Want the absolute best android tablet for kids 2020, but not sure where to start looking?
Mobile devices have become so commonplace these days that they are no longer just for business or gaming on the go! Even little kids need a tablet for school projects or home entertainment options — but there’s a big problem there.
How do you know which devices will be safe in terms of content and rugged enough to withstand usage by young children? We’ve got you covered with a look at the 10 best android tablets for kids, no matter your budget or the age range of your little ones!
Let’s get started, and make sure you don’t buy anything until you read our reviews of the best tablets for girls and tablets for boys!
Recommendations for June 2023
- Simbans TangoTab – Impressive Overall Performance
- B.B PAW – Cheap And Durable
- Tagital T7K Kid – Heavy Duty Tablet
- Amazon Fire HD 10 – Ideal For Elementary School
- Dragon Touch Y88X – Comes With Disney Books
- Lenovo Tab 4 – Cheap But Powerful
- Apple iPad – Affordable Family Tablet
- Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7 – Cheap And Functional
Best Android Tablets For Kids In 2023
Simbans TangoTab – Impressive Overall Performance
When it comes to unbreakable tablets with kid-friendly cases, normally you’ve got to deal with low end specs and equally low resolutions.
That is not the case with the Simbans TangoTab, which offers a full fledged tablet experience at a budget price.
You get more storage capacity, more RAM, and a much better screen than you’d expect at this price range.
In addition to the pre-installed case and screen protector, this version of the TangoTab omes with 5 pre-installed apps and the Kids Lock program.
If there are paid apps or adult websites you don’t want your children browsing, you’ll need to make a few changes on your own, however.
Since this unit has the full version of Android, make sure to change your Google settings and download additional parental controls manually.
Recommended configuration for Simbans TangoTab
CPU: MTK8163 | Graphics: Mali T720| RAM: 3 GB RAM | Screen: 10.1 inch IPS touch screen display, 1280 x 800 pixels resolution | Storage: 64 GB | Operating System: Android 8.1 Oreo | Battery Life: 5 hours | Weight: 2.8 lbs
B.B PAW – Cheap And Durable
In our child tablet reviews, we’ve only come across a handful that really work well for the under 5 crowd and aren’t cheap plastic toys.
With a growing number of Android apps now available designed specifically for toddlers, there’s no reason to get a fake tablet toy anymore.
Kids these days — even in the 2 to 3 range — want a full tablet with all the features that their parents enjoy.That’s what you get here.
More than 100 preloaded educational apps are included for the youngest children so the focus is on learning technology rather than just idling playing games.
Since those programs are already installed, you don’t have to activate the tablet’s wi-fi feature if you’d prefer your toddler not be able to access the Internet.
If you aren’t comfortable with a toddler having potential web access and the ability to utilize a Google account, there are other options besides this model that may work better.
In particular, you should consider the Leap Frog line of kids tablets. These are pre-loaded with educational apps, can take extra cartridge programs available in stores, and automatically block most websites.
Recommended configuration for B.B PAW
CPU: Dual Core CPU| Graphics: Integrated| RAM: 1 GB | Screen: 7 inch touch screen display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution | Storage: 32 GB | Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Battery Life: 3 hours | Weight: 1.2 lbs
Tagital T7K Kid – Heavy Duty Tablet
Temporarily unavailable
By the time they hit the 5 – 6 year range, most kids these days are completely comfortable with mobile computer technology.
That being said, you probably still want plenty of options to restrict access to objectionable content or apps that require credit cards.
Our top kid safe tablet for preschoolers works as a full Android device, but has Kid Mode enabled by default so you have more control over what can be accessed.
With a high quality rubber case pre-installed, this is also a model that’s easy for kids to hold and won’t easily break if it gets dropped repeatedly.
Recommended configuration for Tagital T7K Kid
CPU: Quad core Mail 400 GPU 1.3GHz | Graphics😐 RAM: 1 GB | Screen: 7 inch touch screen display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution | Storage: 8 GB | Operating System: Android 4.4 KitKat | Battery Life: 3 hours | Weight: 1.1 lbs
Amazon Fire HD 10 – Ideal For Elementary School
By the time you get into the elementary school range, kids are already starting to use tablets for school projects and reading books.
By going with the Amazon Fire for this age range, you get solid build quality, a great warranty, and a built-in case for durability.
With the Fire OS, you get all the capabilities of a Google kids tablet since you can download apps, but you also get access to the full Amazon suite of programs.
As a fairly lightweight 10 inch, most kids shouldn’t have problems carrying around this particular model. Keep in mind that the Fire is also available in both 7 and 8 inch versions if you want something a little smaller or less expensive.
If your elementary-age kiddo is obsessed with Disney characters, be sure to also consider the option below, which may be more to your liking.
