Since the release of the very first iPad in 2010, tablets have become a big part of our lives and kids love them just as much as we do.
But these days we have so many different tablets available that it can be hard to choose the best one.
At a Glance: Our Top 9 Picks for Best Tablets for Kids
- Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet
- Samsung Galaxy Tab a, Kids Edition
- LeapFrog LeapPad3
- VTech Little Apps Tablet
- Contixo 7 Inch Kids Learning Android Tablet
- TOPELTEK Kids Tablet 7
- VANKYO MatrixPad Z1 Kids Tablet
- Pritom 7 inch Kids Tablet
- Apple iPad
The 9 Best Tablets For Kids
To help narrow down your search, we’ve put together a list of our top 9 favorite tablets for kids on the market today.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Samsung Galaxy Tab a, Kids Edition
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | LeapFrog LeapPad3
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | VTech Little Apps Tablet
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Contixo 7 Inch Kids Learning Android Tablet
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | TOPELTEK Kids Tablet 7
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | VANKYO MatrixPad Z1 Kids Tablet
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Pritom 7 inch Kids Tablet
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Apple iPad
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
#1 Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet
Features
- 1 Year of Amazon Free Time: access to over 20,000 apps, games, books, and videos
- Easy to use parental controls
- Kid proof case with built in stand
- 32 GB of internal storage
- Up to 12 hours of battery life
- USB C connectivity
Things We Love About It!
Amazon’s range of Fire tablets have been some of the best selling tablets for kids for some time. The new Fire HD 10 Kids edition has topped the charts again due to some pretty awesome features.
It’s got an impressive 32 GB of internal storage, so you can download apps to your heart’s content. Speaking of apps, when you buy this tablet, you get a free 1-year subscription to Amazon Free Time. This lets you choose from over 20,000 apps, games, books, movies, and TV shows without spending a dime.
All of Amazon’s FreeTime content is handpicked for children, so you can be sure they’re staying safe online. The parental controls are also super easy to use and adapt to your individual preferences.
You can also set screen time limits and curfews which automatically disable the device when you decide.
This tablet comes with an indestructible kid-proof case with a built in stand for watching movies and TV shows.
Pros
- Access to thousands of age appropriate free apps and downloads with Amazon Free Time
- Easy to use parental controls
- Set screen time limits and curfews
Cons
- While in kid mode, there’s no option to adjust the screen brightness
- There’s no handle on the kid proof case
Overall Thoughts
This is a great tablet for kids of all ages since it can be easily adapted to suit their needs as they grow. The parental controls are easy to use and give that little extra peace of mind that your kids are staying safe online.
#2 Samsung Galaxy Tab a, Kids Edition
Features
- Up to 13 hours of battery life
- Durable kid proof case
- Set screen time limits
- Easy to use parental controls
- 8 inch tablet size built for small hands
Things We Love About It!
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A Kids Edition is another powerful tablet with 32 GB of storage, so you can load it with age-appropriate apps. There’s also an SD card slot, so it’s easy to add more storage if you need to.
This tablet is designed to work in kid mode, with easy to use parental control features. But it can also be easily switched to password-protected adult mode making it a great all-rounder.
Kid mode also lets you set screen time limits and curfews, so there’s less chance of arguments about when it’s time to switch off.
The battery life on this model is one of the best on our list. It’s perfect for long car rides or days out, when charging it is more difficult.
This model also comes with a super durable protective cover, so it can withstand the occasional fall to the floor.
Pros
- Great battery life
- Easy to use parental controls
- Set screen time limits and curfews
Cons
- No Type C Micro USB port
Overall Thoughts
This tablet is a great all-rounder that can easily transition between kid and adult modes. It’s another good option for setting screen time limits, and the battery life is enough to last all day. It’s particularly good for older kids who will benefit from a more powerful device.
# 3 LeapFrog LeapPad3
Features
- Designed for children aged 3 to 9
- 5-inch shatter safe touch screen
- 4GB of memory
- Only displays age appropriate content
- Leapfrog learning library with thousands of games, books, and videos to explore
- Durable kid proof plastic casing
Features We Love
The LeapFrog LeapPad 3 is designed specifically for educational purposes for children aged 3-9. Unlike some other tablets on our list, this model can’t be used to surf the internet or double up as a regular tablet for adult use. But it does have a fantastic selection of fun and age-appropriate games, books, videos, and puzzles. These are all designed to help with your child’s development.
