The best kids' tablets: Parent recommended

It can be tough for parents to choose the best option when it comes to buying tech for their kids, especially when so many devices have to toe the line between being an educational tool and a toy. But, as our motto proclaims, we believe tomorrow belongs to those who embrace it today.

Also: The 21 best Black Friday tablet deals 2024: Early sales available now

Tech isn’t going anywhere, and today’s digitally native kids have thousands of educational tools at their fingertips. The best parent-approved kids’ tablets offer academic programs, connective social apps, and entertainment for sick days, long car rides, and long nights.

What is the best kids’ tablet right now?

The good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a decent tablet for kids. You can find a device that offers plenty of educational content, entertainment options, and parental controls like limiting screen time so kids aren’t glued to their tech devices. ZDNET’s tested pick for the best kids’ tablet overall is Apple’s iPad, which both parents and parenting experts recommend.

Also: The best smartwatches for kids

Best tablets for kids in 2024

Show less

Apple iPad (9th generation)

Best kids’ tablet overall

Apple’s tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is great for kids. With the 9th generation, you get all of the same features as the more expensive iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but in a lightweight form factor with a 10.2-inch display with True Tone.

Although there’s a newer iPad model, the 9th generation has pretty much all of the same features and costs less than the 2022 model at $330. (I don’t recommend spending $449 for the newer model for your child to use and abuse unless you plan to share it with them.)

Review: Apple iPad (9th generation)

Early education experts agree that the 9th-gen iPad is kid-friendly and the best option for most people.

Troy Portillo, director of operations of Studypool, an online learning platform for students, said that if you have younger kids in need of a tablet, you can’t go wrong with Apple’s iPad. According to Troy, “your kid doesn’t need the more expensive iPad Air or even the iPad Pro.”

“You can still get all the great security features that come standard with Apple products and customer support. You can also easily monitor your kid’s activity online, limit screen time, and use parental controls for specific apps,” Troy said.

Parents can control their kids’ iPad experience through Apple’s Family Sharing feature. This feature lets them limit screen time for specific apps, notifies them if a child is trying to buy an app, and sends reminders for events like family game night.

And as a recent Best Buy customer said in their review, “The iPad is so easy to use. The kids love it. There are lots of learning apps and games to play. It’s great for in-car entertainment as well.”

Author’s Note: The Apple iPad (9th generation) is currently on sale for $200 (save $130).

The 9th generation iPad with an attached keyboard on a desk setting

Show Expert Take Show less

Show less

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet

Best kids’ tablet with a large display

For kids aged 6-12, parents love Amazon’s new Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet. New to this generation is 25% faster speeds, higher quality 5-megapixel cameras, and 13 hours of battery life instead of 12.

Thanks to the 10.1-inch display, you’ll get a larger screen without adding much to the overall cost. The resolution is better than that of previous generations, with a 1080p Full HD brighter display. It comes with a protective case, a two-year worry-free guarantee, and a year subscription to Amazon Kids+.

It comes with a slim, kid-proof case and preset age filters for kids ages 6-12. Even with all these improvements, this model is still $10 less than the previous generation at $190.

Review: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet

ZDNET writer Maria Diaz went hands-on with the new Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet and was “pleasantly surprised” with its smooth performance.

“The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro has proven itself decidedly faster than both generations of the Fire HD 8 Kids tablets we have, and since the older ones were passed down to a four-year-old and a two-year-old, that hasn’t been a problem. However, the seven-year-old and new owner of the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro definitely notices the difference,” she wrote.

In a Best Buy review, one customer noted, “Once you have learned how to use Amazon Kids to download apps, it works great. My five-year-old loves it. It’s pretty durable considering this has a slimmer case than the old version.”

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet tech specs: Display: 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display | Processor: Octa-core 2.0 GHz | Storage: 32 (expandable by up to 1 TB) | Memory: 3GB | Colors: Happy Day, Mint, and Nebula | Cameras: 5 MP front and rear-facing cameras with 1080p HD video recording | Weight: 23.21 oz | Dimensions: 7.5 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches (with kid-friendly case) | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C 2.0 | Battery life: 13 hours

Show Expert Take Show less

Show less

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

Best Samsung kids’ tablet

If you’d rather your kid have an Android tablet with full Google support, look no further than the Galaxy Tab A8.

