Top 6 Cheap Android Tablets of 2024

As compared to more expensive laptops or desktops, Android tablets provide flexible and cheap computing options. The huge price range of Android tablets, from less than $100 to several hundred dollars, means that they could meet the needs of individuals with different budgets.

In this price range, you can purchase tablets with respectable displays, cameras, battery life, and Processors. But they cut back on high-end features like metal/glass build, flagship processors, and high-resolution screens.

Best Affordable Android Tablets Right Now

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE has been released in US, but it offers great hardware for the price. It has a smooth, attractive display, beats its closest competitors, and is powered by an 8GB RAM option and a relatively powerful system on chip.

$240 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

Pros

Great performance for the price
Vibrant 2K LCD
Excellent battery life
Supports fast charging
Premium metal body design

Cons

Average camera performance
No 3.5mm headphone jack
Ships with older Android 12

Features and specifications

Display: 11-inch 2K (1200 x 2000) LCD, up to 500 nits brightness
Processor: MediaTek Helio G99 octa-core
RAM/Storage: 4GB/6GB RAM options, 128GB storage expandable to 512GB
Software: Android 12
Cameras: 8MP rear, 5MP front camera
Battery: 8000mAh, supports 18W fast charging
Ports: USB-C, no 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS
Dimensions: 258 x 171 x 7 mm
Weight: 465 grams

User experience and performance

When compared to its competitors, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE offers excellent value for the price tag.

Its Helio G99 chipset and up to 6GB RAM make short work of everyday tasks like browsing the web, streaming videos, and using social media. There will be no lag or problems when playing casual games either. The MIUI top for Android 12 is smooth and offers an extensive range of customization options.

Good outdoor visibility is achieved via the 2K LCD’s sharpness, vibrant colors, and 500 nits peak brightness. An advantage is the long battery life; the large 8000mAh battery could last for two days of use. You can easily charge it with the 18W fast charging capability.

The cameras are average, and missing a 3.5mm jack could be an issue for some users.

Lenovo Tab M8 (4th Gen)

The latest model of the Lenovo Tab M8 is one of the most basic tablets available. It has excellent technology for regular uses like watching videos and using social media, and it’s one of the smallest tablets available today. With its many drawbacks, it is currently the most affordable Android tablet that is worth buying.

$90 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

Pros

Very affordable sub-$100 price
Compact, lightweight, and portable
Long battery life
Kid-friendly with Google Kids Space
Parental controls via Family Link

Cons

Underpowered MediaTek processor
Dull HD display with average brightness
Low-resolution cameras
No Widevine L1 support limits streaming quality

Features and specifications

Display: 8-inch HD (1280 x 800) LCD
Processor: MediaTek Helio A22 quad-core
RAM/Storage: 3GB RAM/32GB storage, microSD card slot
Software: Android 12, Google Kids Space
Cameras: 2MP rear, 2MP front
Battery: 5100mAh
Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
Dimensions: 199.8 x 121.6 x 8.15mm
Weight: 325 grams

User experience and performance

The Lenovo Tab M8 (4th Gen) is a budget-friendly Android tablet designed for entertainment and kids use, priced under $100.

Its low-end Helio A22 processor makes it decent for online browsing, video streaming, and social media, but it struggles with multitasking and heavier apps. But playing casual games is fine.

Not the quality or the colors or the brightness of the HD display are very impressive. However, for reading or watching videos, it’s fine. An advantage is the long battery life; with the powerful 5100mAh battery and energy-efficient processor, you can get more than 10 hours of use. A Google Kids Space–powered kid’s mode is preinstalled on the Tab M8.

Amazon Fire 7 (2022)

The 2022 Amazon Fire 7 is the most entry-level tablet you can buy if you’re looking for something with a working screen, a long-lasting battery, an affordable price tag, and some durability. Not everyone will benefit from its low price and performance.

$60 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

Pros

Extremely affordable price
Compact and portable
Decent battery life
Durable build quality
Hands-free Alexa support

Cons

Underpowered Mediatek quad-core processor
Low-resolution 7-inch display
Heavy UI layer and bloatware
No Google Play Store access

Features and specifications

Display: 7-inch 1024 x 600 IPS display
Processor: Mediatek MT8168 quad-core
RAM/Storage: 2GB RAM/16/32GB storage, microSD slot
Software: Fire OS (Android 11 underneath)
Cameras: 2MP front and rear cameras
Battery: Up to 10 hours
Ports: USB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
Dimensions: 187 x 115 x 9.6mm
Weight: 282 grams

User experience and performance

You would not find a lot of problems with the 2022 Fire 7 tablet, especially with its low price of $59.99. A basic tablet designed primarily for media consumption; you get what you pay for.

Even while the 7-inch screen is not very impressive, it’s more than enough for casual video playback or reading ebooks. Underwhelming performance is another issue; the device has trouble with heavy multitasking and gaming.

From a software perspective, not everyone is a fan of Amazon’s Fire OS overlay on top of Android 11. Not only are the Google Play Store and Google apps not available, but there is plenty of bloatware already downloaded.