Recommended configuration for Amazon Fire HD 10
CPU: Quad-core| Graphics:Integrated graphics| RAM: 1MB RAM | Screen: 10.1-Inch 1080 full display| Storage: 32GB| Operating System: Fire OS| Battery Life: up to 10 weeks | Weight: 0.65 lbs
Dragon Touch Y88X – Comes With Disney Books
Nearly all children tablets come with a case right out of the box to protect against drops, but this one has a few extra features that make it great for middle school kids.
First off, the solid case has a built-in stand, so your kids can set it up easily to stream instructional YouTube videos or watch educational clips.
Besides the standard parental control features and full Google Play store compatibility, the Dragon Touch sports some extra apps that make it worth the asking price.
Most notably, this model features a series of Disney story books and apps pre-installed.
When you’ve got middle school aged kids getting more interested in movies and game, that’s a great way to get them started before moving into more teen and adult-focused apps.
Recommended configuration for Dragon Touch Y88X
CPU: Quad Core CPU 1.3GHz | Graphics😐 RAM: 2 GB | Screen: 7 inch IPS touch screen display, 1024×600 pixels resolution | Storage: 16 GB| Operating System: Android 9.0 | Battery Life: 3 hours | Weight: 2.05 lbs
Lenovo Tab 4 – Cheap But Powerful
Temporarily unavailable
By the time they hit high school, your kids will essentially want their own full tablet without any of the standard children options.
The Tab 4 is a great in-between option for teenage kids that offers excellent performance at an introductory level price.
With 10 hour battery life, it will last all day for homework and class projects as well. While this model doesn’t include any built-in parental controls, it isn’t difficult to setup controls through your Google account manually.
The Tab 4 comes in an 8 inch version in addition to the 10 inch model, and either one can be purchased with LTE capability so it can be added to your family’s mobile plan. If your high school aged kids prefer Microsoft over Android, don’t forget you can get a Windows 10 tablet like the NuVision 8” for around the same price.
Recommended configuration for Lenovo Tab 4
CPU: Snapdragon up to 1.4GHz| Graphics: Integrated graphics| RAM: 2GB RAM | Screen: 8-Inch 1280×800 LED HD display| Storage: 16GB| Operating System: Android| Battery Life: up to 10 hours | Weight: 1.11 lbs
Apple iPad – Affordable Family Tablet
When picking a tablet for the whole family, you don’t want to skimp on either the hardware or the build quality.
You need a device that will last, and that can be used by younger kids and the adults as well.
That’s what you get with the iPad, which is basically a full multi-media center for the entire family to use however they want.
From educational apps for the school kids to streaming video and news for the parents, you get it all here.
This version also includes extra security features like a fingerprint sensor to prevent unauthorized users from making purchases or accessing your family’s messages.
Keep in mind this model doesn’t come preloaded with kids apps or a drop-resistant case though, so make sure to budget in the cost of those extras before buying!
Recommended configuration for Apple iPad
CPU: A10 Fusion chip | Graphics: A10 Fusion | RAM: 3GB | Screen: 10.2 inch Retina display | Storage: 32GB | Operating System: iOS | Battery Life: 10 hours | Weight: 1.06 lbs
Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7 – Cheap And Functional
There are plenty of kids tablets that can be found in the $40 – $50 range, but in most cases we don’t recommend those models. They simply won’t have the power necessary to run educational apps or open web browser tabs without freezing or crashing.
For just over $100, you get the quality of a full Samsung tablet but still get all the extra features needed to remain safe when used by children.
At 7 inches long and a pound in weight, kids of any age won’t have any problems holding this device, and it comes with a bumper case pre-installed.
Recommended configuration for Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7
CPU: ARM Cortex-A7 processor with 4 cores | Graphics: Vivante GC1000| RAM: 1 GB RAM | Screen: 7.0” HD display | Storage: 8 GB | Operating System: Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7 | Battery Life: 5 hours | Weight: 0.68 lbs
Picking The Best Android Tablet For Kids In 2023
Design
When picking a tablet for toddlers to young adults, the overall design can be even more important than the hardware specs to ensure your child can comfortably carry the device.
There are two basic ways to go when buying a tablet for kids. We recommend picking a 7 or 8 inch tablet with a rubber case for the youngest children, and then bumping up to a 10 inch version as they get into elementary or middle school.
That progression ensures you get a quality device that won’t break easily and can be carried without dropping. As your kids get older, a larger screen will make it easier for them to top icons and type messages.
Features
Before looking at the speed or storage capacity of a device, always take into account what child-friendly features you can get that aren’t present in other models.
With kids tablets, the main features you want to look for are parental controls, pre-installed apps, included cases and screen protectors, and child-focused display options.
We recommend picking a device that has a host of educational and age-appropriate game apps already installed.
