Ready to pick up an ultra portable device that offers you a wide range of features and access to the online world? Here’s the list of best tablet under $300!
With a high-quality tablet in hand, you can ditch the bulkier, more expensive laptops but still get a great mobile computing experience.
Ready to find your perfect tablet while staying on budget? Let’s get started reviewing the top contenders!
If you are in the market for a budget $200 tablet or a high-end $400 tablet, we got you covered too.
Recommendations for March 2023
- CHUWI Hi10 – Tablet With Keyboard
- Dell Inspiron 11 – Impressive Windows Tablet
- Vankyo MatrixPad Z4 – Amazing Value
- OYYU 13 – Cheap And Portable
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8 – Powerful 8-inch Tablet
- Apple IPad (Refurbished) – Powerful Specs
- Lenovo Chromebook C330 – Reliable 2-in-1
- New Apple IPad – Amazing Overall
- Jumper EZpad 6 Pro – Optimized For Efficiency
- CHUWI UBook – FHD Display
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A SM-T580 – Octa Core CPU
- ASUS ZENPAD 3S 10 – Ideal For Gaming
Review of the best tablet under $300 In 2023
CHUWI Hi10 – Tablet With Keyboard
Tablets are an excellent choice for portability, but they often cut corners on display quality in order to keep prices down.
That is very much not the case with this CHUWI model, which puts a premium on the screen resolution.
This unit’s FHD display is in on par with the lauded retina screens you normally only find in much more expensive Apple products.
It isn’t all flash and no substance either — the hardware beneath that screen is extremely high end.
With 6GB of RAM, the latest version of Windows, and a killer CPU, there aren’t any apps this device won’t be able to run smoothly.
Whether you love gaming on the Android platform or just want consistently fast speeds for home or business apps, you can’t go wrong here.
Although the Hi9 Air works great as a standalone tablet, it actually has more versatility than that and can be useful in other applications.
Specifically, it features a slot for a SIM card so it can be used with your mobile carrier and is LTE enabled.
You may want to note one potential downside though brought on by the budget pricing.
Despite being billed as a gaming tablet, there’s no HDMI port here, so you can’t connect this unit easily to an external display.
Recommended configuration for CHUWI Hi10
CPU: Intel N4100 | Graphics: Intel Graphics 600 | RAM: 6 GB RAM| Screen: 10.1″ 1920×1200 FHD IPS Multi-Touch Display | Storage: 128GB eMMC| Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: 6 hours | Weight: 1.15 lbs
Dell Inspiron 11 – Impressive Windows Tablet
The line between tablet and laptop has started to blur, and there are plenty of devices at this price range that could drop into either category.
Among the best of those is the Dell Inspiron 11, which is within the tablet sizing but has a full version of Windows 10 installed.
When going with a Windows device, you always want to shoot for at least 8GB of RAM. That’s what you get here, putting the Inspiron 11 is a cut above cheaper Windows tablets.
With this combo of CPU + RAM, any of your average Windows applications will run much more smoothly and with less lag.
As with all Windows tablets, your main bottleneck will be in physical storage capacity. The operating system takes up a whole lot of that 64 GB of space, so make sure to buy an extra SD card!
To get an entry-level laptop experience in a $300 tablet package, they do have to cut a few corners as well.
Most notably, the screen resolution isn’t full HD, so you can’t expect 1080p video streaming, unfortunately.
That issue aside, if you want to stick to a budget but still get Windows 10 in a tablet, this is a great low-cost option.
Recommended configuration for Dell Inspiron 11
CPU: AMD a9-9420e | Graphics: Radeon 5 Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 11.6″ 1366×768 LED-backlit Touch Display| Storage: 64GB eMMC | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: 11 hours | Weight: 4.49 pounds
OYYU 13 – Cheap And Portable
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OYYU’s offering in our lineup of quality budget portable devices really pushes the boundaries of what can be considered a 2 in 1 tablet vs. a full sized laptop.
