Also: The 7 best tablets you can buy right now 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. You can find a device that offers plenty of educational content along with entertainment options and parental controls. In turn, these devices make perfect kids’ gifts this holiday season. Below, you’ll find a selection of tablets that are best for kids, starting with my top pick: Apple’s iPad. Also: The best phones for kids 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. 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 put in a young child’s hands, but there are plenty of rugged cases to protect your investment. Apple’s iPad is easy to use and it has excellent performance. Plus, there are 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 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 also don’t have to buy Apple’s dedicated keyboard for the tablet – any Bluetooth keyboard will work. Read the review: Apple iPad (2021) review 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: Provide a basic and inexpensive 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. Read the review: Fire HD 10 review 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 includes 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 more than capable of streaming shows, playing child-friendly games, or being used as an e-reader. You can also expand the 32GB of storage via microSD card, which is a nice feature that keeps the overall cost low. Read: Samsung launches Galaxy Tab S7 FE, Galaxy Tab A7 Lite Lenovo’s Tab P11 Plus is an attractive tablet that’s not overly expensive. The 11-inch 2K display looks fantastic, and the battery life will keep your child entertained for hours. The battery life is actually my favorite quality of this tablet. Lenovo touts up to 15 hours of video streaming, and my tests have confirmed that its accurate. Plus, it runs Android 11 out of the box. One downside to the Tab P11 Plus: It lacks a headphone jack, so if you want to keep your child’s cartoons or games quiet, you’ll have to invest in some kid-friendly Bluetooth headphones. Read the review: Lenovo Tab P11 Plus review I chose these five picks based on my personal experience testing and, more importantly, watching my own kids test these tablets. I’ve reviewed all of these tablets and read more reviews about these tablets than I want to admit. I chose devices that are affordable, or in the case of the iPad, has a tradeoff that makes the higher price tag worth the cost. Meanwhile, Apple Care and Asurion also offer protection plans for the iPad or tablets from competing manufacturers, respectively. Alternatively, you can also use the Alexa app to video call other Fire tablets or Echo Show devices.
