Best Tablets Under $500

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 tablet was released in February 2022. It's a premium tablet running Android 12 and upgradeable to Android 14. This Samsung tablet model lets you access the Internet from anywhere with a nano-SIM support. Even better, it’s built from solid aluminum and has a glass front. 

The tablet is a high-performer backed with a power processor that can handle any app and game, but it's already considered old and now it's discounted below $500. The down side of buying Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is that it will not be supported as long as the newer generation tablets and in 3-4-years you will no longer be able to update it to the newest Android version.

This device has two cameras: a 12MP ultrawide selfie one, and on the back, it has a dual setup: 13MP wide and 6MP ultrawide cameras. The tablet has stylus support and a USB Type-C 2.0 port. Furthermore, the 8000 mAh battery can last up to 10 hours. Which is convenient if you move around a lot.

You can get the tablet with 128GB or 256GB storage. The 256GB store option comes with 8GB RAM or 12GB RAM. with 6GB RAM or 256GB with 8GB RAM. 

The Samsung tablet has an TFT LCD that measures 11 inches. It has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and an 83.6% screen-to-body ratio. Also, it has a 1600 x 2560-pixel resolution, a 16:10 ratio, and a ppi density of ~274. 

The tablet is medium-sized, with a great screen and excellent colors, making it a great choice for entertainment like movies, videos, games, and productivity: reading, writing, taking notes, etc. 

With a strong aluminum back and frame and a glass front, the 2023 Google Pixel Tablet is ideal for anyone who enjoys tablets for basic tasks like movies, web browsing, social media, video calls, etc. 

This gadget has an IPS LCD screen that measures 10.95 inches. It features a 1600 x 2560-pixel resolution with a 16:10 ratio and ~276 ppi density. The screen can reach up to 500 nits for brightness and has a 60Hz refresh rate. Making it a good choice for YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, etc.

This model has 4 stereo speakers, a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1, and a magnetic connector. Also, it has 8GB RAM and can be purchased in 128GB or 256GB. The speakers are very solid and you can enjoy music on it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a memory card slot. The device runs on a Google Tensor G2 as well. When it comes to the cameras, both selfie and main cameras are 8MP wide ones. The battery is a 7020 mAh one that runs up to 12 hours.

People often buy accessories such as the Pixel Tablet Case, Charging Speaker Dock, or Penoval USI 2.0 stylus pen for this Google tablet. Due to its size, space, and stylus option, this unit works not only for those who want to use social media but also for students and professionals who need to take notes, draw, or complete other tasks. 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Fan Edition tablet was released in October 2023. It's a mid-range tablet running Android 13 and upgradeable to Android 14. This Samsung tablet model lets you access the Internet from anywhere with its eSIM and nano-SIM support. Even better, it’s built from solid aluminum and has a glass front. The unit is dust—and water-resistant for better durability. 

This device has two cameras: a 12MP ultrawide selfie one and an 8MP wide main one. The tablet has stylus support and a USB Type-C 2.0 port. Furthermore, the 8000 mAh battery can last up to 10 hours even more if you use it on low brightness setting and without WiFi and LTE. You can get the tablet with 128GB with 6GB RAM or 256GB with 8GB RAM. Moreover, you can use a microSDXC dedicated slot. Also, the tablet runs on an Exynos 1380 processor, which can handle medium-demanding apps, but will struggle with heavy, demanding tasks like Photoshop and data processing.

The Samsung tablet has an IPS LCD that measures 10.9 inches. It has a refresh rate of 90 Hz and an 81.7% screen-to-body ratio. Also, it has a 1440 x 2304-pixel resolution, a 16:10 ratio, and a ppi density of ~249. The maximum brightness is 600 nits. Which makes it an excellent choice for movies and videos.

The Apple iPad 10^th Gen is a good budget tablet for people who like Apple products. It's starting price is $449 and you can buy it in pink, silver, yellow, and blue. You can choose between 64GB or 256GB internal storage with 4GB RAM, no memory card slot, a 12MP wide main and a 12MP ultrawide selfie camera. The device was released in 2022 and runs on iPadOS 16.1, but it’s upgradeable to iPad OS 17.4. 

Built from aluminum and having a glass front, this unit has an excellent display. It measures only 10.9 inches but has a 1640 x 2360-pixel resolution and can reach 500 nits. The screen is a liquid retina IPS LCD with a ~264 ppi density and a 60Hz refresh rate. Makes it a great choice for Netflix and YouTube watching. The glass is scratch-resistant and has an oleophobic coating. It has a non-laminated display, meaning there's a small gap between the screen and the display. It's compatible with Apple Pencil gen 1 and Apple Pencil USB-C if you want to draw and take-notes.

This gadget runs on an Apple A14 Bionic chipset and comes with stylus support. You can also insert an eSIM or nano-SIM into it for cellular connectivity. The USB ports include a USB Type-C 2.0, a Display Port, and a magnetic connector. It also has a 7606 mAh battery lasting up to 10 hours. 