The memory on the LeapPad 3 is pretty low at 4GB, but you really don’t need more than that. There’s no camera for videos or photos, and unlike adult-friendly tablets, there’s nothing to save or download. You can browse a huge range of apps though, on the LeapFrog library, all of which take up minimal storage. There’s also a password protection option that means they can only play when you allow them to.
This is a great way to introduce younger kids to technology, while also helping them with their numeracy, literacy, and creativity skills. And since you don’t have full web access on this model, you can be sure they’re only able to explore kid-friendly, age-appropriate content.
Pros
- Only displays age appropriate content
- Durable kid proof case and design
- Perfect for younger children
Cons
- Can’t be used as a regular, adult-friendly tablet
- At 5 inches, the screen is smaller than most tablets on our list
Overall Thoughts
This is a great choice for younger children, who want to explore the world of tech devices for the first time. The content is exclusively educational and age-appropriate for your little ones, so you can rest assured they’re staying safe. Since it’s not a full tablet, it’s more affordable than many others on our list.
#4 VTech Little Apps Tablet
Features
- Designed for children aged 2 to 5
- 12 educational activities with different learning
- levels
- Automatic battery saving shut off
- Letter buttons and piano keyboard
- Durable, won’t break when dropped
Things We Love About It!
The VTech Little Apps Tablet is designed for toddlers. It’s a simple to use, cute little device that has fun, engaging and educational games and activities. There are 12 different ones to explore, each with different level settings to suit the age and ability of your child.
There are lessons on reading, spelling, counting, and nouns, just to name a few. There’s even a piano keyboard to give your child their first taste of musical creativity.
This model doesn’t plug in to charge. Simply pop in AA batteries and this ‘tablet’ will go for awhile! It’s a great option for long journeys when you need to keep them occupied. And thanks to the educational focus, you can be sure they’re reaping the benefits.
Pros
- Very affordable
- 12 educational age appropriate activities
- AA batteries last a long time
Cons
- No option for purchasing extra apps
- Very basic design that doesn’t replicate a regular tablet
Overall Thoughts
This budget-friendly super simple design is a great choice for toddlers who want to feel ‘grown up’ with their very own tablet. The educational activities are great for stimulating your child’s curiosity and aiding their learning and development.
# 5 Contixo 7 Inch Kids Learning Android Tablet
Features
- 7 inch shatter safe HD touch screen
- Bluetooth
- Dual webcam for video chatting
- Supports 189 languages, including Spanish
- 16 GB of memory
- Kids Place feature with easy to use parental controls
Things We Love About It!
The Contixo comes preloaded with tons of child-friendly, educational content that can be tailored towards little and big kids. The advanced parental controls and specialist Kids Place makes sure your children are safe online and don’t wander into areas of the internet that they shouldn’t. There are also screen time limit settings as well as educational goal settings, so it aids rather than hinders their development.
This model has Bluetooth capabilities so it can be connected to wireless headphones, keyboard, and a mouse at the touch of a button.
The Contixo comes with a durable kid proof case that can withstand a bit more of a beating than a regular tablet. It’s also one of the most lightweight tablets on our list, and its small size means it’s easy to hold in little hands.
Pros
- Wide range of age appropriate, educational content
- Set screen time limits
- Bluetooth capabilities
Cons
- Some parents say the screen brightness and volume is too high, even on the lowest setting
Overall Thoughts
This is a good, durable, and budget-friendly option that’s especially suited for kids aged 6-11. There’s an endless array of educational apps, games, and downloads to choose from. And the advanced parental controls and screen time limits means you can be confident they’re staying safe online.
#6 TOPELTEK Kids Tablet 7
Features
- Designed for kids aged 2-14
- 7 inch safety eye protection screen
- Easy to use parental controls
- Set screen time limits and educational goals
- A huge amount of educational, age appropriate content to choose from
Things We Love About It!
This affordable tablet is perfectly suited for both toddlers and teenagers up to the age of 14. There’s a huge amount of educational content that can be tailored to your child’s age and ability. We particularly love that you can set educational goals for your kids, with milestone targets that give them a real sense of achievement.
There’s also some great, easy to use parental control features so you can be sure they’re not accessing inappropriate content.
The 7 inch screen is small enough for little hands and the screen itself has eye safety features. It’s designed to minimize any strain on the eyes by filtering out blue light.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Can be tailored to kids aged 2 to 14
- Good parental controls and screen time limit features
Cons
- Some parents say the screen cracked easily. It’s recommended that you buy a screen protector just in case.
Overall Thoughts
The Topeltek offers real value for money. There’s tons of educational content to explore that works for a huge age range of ages, so this tablet can last for several years. It’s also super-safe, with great parental controls and screen time limits. It’s also a good option if you want to avoid unnecessary eye strain.
