Best cheap Android tablets in 2023

The rumors of the Android tablet’s death are greatly exaggerated. Quite to the contrary, there are plenty of high-quality Android tablets to choose from in today’s market. But you don’t need to shell out several hundred dollars to get a versatile, well-made slate PC. Considering what most people use tablets for, a high-end model is often overkill.

With that in mind, these eight tablets all cost about $300 or less and are worth a look if you want something great for viewing media, checking email, and browsing social media. They can easily run casual games, and some even have the hardware required for 3D titles. As long as you’re not looking for a productivity monster, one of these budget-friendly tablets should do the trick.

Editors choice

Mục Lục

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

8.00

/ 10

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We’re still cooking up our hands-on review of the Tab A8, but it’s basically just a refreshed version of 2020’s Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, which we were quite pleased with at the time. There’s not really anything else that delivers this kind of performance for the price. The screen looks surprisingly great, and the performance exceeds what we’d expect from something so cheap. And, as expected, Samsung’s OneUI Android implementation is essentially second to none. A set of four speakers also puts out considerably better sound than you might anticipate.

The Tab A8 starts with 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, but we recommend the 64 GB/4 GB version, as there’s a noticeable difference in performance, especially if you use multiple apps simultaneously. While it’s not the cheapest Android tablet, its blend of low price and respectable performance make it an easy Editor’s choice selection.

Specifications

Storage: 32, 64, 128 GB
CPU: Unisoc Tiger T618
Memory: 3 or 4 GB
Battery: Up to 9h
Camera (Rear, Front): 8MP, 5MP
Display (Size, Resolution): 10.5″ 1920 x 1200
Price: Starting at $230
Headphone jack: Yes

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Best value

2. Amazon Fire HD 8

8.00

/ 10

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Amazon’s Fire Tablets are a lesson in streamlined design. They run a heavily locked down custom version of Android, called Fire OS, that’s great for most everyday uses but doesn’t have access to the Google Play Store. Fire tablet hardware isn’t anything to write home about, but thanks to the restricted software ecosystem, it actually runs just fine as far as common tasks are concerned. A lot of users might even prefer the Fire HD 8 Plus, which has more RAM, a better rear camera, and faster charging with an optional wireless charging dock. Anyone already invested in the Amazon ecosystem (for example, frequent Prime Video viewers) will appreciate the straightforward and user-friendly Fire tablet series.

Specifications

Storage: 32 or 64GB
CPU: Hexa-core 2.0 GHz
Memory: 2GB
Operating System: Fire OS
Battery: Up to 13 hours
Ports: USB-C (2.0)
Camera (Rear, Front): 2MP, 2MP
Display (Size, Resolution): 8″ 1280 x 800
Price: Starting at $99.99
Size: 11.88 ounces
Connectivity: Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wi-fi, bluetooth 5.0 LE
Measurements: 7.94 x 5.40 x 0.37 inches
Headphone jack: Yes

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3. Lenovo Duet 3

8.50

/ 10

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To be clear, the Lenovo Duet 3 isn’t technically an Android tablet; it’s a Chromebook tablet. In truth, there’s not a ton of difference between the two, but in some instances, Chrome OS offers better optimization for large screens compared to Android, which is generally more smartphone-oriented. And not only is the Duet 3 a capable Chrome OS tablet, it includes a mated keyboard that’s a lot better to type on than you might think, given its slim stature. The screen measures about 11 inches and sports an impressively high resolution, and a better peak brightness than most competitors. It’s reasonable to argue that the latest Duet is one of the best options for highly portable productivity.

Specifications

Storage: 128 GB
CPU: Snapdragon 7c Gen 2
Memory: 4 or 8 GB
Battery: Up to 10h
Camera (Rear, Front): 8 MP, 5 MP
Display (Size, Resolution): 10.9″ 2000 x 1200
Price: Starting at $380
Headphone jack: No

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Premium pick

4. Lenovo Tab P11+

9.00

/ 10

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A slightly pared-down version of the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro, the Tab P11 Plus looks like a simple tablet, but it is equipped along the lines of a powerful Chromebook and nearly as powerful as an entry-level Windows laptop. Such performance, accented by a matching keyboard, plenty of storage, and a 2000 x 1200 screen resolution, make it a no-brainer as our Premium affordable tablet pick. The 6 GB of RAM is more than anything else in this price range, and if you’re not dead set on a keyboard, you can cut a big chunk off the price by purchasing the tablet on its own. It’s also one of the increasingly common models with a quad-speaker setup, and in this case, the Dolby Atmos tuning ensures you get the most out of all your favorite media.

