Best kids tablets 2024

The best kids tablets will save your life as a parent. You can't always provide your kid the full attention they need, and you can't know everything there is to know about teaching. That's where these tablets come in: not as a parental replacement, but as a complementary tool and guide to help entertain and educate your kids for the better. (I even wrote about how my daughter is only one, but I’m buying her a tablet.)

Kids tablets boast easy-to-use touchscreen interfaces and lightweight operating systems, making them super intuitive to navigate for most children. When you purchase a kids tablet, many of them also come with comprehensive parental controls, allowing you to stop Junior from browsing adult-oriented websites or making in-app purchases.

If you want more of a "grown up" tablet for your offspring, we have some solid recommendations below. For example, the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch Gen 6, which is by no means a kids tablet, might be great for you right now, making for an excellent hand-me-down as your youngster grows into it. You've probably seen the new Pixel Tablet debut, but how does it compare to the Apple iPad? (See our Pixel Tablet vs. Apple iPad face off to find out.) We also recently covered the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 announcements, which brings tip-top performance to the mix.

Without further ado, here are the best kids tablets you can buy in 2024. Oh, and don't forget to check out our best cases for kids tablets page, too! (Or the best cheap tablets.)

The Quick list

Best kids tablet overall

Although the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablets are newer 2022 models, I'd say the best kids tablet you can get right now is the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition. Why? Well, for one, it has a larger 10-inch, 1080p full HD display. As such, screen quality is slightly better on this tablet. It's brighter and the colors are slightly more vivid.

This tablet also comes with 3GB of RAM, dual cameras, a USB-C 2.0 port, and up to 1TB of expandable storage. Like the other tablets, the Fire HD 10 Kids Edition tablet comes with one-year of Amazon Kids+.

According to Amazon, the Fire HD Kids Tablet offers about 12 hours of battery life. Durable, rugged cases are available in sky blue, lavender and aquamarine. Plus, you get to enjoy a two-year, worry-free guarantee (same as all the other aforementioned Amazon tablets).

This larger tablet targets users between the ages of three and seven. If you have kids who are older than seven, but you still want to give them a 10-inch tablet, check out the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet.

See our full Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition review.

Best kids tablet for toddlers

Amazon unleashed a new version of the new Fire HD 8 Kids tablet this year (2022 release), and like its name suggests, it comes with an 8-inch HD display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of storage (with up to 1TB of expandable storage via microSD), a USB-C (2.0) port, and up to 13 hours of battery life.

The Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is super compact, making it a perfect tablet companion for kids between the ages of three and seven. You don't have to worry 

As a cherry on top, the Fire HD 8 Kids tablet comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, an all-in-one subscription that delivers access to thousands of ad-free books, Audible content, TV shows, movies, music stations, games, and more. For example, with Amazon Kids+, users can enjoy content from Disney, Sesame Street Workshop, PBS Kids, National Geographic, and more.

It's worth noting that Amazon tablets can be ad heavy, but the complimentary one-year Kids+ subscription can mitigate this. The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids comes with a kid-proof case with a built in stand and handle (choose between blue, purple, Disney Mickey Mouse, or Disney Princess.)

See our full Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition review.

Best kids tablet for tweens

You may be wondering, "What's the difference between the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet and the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet?" Well, to be succinct, the latter is designed for older children (ie, kids between the ages of 6 and 12). As such, its case is slimmer, the home screen is more customizable, and kids can access the app store (with their parent or guardian's approval of course).

Aforementioned differences aside, the hardware is similar to the Fire HD 8 Kids tablet; they even share the same price!

The Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet comes with an 8-inch HD display, dual cameras, an USB-C 2.0 port, 32GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of expandable storage. Like the Fire HD Kids tablet, the Pro version still offers easy-to-use parental controls (eg, set screen time limits and set educational goals) and one year of Amazon Kids+ free, giving users access to Kids+ Original Series like Blippi's Treehouse and Lego Monkie Kid.

Best kids tablet for older children

If you're wondering what's the difference between the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids and the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablets, it's simply that the latter is geared toward an older audience (between the ages of 6 and 12). Conversely, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet targets the 3 to 7 age range.

What this means is that the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro has more of a slimmer, sleeker design for a more "grown up" look and feel. The home screen is also more customizable. Plus, users have easier access to the digital store where kids can purchase content (with parents' approval). 

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet comes with an octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage (up to 1TB of expandable storage), dual cameras, and a USB-C 2.0 port.

Of course, you will get one year of Amazon Kids+ with this tablet, allowing users to enjoy content from Disney, Sesame Street Workshop, PBS Kids, and more.

Best kids tablet for reading

If your kid loves to read, or you want to instill a love for reading within your little one, forget the Amazon tablet and snag the Kindle Paperwhite for Kids. This incredible device helps to establish healthy reading habits, providing distraction-free reading time for kids ages seven and up.

The Kindle Paperwhite comes with a 6.8-inch, glare-free display and its battery life lasts up to 10 weeks. It also offers 8GB or 16GB of storage capacity. It's waterproof, too, so it can withstand water immersion of up to two meters for 60 minutes.

It gets better! The Kindle Paperwhite for Kids comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, which comes with the complete Harry Potter series (OMG!), the first book of several popular book series (e.g. Artemis Fowl), and parents can purchase additional books from the Kindle Store. Of course, the Kindle Paperwhite for Kids comes with a parental control dashboard, making it one of the best tablet-like kids gadgets you can purchase for a little one.

