Discover the best kids' tablets of 2024! Different operating systems, different brands like Apple, Samsung, Amazon, etc. Learn everything you need to know before purchasing a tablet computer for your kids. About the differences between these tablets, how long a child should be on a tablet, how to use parental controls, and more!
In today’s digital age, tablets have become invaluable tools for children’s education, entertainment, and development. Choosing the right tablet for your child involves considering several factors beyond just the device itself. From screen time limits to age-appropriate content, understanding what makes a tablet suitable for kids can significantly impact their learning and enjoyment.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best kids tablets of 2024 and provide essential information for parents on selecting the ideal device. We’ll cover recommended screen time durations, suitable age ranges, the educational and entertainment benefits of tablets, and address common questions to ensure you make an informed decision for your child’s digital experience.
The Apple iPad 10th 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 Apple iPad Mini 6 is one of the best 8-inch tablets. 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.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is a great budget tablet that allows you to browse social media and watch movies. It features a 7040 mAh battery that lasts around 8 hours, but with proper optimisation, you can get 10 hours of use time. It has an 11.0-inch screen with a resolution of 1200 x 1920 pixels, a 90Hz refresh rate, and cellular connectivity. While it’s not the most powerful, it still has a long battery life and a large screen, making it ideal for simple tasks.
This device has a 5MP selfie camera and an 8MP main camera. It uses a Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G chipset(processor), a 3.5mm jack, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port.
The model can be purchased in 64GB with 4GB of RAM or 128GB with 8GB of RAM. It costs ~$220 on average, but the 64GB model has a lower price. There’s a dedicated slot for microSDXC as well. As for colors, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus in Navy, Silver, and Graphite. It's one of the most popular tablets under $300.
If you’re looking for a simple tablet for general usage like web browsing, reading and taking notes, then you can check Amazon Fire Max 11. The unit has a text-to-speech English-language content reader, an 11-inch screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 2000 x 1200-pixel resolution. It features a MediaTek MT8188J processor, and it also has stylus support. This makes it great for note taking.
The model has a main camera and a selfie camera, which are 8MP. There is a USB-Type-C 2.0 port, OTG, and magnetic accessory connector. It’s available either in 64GB or 128GB, but both options have 4GB of RAM. If you want extra space, you can add a memory card. However, it has no cellular connectivity.
The 7,500mAh battery can last up to 14 hours. Last, but not least, Amazon Fire Max 11 comes in one color: gray.
Released in 2023, the Galaxy Tab A9 runs on Android 13 and One UI 5.1. With a small 8.7-inch screen and display quality of 800x1340 pixels. It has ~81.7% screen-to-body ratio. it is ideal for people looking for a more portable model. It has nano-SIM and eSIM support and uses a Mediatek Helio G99 chipset. The tablet is equipped with both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+LTE connectivity options.
The tablet has a main camera of 8 MP and a selfie camera of 2 MP. Moreover, you can only buy it in 64GB and 128GB of internal memory, but you get a microSDXC dedicated slot if more storage is required.
Furthermore, it has a non-removable 5,100 mAh battery, which can reach up to 12 hours and 18 minutes of life. It has a USB-C port, which is used for charging the device, but also can be used to add accessories like keyboard, external monitors, etc.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet 2023, launched in April 2023, continues to run on the Fire operating system and is powered by the Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T (12 nm) chipset. Similar to its predecessor, this tablet does not support active stylus pens. It got a new camera. Upgraded from 2MP to 5MP.
Featuring a medium-sized 10.1-inch IPS LCD screen with a 72.1% screen-to-body ratio, the device maintains its durable build with substantial bezels, making it particularly suitable for children. The biggest surprise to me is that it's compatible with Amazon Stylus Pen. It's now the second Amazon tablet that has Stylus support.
Designed for affordability, the Fire HD 10 Tablet 2023 excels in basic tasks such as web browsing, emailing, light gaming, social media, and multimedia consumption like music, movies, and TV shows. However, it's not intended to handle intensive applications such as PUBG or professional software like Lightroom and Photoshop.
You can set up multiple profiles for this tablet and parental controls that help you to keep an eye on the kids and what they are doing.
