The Best Cheap Tablets for 2023

The 9th-gen iPad isn't the latest version of Apple's entry-level slate, but you can still get it new directly from Cupertino. Its specs aren't outdated, either: a 10.2-inch retina display, an A13 Bionic chip, and 64GB of base storage are good starting points. It also works with the same accessories as the 10th-gen iPad, including the Smart Keyboard and the 1st-gen Apple Pencil.

The 9th-gen iPad costs more than other tablets on this list, but we can still comfortably recommend it if you want access to the App Store and iMessage for as little money as possible. The 10-gen iPad does offer advantages such as a larger screen with thinner bezels and a USB-C port (the older model sticks with Lightning), but those upgrades might not be worth the significant price jump to $449.

The Lenovo Tab P11 Plus's pixel-dense 11-inch screen and peppy MediaTek G90T processor both stood out in testing. Battery life isn't a strong point, but the tablet's Dolby Atmos-tuned speakers and microSD card slot for extra storage help make up for that limitation. Simply put, this is the closest you can get to the base-model iPad on the Android side.

If you want an affordable Android tablet that offers full access to the Google Play Store, this tablet is worth a look. You can certainly find cheaper alternatives, but they won't perform nearly as well or be as enjoyable for consuming media.

The Fire Max 11's 11-inch, 2,000-by-1,200-pixel screen is ideal for watching shows and movies on the go. Amazon doesn't cut too many corners on the specs either, outfitting the tablet with 4GB of RAM, an octa-core MediaTek processor, and up to 128GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD). It looks and feels more premium than the company's other tablets thanks to its titanium frame and minimal bezels.

If you don't want to spend a ton of money on a large-screen tablet, the Fire 11 Max is a reasonable pick and Amazon's highest-end slate yet. It doesn't offer access to as many apps as iPads or Android models, but it doesn't cost nearly as much either.

Amazon's Fire 7 is the cheapest tablet worth getting from a reputable brand. It can't run the latest mobile games, but it's perfectly suitable for reading books, watching videos, and performing other basic productivity tasks. The device is also quite light and compact, so it's easy to slip into a backpack or handbag without much thought.

If you are an extreme budget shopper or just want to see what it's like to have a tablet, the Fire 7 is what you should get. It won't keep up with an iPad or run as many apps, but streaming shows and movies are well within its wheelhouse.

Amazon graces the Fire HD 8 with some welcome upgrades over the Fire 7, including a larger, higher-resolution screen and double the RAM. This slate still won't rival midrange and high-end tablets in performance, but it's nonetheless capable enough to meet your entertainment needs.

If you can, we recommend stretching your budget to get the Fire HD 8 over the Fire 7. It offers a more enjoyable experience for everything from reading novels to watching your favorite shows, and the extra RAM should mean less stuttering when you switch apps.

TCL's Tab 10 5G is one of the few affordable slates with 5G connectivity. Aside from that, it sports a large, 10.1-inch FHD+ display, offers respectable battery life, and includes a microSD card slot for more storage. The speakers are decent, as well.

If Wi-Fi is not always an option where you use your tablet or you don't want to deal with tethering via your phone, this TCL tablet keeps you online. It's not as cheap as others on this list, but it still costs much less than competing 5G models.

There are a lot of cheap tablets on the market. You can find them stacked up behind the counter at CVS and Walgreens or sold under dozens of different names on Amazon. We don't recommend most of them: They tend to be slow, perform unreliably, have dim screens, and run old versions of Android that are full of security flaws.

When you're shopping, keep an eye on screen resolution. An 8-inch, 1,280-by-800 display lets you watch 720p HD video and read magazines comfortably. The combination of this size and resolution works out to 189 pixels per inch (ppi), the minimum you should look for if you want to experience reasonably sharp pictures and text.

At $100 or less, there are a few inexpensive 10-inch tablets, but their screens generally have such a low pixel density that they look fuzzy and are difficult to read.

Pay close attention to storage specs, too. We recommend at least 32GB of built-in storage for installing apps and storing multimedia. If you plan to play large games like Genshin Impact, you might need 64GB because that game takes up almost 32GB. Of course, a microSD card slot certainly can't hurt, especially if you want to download movies to watch on long trips.

If possible, look for 4GB of RAM or more (we make an exception for Amazon's Fire Tablets). This will help you launch and run apps more smoothly, particularly if you have something else running in the background.

Battery life is another factor to keep in mind, though you can always extend the life of your tablet on the go with one of our favorite backup battery packs.

The best sub-$100 tablets we've tested are from Amazon, which often subsidizes its devices with ads on the lock screen and promotions for Amazon content throughout the interface. They're relatively reliable, however, and they get security updates (even if only sporadically). Further, they come with excellent customer support, differentiating them from others in this class.

The 2022 edition of the Fire 7 Tablet is the least expensive, decent-quality tablet on the market at $59.99. Other models in this price range tend to have outdated versions of Android or are a complete roll of the dice in terms of quality assurance and support.

Amazon's tablets aren't only the best cheap options out there; they're also the best kids' tablets we've tested. They have a simplified interface, strong parental controls, and Kids+, which is basically a giant bucket of content for children. A Parent Dashboard lets you track what your offspring are doing and restrict their screen time. You can put multiple user profiles on the tablets, as well. Other Android tablets also let you set up restricted kids' profiles and configure parental control settings, but Amazon's options are more comprehensive.

The one caveat with Amazon's tablets is that they use the Amazon Appstore, which doesn't have all the apps in the Google Play Store. If you want complete Google Play coverage with unrestricted access to the best Android apps, you might need to look elsewhere. Yes, you can sideload apps on Fire tablets, but this comes with risks.

If these choices feel underwhelming, look at our picks for the best Android tablets overall.

If you want a quality Apple or Windows tablet under $200, you must dip into the used market. In that case, we suggest you first check out manufacturers' certified refurbished sales or head to third-party sellers such as Gazelle and Swappa that buy used products and test them before reselling.

The least expensive new iPad is the 2021 model, and at $329, it's a great value even though the 2022 iPad exists. Over the past few years, Apple has made the iPad a decent replacement for a basic laptop, with accessories such as the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard adding value.

We wouldn't call the iPad a cheap tablet, but there are some good reasons to invest in one. Most notably, you can stay current with software updates for at least several years. That's much longer than almost all the budget tablets on our list. If you get an older, used iPad, it's likely to get cut out of the software update cycle in a year or two.

You could also look at certified used devices at this price level in the Windows world. If your budget is a little more flexible, here's our list of the best Windows tablets.

Finally, if budget buying feels too much like cutting corners, check out the best tablets we've tested. Just be prepared to spend a lot more.

Steven Winkelman contributed to this story.