5 best tablet for kids 2021: the top picks tab for children

Nithvik
9 Min Read

The 5 best tablet for kids isn’t the same as it would be for adults. Generally, a dedicated kids tablet from Amazon or Samsung is often a far better option for young children than a fully-fledged iPad Pro or similar.

Typically, kids’ tablets are hardier than their adult counterparts so they can withstand a few knocks and drops. They’re often cheaper too as they tend to pack lower-spec processors due to not requiring the high-end performance you might need for work or video calls. 

READ ALSO: Top 5 best electric toothbrush for kids

Despite the relatively lower specs, such tablets are still ideal for playing games, watching films, reading books, or listening to music — all the core activities your child is most likely to want to do with their gadget. Even better, these tablets tend to come at a fraction of the price of a modern smartphone. If your kids are stuck indoors for long periods or on a long journey with you, these tablets should keep your little ones happy. 

Many tablets for kids also come with custom software which have parental controls activated by default, making it easier for you to monitor what they’re installing or looking at.

Before you dive into purchasing a tablet for kids, it’s worth thinking about what your child is most likely to use their device for in case there’s a more appropriate alternative out there. If you’re convinced a tablet is the solution, read on as we break down the best tablet for kids.

1. Amazon Fire 7

5 best tablet for kids

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 286g

Dimensions: 192 x 115 x 9.6mm

OS: Fire OS

Screen size: 7-inch

Resolution: 1,024 x 600

CPU: 1.3GHz Quad-core

Storage: 16GB/32GB

Battery: up to 7 hours

Rear camera: 2MP

Front camera: VGA

REASONS TO BUY

+Amazing value

+Great selection of content 

REASONS TO AVOID

-Underpowered tech

-Disappointing stamina

The Fire 7 is one of the cheapest tablets around and comes in a range of bright colors, which makes it the ideal choice for school kids and teenagers looking for their first smart device. 

You’ll want to get to grips with the parental controls before handing it over to very young children and don’t expect cutting-edge performance or exceptional battery life for the price, but it really is hard to think of any other tablet which can match the Fire 7 when it comes to price and sheer volume of content; Amazon’s app store is stocked to bursting point. 

2. Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

5 best tablet for kids
5 best tablet for kids

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 550g

Dimensions: 233 x 184 x 26mm

OS: Fire OS

Screen size: 8-inch

Resolution: 1280 x 800

CPU: quad-core

Storage: 32GB

Battery: up to 12 hours

Rear camera: 2MP

Front camera: 2MP

REASONS TO BUY

+Durable

+Comes with loads of content

REASONS TO AVOID

-Pricier than standard Fire tablets

-Chunky

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition (2020) is the latest version of Amazon’s kid-friendly 8-inch slate, and while it’s not a huge upgrade on the previous model it’s certainly the one to go for, as it has more power and storage than its predecessor, while still coming in at a low price.

Essentially it’s a kid’s version of the standard Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020), with the key strengths of this tablet including its durable, colorful shell that will both appeal to children and withstand most accidents.

There’s also an adjustable stand built in, so children won’t have to hold the tablet to use it, and it comes with a one-year subscription to Fire for Kids Unlimited, giving you access to a wealth of kid-friendly apps, videos, and games.

3. iPad 10.2 (2019)     

5 best tablet for kids
5 best tablet for kids

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 483g

Dimensions: 251 x 174 x 7.5mm

OS: iPadOS

Screen size: 10.2-inch

Resolution: 1620 x 2160 pixels

CPU: A10 Fusion

RAM: 3GB

Storage: 32/128GB

microSD slot: No

Battery: Up to 10 hours

Rear camera: 8MP

Front camera: 1.2MP

REASONS TO BUY

+Bigger screen than previous models

+iPadOS has lots of apps

REASONS TO AVOID

-Older iPads are cheaper

-You may need a case

The iPad 10.2 is the cheapest tablet in Apple’s range, and it may be a great choice for your kids. iPadOS is full of fantastic tools, apps and games for your children, and this is one of the cheapest options.

If you’re worried about it getting damaged, you may want to buy a case for the iPad 10.2 as well. This isn’t going to be the most durable option you’ll find on this list.

We’ve also opted for the older 2019 edition, instead of the latest iPad 10.2 that was released in 2020. That is still a great option for kids if you’re looking for an even faster tablet, but this 2019 edition isn’t that different and won’t cost as much as the 2020 version.

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

5 best tablet for kids
5 best tablet for kids

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 345g

Dimensions: 210 x 124.4 x 8mm

OS: Android

Screen size: 8-inch

Resolution: 800 x 1280

CPU: quad-core

Storage: 32GB

Battery: N/A

Rear camera: 8MP

Front camera: 2MP

REASONS TO BUY

+Great design

+Decent specs for the price

REASONS TO AVOID

-Still not quite cutting

-edge

-No protection

If you’ve got an older child or fashion-conscious teen then they might not thank you for buying a tablet which comes with a brightly-colored bumper or crayon-like stylus.

If an iPad is still out of the question then Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A8 could present the ideal middle ground; it’s got a mature design and decent specifications but offers the option of adding parental controls so you can still have some peace of mind. 

The best thing is that as your teenager gets older, they don’t need to discard the Galaxy Tab 8 as you can remove the controls (assuming you trust them) and viola – it becomes a tablet for a grown-up (well, a grown-up child, at least). Samsung’s reputation for quality and design shines through on this reasonably-priced slate, so it’s well worth a look. 

5. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition

5 best tablet for kids

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 778g

Dimensions: 292 x 206 x 26mm

OS: Fire OS

Screen size: 10.1-inch

Resolution: 1920 x 1200

CPU: octa-core

Storage: 32GB/64GB

Battery: up to 12 hours

Rear camera: 2MP

Front camera: 2MP

REASONS TO BUY

+Amazing screen

+Comes with Fire for Kids Unlimited

REASONS TO AVOID

-Expensive

-Quite bulky

Amazon’s 10-inch kids tablet offers a crisp IPS 1080p screen that’s great for playing games and watching movies on, and also provides plenty of display real estate for kids who are just starting to find their love of reading. 

Like several of Amazon’s other tablets, the Fire HD 10 is available in a ‘Kids Edition’ package which slaps a massive rubber bumper on for protection and allows you to enable controls which prevent your children from viewing questionable content. The catch is that the Fire HD 10 is quite expensive, and that massive screen means an equally massive footprint, which some younger users may find too unwieldy.

However, you do get a year of Fire for Kids Unlimited, which provides free age-appropriate content for your precious ones.

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