band Wi-Fi technology.

Users can connect the tablet to external speakers without experiencing dropouts with the built-in Bluetooth 5.0 technology.

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• Supports wireless charging
• 4GB of RAM
• Bluetooth 5.0 technology
• Dual-band Wi-Fi