You get the power of an entry level Windows laptop, but in a much smaller, more portable size than normal.
At 3 pounds this unit is much heavier than other tablets, but still significantly lighter than your typical laptop.
What really seals the deal is in the 2 in 1 design, which lets you decide how you want to use this device.
Want to hold it like a flat tablet? No problem.
Prefer to prop up in tent mode for video viewing or flip around at a 90 degree angle to hold on your lap? Both modes are simple to activate.
While some of the specs are similar to our other Windows pick above, there’s one big difference to keep in mind here.
This model has a much higher resolution display than the Dell Inspiron model listed above for the same overall price.
That makes it a great pick for streaming HD movies on your favorite video service, or even for light gaming.
Recommended configuration for OYYU 13
CPU: Intel Atom x5-Cherry Trail Z8350 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 13.3 Inch IPS touch screen display, 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution | Storage: 32GB | Operating System: Windows 10 Home | Battery Life: 10 hours | Weight 3.8 lbs
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8 – Powerful 8-inch Tablet
We’ve talked up plenty of Samsung products in our other tablet roundups, and now it’s time to look at the best model below $300.
This version of the Tab A doesn’t disappoint, with an eight-core CPU that will easily handle any Android apps you care to install.
The 8” inch version of the Tab A also features a solid rubber back (rather than glass or plastic) for more durability.
Best of all?
The battery power is sort of unbelievable for a tablet of this size, giving you all-day battery on a single charge.
If you prefer using your tablet without headphones, this is an excellent model to keep in mind in terms of audio quality.
Sadly, the Tab A doesn’t include the Samsung pen like the more expensive S models.
That being said, if you don’t care about using a stylus, then going with this more budget-friendly A model is the better choice.
Recommended configuration for Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425| Graphics:Integrated graphics| RAM: 2GB RAM | Screen: 8-Inch 1280×800 display| Storage: 32GB| Operating System: Windows 10| Battery Life: up to 13 hours | Weight: 0.76 lbs
Apple IPad (Refurbished) – Powerful Specs
Most of our devices so far have focused on Android or Windows, but you can in fact go with iOS instead and still stay under $300.
There’s a catch though — you have to be willing to try a refurbished unit.
These iPads have been restored to factory specs, cleaned, and repaired so they work like new, even though they’ve been previously used.
In exchange for going refurbished, you get one of the most comfortable tablet designs available right now.
The sleek 9 inch display hits an excellent mid-way point between larger tablets that are harder to hold and smaller tablets that don’t weigh as much.
Of course, the retina quality display is about as high end as you can find in a tablet at this price range as well.
If you love video quality and want to video chat or take plenty of snapshots, you also get an extremely high end, 8 megapixel camera.
Recommended configuration for Apple IPad (Refurbished)
CPU: Apple A9 processor | Graphics: M10 integrated | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 9.7-inch retina touch screen display, 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution | Storage: 32GB | Operating System: iOS 10 | Battery Life: 8 hours | Weight 1.0 lbs
Lenovo Chromebook C330 – Reliable 2-in-1
2 in 1 tablet are incredible for media utilization and Lenovo Chromebook is designed for it, with built-in speakers you can enjoy any of your favorite play, movies or any media with penetrating 3D surround sound.
Because of its design, the Lenovo Chromebook is one of our recommended tablet-laptop that lies in the list of under $300 for media consumption.
It has a durable design and its 2 in 1 mode allows you to use it in your style, it is a wonderful edition form Lenovo and you can use it as a laptop if you are in your office or schools and as a tablet if you please.
With 4GB of RAM and powerful graphics card, it could kill any games you wish to install without compromising the quality of the display.
It runs on Chrome OS to increase the device compatibility with the apps loaded on it. Integrated with 45Wh of battery to last for hours to keep you connected to your favorite programs all-day long.