The tablet supports video calls adequately, although its cameras do not deliver top-tier quality. Equipped with stereo speakers, it offers satisfactory sound quality suitable for voice calls and media playback.
The tablet has a good battery life of around 13-14 hours.
Overall, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet 2023 provides a cost-effective option for users seeking a device primarily for entertainment and basic productivity tasks, featuring a screen that supports HD content in 2K resolution.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet (2021) is designed to cater specifically to the needs of children aged 6 and up, offering a robust combination of performance, durability, and educational content tailored for young users.
Featuring a vibrant 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display with over 2 million pixels, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet delivers bright, vivid visuals ideal for educational apps, interactive games, and streaming content. The screen is strengthened with aluminosilicate glass, ensuring durability against scratches and accidental drops, making it suitable for active children.
Powered by an octa-core processor clocked at 2.0 GHz and equipped with 3 GB of RAM, this tablet provides smooth performance for multitasking and handling demanding apps. With 32 GB of internal storage (expandable up to 1 TB via microSD), there's ample space to store a vast library of books, games, videos, and educational content from Amazon Kids+.
The battery can last up to 13 hours of video playback time.
Pros
Good Battery Life
Education Content
Parental Controls
Durability
Cons
Limited App Store
No LTE Connectivity
Camera Quality
Subscription Renewal
Limited Availability
1
Ages 3-7
Amazon Fire 10 Kids (2023)
OS: Fire OS, Android OS
Release Date: 2023
Display Size: Medium(10.1”)
Processor: Octa-core processor - 2x Arm Cortex-A76
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet 2023 is meticulously crafted to cater to the needs of young users aged 3-7, blending a robust feature set with enhanced durability and comprehensive parental controls.
Engineered with a 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display, the Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet boasts over 2 million pixels for crisp, vivid visuals, making it ideal for immersive educational content and vibrant gameplay. The screen is fortified with aluminosilicate glass, enhancing durability against scratches and drops, crucial for active young users.
Powered by an octa-core processor and 3 GB of RAM, this tablet delivers smooth performance for running educational apps, streaming videos, and playing interactive games. With 32 GB of internal storage (expandable up to 1 TB via microSD), there's ample space for storing a vast library of books, games, and videos from Amazon Kids+.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro Tablet (2022) is tailor-made for older kids aged 6 to 12, combining robust performance, durability, and comprehensive parental controls to ensure a safe and enriching digital experience.
Featuring an immersive 8-inch high-definition touchscreen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels at 189 ppi and IPS technology, the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro Tablet delivers vibrant visuals and HD video playback. The screen is protected by strengthened aluminosilicate glass, offering durability against everyday wear and tear.
Powered by a fast hexa-core processor running at 2.0 GHz and 2 GB of RAM, this tablet provides up to 30% faster performance than its predecessor, making it ideal for gaming, streaming, and educational apps. With 32 GB of internal storage (expandable up to 1 TB via microSD), there's ample space to download games, videos, books, and music, catering to the diverse interests of older children.
It can last up to 13 hours in battery life. (video playback time)
The Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet (2022) is the perfect introductory device for parents seeking an affordable yet feature-rich tablet for their children. Designed with durability and safety in mind, this tablet combines a 7-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and IPS technology, ensuring vibrant colors and wide viewing angles suitable for young eyes. The device is encased in an Amazon Kid-Proof Case, making it robust and capable of withstanding accidental drops and bumps that are common in children's hands.
Powered by a Quad-Core 2.0 GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM, the Fire 7 Kids Tablet provides responsive performance for browsing the web, watching videos, playing games, and running educational apps. With options of 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage (expandable up to 1 TB via microSD card), there's plenty of space to store photos, videos, and other digital content.
Parents will appreciate:
Parental Controls: Easily manage screen time limits, educational goals, and content access through the Amazon Parent Dashboard. This feature allows parents to curate a safe and enriching digital environment tailored to their child's needs.
Amazon Kids+: Enjoy a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, offering access to thousands of age-appropriate books, games, videos, and apps from trusted brands like Disney, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Street. This ensures children have a diverse range of engaging content that promotes learning and creativity.