“This tablet is packed with features that make it the perfect choice for parents looking to keep their children entertained and informed,” parenting expert and creator of Parental Questions Mo Mulla told ZDNET.

Mulla also speaks highly of Samsung Kids, which parents can access from any Samsung tablet, as it lets parents give their kids access to specific contacts and apps, provides learning challenges for kids to avoid mindless scrolling, and even includes interaction with Samsung-specific animated characters.

“Its kid-friendly content has been explicitly created with kids in mind and includes educational apps and games to help entertain them and keep them active during playtime,” he said.

While the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 won’t blow you away with overall performance, it can run your favorite apps, handle light gaming, and stream movies and shows. In addition, its expandable storage capacity ensures there is never a shortage of space on the device for downloads or extra materials when needed.

One Best Buy customer noted in their review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 how expensive other tablets can be, especially when considering buying one for kids: “If you don’t want to spend $300+ on an iPad for your kiddo, this is definitely the route to go.”

Show Expert Take Show less

Show less

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet

Best kids tablet for littler kids

While similar to the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is made with little kids in mind. It comes with a colorful kid-proof case built to withstand the drops and bumps common to 3- to 7-year-olds, and it includes an adjustable stand so your kids can go hands-free.

It also comes with a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ and an Amazon FreeTime Unlimited subscription, which grants access to thousands of kid-friendly, ad-free books, movies, games, and other educational content.

“The Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is a well-built, entry-level tablet that comes with a sturdy kid-proof cover and features useful parental controls,” says Diaz, who bought the tablet for her kids.

Review: Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet

“Its 13-hour battery life means that you’ll need to charge it less often than other competitors, and the combination of a durable case and screen ensures the integrity of the Fire tablet for years to come,” she says. Though should the tablet succumb to an untimely death during playtime, Amazon offers a two-year worry-free guarantee in.

One Amazon customer said they were impressed with the device’s durability, and said, “one of the first things that caught my attention is the impressive build quality of the tablet. Designed with kids in mind, the sturdy construction and reinforced edges provide a sense of durability that assures me the device can withstand the inevitable bumps and drops that come with the territory of young users.”

Author’s Note: The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is on sale for $90 (save $60) on Amazon.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tech specs: Display: 8-inch display | Processor: Hexa-core 2.0 Ghz | Storage: 32GB or 64GB (expandable by up to 1 TB) | Memory: 2GB | Colors: Blue, purple, Disney Mickey Mouse, or Disney princess | Cameras: 2 MP front and rear-facing cameras with 720p HD video recording | Weight: 18.3 ounces | Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches| Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port | Battery life: 13 hours

Show Expert Take Show less

Show less

Lenovo Tab P11 Plus

Best kids’ tablet for battery life

Lenovo’s Tab P11 Plus is an attractive tablet that isn’t overly expensive. The 11-inch 2K display looks fantastic, and the battery life will keep your child entertained for hours. The battery life is perhaps the best part of this tablet; Lenovo touts up to 15 hours of video streaming (and ZDNET tests can back that claim up).

A Best Buy customer also mentioned in their review that the Lenovo Tablet P11 Plus had surpassed their expectations regarding battery life compared to other tablets.

One downside to the Tab P11 Plus is that it lacks a headphone jack, so if you want to keep your child’s cartoons or games quiet, you’ll have to invest in some kid-friendly Bluetooth headphones.

Review: Lenovo Tab P11 Plus

Moderately priced at $270, the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus is easily recommended and competent. In ZDNET’s review, June Wan said, “It’s hard to argue against how much value you’re getting with this tablet.”

Plus, you’ll get Android 11 and other kid-friendly features already built into the tablet.

“For parents, the tablet can dial into Android’s Kids Space. When turned on, the Tab P11 Plus switches to a child-friendly interface filled with teacher-approved games, educational videos, and digital content to keep any kid engaged,” Wan wrote. “Through the Family Link app, you can monitor, set screen-time limits, and even lock the tablet from your phone.”

Show Expert Take Show less

Show less

Amazon Kindle Kids

Best kids’ tablet for reading

A Kindle Kids e-reader is a great option for a tablet that stimulates your child’s brain, and makes it easy to carry all their favorite books at once. The Kindle Kids e-reader is designed for kids ages 3-12 and comes with an Amazon Kids+ subscription for kid-friendly books and audiobooks.