Despite being built as a tablet-laptop, the Lenovo Chromebook is pretty much in the criteria of tablets when we based on specs and storage.
Recommended configuration for Lenovo Chromebook C330
CPU: MediaTek MT8173C | Graphics: Integrated PowerVR GX6250 Graphics | RAM: 4GB Soldered LPDDR3-1866 Memory, | Screen: 11. 6″ HD (1366×768) IPS 300nits Anti-glare Display| Storage: 32GB eMMC| Operating System: Chrome OS | Battery Life: 10 hours | Weight: 2.6 pounds
New Apple IPad – Amazing Overall
The Apple New iPad comes with A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture and embedded M10 coprocessor for super fast and seamless performance, along with the combination of 3GB RAM that boosts up the device performance to the next level.
It comes with 32GB internal storage, one of the best features is switching between the apps. You can easily switch apps without losing the RAM performance.
The bright 10.2-inches retina display along with the display resolution of 2160×1620 pixels add up a sharp and clear picture the Apple is known for. The display on this iPad is superb compared to other tablets on the list.
This iPad packs even more value into our most popular and affordable iPad model featuring a bigger 10.2-inch Retina display, support for Apple Pencil and for the first time, the full-size Smart Keyboard.
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
Jumper EZpad 6 Pro – Optimized For Efficiency
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Make no mistake as this notebook manufacturing brand is best known for its quality products. Finest-class super slim and portable tablet attached with keyboard and that too under the affordable price tag, Jumper EZPad Pro does the great job you generally expect.
The EZPad Pro 6 is loaded with the latest technologies to compete with the good old brands, integrated with a good screen size of up to 11.6-inches touch screen with HD display takes the details of the scenes.
The Jumper EZPad Pro 6 comes with a great storage option of 128GB along with 6GB RAM to take on loads of data. Loaded with Celeron N3450 processor and Intel HD Graphics 500 graphics processor.
The powerful Intel GPU card takes on to supply the best colors to seamlessly watch the graphics-rich content. Super efficient connectivity to increase the options to connect to various devices.
Recommended configuration for Jumper EZpad 6 Pro
CPU: Celeron N3450 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 500 | RAM: 6GB DDR3 | Screen: 11.6-inch 1920×1080 HD resolution display |Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: 11 hours | Weight: 2.10 lbs
CHUWI UBook – FHD Display
CHUWI Ubook offers 8GB RAM and an SSD with an M.2 2280 connector with a capacity of 128GB or 1TB depending on the configuration but it runs on 256GB of SSP drive that operates five times faster than traditional hard drives.
This is great for people who are looking for Microsoft Surface range tablets but with a limited budget, CHUWI UBook offers almost the same specs at a lower price.
You can’t go wrong with CHUWI UBook, with its robust performance, quality build and cheap price, you would get a very decent table for $300 price range.
CHUWI UBook wifi system ensures the interference-free signal reception to keep you using the tablet all day long as well as other important ports to enhance connectivity through USB C-type, Micro SD, and 2 USB 3.0 slots.
Despite the specifications presented on CHUWI UBook, It is not recommended for medium or heavy gaming for it lacks the graphics power.
Recommended configuration for CHUWI UBook
CPU: Intel N4100 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600| RAM: 8GB | Screen: 11.6-inches 1920×1080 pixels resolution| Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 Home | Battery Life: 4 hours | Weight: 1.68 lbs | Other Features: 5mp webcam
Samsung Galaxy Tab A SM-T580 – Octa Core CPU
The Samsung Galaxy Tab, regardless of its low-cost price, comes with some amazing and best specs that everyone looks for. The tablet’s high-end display features a bright 10.1-inches display screen.
With a display like that, you could watch your favorite movies without the strain. Samsung is known for its high-end display feature which gives this tablet and edge to others.
The Samsung Galaxy tab is loaded with an 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera built-in for taking selfies. It comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory which is expandable to 200GB through micro SD.
