Best budget tablets of 2024: A guide to finding the best budget-friendly option
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In recent years, the tablet market had a second shot of being popular. Many people found a new appreciation for a good tablet, as working from home or moving to a hybrid work situation became a thing. And indeed, a tablet is a necessary gadget, especially if you like to read a lot online, like to enjoy YouTube on a bigger screen, or draw digitally.
There's one thing though. Some tablets are pretty expensive, and if you own a smartphone (which probably you do), you may not need to pay that much for an ultra-premium tablet. If you're looking into cheap tablets and you want to get the best one, then you've come to the right place!
In this article, we have compiled a list of the best cheap tablets in 2024. Now, let's get to it!
- Apple iPad 10.9-inch (2022) - the most affordable iPad you can buy
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE - affordable S Pen experience out of the box
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (2023) - the entry-level rival from Samsung
- Amazon Fire HD 10 - Amazon's tablet with a fork of Android at a lucrative price
Apple iPad 10.9-inch (2022)
The entry-level iPad, redesigned (and yep, a bit more expensive)
Apple's base iPad is getting a bit long in the tooth now, but so far — no upgrade. So, we have to make due with an Apple A14 Bionic processor inside — the same chip from the iPhone 12 series. For what it's worth, it's still a very good tablet under $400, and certainly the only iPad that you can get at such a low price. But we'd be wary shopping for one right now.
If you can score a discount between $50 and $100 down — then sure. Otherwise, we are pretty sure that Apple is preparing an updated version to launch some time in early 2025. If you are not in a hurry to get an iPad right now, maybe wait a couple of months. If you are — shop around for a deal.
All that said, the base iPad 10.9-inch still gives you access to most of what iPad can offer. No Stage Manager multitasking, no AI, and no Final Cut Pro — you need the more powerful Air for that. But it does run Logic Pro for iPad, so musicians can try it out! There's also a Magic Keyboard folio for the base iPad and it supports the Apple Pencil USB C, so you can dip your toes in that specific Apple experience, too.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Affordable S Pen experience out of the box
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE series is an affordable version of the big boys — Tab S9, now upgraded to Tab S10 series. As such, it comes with an S Pen in the box, so you get to play with that excellent Samsung stylus for drawing and writing with.
But make no mistake, you can still get the Tab S9 FE in two sizes — 10.9" and a huge 12.4". Of course, the regular size is more affordable.
It's a great entry point to Samsung's more advanced features. You have DeX mode for destop-like workflow, the aforementioned S Pen, the quad speakers, and the LCD display still has a 90 Hz refresh rate — not super high, but noticeably smoother than 60 Hz.
MSRP is $449, which pushes the boundaries of "budget", but we often find the Galaxy Tab S9 FE discounted down to $299.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (2023)
The rival from Samsung: the best cheap Samsung tablet right now
Samsung has been shuffling its midrange models arond and now, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is the only one left, as the others were silently discontinued. That's not necessarily bad news — it's a pretty good tablet with a Snapdragon 695 processor and an 11-inch LCD screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate.
If you simply want a tablet for media consumption and you don’t care about S Pen shenanigans or productivity — the Galaxy Tab A9+ offers just that. A quad-speaker system provides full stereo sound in any orientation and the 11-inch screen gives you plenty of real estate to watch movies or browse the Internet on. It's marketed as the kid-friendly tablet from Samsung, with One UI's excellent parental controls on board.
Amazon Fire HD 10
The best overall Fire HD tablet right now
"Best" can mean a lot of things and while Amazon's Fire HD 10 can't keep up with the rest of the tablets on this list when it comes to specs, it has them all beat in one department: the price. Costing between 2 and 5 times less than the rest, the Fire HD 10 offers incredible value. So, it can easily be the best Android tablet to buy on a budget, especially since it has a keyboard accessory (sold in a bundle or separately) for that hybrid experience.
While the Fire HD 10 is technically an Android tablet, it's running on a heavily modified Amazon-centered software and doesn't come with Google's Play Store (there are ways to install it, if you insist). Still, Amazon's own app store offers enough variety to fit the relatively narrow focus of this tablet, so for most people this won't be an issue. The new Fire HD 10 tablet comes with 12 months of Microsoft 365, too, as to underline its new aim at productivity features.