Worry-Free Guarantee: Backed by a 2-year worry-free guarantee, the Fire 7 Kids Tablet provides peace of mind. If the tablet breaks, simply return it and Amazon will replace it for free.
Kids can:
Learn: Access educational apps, e-books, and interactive content that foster literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills.
Play: Enjoy games and videos with immersive sound from the integrated speaker, or connect compatible headphones via the 3.5 mm stereo jack for a more personalized experience.
Connect: Utilize the 2 MP front and rear-facing cameras for video calls with family members, or explore location-based services via Wi-Fi for enhanced learning experiences.
Pros
Education Content
Parental Controls
Durability
Cons
Limited App Store
No LTE Connectivity
Camera Quality
Subscription Renewal
What Is A Kids Tablet?
A kids tablet is a specially designed tablet device tailored to meet the needs of young users, typically children aged between 3 to 12 years old. These tablets are equipped with features and content that prioritize safety, education, and entertainment suitable for young audiences. Key characteristics of kids tablets include robust parental controls to manage screen time and content access, durable build quality to withstand handling by children, and pre-installed educational apps and games that promote learning and development. They often have colorful designs, intuitive interfaces, and protective features like shock-resistant cases and eye protection settings to enhance the child’s digital experience while ensuring a safer and more controlled environment for exploration and learning.
How Long Should Kids Be On A Tablet?
The recommended screen time for kids on tablets varies based on their age and developmental stage. Here are some general guidelines suggested by pediatricians and experts:
Toddlers (2-5 years old): Limit screen time to no more than 1 hour per day of high-quality programming, preferably with parents or caregivers joining in to provide context and interaction.
School-Aged Children (6-12 years old): Screen time can be extended to about 1-2 hours per day, focusing on educational activities, video calls with family, and monitored entertainment.
Teenagers (13 years and older): Encourage balanced screen time with a mix of educational activities, social interactions, and physical activities. Limit prolonged sitting and promote breaks.
It’s essential to balance screen time with other healthy activities such as physical play, reading, and family interactions. Additionally, parents should monitor content quality, ensure age-appropriate material, and use parental controls to manage screen time effectively.
How To Choose A Tablet For A Kid?
Choosing the best tablet for kids involves considering several key factors to ensure it meets their needs while providing a safe and educational experience. Here’s a guide on how to choose the right tablet for your child:
Screen Size: Opt for a screen size that is suitable for your child’s age and comfort. Larger screens are better for multimedia and educational apps, while smaller ones are more portable and easier for younger children to handle.
Battery Life: Look for tablets with long battery life to ensure uninterrupted use throughout the day, especially during travel or extended use for educational purposes.
Durability: Select a tablet with a durable build that can withstand accidental drops and bumps. Some tablets come with rugged cases or reinforced screens to enhance durability.
Operating System: Choose an operating system (OS) that supports a wide range of educational apps and games suitable for your child’s age group. Popular choices include Android and iOS, each offering different app ecosystems and parental control options.
Parental Controls: Ensure the tablet has robust parental control features that allow you to monitor and limit screen time, block inappropriate content, and manage app downloads. Look for tablets that offer customizable profiles for multiple children.
Can Kids Use Regular Tablets or Should I Buy a Specialized Kids’ Tablet?
Kids can use both regular tablets and specialized kids’ tablets, but each option has its considerations. Regular tablets offer a wider range of features and capabilities that may appeal to older children or those using tablets for educational purposes. However, they often require more stringent parental controls to manage content and screen time effectively. Specialized kids’ tablets are designed with child-friendly interfaces, pre-installed educational apps, and robust parental controls out of the box, making them easier for younger children to use safely.
Kids Tablets vs Normal Tablets
The primary differences between a kid’s tablet and a normal tablet are that kids’ tablets are slightly more expensive, are more rugged/durable, come with subscriptions to kid-oriented services, and offer more parental control.