The combination provides excellent performance. It has a strong 1.6GHz Exynos 7870 octa-core processor that enhances its speed and performance.
Powered with a strong battery that can last for almost 11 hours, perfect for long usage be it surfing or watching movies.
Recommended configuration for Samsung Galaxy Tab A SM-T580
CPU: Exynos 5 Octa-Core 5420 1.6 GHz | Graphics: ARM Mali-T830 | RAM: 2GB | Screen: 10.1-inches 1920×1080 pixels resolution | Storage: 16GB | Operating System: Android | Battery Life: 11-13 hours | Weight: 1.16 lbs
ASUS ZENPAD 3S 10 – Ideal For Gaming
The Asus Zenpad 3s 10 delivers mobile entertainment using its 9.7” 2k IPS display with VisualMaster technology, a 2048×1536 screen resolution, and a wide-angle 178° viewing angle provides expansive visuals.
With Asus VisualMaster technology, the ZenPad 3S 10 could immerse you in the world of entertainment. Part of ASUS VisualMaster the ASUS Tru2Life technology enhances pixels to deliver increased contrast and sharpness. Combined with ASUS TruVivid display and BlueLight Filter, you will have a real-world vibrancy.
Inside the ASUS ZenPad 3s 10 lies a quad-core processor with 4GB of RAM and PowerVR GX6250 graphics which let the ASUS ZenPad handle games and productivity tasks with ease.
It also comes with a high-capacity 5900mAh battery to keep the entertainment going. Assisted by Qualcomm quick charge 3.0 technology, the ZenPad helps you to do more and wait for less.
Recommended configuration for ASUS ZENPAD 3S 10
CPU: Cortex 2.1GHz | Graphics: PowerVR GX6250 | RAM: 4GB LPDDR3 | Screen: 9.7-inches 2048×1536 pixels resolution PowerVR | Storage: 64GB | Operating System: Android 6.0 | Battery Life: 5 hours | Weight: 0.95 lbs
Vankyo MatrixPad Z4 – Amazing Value
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Vankyo MatrixPad Z4 is a storehouse of wonderful things. First of all, it comes with the latest OS, the Android 9.0 Pie which makes it compatible with a lot of the latest apps and apps to come. This also makes the tablet resistant to bloatware allowing it to run much smoothly.
The tablet is very cheap and it costs less than $100 but its specs are surprisingly good especially if you consider its price range. It has a MALI-G31 GPU for easy rendering, over 2 GB of RAM for your multitasking needs, and a powerful Rockchip Quad-Core CPU that can go up to 1.5GHz for each of its cores.
The Vankyo MatrixPad Z4 also has a decent storage space of 32 GB which isn’t much but thankfully you can just purchase a micro SD for all of your storage needs. You can also run multiple OSs this way so you can run Windows and Android using the tabler.
Overall, the Vankyo MatrixPad Z4 is a feature-rich tablet that has a lot going for it.
Recommended configuration for Vankyo MatrixPad Z4
CPU: Rockchip Quad-Core 1.5GHz processor | Graphics: MALI-G31 | RAM: 2GB | Screen: 10.1″ 1280×800 HD IPS Touch Display| Storage: 32GB eMMC | Operating System: Android 9.0 Pie | Battery Life: 8 hours | Weight: 1.08 pounds
Picking The Best Tablets Under $300 in 2023
Overall Performance
In this below $300 price range, you can expect much faster app performance and fewer stutters so long as you know what specs to look out for.
By the time you hit the below $300 ($200 to $300) range, the hardware of a tablet starts to resemble a full laptop. If you don’t carefully compare components though, you can still end up with a slower model.
For the best mobile experience, we recommend 4GB of RAM in any tablet at this price point. The only leeway there is if you get a faster processor in exchange for 3GB of RAM, like with certain Samsung models.
Be on the lookout for faster CPUs as well, such as newer eight core processor models.