That’s particularly important if you don’t want your children accessing the internet on the tablet, so make sure it already has all the programs they will need!
Don’t forget to read through the user reviews on the quality of the drop-resistant cases either, as not all cases and protectors are made equal.
Performance
This criteria is less important for kids who aren’t using memory-intensive programs or having loads of tabs open, but there are still some minimum specs you want to shoot for when buying any tablet.
For the youngest kids, you can probably get away with a dual core CPU and 1GB of RAM as that’s all you really need for simple toddler level apps.
We recommend trying to pick a model with a quad core CPU and a minimum of 2GB of RAM in any other case, however.
That level of specs will ensure you don’t get constant freezing or crashes while having multiple tabs open or playing educational games.
Battery
The whole purpose of going with a portable device is to avoid being plugged in at all times, so be on the lookout for the best battery life possible before making your buying decision!
If there’s one feature of any tablet that seems to cause the most frustration among buyers, its the battery life.
You will find that battery estimates run the gamut from 3 hours to 16 hours, and often cases they seem like wild guesses on the part of the manufacturer.
If you need your kid to use a tablet for homework and school projects, be sure to look for anything with a minimum of 6 – 8 hours, and check the reviews to see if you can get better battery life by lowering the display brightness or turning off some features.
Price And Durability
One of the most important if not, the most important criteria in picking and judging an android tablet for kids is its durability. Because let’s face it, a child will not care how much money you’ve spent on that premium tabler, they bang on the screen and if they get angry, they’ll start throwing that tablet across the room and you’ll be saying goodbye to your $1000 tablet.
This is why we recommend that you choose cheap and durable tablets for your kids, they don’t know any better and it’s not like they’ll be using the super high specs of your premium tablet.
Inexpensive tablets also come at an advantage that they’re easily replaceable. If your kid somehow manages to destroy your tablets in a few months, then it’s no biggie because it doesn’t hurt your wallet that much.
Some cheap android tablets even cost less than $100 while others are nearing the price of $50. That’s definitely a replaceable gadget.
Cheap or not, you still spent money on the tablet and it would be a shame if it gets destroyed after a few months. Make sure that the tablet you are buying is pretty durable and it has shock-proof features that will allow it to survive being thrown around the room or being dropped.
A good indicator of a kids tablet is that the majority of them comes with a durable case that makes it easier for kids to grip on to as well as protect it from bumps and hits.
Take these things into consideration when buying an android tablet for kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there other ways to get a kid safe tablet besides picking these models?
Absolutely! While all these models are aimed directly at toddlers, young adults, teens, or families in one way or another, you don’t have to look just for tablets marketed at children.
Manually adding rubber cases and parental controls to any budget tablet can get you the same effect, and sometimes for less money.
A huge variety of rubber and plastic cases for tablets can be found at Amazon, and some of them even come with carrying handles for small hands.
By sticking to the basic performance specs listed in our buying criteria and adding an inexpensive case, you basically get to design your own kid’s tablet!
What age should a child use a tablet?
There has been a big debate on the minimum age a child should be using a tablet. Majority of experts don’t recommend that toddlers use tablets at such a young age because it promotes a sedentary lifestyle.
Children should use their hands and feet to roam their environment and develop both physically and mentally. Its that important because in the early stages, you’d want your child to develop basic mental faculties like deciphering language, learning about the world, and interacting socially with their parents and siblings even if it only involves crying and facial expressions.
A tablet that gives an artificial experience can severely stunt their growth and development as a person.
A lot of experts recommend that children should at least be 2 years old before they should be using tablets. Children 2 years old and above can benefit from education apps that prepare them for school as well as boost their intellect.
However the time spent on a tablet should be limited and carefully monitored by the parents so that their physical and social growth aren’t stunted as well.
Why do kids like iPads?
Aside from the aesthetically pleasing design, one of the major reasons why kids like iPads are because it’s very user-friendly. No matter how feature-rich a tablet is, it’s useless in a child’s eyes if they don’t know how to use it.
Thankfully the interface of Apple products is very self-intuitive. They’re that easy to use and understand that even a kid can figure it out.
Should I get a Chromebook or tablet for kids
It really depends on what you want for your kid or what they want. Majority of kids may not like or know how to use a keyboard properly which is why we recommend tablets for really young kids.
Resources
- Natalie Snow, Simbans TangoTab Review – An Easy-To-Use Premium Device, My Tablet Guide
- Byron Bacher, Tagital Kids Tablet Rundown, Dragon Blogger
- Marc Chacksfield, Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition review — It’s okay to let your kids play with Fire, Tech Radar
- Julian Chokkattu, Apple iPad (2018) review — still the best, Digital Trends
- Lisa Eadicicco, Samsung Kids Review, Laptop Mag