Difference
Kids Tablet
Normal Tablet
Parental Controls
Present right out of the box and quite expansive. Includes features such as content restrictions, location tracking, and multiple user logins
Need to be installed after unboxing. Not as expansive as a kid’s tablet and requires some configuration before they can reach the same level
Durability
Built out of rubber / plastic and come in extremely durable rugged designs which can sustain a beating. However, very bulky and harder to carry around
Nimble, and relatively fragile. Built out of more premium materials in most cases and cannot sustain a beating. Third-party cases need to be purchased to get them to the same level of protection
Design
Designed for kids. Has wonky colors and a vibrant design with extra utilities such as stands in some models aimed at kids
Professional design. Monotonous greyed-out tones that are much more minimal and typical
Features
Contains the entire Android operating system with a few kid-oriented cherries on top such as access to subscription services that provide kid-friendly content
Operates as a typical Android tablet. Nothing special.
Price
More expensive than their normal counterpart
Less expensive than a kid’s tablet with similar specs.
How Do Parental Controls Work on Tablets?
Parental controls on kids’ tablets work by allowing parents to manage and restrict the content and usage of the device. They typically include features such as:
Content Filtering: Blocking or filtering inappropriate websites, apps, and media based on age ratings or parental settings.
Screen Time Limits: Setting time restrictions on how long children can use the tablet each day.
App Restrictions: Controlling which apps can be downloaded or accessed on the device.
Usage Reports: Providing insights into how much time children spend on the tablet and what activities they engage in.
Remote Monitoring: Some systems allow parents to monitor their child’s activities remotely.
These controls help parents create a safe and balanced digital experience tailored to their child’s age and maturity level.
Which Is The Best Tablet For Kids Running Android OS?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus stands out as an excellent choice for kids tablet that is running Android OS, thanks to its robust features and suitability for young users. This tablet offers a spacious 11.0-inch TFT LCD display with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, providing vibrant visuals ideal for educational content and games. Its dimensions and weight make it manageable for children to hold comfortably, striking a balance between screen size and portability.
Under the hood, the Tab A9 Plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, ensuring smooth performance for multitasking and running apps without lag. This, paired with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM, ensures responsive operation even with multiple apps running simultaneously.
Parents will appreciate the comprehensive parental controls available on Android and Samsung’s One UI 5.1, allowing them to monitor usage, set screen time limits, and control app access. These features enable a safe and controlled environment for children to explore the digital world responsibly.
In terms of content, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus supports a wide range of educational apps and games suitable for various age groups. Apps like Khan Academy Kids, ABCmouse, and Duolingo provide interactive learning experiences in subjects such as math, language arts, and science. The tablet’s 7040 mAh battery ensures long-lasting usage, making it practical for extended educational sessions or entertainment on-the-go.
Tablets can be safe for kids when used responsibly and with appropriate parental supervision. It’s essential to set up parental controls, limit screen time, and ensure age-appropriate content to create a safe digital environment for children.
What are some educational apps and content available for kids’ tablets?
There are numerous educational apps and content available for kids’ tablets that cater to various ages and learning needs. Apps like ABCmouse, Khan Academy Kids, and Duolingo offer interactive lessons in subjects like math, language arts, and science. Educational games such as Toca Boca and Sago Mini promote creativity and problem-solving skills. Additionally, platforms like PBS Kids provide access to age-appropriate videos and educational shows. These apps not only engage children but also facilitate learning through fun and interactive experiences tailored to their developmental stages.
I'm a writer and editor in iPads & Android Tablets, Windows Tablet section. I'm passionate about technology, especially about tablets. I'm on a mission to assist people in discovering their ideal tablets. In addition, I'm dedicated to producing helpful how-to guides and sharing top-notch tips and tricks. In my early carrier I founded and became and editor at worldoftablet and have been a guest author at many other tech blogs. In wolfoftablet I'm focusing on iPads, Tablets, Apple Pencil, Apps, Reviews, Buyers Guides and Tablet Accessories. In free time I like to play games on my PS5 or iOS.
WolfofTablet.com is a tablet computer media company focusing on tablet computers. Tablet reviews, news, leaks, deals, tablet accessories, comparisons, tips, apps. Mostly focused on tablet ranking. Ranking them by operating system, price, screen size, use case, etc.