Keep in mind that the Amazon Fire HD tablets have historically not had the best performance. They are great as simple slates to enjoy some media on, but don't expect a laptop replacement unit here.
What is the best budget tablet right now?
The iPad comes with 64GB of base storage and dependable battery life. Although it doesn't have the best camera out there,we find it hard to imagine you taking photos with a tablet, so that's not a big issue. All in all, if you want the best in terms of performance and versatility and you don't want to pay more than $350 for it, you won't be disappointed by the iPad 10.2-inch (2022).
What to consider when picking a new budget tablet?
- Operating system: Different tablets run on different operating systems, such as Android or iOS. Some tablets run Windows, and Amazon's tablets run Fire OS (based on Android). Consider which one you are most familiar with and which one has the apps you need. Also, you may want to think about interoperability with your other devices such as phone and PC. Apple's quite famous for its closed ecosystem, so if you get an iPad, it will be seamlessly connected to your iPhone and Mac. Samsung Galaxy devices also have great connectivity with other Galaxies. Operating system also ensures how you'll connect keyboards and mouses to your tablet, so do keep that in mind.
- Available storage: Consider how much storage you will need for your apps, media, and documents. If you plan to store a lot of media, such as photos and videos, you may need a tablet with more storage. We recommend a minimum of 64GB of storage, and more if you're a digital hoarder with lots of photos and vids.
- Display quality and size: The resolution and size of the display can affect the overall experience of using the tablet. A higher resolution and pixel density (PPI) will generally provide a better viewing experience, but it can also affect battery life. Tablets, including cheap tablets, come in a variety of sizes and weights, so consider how you plan to use the tablet and where you will be taking it. A big tablet may be better for streaming media at home, while smaller tablets may be more portable.
- Battery life: Consider how long the battery lasts and how often you will be using the tablet. If you plan to use it for long periods of time away from an outlet, a tablet with a longer battery life may be a better choice.
- LTE connectivity or Wi-Fi only: Consider whether you need cellular connectivity or just Wi-Fi. With a cellular connectivity option, the tablet gets its own SIM and internet connectivity. However, LTE versions are usually more expensive. Wi-Fi only models don't have a SIM card slot and can connect to the internet only via Wi-Fi (Mobile Hotspot from your phone also works) Also, check the tablet has other connectivity options such as Bluetooth and USB-C, important for data transfer.
- Price: Finally, consider how much you are willing to spend on a tablet. Compare prices and features of different tablets to find the best value for your budget. You may be okay with an extremely cheap tablet if you just want it for reading and social media consumption. You may want to go for more expensive tablets if you plan to do work like digital design and video editing on it.
Software updates: Getting the most recent OS and security updates is important, even for a cheap tablet. iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs get more love in this department, and are dutifully supported by their creators for years to come. Apple usually supports its iPads for at least five years, and recently Samsung's also promised four years of software updates to its devices. Some of the other Android tablets get less security updates, so do keep that in mind and check before you make your final buying decision. Getting the latest OS and security patches ensures your tablet remains up-to-date, protected, and optimized for years.
Can a budget tablet handle modern multitasking?
Nowadays, mobile chipsets have become surprisingly powerful. Even the more budget-friendly devices are quite capable - yep, this means all the best cheap tablets in this list. Apple's iPads run smoothly for years, and Samsung usually adorns its Tabs with powerful chips as well. Multitasking is a breeze for them. On the other hand, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a bit weaker at this: it is quite capable of running a video side-by-side with social media, but serious apps may strain it a bit when multitasking.
Budget tablet choices have never been better
Whether you want an iPad that can sync seamlessly with your iPhone, or a Samsung Galaxy Tab with the Galaxy ecosystem, or an ever cheaper variant, we've got you covered. The entry-level iPad can handle almost any task you want to use your tablet from (of course, we aren't talking about Pro-grade video editing, for example), while the Galaxy Tab A8 is a great option for the Galaxy lovers out there, and so is the Tab S7 FE.
If you want a really cheap tablet, then the Amazon Fire tablets are great for you, they're also good for seniors or children, while Lenovo still makes some good tablets despite missing from the smartphone market from quite some years now.
Pretty much, there's a tablet for any needs out there, whether it is reading and browsing, YouTube, or digital drawing. Keep in mind that for more resource intensive tasks such as video editing or gaming, you may need a more expensive tablet to meet your needs.
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