You can even keep track of their reading progress with Amazon’s Parent Dashboard, adjust book age filters, add books to your kid’s library, and set a bedtime for each child’s profile. Plus, Kindle Kids comes built-in with Vocabulary Builder and Word Wise to help young readers build their reading skills and tackle more challenging books.

And since kids are unpredictable, this reading tablet comes with a two-year worry-free guarantee. If it breaks, Amazon will replace it for free.

One Amazon customer shared their child’s experience using the Amazon Kindle Kids: “I got this for my 11-year-old son for Christmas. He loves reading, and he’s read 11 books in one month! I didn’t realize this would be smaller than the standard Kindle, but it is a good size for kids. It has a good selection of books for his age as well.”

The front and the back of an Amazon Kindle Kids e-reader

Show Expert Take Show less

Apple’s base iPad is the best kids’ tablet that money can buy. It offers the complete package of performance, battery life, app availability, and widespread accessory support. It’s a great option for kids who need a reliable device for schoolwork, gaming, or streaming content. However, if you prefer Android OS or a better price point, there are plenty of solid alternatives on the market.

Best kids’ tablet	Price	Where to buy	Processor	Storage	Colors	Cameras	Battery life	Protective case	Operating system
Apple iPad 9th generation	$330	Apple, Best Buy, Walmart	A13 Bionic chip	64GB or 256GB	Silver, space grey	8MP f/2.4 back, 12MP Ultra Wide f/2.4 front	Up to 10 hours	Available	iPadOS
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet	$190	Amazon	Octa-core 2.0 GHz	32GB (expandable up to 1TB)	Happy Day, Mint, Nebula	5 MP front and rear-facing cameras with 1080p HD video recording	13 hours	Included	Fire OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8	$230	Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart	Octa Core Unisoc T618	32GB, 64GB, 128GB, microSD up to 1TB	N/A	8MP rear, 5MP front camera	About 6 hours	N/A	Android
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet	$150	Amazon, Best Buy	Hexa-core 2.0 GHz	32GB or 64GB	Blue, Disney Mickey Mouse, Disney Princess, Purple	2 MP front and rear-facing cameras	Up to 13 hours	Included	Fire OS
Lenovo Tab P11 Plus	$270	Amazon, Best Buy, Lenovo	MediaTek Helio G90T	64GB or 128G	Slate grey	8MP front and 13MP rear	Up to 15 hours	Available for purchase separately	Android 11
Amazon Kindle Kids	$120	Apple, Best Buy	N/A	16GB	Ocean Explorer, Space Whale, Unicorn Valley	N/A	Up to 6 weeks	Included	N/A

Picking the right kids’ tablet comes down to a couple of questions you must ask yourself. First and foremost, you need to have a set budget in mind. Once you decide how much you will spend, you can begin narrowing down your options. Then, determine if you want a tablet made by a specific company.

Choose this kids’ tablet.	If you want…
Apple iPad 9th generation	The best all-around tablet your kid can grow up with. It offers excellent performance, battery life, app availability, and widespread accessory support.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro	A large display for ages 6-12. It has a built-in stand, advanced parental controls, and access to over 20,000 apps, games, videos, and books.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8	An Android tablet with access to Samsung Kids. It offers a kid-friendly interface, parental controls, and the ability to set time limits and monitor usage.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids	A tablet built for kids ages 3-7. It has a durable and kid-proof case and has up to 13 hours of battery life.
Lenovo Tab P11 Plus	A tablet with a long battery life. It offers a premium design, a vivid display, and up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge. It also comes with a fingerprint scanner for added security.
Amazon Kindle Kids	A tablet that’s built for reading. It comes with hundreds of kid-friendly books and audiobooks to choose from, as well as a helpful Parent Dashboard.

Before you invest in a kids’ tablet, you’ll want to consider the following:

Durability: Having a tablet that can last is especially important when kids will be using the device. If a tablet isn’t durable to bumps and drops (like the iPad), be sure to invest in a kid-proof case.
Ease of use: A tablet for kids needs to be simple. Consider factors such as large screens, built-in apps, and operating systems that are easy for kids to learn.
Parental controls: Your kids’ safety and privacy are #1 when it comes to tablets. Look at what kind of parental controls each tablet offers, including features like screen-time monitoring and app restrictions.
Cost: Kids tablets run the gamut in price, so decide on your budget, as well as what you need and what features are most important to you in a tablet.

