The best tablets for kids in 2024: Recommended by parents

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The best tablets for kids in 2024: Recommended by parents | ZDNET

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For busy parents, tablets have become a viable asset to keep kids entertained during long car rides, when you need to get some work done, or simply when you need a break. However, parents are naturally hesitant to spend hundreds of dollars on a device that their kid(s) will surely put to the test.

Also: The best kids' phones for keeping you in touch

The good news is you don't have to spend a fortune to get a decent tablet. You can find a device that offers plenty of educational content along with entertainment options and parental controls like limiting screen time so kids aren't glued to tech devices. Our top pick is Apple's iPad , but we included other options from brands like Amazon, Samsung, and more that both parents and parenting experts recommend.

Also: The best smartwatches for kids

Apple's tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is great for kids. 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 that has 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 (2021) review: If it's not broken, don't fix it

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: "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," he said.

Parents can control their kids' iPad experience through Apple's Family Sharing feature, which 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, among other things.

Deal alert: Save $80 on the 9th generation iPad at Walmart.

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

For bigger kids (ages 6-12), there is 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 hours.

Thanks to the 10.1-inch display, you'll get a larger screen without adding much to the overall cost, and the resolution is better than 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, as well as preset age filters for kids age 6-12. Even with all these improvements, this model is still $10 less than the previous generation at $190.

Review: This new tablet is redefining what a kids tablet can do

ZDNET writer, Maria Diaz, went hands-on with the new Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet and was "pleasantly surprised" by 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. The seven-year-old and new owner of the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, however, definitely notices the difference," she wrote.

Deal alert: Get 21% off this kids tablet at Best Buy and Amazon.

Lenovo's Tab P11 Plus is an attractive tablet that's not 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. Plus, it runs Android 11 out of the box.

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: A budget Android tablet that's surprisingly good

Moderately priced at $250, the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus is easy to recommend and very 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 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."

Deal alert: Save $18 on the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus when you buy at Amazon.

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

It also comes with a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, an Amazon FreeTime Unlimited subscription, which grants you access to thousands of kid-friendly ad-free books, as well as movies, games and other kid-friendly and 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: I bought this Amazon kids tablet instead of an iPad and wasn't sorry

"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. However, Amazon offers you a two-year worry-free guarantee in case the tablet does succumb to playtime.

Deal alert: Save $50 on this Amazon tablet at Amazon and Best Buy.

If you'd rather your kid have a proper 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 while they are away from home," 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.

Deal alert: This Samsung tablet is currently $55 off at Amazon.

While tablets are meant to provide entertainment for your kids, it's not necessarily always the best kind of entertainment. A Kindle Kids e-reader is a great way to compromise on a tablet that also stimulates your child's brain. 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, as well as adjust book age filters, add books to your kid's library, and set a bedtime for each child 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, so if it breaks, Amazon will replace it for free.

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.

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.

While I've used some of these tablets myself, I don't have any kids, so I turned to experts for their thoughts. I also researched tablets from renowned brands and paid attention to parental controls and kid-friendly programs that can come with a tablet.

You have to think about different things when you're buying a tablet for kids compared to buying a tablet for yourself.

Tim Dikun, dad and Teaching.com COO and VP of Product, has some advice when it comes to what parents should prioritize in a kids' tablet.

"Look for granular parental controls, including if specific apps can be blocked and/or unlocked around certain times," he said. "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."

Dikun also said to pay attention to a tablet's durability, since, well, kids will be kids. If a tablet isn't exactly durable to bumps and drops (like the iPad), be sure to invest in a kid-proof case.

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.

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.

Apple's iPad Mini is a powerful, more portable option for kids who prefer iOS.

Amazon's new Fire HD 10 Kids model also got some upgrades including better battery life, a higher quality camera, and a kid-proof case, plus, preset age filters for kids age 3-7.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a versatile option for kids who want to use it for entertainment and schoolwork.

Picture Frame Wi-Fi Enable Children aged 3-7 will enjoy this kid-friendly tablet with built-in educational apps from the Google Play Store like Khan Academy for Kids, Duolingo, ABC Mouse, etc.

The best tablets for kids in 2024: Recommended by parents | ZDNET