Best Tablets Under $500

Last Updated on September 8, 2023 by Ernests Embutnieks

Welcome to a realm where affordability meets excellence in the tablet universe!

Today, we embark on an exciting journey to discover the crème de la crème of tablets that won’t break the bank or in other words let’s see the best tablets under 500 USD. Brace yourself for a curated selection of top-notch tablets, each offering a remarkable combination of performance, versatility, and pocket-friendly prices.

Without any more delay, let’s dive into our list and take a closer look at each tablet, shining a spotlight on their most notable features, as well as discussing the pros and cons of each device.

Topping the charts, we have the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, a true powerhouse in the tablet realm. Crafted with a robust machined aluminum chassis and boasting a sleek frameless design thanks to its slim bezels, this tablet is a true testament to durability. However, its crowning glory lies in its exceptional display, featuring an impressive 11-inch screen and a TFT panel that delivers unparalleled visual quality.

Often picked by students and artists due to the 120Hz screen.

The performance of the tab is also top-class and is great for multitasking purposes. The Samsung Notes app syncs well among multiple devices, where you can also attach the audio recordings. You can very conveniently use the S-pen(which is included in the price) to write, take notes and draw. The battery of this device is mighty, with more than 13 hours of video playback. This is a real value-for-money tablet that you don’t want to miss, as it is packed with features and high performance.

S7 was released in 2020, August. It’s a premium tablet by Samsung, but the price has dropped significantly due to the newer generation that was released in 2022 and it’s expected that Samsung will release also a newer generation in 2023 – The S9 Tab with that being said we can expect the price to drop even lower.

Pros & Cons

It’s definitely the best 8-inch tablet available in the market and also one of the best tablets under the $500 mark. We think it’s great to take a quick note and a quick sketch, which makes it ideal for students, artists, and even in corporate. Yes, the size is a deal breaker for some, but for some, it’s an advantage.

The compact size, display, and brightness make it great for watching YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, etc. It’s also equipped with a really great front camera, 12MP, which makes it the best tablet for video calls. A great option for students attending online courses/classes.

If you’re not a fan of big-screen tablets, this 8-inch compact device is a great option. Perfect for people that like the functionality but don’t like the big screens. It’s powerful, jammed with a lot of cool features, and can outperform most tablets.

Full iPad Mini 6 Review

Pros & Cons

The newest iPad 10th gen deserves to be on the list of the best tablets under $500. It’s the base model of all iPad’s and years later, it’s still the most popular iPad. It’s great for multi-use, you can watch movies on it, you can use it for school, you can use it for work, you can take notes on it, you can even edit photos on it, but the display is non-laminated so there would be noticeable differences if we would compare it to premium tablets or other premium iPads.

It’s the best budget iPad you can get and it can provide a lot of value. It’s also great for kids. In case of a cracked screen, it’s much cheaper to replace than iPad Air or Pro or even Mini.

Pros & Cons

This Fan Edition tablet is a toned-down version of the Samsung Tab S7. The tablet boasts a massive screen of 12.4”, and even with such a big screen, the battery runs for up to 14 hours. The tablet comes with an S-Pen, which lets you easily draw and write in your handwriting, which works with apps like AR Doodle and Screen Write. The tablet is equipped with 2 speakers, one at the top and the other at the bottom, tuned by AKG to produce good-quality sound. As it is a toned-down version, there are some performance limitations, but able to deliver decent performance for daily usage. 

The camera performance of this device is also pretty good, with a 12MP rear camera with an ultra-wide angle capability. The front camera is good enough for video calls. The Samsung OS on this Samsung Galaxy S7 FE tablet also includes DEX, which equips this tab with a desktop interface, which gets activated as soon as you plug in a keyboard to the device. We used this extensively and were impressed with the DEX performance. A good alternative if you don’t want to buy a laptop.

Pros & Cons

The Google Pixel tablet is a sleek device with surprising potential. I’ve got to say, after using it for a week, the Google Pixel tablet completely changed my mind. 