It is, however, a one-trick pony in that it's purpose-built for reading only. If you want you want your kid to have a more freeing experience, get one of the aforementioned Amazon tablets.

Best Amazon tablet

Just because the user is a kid doesn't mean their tablets need to be "kid friendly," too, right? You're well within your right to get a "regular" Amazon tablet for your little one, and if this is something you're considering, I'd recommend the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet.

There is an Amazon Fire HD 8 model (no Plus), but I'd recommend getting the Plus variant because it packs more RAM (3GB), a faster USB charger, wireless charging, and a 5MP camera. I'd also recommend getting the "without lockscreen ads" configuration because the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet can be ad heavy.

On the plus side, the Fire HD 8 has incredible battery life, lasting 13 hours and 49 minutes on our battery test, which is more than enough time to keep of you and your kids occupied throughout the day.

Alexa is the Fire HD 8’s shining star, especially when you command the digital assistant to turn on Show Mode, which transforms your tablet into a smart display. If you opt for the pricier Plus model, you can prop it on the included wireless charging dock to turn your tablet into an Echo Show-like device. If you plan on teaching your kids how to cook, one awesome use case for show mode is its amazing utility in the kitchen — ask Alexa for a taco recipe, for example, and a carousel of delicious recipes from different websites will appear. Alexa will also walk you through the instructions for the selected recipe step-by-step.

Read our full Amazon Fire HD 8 review.

Best Samsung kids tablet

FE stands for "Fan Edition" or, in more practical terms, the value pick in Samsung's beloved Galaxy series. The brand debuted with the Galaxy S20 FE smartphone, and as intended, quickly became a fan-favorite for the performance and features it brought to the sub-flagship category. The Galaxy Tab S7 FE, Samsung's latest Android tablet, attempts to emulate that success by taking some of the Tab S7's best qualities and offering them at a lower price. 

But the success of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE isn't as guaranteed. Samsung doesn't have the same foothold in tablets as it does with phones. This is iPad territory, and in this case, an area owned by the iPad Air. In some ways, the Tab S7 FE handles the challenge well, offering a larger (and better) screen than what you get from the iPad, longer battery life, and an included stylus in the S Pen.

But the downsides are glaring. Sluggish performance from an underpowered chip only highlights the drawbacks of running Android on a tablet. However, they don't keep the Galaxy Tab S7 FE from being one of the best kids tablets for media streaming or basic productivity.

See our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE review.

Best iPad for kids

If you want to introduce your youngster to the world of iPadOS, and you don't mind splurging about $400 for the experience, consider snagging the iPad mini. The iPad Mini is packed with the same chip inside the iPhone 13 series, and let me tell you, the A15 Bionic chip is beastly.

As such, zipping through apps and surfing the web will be fast, easy and breezy for all users. The iPad mini 6 features an 8.3-inch, 2266 x 1488-pixel display, and while this may feel too cramped and small for the average adult, it's perfect for kids. Even with its compact size, it packs speedy performance, a bright, sharp display, and excellent battery life. According to our review, the iPad mini has a runtime of 11 hours.

As a bonus, there's a wide-angel back camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera on the front. There's also Touch ID for secure logins. If you want your little one to enjoy his or her tablet no matter where they are, you'll be happy to know that the iPad mini 6 comes with 5G support in addition to Wi-Fi 6. The only downside is that you won't be able to pair the iPad mini with Apple's Magic Keyboard.

See our full iPad mini 6 review.

Best cheap tablet for kids

The Amazon Fire 7 Kids got updated this year with more storage, more speed, a better Alexa, and a new adjustable stand case for hands-free content consumption. If you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a kids tablet, the Fire Kids 7 tablet is one of the best you can get (its price tag is only $109 and it's always on sale).

The Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet is ideal for users between the ages of three and seven. It comes with a 7-inch, 1024 x 600-pixel display, up to 32GB of storage, and up to 10 hours of battery life. 

And yes, as you might have guessed, the Fire 7 Kids tablet comes with a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+. which features content from Disney, Sesame Street Workshop, PBS Kids, National Geographic, Homer, and more. Plus, there are parental control that let you set curfews, time limits, and educational goals. If you want, you can give the user more access to apps like Disney+, Zoom, Netflix, and more via the Amazon Parent Dashboard.

The Amazon Fire 7 comes in a kid-proof case with an adjustable kickstand that doubles as a handle. Options include blue, red and purple.

How to choose the best kids tablets for you

Choosing the best kids tablet all depends on how old your child is — and how much you trust their handling of expensive tech. If you want a bonafide kids tablet, your best bet is the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition. However, if you need something cheaper and are willing to ditch the extra protection, the Amazon Fire 7 is a solid choice for just $50.

If you want a tablet that both you and your child could use, going with an Apple product isn’t a bad choice. The Apple iPad mini is the cheapest of the bunch and offers good battery life as well as support for augmented-reality apps. If you’re looking for a modest Android tablet, you could always pick up the Lenovo Tab 4 10 Plus, but keep in mind that it’s a little old now and running on an even older operating system.

How we test the best kids tablets

We put each tablet through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the tablet, including its performance, battery life, display and speakers.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the tablet's display. For performance testing, we run the tablet through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 4.3 and 5.0 (when applicable). 

Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. Typically, tablets average around 9 to 10 hours of battery life. For kids tablets, we extensively test the parental controls as well as the interface that kids would be using every day.

These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the tablet's materials to the feel of its touchscreen display.

Why trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming. 

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on. 

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it. 

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.