#7 VANKYO MatrixPad Z1 Kids Tablet
Features
- 32 GB of storage
- 7 inch HD screen
- Built in Eye Health mode that filters out blue light
- Micro SD slot for explainable storage
- Unlimited age appropriate educational content
- Brightly colored kid-proof durable case with adjustable stand
Things We Love About It!
The Vankyo MatrixPad Z1 has an endless array of kid-friendly content that your children will love. There are over 120 pre-approved channels, hundreds of movies, and 40,000 video clips, all vetted to make sure they’re safe and age-appropriate. There are also tons of kid-friendly websites designed to help with their learning and development.
This is a great tablet for budding little artists. This model comes with a pre-installed PaintBox app that allows them to paint lines, shapes and patterns with their fingertips. There’s also a huge variety of additional artistic apps available for free on the Kidoz App store.
This tablet has great storage with 32 GB already built in and the option to add an SD card to take it to the next level.
Another great feature of the Vankyo is the Eye Health function. This blocks the harmful blue light that most screens give off. It’s easily adjustable and is perfect for using at night, before bedtime.
This tablet also comes with a durable case so it can withstand some pretty rough treatment from your little ones.
Pros
- Great storage capabilities
- Eye Health function blocks harmful blue light
- Great educational apps built-in
Cons
- Battery life is relatively short and will need changing after 6 hours
Overall Thoughts
This is another good all-rounder that can be modified to suit younger and older kids. There’s endless educational content to encourage literacy, numeracy, and creativity. It’s also great for tired eyes that are sensitive to blue light.
#8 Pritom 7 inch Kids Tablet
Features
- 32GB of storage
- SD card slot for additional storage
- Designed for children aged 2 -12
- Long-lasting battery life
- Easy to use parental controls
- Durable, kid proof case
Things We Love About It!
At just 7 inches, the Pritom fits easily in a toddler’s hands. It’s suitable for use from the age of 2 upwards and can be easily adapted to work for older kids too.
There are tons of preinstalled apps and games that are both educational and fun. There are also thousands of additional free apps to download from the Google Play Store, so the options are endless on this model.
This is one of the more powerful tablets on our list, with a super quick processor so there are no frustrating waiting times. There’s also 32GB of built in storage so you can download plenty of apps before it fills up. The SD card slot also allows you to bump up the storage capabilities even more.
This model comes with a dual front and rear-facing camera, making it great for selfies and fun photo morphing apps too. It’s also a good option if you or your kids do regular video calling.
The Pritom comes with a durable silicone case that helps to protect it from the drops, spills, and scratches that are inevitable with little ones around.
Pros
- Super fast processor
- Plenty of storage
- Durable silicone case
- Suitable for children aged 2-12
Cons
- The audio speaker is in the back of the tablet which lowers the sound quality somewhat
Overall Thoughts
This tablet works well for small toddlers, all the way up to pre-teens, so it’s great value for money. It’s also pretty powerful and fast for the price, with plenty of storage space for downloading apps. With the personalized profile settings, it can easily be shared between different aged siblings
#9 Apple iPad
Features
- 32GB or 128GB storage options
- 9.7-inch retina display
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor
- 10 hours of battery life
- 8megapixel back camera and 1.2 megapixel front camera
- Connects to both WiFi and cellular data
Things We Love About It!
The Apple iPad is the original, and still arguably the best, tablet on the market. Sure, it’s not cheap, but if you have the budget for it, it could be a great investment for the whole family.
Like all Apple products, the iPad is intuitive and easy to use. Even young children get the hang of it quickly. It can be adapted to any age. Toddlers have access to thousands of educational apps that encourage their development. It’s also compatible with the Apple Pen, so they can practice their drawing and writing skills and use it in a variety of apps.
Older kids can really benefit from the huge variety of streaming services, homework and study resources, and endless movie and music options.
The iPad connects to WiFi, but it can also hook up to cellular data so you can use it when you don’t have a WiFi connection. The long battery life also makes it a lifesaver for long car rides.
This is a tablet that will last longer than any other on our list and can be used by the whole family. It’s also easy to pre-set parental controls so your children can stay safe while surfing the web.
Pros
- Can be adapted to any age range
- Super fast processor
- Long battery life
- Intuitive and easy to use
Cons
- Expensive
- No child proof case included
There you have it! The 9 best tablets for kids in 2023! Still not sure which one to buy? Read on! We have a buyer’s guide ready just for you!
