Tablets are incredibly handy in this day and age, whether it's for mainstream use, surfing the web or even working from home. Their portability and durability have allowed them to stand the test of time, and with multiple brands offering a range of products, finding your ideal tablet has never been easier.
However, many are extremely expensive, some even overpriced, that's why we've comprised a guide of the best budget tablets. There are plenty of excellent tablets out there with great features - and you don't need to break the bank to get your hands on one.
But, if you're not on a budget, make sure to take a look at our best tablets to buy guide. If you're specifically looking for an iPad or a Samsung, we also have a list of the best iPads for every budget and a best Samsung tablets rundown.
Looking for other pieces of tech on a budget? Check out our best budget laptops guide.
Best budget tablets:
Best overall
This is the best budget tablet you can get right now, it will save you quite a bit of money without compromising much on the features. It has a great performance due to its A12 Bionic chipset, as well as a good rear camera and a durable battery life. It also boasts an impressive and vibrant display as well as decent screen size. And if 32GB is not enough storage for you, you can always upgrade to the 128GB model for an extra £100. Although this tablet would be great for mainstream use, it's also pretty handy as a secondary display (only via MacOS Catalina's SideCar).
Pros
- Best value for money
- Good resolution
Cons
- Front camera only 1.2MP
Camera: | Rear camera 7MP, front camera 1.2MP |
Battery: | Up to 10 hours |
Resolution: | 1620 x 2160 pixels |
Storage: | 32GB/128GB |
Best tablet for drawing and creative use
It's easy to see why we included the Samsung Galaxy Tab Lite S6 in our best budget tablets guide. Featuring a great camera, a superb and crisp display as well as a fast-charging battery, there's very little this tablet isn't suited for. This tablet is also incredible value for the price as it's pretty feature-packed. Aside from including the S Pen - which saves you a hefty amount of money, it also has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Pros
- S Pen included
- Ideal for watching films or TV series
Cons
- Performance can be quite slow at times
Camera: | Rear camera 8MP, front camera 5MP |
Battery: | 7,040mAh and 15W Fast Charging |
Screen: | 10.4 inches |
Resolution: | 1200 by 1200 pixels |
Storage: | 64GB/128GB |
Best cheap tablet
If you're looking for the best budget tablet then look no further. The Amazon Fire 8 Plus is amazing value for the price, for just a bit over £100 you're getting a great camera, decent resolution, and impressive battery life. This tablet is great for everyday use as well as work tasks - its wireless charging feature is also pretty handy!
Pros
- Wireless charging
- Great price
Cons
- Weak camera system
Camera: | Rear camera 2MP, front camera 2MP |
Battery: | Up to 12 hours |
Screen: | 8 inches |
Resolution: | 880 x 1280 pixels |
Storage: | 32GB/64GB |
Best tablet for watching media
If you're looking for the best value for money tablet, then you've found it. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 features a headphone jack, a long battery life and a great camera system. This is an excellent tablet for any use, boasting a bright and vibrant resolution, as well as a large display - making it ideal for watching videos or movies as well as taking pictures.
Pros
- Great value for price
- Large display
Cons
- Can be a bit slow
Camera: | Rear camera 8MP, front camera 5MP |
Battery: | 7300mAh |
Screen: | 10.5 inches |
Resolution: | 1200 x 1920 |
Storage: | 32GB |
Editor's Choice
If you love the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus but need a bigger screen and better resolution, then the Amazon Fire HD 10 is the one for you. With this tablet, you're getting a 10.1-inch screen and a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, making it an awesome media player.
Pros
- Great crisp resolution
- Large display
Cons
- Poor speaker quality
Camera: | Rear camera 2MP, front camera 2MP |
Battery: | Up to 12 hours |
Screen: | 10.1 inches |
Resolution: | 1920 x 1200 |
Storage: | 32GB/64GB |
FAQS:
What is the best screen resolution?
The screen resolution shows how many pixels are on the screen. The higher the number of pixels, the clearer, sharper and better the images are displayed on the device. If you will be using your iPad for creative and work tasks, or watching series then you'll need an excellent screen resolution - we recommend the Apple iPad 10.2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, or the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5.
What features should I look for?
This completely depends on what you will be using your iPad for, but a couple of key features to look out for are the screen resolution, the battery life, and the camera quality.
Isabel Martins is a Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, specialising in technology.
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All of these budget tablets have been hand-selected by What's The Best shopping experts. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching, so you can choose the best one. Plus, we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in. Find out why you should trust us here.