- 🥇 Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE – Best Overall
- 🥈 Apple iPad 10 – Best Value For Money
- 🥉 Apple iPad Mini 6 – Smallest
- 🎖️ Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 – Best Performance
- 🎖️ OnePlus Pad – High Refresh Rate Display
- 🎖️ Google Pixel Tablet – Best Google Tablet
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
- OS: Android 13, up to Android 14
- Release Date: October 2023
- Screen Size: Medium (10.9”)
- Processor: Exynos 1380
Apple iPad 10
- OS: iPadOS 16.1, up to iPadOS 17.4
- Release Date: October 2022
- Screen Size: Medium (10.9”)
- Processor: Apple A14 Bionic
Apple iPad Mini 6
- OS: iPadOS 15, up to iPadOS 17.4
- Release Date: September 2021
- Screen Size: Small (8.3”)
- Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
- OS: Android 12, up to Android 14
- Release Date: February 2022
- Screen Size: Medium (11”)
- Processor: Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
OnePlus Pad
- OS: Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1
- Release Date: April 2023
- Screen Size: Medium (11.61”)
- Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm)
Google Pixel Tablet
- OS: Android 13, up to Android 14
- Release Date: June 2023
- Screen Size: Medium (10.95”)
- Processor: Google Tensor G2
Tablets under $500 are the midway between performance and affordability. They offer premium quality for a good price, lacking a bit in performance compared to the premium-priced tablets.
All the tablets in this list are in the price range of $400 to $499.
How Are Mid-range Tablets Different From Premium Tablets?
Tablets in 500 USD range are considered mid-range tablets. Here are the 4 differences from mid-range tablets and premium tablets:
- Build Quality & Materials: Premium tablets typically boast superior build quality with materials like aluminum or magnesium alloy, offering a more durable feel compared to mid-range counterparts that often rely on plastic components.
- Display Quality: Premium tablets usually feature higher-resolution displays with better color accuracy, brightness, and contrast ratios. This results in a more immersive viewing experience for activities like watching videos, movies, Netflix or playing games.
- Performance: Premium tablets typically come equipped with more powerful processors, more RAM, and higher storage options. This translates to smoother performance, faster app loading times, and better multitasking capabilities compared to mid-range tablets. Typically, mid-range tablets slow down significantly when you try to use heavy-demanding apps on it.
- Additional Features: Premium tablets often include extra features such as higher quality cameras, better speakers, stylus support, and advanced security features like facial recognition or fingerprint sensors. These features may be lacking or less robust in mid-range tablets, but also some mid-range tablets have these features.
If you are looking for higher performers, check out the best tablets of 2024. If you are looking for something even cheaper, we recommend that you take a look at the best tablets for under $200.
Cheaper Alternatives
If you are looking for more affordable tablets, we suggest you consider:
FAQ
Can You Buy an iPad Under $500?
Yes, there are iPad models available for purchase under $500. Apple offers two models under $500 mark – classic iPad and iPad Mini.
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.