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Want a tablet for your kid? Our picks are not just for entertainment
Tablets are a multipurpose gadget that has quickly become an indispensable tool for many. It doesn't matter if you've replaced your laptop with an iPad Pro, or you're using a tablet as you note and sketch pad with a dedicated stylus, tablets can handle it all. Another area where tablets have excelled is with kids. Not only are tablets a staple in most classrooms, but they're also a great education and entertainment tool for kids at home.
ZDNET Recommends
Parents are naturally hesitant to spend hundreds of dollars on a device that their kid(s) will surely put to the test. But the good news is, you don't have to spend a fortune to get a decent tablet that offers plenty of educational content, with a healthy side of entertainment options.
Below you'll find a selection of tablets that are best for kids in 2022, starting with my top pick: Apple's iPad.
- Solid performance backed with long battery life
- App support for days
- Wide education adoption
- Expensive
- Storage limited to 64GB or 256GB
- Accessories add up too
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
You might be thinking Didn't he just admit that parents don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a tablet? And you're right. I did. But hear me out. From its release until now, Apple's iPad is unmatched in the value it provides for the price. The entry-level iPad I've featured here is commonly on sale for around $300, down from its standard price of $329. I agree, it's a lot of money to trust a young child with, but there are plenty of rugged cases to protect your investment.
Apple's iPad is easy to use, has best in class performance and has thousands of accessories and apps to enhance the experience. On top of wide industry support, you're getting a lot of tech in exchange for the asking price. The 10.2-inch display looks clear and sharp, and the cameras can be used for FaceTime calls or used for augmented-reality apps to help your child learn more about their surroundings.
The iPad can be paired with a keyboard and Apple's Pencil, further expanding its functionality. You don't have to buy Apple's dedicated keyboard for the tablet -- any Bluetooth keyboard will work.
Read the review: Apple iPad (2021) review
- Affordable
- Kids edition has many perks
- Easy to use
- Performance will be an issue
- Amazon's Appstore is hit or miss
Display: 7-inch display | Processor: Quad-core 2.0GHz | Storage: 16GB or 32GB | Memory: 2GB | Colors: Blue, purple or red | Cameras: 2MP rear and 2MP front-facing camera | Weight: 15.1 ounces pounds | Dimensions: 6.4 x 7.9 x 1.1 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port | Battery life: 10 hours
Amazon just refreshed the Fire 7 tablet with a faster processor, longer battery life and a USB-C port. The price of the base Fire 7 tablet went up from $49.99 to $59.99 in the process, but it's still an extremely affordable tablet that's perfect for young kids to use and abuse.
In fact, if you opt for the Kids Edition that I've highlighted here, the price does go up to $109, but for that you get a two-year worry-free guarantee. If something happens to the tablet — your toddler throws it off the couch and the screen cracks, for example — Amazon will replace it, no questions asked. On top of the replacement plan, you'll get a protective case and a year subscription to Amazon Kids+ which provides parental controls and access to age-appropriate apps, games, books and videos.
The Fire 7 isn't the fastest tablet. It's actually pretty slow, at times. But it's more than capable of doing exactly what it's designed to do, which is to provide a basic and affordable tablet experience for all ages. The refreshed Fire 7 tablet is available to order right now, as a stand-alone tablet or as part of the Kids Edition bundle. But it won't ship until the end of June.
- Larger, better-looking display
- Battery life
- Still affordable
- Performance is good, not great
- Amazon's Appstore is hit or miss
Display: 10.1-inch display | Processor: Octa-core 2.0GHz | Storage: 32GB or 64GB | Memory: 3GB | Colors: Black, denim, lavendar, olive | Cameras: 5MP rear and 2MP front-facing camera | Weight: 16.4 ounces | Dimensions: 9.73 x 6.53 x 0.36 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port | Battery life: 12 hours
The Fire HD 10 is another one of Amazon's tablets that combine affordability with versatility. With the 10.1-inch display, you're getting a lot more screen without adding a lot to the overall cost. The Kids Edition version of the Fire HD 10 comes with all of the same perks as the Fire 7 Kids Edition, including a protective case, a two-year worry-free guarantee, and a year subscription to Amazon Kids+. You can get the Fire HD 10 Kids Edition for $199, or pick up the standard Fire HD 10 for $149.
Either way, you get Amazon's largest tablet with a 1080p display. It has a USB-C port for faster charging, and up to 12 hours of battery life. Performance isn't going to be on par with an iPad, but in my experience testing, it's better than the Fire 7. If your child is older and needs more of a laptop-like experience, Amazon sells a productivity bundle that includes a Bluetooth keyboard designed specifically for Fire HD 10.
Amazon's Appstore has a respectable list of apps available, with staples like Zoom, Microsoft 365 apps and Facebook readily available. But you won't find any of Google's apps listed due to Fire OS, the operating system all Fire tablets run, not being certified by Google.
Read the review: Fire HD 10 review
- Full Android support
- MicroSD card support
- Under $200
- Performance
- Battery life
- Display is just okay
Display: 8.7-inch display | Processor: MediaTek MT8768T | Storage: 32GB | Colors: Gray | Cameras: 8MP rear, 1080p video. 2MP front | Weight: 13 ounces | Dimensions: 8.37 x 4.91 x 0.31 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C | Battery life: 10 hours
If you'd rather have a true Android tablet with full Google support, then look no further than the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite. Samsung's low-end tablet has an 8.7-inch display, 32GB of storage and runs Android 11 out of the box. That means you or your kids will have access to the Play Store, which comes with access to YouTube or YouTube Kids.
The Tab A7 Lite, like the Fire tablets, isn't going to impress you with performance, but it's going to be more than capable of streaming shows, playing child-friendly games or even used as an eReader.
You can expand the 32GB of storage via the microSD card, which is a nice feature to have that in turn keeps the overall cost low.
- Long battery life
- Full Android
- Great display
- Keyboard not included
- Performance
- Cameras
Display: 11-inch display | Processor: MediaTek Helio G90T | Storage: 64GB or 128GB | Memory: 4GB or 6GB | Colors: Slate grey | Cameras: 8MP front and 13MP rear | Weight: 1.1lbs | Dimensions: 10.2 by 6.4 by 0.3 inches | Connections: USB-C, microSD | Battery: Up to 15 hours
Lenovo's Tab P11 Plus is a great looking tablet that's not overly expensive, and has battery life that will keep your child entertained for hours. It has an 11-inch 2K display that looks fantastic, and it runs Android 11 out of the box.
My favorite part about the Tab P11 Plus is its battery life. Lenovo touts up to 15 hours of video streaming, and my tests have confirmed that's accurate.
One downside to the Tab P11 Plus is that it lacks a headphone jack, so if you want to keep your kids cartoons or games quiet, you'll have to invest in some sort of kid-friendly Bluetooth headphones.
Read the review: Lenovo Tab P11 Plus review