Bonus Features
For many models in the same price range, the specs will be quite similar, so keep an eye out for extra bells and whistles that make one tablet more attractive that the competition.
When you have your basic specs and budget down, it becomes time to consider all those additional features that will determine which specific model is best for your needs.
We recommend picking a tablet that has at least one of these bonus features, depending on how you plan to use your device:
- SIM card slot to double as a phone or secondary family device on your wireless plan
- Extra speakers for better sound quality
- Higher quality rear cameras for taking snapshots
- 2 in 1 designs to utilize the tablet as a full laptop or prop it up in tent mode for more comfortable video streaming.
- Extra ports such as HDMI
Viewing Quality
Since you will always be looking directly at the screen of your tablet and want to avoid eye strain, you shouldn’t skimp on the screen resolution!
Tablets can come in a wide range of sizes and display quality, with large variances to be found even from the same manufacturer.
To get the best display quality for streaming videos or playing with Android apps or Windows programs, we strongly recommend going with a 1920 x 1080 resolution model.
In some cases, you can double that and get full 2k displays at this price range if you look carefully.
Generally, you shouldn’t be willing to drop down to 1366 pixels resolution unless you need a specific feature in exchange, like a Windows 2-in-1 model with more RAM.
Battery Life
The handheld tablet experience is all about portability, and that includes getting decent battery life so you don’t have to plug in and constantly charge your device.
Battery life can vary widely between devices based on their screen size & resolution, as well as other specs such as CPU and graphics chip.
For the most useful tablet experience, we recommend you pick any device that lists an 8 – 10 hour life. If you don’t plan on being near an outlet often, you should bump that up to any device with a projected 12 – 14 hour life.
Be sure to remember that those battery life estimates will drop sharply if you are using more memory-intensive apps than just streaming video or browsing the web, however.
Size & Weight
The main advantage to a tablet is in a small form factor and low weight, which make them more portable and comfortable to carry than a full laptop.
With a variety of sizes, weights, and form factors, not all tablets are super comfortable to hold for extended periods.
In most cases, we recommend stick to around 1 pound in weight for the most comfort. For that weight, you usually max out at about 10 inches on the display.
There are reasons to pick a heavier tablet on occasion, however.
Remember that you will always end up with a heavier model when picking a 2-in-1 tablet with laptop convertibility, or anything with the Windows OS.
Durability, OS, and Age
Your tablet might be cheap but there would be no point in buying it at an affordable price if it gets destroyed within a couple of months. Majority of the tablets mentioned on this list are tough and durable but if you’re picking a tablet not on this list, then you better check what reviews say about its durability.
Looking at the products warranty will help as well. The longer the warranty, the more secure you are in replacing or being refunded for a defective product.
Another thing to keep in mind is the OS or operating system of your tablet. This is because not all OSs are made equal. A tablet with Windows OS will have more features and a more sophisticated OS capable of doing many things but this comes at the price of reduced performance.
A tablet with Android OS on the other hand is much lighter making it easier for the tablet to run programs and applications with ease. So ask yourself when choosing the OS of a tabler, “Which do I prefer? Performance or features?”
Last but not the least, you have to take into consideration the age of the tablet. Most tablets above the $300 price range are new and have unique features that makes them stand out from the rest.
And although there are a lot of new tablets that are under $300, you can still choose an older refurbished tablet. This is because refurbished tablets might be still more powerful than the newer cheap tablets on this list.
A good example of this would be the refurbished Apple iPad on this list. It may be old but it still outperforms some of the newer tablets on the market.
Resources
- Eileen Brown, Hands-on with the Chuwi Hi9 Air: Fast performance and good battery life, ZDNet
- Henry T. Casey, Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Review, Laptop Mag
- Abhijeet, Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 Review, Sam Mobile
- Dieter Bohn, Apple iPad Review: The Best Feature Is The Price, The Verge