First of all, it’s a simple-looking tablet that features an 11-inch IPS LCD screen. I wish it had a 120 Hz refresh rate, but no, it’s just a normal 60 Hz display panel. However, the brightness and color appear good.

It has a half-inch bezel on all sides, which is acceptable. Whereas, the design is a metal body that leaves no fingerprint on it. This tablet isn’t as fancy as the Pixel 7s, but it does appeal to me. 

Speaking of performance, this Google Pixel tablet surpassed my expectations set by previous Google tablets. Its performance was significantly better, and I wish this device had been released years ago. 

Multitasking on the Google Pixel tablet is one of its standout features, making it one of my favorites. Additionally, the new dock gesture adds a fun and useful element, especially for students. What I didn’t like was the lack of tablet-optimized apps. Apps run on a gigantic version of the phone interface, which looks a bit amusing.

The camera and microphone of the Google Pixel tablet are satisfactory, making it suitable for Zoom calls or Google Meet. The speaker delivers decent sound quality, but it lacks that punchy bass. When placed in the dock station, the audio and bass are enhanced, but only by a 20 to 30 percent.

The battery performance of the Google Pixel tablet is not the best. With a charging rate of just 12 W, it feels slow to fully charge the large tablet battery. Despite this, my final thoughts on this tablet remain positive. It is an excellent device for studying, note-taking, and multitasking. Overall, the Google Pixel tablet is a great mid-range option.

Pros & Cons

The Oneplus Pad is a fantastic mid-range device that could be just what you’re looking for. With an excellent display, smooth performance, and a great battery, this device never fails to amaze me. 

Within a price range of $480, the Oneplus Pad is a perfect fit for students on a budget. Speaking of its design, the Oneplus really looks very premium. The display, however, is quick, bright, and pixel-dense. The best part is its remarkable 144 Hz refresh rate, which is not commonly found in budget tablets. Also, the color representation is great and brightness can hit upto 500 nits

Along with that, the Oneplus Pad delivers top-tier performance, making it suitable for multitasking and handling various tasks effortlessly. I used it for like a week or so, and battery life was also on another level. 

The device is no doubt incredible, but I think it is far from perfect. There are some minor flaws in the stylus and the keyboard that need improvement because they’re nothing like what we have on Apple or Samsung. Other than that, it’s a solid choice for all day-to-day tasks. 

Pros & Cons

This device has a 13.3” AMOLED display that can be conveniently used as a 2-in-1 laptop with Chrome OS. The tablet is equipped with Snapdragon SC 7180, which is an octa-core processor and is also loaded with a Qualcomm Adreno graphics processor. The tablet is made for long working hours with a battery that can last for up to 15 hours. Though it is on the heavier side, its build quality, size, and features justify it. It has an Aluminum metal soft-coated back, and the narrow bezels provide for better viewing.

As it is a Chrome OS you can seamlessly use all the Google apps and tools conveniently. It can be easily attached to a keyboard to be used as a laptop. The kickstand attached to the Lenovo Duet 5 is very sturdy and can be adjusted to achieve the best viewing angle based on an individual user. It has got four speakers, which are parallel to none other. Slow charging is the only problem that you could face in your day-to-day usage. Also, we advise you to use it with your cover to protect it from any damage, as it is heavier. 

Pros & Cons

Verdict: Which Is The Best Tablet Under $500?

You can get some really great tablets for 500 USD. You can find one based on your favorite operating system (Android, iOS, Chrome OS), as well as you can choose one based on your preferred specifications. While we find Samsung Tab S7 and iPad Mini topping our list of recommendations due to their overall specifications and features.

Our top pick is definitely the S7 due to its great screen – 120Hz. If you plan on taking notes & creating art on your tablet, we definitely recommend getting a 120Hz tablet. Objectively speaking, Samsung S7 is better than any other tablet on the list.

Of course, the newly released Google Pixel Tablet is a great choice just as much Onepus Pad, these were released just recently and have earned a place in this article without a doubt.

If none of these really fit your needs, we recommend checking out some refurbished tablets. You can get iPad Air for under $500 if you are going to check renewed models.

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