This iPad can be useful for casual Internet use or even for work. Great for families that share the tablet. 

The Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro boasts a stunning 11.0-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1800 x 2880 pixels. The display supports 1 billion colors, a 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10, and Dolby Vision, ensuring vibrant, smooth, and immersive visuals. With a peak brightness of 550 nits, it remains clear and bright even in well-lit environments. The sleek design measures 254 x 165.2 x 6.5 mm and weighs 490 g, making it lightweight and portable. The tablet features a premium build with a glass front protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, an aluminum frame, and an aluminum back, combining durability with elegance.

Performance and Storage

Powered by the Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset with an octa-core CPU (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) and Adreno 730 GPU, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro delivers high performance for multitasking, demanding applications, and gaming. The tablet is available in various configurations: 128GB with 8GB RAM, 256GB with 8GB RAM, 256GB with 12GB RAM, and 512GB with 12GB RAM, all utilizing UFS 3.1 for fast data access. However, it does not support expandable storage via a card slot.

Camera Capabilities

The Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro is equipped with a dual rear camera system, featuring a 50 MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 2 MP depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. This setup allows for high-quality photos and features like HDR, panorama, and dual-LED flash. It supports video recording in 4K at 30/60fps and 1080p at 30/60fps. The front camera is a 20 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, capable of 1080p video recording at 30/60fps, perfect for high-quality selfies and video calls.

Battery Life

The tablet is powered by a robust 8600 mAh Li-Po battery, ensuring extended usage without frequent recharges.It can last up to 10 hours.  It supports 67W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC4, capable of fully charging the device in just 1 hour as advertised. This makes it ideal for users who need reliable, fast-charging capabilities for all-day use.

Usage Scenarios

The Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro is a versatile device suited for a wide range of activities. Its high-resolution display and stylus support make it perfect for note-taking, web browsing, and media consumption. The powerful processor and ample RAM handle multitasking, running apps, and gaming efficiently. The vibrant display and high-quality audio with stereo speakers enhance media consumption for movies, music, and gaming. The advanced camera system supports high-quality video calls, essential for virtual meetings and communication. Whether for work, entertainment, or creative tasks, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro is an excellent choice.

The OnePlus Pad was released in 2023, April. This device has a strong aluminum frame and a glass front. It also runs on Android 13 and OxygenOS13.1. It has a Mediatek Dimensity 9000 chipset and 4 good stereo speakers. 

First things first, let’s talk about the display. The unit has an IPS LCD screen with a 144Hz refresh rate and 500 nits. Also, it measures 11.61 inches, has a 2000 x 2800 pixels resolution, and a ~296 ppi density. The screen-to-body ratio is ~84.2%. It is a great choice for everyone that's into movies, videos and games with visual details.

This tablet has a 13MP wide main camera and an 8MP wide selfie camera. It also comes in 2 versions: 128GB with 8GB RAM or 256GB with 12GB RAM. Sadly, it doesn’t have the option to insert a memory card. The USB ports include a USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, and accessory connector. There’s stylus support as well. However, it has no cellular connectivity. 

The only color option is Halo Green, and this tablet costs around $545. This tablet is great for kids thanks to its strong build, smaller screen, and decent chipset. It will last longer and can even run games and videos smoothly enough. Also, the 9510 mAh battery can last up to 13 hours. 

Out of all 8-inch tablets, the Apple iPad Mini 6 is the best option. This device was released in 2021 and runs on iPadOS 15 but can be upgraded to iPadOS 17. On average iPad are supported for 7-years. It also runs on an Apple A15 Bionic chipset and has eSIM and nano-SIM support. The unit has 4GB RAM and comes with 64GB or 256GB internal storage. Still, it has no memory card slot, but you can get cloud storage if you run out of storage space.

The screen is a Liquid Retina IPS LCD with 500 nits, a ~77.4% screen-to-body ratio, and a 60Hz refresh rate. Also, the resolution is 1488 x 2266 pixels, with a ~327 ppi density and a 3:2 ratio. What’s great is that the tablet is built from aluminum and has a glass front. The display uses scratch-resistant glass and has an oleophobic coating too. Making it great for Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, etc. It's also compatible with Apple Pencil Gen 2 and USB-C and you can create art, draw, take-notes or just navigate your device with Stylus pen. 

There are two cameras, a 12MP wide main and a 12MP ultrawide selfie. Making it a great choice for Zoom and Skype calls. It has a USB-C port. Which is mainly for charging, but you can add other accessories using that port, like keyboards, external cameras, printers, hard drives, etc.

This tablet can be bought in Pink, Starlight, Purple, and Space Gray, and it’s only $595 on average. The 6000 mAh battery can run up to 10 hours. Due to its light design, it’s great for people on the go due to it's lightweight and small size.