The inexpensive Mediatek Processor allows for excellent battery life. For the price, the build quality is very good. Also, having Alexa that doesn’t require your hands is convenient.

Xiaomi Pad 6

For a tablet that costs $350, the Xiaomi Pad 6 features hardware that is far more powerful than it should be. Its high-speed internal storage, Snapdragon 870 processor, and high-resolution display all contribute to its long-lasting high-end tablet performance.

$348 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

Pros

Slim and lightweight metal design
Vibrant 11-inch LCD
Powerful Snapdragon processor
Long battery life with fast charging
Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos

Cons

No headphone jack
MIUI has some bloatware
Cameras could be better

Features and specifications

Display: 11-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) LCD, 120Hz refresh rate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 octa-core
RAM/Storage: 4GB/6GB RAM options, 128GB/256GB storage
Software: Android 12, MIUI 13
Cameras: 13MP rear, 8MP front
Battery: 8000mAh, 33W fast charging
Ports: USB-C, no headphone jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, optional 5G
Dimensions: 253.8 x 166.25 x 6.85 mm
Weight: 465 grams

User experience and performance

Xiaomi Pad 6 delivers a smooth and responsive Android tablet experience thanks to its Snapdragon 695 chipset and up to 6GB RAM. It handles everyday tasks, multitasking, and casual games with ease.

The 11-inch WQXGA display looks sharp with vibrant colors and a fluid 120Hz refresh rate. Quad speakers enhanced by Dolby Atmos provide an immersive audio-visual experience while streaming movies or playing games.

MIUI 13 based on Android 12 offers deep customization but does come with some bloatware. Battery life is excellent – you can get over 12 hours of use per charge. 33W fast charging helps quickly top up the battery when running low.

While the Pad 6 ticks all the right boxes in terms of display, speakers, performance, and battery life, its cameras are just average. The lack of a headphone jack may also disappoint some users.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

GalaxyTab A9+ offers Samsung’s position in the budget-friendly tablet market, but the Galaxy Tab S Series gets the most of the spotlight. The performance is great for the price, and it provides the much-touted Android experience that no other tablet manufacturer can match. Also, you can access fast networks even while you are out and with 5G support.

$220 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

Pros

Slim and lightweight metal design
Sharp 11-inch LCD display
Smooth performance for everyday tasks
Intuitive One UI interface
Good battery life

Cons

Average camera performance
No Widevine L1 for high-quality streaming
No S Pen support

Features and specifications

Display: 11-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) LCD
Processor: Snapdragon 695 octa-core
RAM/Storage: 4GB/6GB RAM, 64GB/128GB storage
Software: Android 12, One UI 4.1
Cameras: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Battery: 7,040mAh
Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, LTE (optional)
Dimensions: 254.7 X 167 X 6.5 mm
Weight: 465 grams

User experience and performance

Samsung’s One UI brings a smooth, intuitive, and customizable software experience to the Galaxy Tab A9+. Combined with the Snapdragon 695 chipset, it handles most everyday tasks like web browsing, video playback, and social media usage with ease.

The 11-inch LCD display looks sharp with accurate colors and decent brightness levels. While it misses out on Widevine L1 certification limiting streaming quality, the display is still good for watching videos and reading. The metallic build gives it a premium look and feel while still being slim and lightweight for portability.

Battery life is also quite impressive – you can get over 10 hours of mixed usage thanks to the power-efficient Snapdragon 695 and large 7,040mAh battery. Cameras are just about average and lack of S Pen support may disappoint some users.

Lenovo Tab M9

Although it is not just the smallest tablet (that honor belongs to the Tab M8), the Lenovo Tab M9 provides the best ultra-compact Android experience available. You would not expect a $150 device to be this capable and useful.

$129 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

Pros

Sharp 2K display
Smooth performance
Good battery life
Robust metal body
Charges quickly

Cons

Average camera quality
No 3.5mm headphone jack
Ships with older Android 12

Features and specifications

Display: 9-inch 1200 x 2000 IPS LCD
Processor: MediaTek Helio G99 octa-core
RAM/Storage: 4GB RAM/128GB storage
Software: Android 12
Cameras: 13MP rear, 5MP front
Battery: 7,700mAh, 20W charging
Ports: USB-C, no headphone jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions: 258 x 163 x 7.9mm
Weight: 465 grams

User experience and performance

Lenovo Tab M9 delivers a smooth Android tablet experience powered by MediaTek’s Helio G99 chipset and 4GB RAM. It handles everyday tasks, web browsing, video playback, and even some casual games without any slowdowns.

The 9-inch 2K IPS display is nice and sharp making watching movies or reading ebooks a visual treat. The metallic chassis gives it a sturdy, premium feel while still maintaining portability.

Battery life is also quite good – you can get nearly 2 days of mixed usage per charge. 20W fast charging helps quickly top up the battery when running low. However, the Tab M9 still ships with older Android 12 out of the box.