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Nov 04, 2023

Best cheap Android tablets in 2023

Versatile, affordable Android tablets great for entertainment, work, and

Versatile, affordable Android tablets great for entertainment, work, and communication

While the absolute best Android tablets can practically serve as high-end laptop replacements, you don't have to shell out a ton of cash to get your hands on something convenient and reasonably powerful. In fact, we've seen some recent releases with surprisingly powerful hardware and streamlined interfaces at around $300 or less.

There's also a recent trend of tablet-optimized Android apps designed for larger, tablet-size screens instead of smartphones. And thanks to ever-increasing hardware capability and efficiency, you will have the best selection of low-cost tablets ever. Tablets are available at nearly any price point, like the Xiaomi Redmi Pad, equipped with features like high refresh rates and tons of RAM, which we are used to having only with expensive tablets.

Just about everything on the Xiaomi Redmi pad is above average, especially when you factor in its low price. A luxurious unibody construction and a large display with a high refresh rate, resolution, and peak brightness contribute to its premium appearance. It also sports powerful components and four Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, and you can choose from three configurations, including one with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.

Xiaomi phones and tablets aren't incredibly popular in the United States, but they're pretty common in parts of Europe and India. The last Xiaomi tablet we got our hands on was the Xiaomi Pad 5, which felt like a slightly more affordable version of the sleek iPad Air. Released in October of 2022, the Redmi Pad doesn't cost as much but has a similarly great fit and finish, including a one-piece metal chassis with clean lines and a classy look.

Inside, it's packed with better hardware than a tablet this price has a right to. For just over $200, you get 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, with an optional upgrade to 6GB of system memory. There is a 64GB/3GB version available, but it's not much cheaper, and those extra gigs can make a difference. Combine the capable components with the high-resolution display operating at 90 hertz and up to 400 nits, and it's hard to imagine a better balance of price and performance.

A high-end OLED display sets the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 apart from most of the competition. It's also even thinner than most, at a hair under 7 millimeters. If that's not enough, it's also one of the few with an optional matching keyboard and stylus, which are both top-notch.

If you're willing to spend a little more, you can't ignore the second iteration of Lenovo's Tab P11+. Chiefly, its 120-hertz, 2560 x 1536 OLED display is the best in this price range, and the company's matching stylus (sold separately, unfortunately) is as precise as they get. Then there's the impressive battery, which should last well more than an entire day for all but the most intensive use cases. Aside from the price and poor selfie camera, it has no notable drawbacks.

Almost the lowest-price model from an established brand, the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a relatively focused-use device with tons of value. By that, we mean it's not super versatile since it can't multitask or run resource-intensive apps smoothly, but it's perfect for streaming movies or sports and browsing the web.

If you keep your expectations in the right place for this relative bargain of a tablet, you may well end up perfectly satisfied. It doesn't have the firepower to do much in terms of productivity, and it does lag from time to time when loading large files or especially complex software. Nonetheless, its small stature, low cost, and streamlined interface mean it's the best you'll find with an MSRP under $200. Most of the time, you can even find it at a moderate discount, too.

A combination of 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage makes this an easy choice for anyone with a huge collection of media and resource-intensive video games. Its Snapdragon 665 chipset isn't too shabby, either, especially in light of the low price. It's a mere 7.7 millimeters thick and weighs 470 grams, making it one the lithest sub-$300 tablets around.

Not content with only leading the budget-friendly TV market, TCL's dropped a handful of respectable midrange mobile devices in the last couple of years. The TabMax 10.4 is one such high-performing tablet at a good price.

The first thing that caught our eye was the 256GB of internal storage, meaning you'll basically never have to wait around while app loading slows to a crawl. The Snapdragon 665 chipset does an admirable job at a smooth Android experience and can even handle reasonably complex games. If you're considering using any online streaming services, though, be warned: It lacks the Widevine L1 DRM protection needed to use services like Netflix or Amazon Prime in anything better than 480p.

The Tab S6 Lite was such a well-made tablet on its 2020 release that Samsung decided to refresh the software and re-release it in 2022. So while the hardware isn't the absolute newest, it offers a great experience no matter what you're using it for. It's even good enough to run a wide variety of Android games.