Tim Dikun, dad and Teaching.com COO and vice president of product, also recommended you “look for granular parental controls, including if specific apps can be blocked and/or unlocked around certain times. For example, Amazon’s FreeTime app allows parents total control over how children use the tablet by setting learning goals, limiting time spent on gaming apps, or locking gaming apps until learning goals are met.”

ZDNET does hands-on testing for variety of tablets, including tablets for kids. We also take into consideration advice from parents and parenting experts, as well as user reviews. In our tablet testing and research, we consider factors like durability, battery life, user interface, and parental control options. We also write reviews of new tablets we test, and update this list periodically with the latest tablets for kids we recommend.

FAQs on kids’ tablets

Rebecca Mannis, PhD., learning specialist at Ivy Prep Learning Center, referred to The American Academy of Pediatrics’ new guidelines, which recommends no consistent screen exposure before 18 months of age, one hour tops of screen exposure for ages 2 through 5, and limiting screen use to two hours after age 5.

“In considering preschools and primary schools, it is helpful to know their policies — both to see how their philosophies match your family values, and so you can reinforce their rules at home,” she said.

Mannis added that while kids often learn to read these days through a tablet, thanks to reading apps, it’s essential to switch up how your child reads.

“Researchers have found that the brain processes content that we read online in a different way – and one that is not as skilled,” she said. “So, as great as online reading is, give your kids lots of opportunities to hold books in their hands to maximize their literacy skills growth. Or ‘cross train’ their reading between devices and traditional print books to see if you as a parent notice a difference.”

Not officially. Amazon customizes the base version of Android and turns it into Fire OS, forgoing any Google certification in order to make Google’s apps available on the tablets.

You won’t find the official YouTube app available in the Appstore, but you can use Amazon’s Silk browser to access the YouTube website to gain access to the video platform.

Depending on the tablet, you want to ensure you have sufficient storage for downloading or pre-installing kid-friendly content for those long road trips.

Assuming your child will obsess over taking pictures and videos — which can easily take up 5-6 GB — we would recommend a tablet with at least 32 GB of storage.

Although there’s plenty to choose from our list above, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is the most promising. As the 11th generation of the Amazon Fire 10 Kids tablet, its proven to be one of the best evolving kids tablets out there.

It is faster, higher quality, and has a long battery life. If you can get past Amazon’s slightly limited app store, this tablet is sure to keep your child entertained on an airplane or long car ride.

If you’re worried about your child’s online safety, nowadays, you can put parental controls on almost any tablet, so there’s no free range to downloadable content.

When it comes to everything else, i.e., price, case, warranty, and subscription, it’s best to consider a kids’ tablet in case something happens.

Overall, a kids’ tablet will provide a safe and engaging environment tailored to your child’s needs while a regular tablet will always cater to a wider audience.

Honestly, this depends on your parenting philosophy. For starters, your child will need fine motor skills to handle the tablet and the ability to navigate the device independently. Another factor is exposure to technology. Maybe you would prefer to have your child less dependent on technology for entertainment. Several surveys show no definitive answer as parents are divided on the topic. Regardless, it is best for you as a parent to weigh the pros and cons of introducing your child to technology.

There are plenty of tablets on the market that can be kid-friendly. Be sure to look for features like parental controls, long battery life, and ease of use. Here are a few other options to consider.

Are there alternative tablets for kids worth considering?

There are plenty of tablets on the market that can be kid-friendly. Be sure to look for features like parental controls, long battery life, and ease of use. Here are a few other options to consider.

ZDNET sourced external industry experts for this article. Here is more information about them:

Troy Portillo: The director of operations of Studypool, an online learning platform for students that offers tutoring services, homework help, book guides, and more.
Mo Mulla: A father and a lawyer with a degree from UCL London who writes his parenting tips from a dad’s perspective in his spare time at Parental Questions, a family-run blog.
Tim Dikun: A father and the COO and Vice President of Product at Teaching.com, an online education website that equips students and teachers with the tools to succeed.
Rebecca Mannis, PhD.: Founder and learning specialist at Ivy Prep Learning Center. She has 35 years of experience teaching children and holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology with a specialization in Neuroscience and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Masters degree in Reading, Language and Learning Disabilities from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Source link

The best kids' tablets: Parent recommended

What is the best kids’ tablet right now?

Best tablets for kids in 2024