Best Tablets for Kids – Buyer’s Guide
If you’re considering getting a tablet for your child, you’ll probably have some questions. How much screen time should I allow? What features should I look for in a kid’s tablet?
In this guide, I’ll give you the answers to these questions and many more!
Isn’t Too Much Screen Time Bad for Kids?
Screen time is a controversial topic and the source of endless parenting debates.
Many parents don’t allow any screen time at all for their children, especially for younger kids. Some worry that constant exciting, vibrant images can distort their perceptions and desensitize them to reality.
They say too much time in front of a phone, tablet, or laptop keeps kids from developing their imaginations and stunts their social development.
Others swear by tablet use in moderation, both for their child’s enjoyment and learning, and the temporary peace and quiet it creates. Many parents say that a tablet with the right apps can be an incredible learning tool. They can help to build tech skills that are so essential in today’s modern world.
Every parent regulates screen time and tablet use differently. While there is no right or wrong answer, it can be helpful to look at what the experts say.
The American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Tablets for Kids
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that for children under the age of 18 months, screen time should be avoided entirely. This is with the exception of video chatting with family.
From 18-24 months, if parents want to introduce a tablet, they should do so in short intervals.
They recommend choosing high-quality educational apps and always using it together with your child. Never let a child under 24 months use a tablet alone.
Once your child turns 2, ensure that they get no more than 1 hour per day of screen time. Again, choose high-quality apps that are educational and can aid your little one’s development. It’s also important to always keep a close eye on their online activity.
According to the AAP, the bottom line is to always keep screen time to a minimum. Instead, focus on finding activities that encourage your child to engage with the world on a face to face basis. Things like reading, drawing, playing, and exploring the natural world will all go a long way to help your child’s development.
Parents of older kids and teens are advised to come up with a media plan for their family. Designate screen-free time together to interact and engage as a family.
Set limits of how much time kids can spend on their tablets, and encourage healthy and fun activities away from media devices.
The fact remains that there’s still a lot we don’t know about how screen time and tablet use will affect the younger generation. Tablets haven’t been a part of our lives for long enough to conduct any long term studies. It will be several years before we get a clear picture of how media technology is or isn’t affecting brain development.
Whatever the effects one thing is for sure; real-life interaction and playtime is the best kind there is. Tablets are a useful and beneficial tool when used in moderation, but they should never be a substitute for face to face play.
What Features Should I Look For in a Kid’s Tablet?
There are so many tablets out there, and shopping the right one can feel a little overwhelming.
Many tablets nowadays are designed specifically for kids, They often come with preinstalled apps for fun and learning. Some are even tailored towards a specific theme, such as science, reading, or math.
That being said, there are lots of regular tablets designed for adults that can be adapted to suit children’s needs too. Whichever type you go for, you’ll need certain features to suit your kid’s needs. Here are some things to consider when choosing a tablet in 2023.
Battery Life
Just like cell phones, tablets have a huge range of battery life. The longer the better, although a tablet with decent battery life is usually more expensive. If your kids will be using the tablet for long journeys, consider spending a little extra for something that will last without needing to be constantly plugged in.
Durable
Tablets for kids should be as indestructible as possible. It’s highly likely to have milk and cereal spilled on it, or be dropped onto a tile kitchen floor within the first month of use.
That’s why most tablets designed specifically for young kids come with a thick durable case that will (hopefully) protect it from most potential damage.
Tablets for older kids and teenagers don’t need to be quite so durable, but it’s always worth investing in a good solid case for any tablet.
Suitable for your child’s age
Tablets designed for younger kids are very different from the type of tablets we use as adults. Most models aimed at little ones will have nothing more than basic games and education apps, along with maybe some music and movie capabilities.
Tablets for older kids and teenagers are much more nuanced and come with tons of additional features. Many have office apps like Word or PowerPoint to help with homework. They can fully connect to the web, and parental controls can be set to make sure your kids stay safe online.
Storage
Tablets generally have lower storage capabilities than laptops. For younger kids, storage won’t be much of an issue, as they are likely only using their tablets to play games. But if you want to store pictures or videos, try to look out for a model with additional storage. You can also buy an extra memory card to fit into more advanced tablets on the market.
If you plan on downloading lots of apps or taking photos and videos, go for something with at least 16 GB of storage. Ideally, find a model that also has an SD card slot so you can easily boost your device’s memory capacity.
Bluetooth
Many tablets nowadays have Bluetooth capabilities. This lets your child wirelessly connect to different devices, such as a mouse or keyboard, as well as things like headphones and speakers.
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