It's no secret that Samsung's developed one of the most user-friendly Android flavors, which is on full display with the midrange Tab S6 Lite. The Snapdragon 720G processor performs notably better than Samsung's in-house Exynos chipsets, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are as seamless as they get. The only significant issue is that we wish Samsung had reduced the MSRP on this technically two-year-old tablet, but you can often find it at a discount.

If you're looking for a basic tablet for media consumption but don't want to make a big investment, the Tab M10 Plus is worth a look. Its screen has a higher resolution and peak brightness than many others at this price, and the cameras work a little better too. It's not meant for seriously resource-hogging apps, though, as the most affordable models are limited to 3GB of RAM.

Anybody in the market for a basic, affordable tablet should take a look at Tab M10 Plus. In its third generation, it delivers a good Android 12 experience and is slated to get an Android 13 update at some point. Most notably, the physical and software design are clearly focused on landscape rather than portrait orientation, which makes it an excellent choice for streaming media on the go.

The Galaxy Tab A8 isn't much different from the Tab A7, and that's a good thing. It's a bit brighter, will receive software updates for a year longer than its predecessor, and comes with updated Android software. If you're looking for a simple and compact slate at a good price, this is it.

We loved the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 as much as we loved its predecessor, thanks to its good performance, low price, and flawless Android implementation. It's not exactly a performance powerhouse, but the user-friendly experience tends to make up for that. In particular, its long battery life and fast charging make it especially convenient for streaming your favorite shows at a moment's notice.

Lenovo's Duet series has a bit of an identity crisis. It uses Chrome OS instead of Android, so the experience is somewhat different in that it more closely acts like a laptop than a tablet in some ways. Add to that the mated, included keyboard, and you'll end up with a highly versatile device good for casual use and a little work and play.

The Lenovo Duet is a far better option for word processing and other work than most tablets due mostly to the surprisingly great keyboard that comes with it. Running on Chrome OS, it's a touch more suitable for larger windows and does a great job with the modern cloud apps that remote workers usually use. However, while it does a decent job at a tablet and laptop-lite replacement, it doesn't entirely excel at either. For example, it only has two USB ports, unlike even many low-cost full-on laptops.

Amazon's Fire HD series is as basic as they get. It uses Amazon's own FireOS Android fork, which means it's great for shopping or using Prime Video, but you can't use the Google Play Store. Nonetheless, it's the perfect option for the most casual users or those who want to get a tablet for their kid.

The Fire HD 8 is a little different from most Android tablets. For instance, the operating system is much more locked down than others, so you won't have access to all Android apps, but you can be sure that what's there works great. As the most affordable 8-inch tablet from a big-name manufacturer, it's worth considering if you want something reliable and functional. But it can't play resource-intensive games or multitask, and it's not the best if you want to do a lot other than browse the web or stream media.

A newcomer to our list, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad is the clear-cut favorite in terms of price and features. It's fast, has plenty of storage and RAM, sports a better screen than nearly any other, and costs surprisingly little. It's actually hard to find anything better without spending well over $300. It even comes in a fun Mint Green color if the standard Gray and Black are too plain for you.

But it's not the only great option. The Lenovo Tab P11+, which earned our Premium Pick, is especially great if you move up one level to the version with 6GB of RAM. The TCL TabMax 10.4 is another affordable option that offers relatively premium inclusions, like a whopping 256GB of internal storage.

It's also a great time to buy if you're on a tight budget. The 3rd-generation Lenovo Tab M10 Plus performs especially well for the cost. For a nearly unbeatable price, consider our Best Value pick, the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, which is great for streaming media. Finally, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is as affordable as they get, but remember, it can't access the Google Play Store.

Chris's first foray into electronics included fixing and destroying early PCs in his dad's basement while testing the overclocking capabilities of an Intel 486 CPU. Since then, he's melted considerably fewer processors while pushing increasingly powerful gaming hardware to its limits. He's spent the last several years writing for numerous online tech magazines, of which Android Police is the latest and most fun. Chris has been a freelancer with Android Police since early 2022 and is honored to contribute alongside its team of experts. His focus lies on straightforward, helpful buying guides that make it easy for the average electronics user to make informed decisions on the most cost-effective devices. In particular, he loves recommending affordable wireless headphones that outperform far more expensive brands. One of his biggest goals is to find a high-quality yet truly compact Android smartphone that doesn't cost a fortune, something the market hasn't seen in several years (RIP Sony XZ1 Compact).