Specifications

Storage: 64 or 128 GB
CPU: MediaTek Helio G90T
Memory: 4 or 6 GB
Battery: Up to 13h
Camera (Rear, Front): 13 MP, 8 MP
Display (Size, Resolution): 11″ 2000 x 1200
Price: Starting at $210 w/o keyboard
Headphone jack: No

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5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022

8.50

/ 10

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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, released in 2020, was a great deal at the time. Its 2022 refresh saw a software update and new CPU (a Snapdragon 720C replaced the subpar Exynos chip from before), and that’s enough to earn it a place among the top cheap Android devices today. Even though it wasn’t meant to compete with the full-on Tab S6 and later models, it performs remarkably well, and better than most other models on our list. It even comes with Samsung’s highly lauded S Pen, and costs less than $300 in some colors. It isn’t quite the same great value as the Galaxy Tab A8, but it’s worth considering if you want to take a step up in processing power and screen quality.

Specifications

Storage: 64 or 128 GB
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G
Memory: 4 GB
Battery: Up to 11h
Camera (Rear, Front): 8 MP, 5 MP
Display (Size, Resolution): 10.4″ 1200 x 2000
Price: Starting at $250
Headphone jack: Yes

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022

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6. Lenovo Tab M10 Plus

7.50

/ 10

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Despite its midrange performance, the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus is priced almost as low as the absolute most barebones Android tablets. That’s pretty impressive, especially considering it’s screen resolution, which is better than Full HD and hard to find in this price range. And even though it’s nowhere near a premium Lenovo device in terms of performance or construction, it still feels like a quality piece of equipment that you’ll be glad you invested in. Thanks to high-efficiency (if slightly underpowered) components, it manages to eek out 14 hours of battery life under the right conditions, which is a lot better than most of the competition.

Specifications

Storage: 32, 64, 128 GB
CPU: Mediatek Helio G80
Memory: 3 or 4 GB
Battery: Up to 14 hours
Camera (Rear, Front): 8 MP, 8 MP
Display (Size, Resolution): 10.6″ 2000 x 1200
Price: Starting at $145
Headphone jack: Yes

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Lenovo Tab M10 Plus

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8. Amazon Fire HD 10

7.00

/ 10

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You won’t find any 10-inch tablets that are cheaper and more dependable than the Amazon Fire HD 10. It isn’t meant for multitasking or productivity, but for entertainment and daily tasks. It’s especially great if you normally stick to common streaming and news apps or if you own a lot of Amazon devices or subscribe to Amazon services. Its Fire OS software suite isn’t the most versatile, but it may be the easiest to use and is great for anybody who doesn’t want to hassle with a single aspect of the true Android operating system. If you want to get a little more out of it, upgrading to the Fire HD 10 Plus affords you slightly more firepower and storage.

Specifications

Storage: 32 or 64 GB
CPU: Mediatek MT8183
Memory: 3 GB
Battery: Up to 13h
Camera (Rear, Front): 5 MP, 2 MP
Display (Size, Resolution): 10.1″ 1920 x 1200
Price: Starting at $150
Headphone jack: Yes

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The best tablets to meet every budget

The Android tablet market has shrunk ever so slightly in the last few years, as poorly thought out and badly constructed models have started to disappear in favor of more refined, focused tablets from reliable manufacturers. That’s why you’ll find Samsung tablets, like the Galaxy Tab A8, at the top of our affordable tablet recommendations. The recently refreshed Tab S6 Lite and ultra-cheap Tab A7 Lite are also great options, but neither has the balance of the A8.

For a little more practicality, consider one of the tablets meant for use with a keyboard. The Lenovo Tab P11 Plus is the most powerful, but Lenovo’s Duet 3 (running Chrome OS) is a little more affordable and remarkably versatile.

Then there are Amazon Fire HD tablets. They’re relatively specialized devices since they can’t access the Google Play Store. But if you know where your media comes from — and that happens to be Amazon Prime or another major streaming service — an ultra-affordable Fire HD tablet might be perfect for your household.