While high-end devices are generally the stars of the Android world, there is a growing emphasis on quality on a budget, and that’s very visible in the tablet arena.
From companies that are willing to sacrifice profits for the sake of market share, to established players looking to improve their game in the mid-range, several companies have brought to market affordable Android tablets that are actually worth buying. Unfortunately, for every great cheap Android tablet, there are tons of poorly made, clunky, and underpowered slates out there, which can make buying tablets on a budget a pain. We’re here to help.
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If you’re looking for a good budget-friendly gift for a loved one, or just want to treat yourself, check out our list of best affordable Android tablets. Let’s get started!
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Editor’s note – We will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.
Update, January 2016: This month we saw the NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1 take the top spot, followed closely by 2013’s Nexus 7. We’ve also removed the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 and Dell Venue 8 from the list.
NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1
Did you love the original NVIDIA Shield Tablet? Well, you’ll probably feel just the same about the Shield Tablet K1, its direct successor. The specifications and design are pretty much the same with both tablets, aside from the addition of a rubberized surface next to the speakers and brushed metal lettering on the back of the K1.
NVIDIA also removed the stylus holder on the K1, which brings us to our next point – the stylus is gone! So are the charging cable and wall adaptor. The big news here is that NVIDIA is trying to cut costs, and they did just that by not including a stylus or charger. With that said, this tablet is now only $200, which makes it not only one of the best Android tablets out there, but also one of the most affordable.
Specs
- 8.0-inch LCD display with 1920 x 1200 resolution, 283ppi
- 2.2GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB of on-board storage, microSD card expansion available
- 5MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
- Non-removable 19.75WHr battery
- Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
- 221 x 126 x 9.2mm, 390g
Read more
- NVIDIA Shield K1 announced (quick hands on)
Buy now from Amazon
Nexus 7 (2013)
Despite being more than two years old, the Nexus 7 (2013) is still one of the best budget tablets you can buy.
Perhaps the biggest draw to buying a Nexus tablet is that it will, at least for a few years, will receive the latest versions of Android as Google releases them. Currently, the 2013 Nexus 7 is running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which actually runs very well. Thanks to the tablet’s 2GB of RAM and Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, navigating around the device’s interface is still a breeze. There are a few signs of age when playing more graphic-intensive games, but all in all, this tablet can handle most everyday tasks that are thrown at it.
It’s compact, light, and running the latest version of Android. What more could you want out of a budget tablet?! Nowadays you can find this device for around $100, though the current rate on Amazon is hovering just around $140.
Specs
- 7.0-inch LCD IPS display with 1920 x 1200 resolution, 323ppi
- 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 16/32GB of on-board storage, no microSD card expansion
- 5MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera
- Non-removable 3950mAh battery
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- 200 x 114 x 8.7mm, 290g
Read more
- Nexus 7 (2013) review
- Best Nexus 7 (2013) cases
- Best Nexus 7 (2013) accessories
- Common Nexus 7 (2013) problems and how to fix them
Buy now from Amazon
ASUS ZenPad S 8.0
While Asus refreshed their affordable MeMo Pad Android tablet line earlier this year, they have more recently launched an even newer and more powerful tablet in this price range. In this new ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 you’ll find an 8-inch IPS LCD screen with a quad-core Intel Atom Z3560 processor running at 1.8 GHz with 2GB of RAM. There are actually a few different versions of this tablet floating around, we’ll link below to one that has a slightly slower processor but 32GB of internal storage for the same $199 price.
Specs
- 8.0-inch IPS LCD display with 2048 x 1536 resolution, 320 ppi
- 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3560 or Z3580 processor
- 2/4GB of RAM
- 16/32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
- Non-removable 15.2WHr battery
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- 203.2 x 134.5 x 6.6mm, 298g
Read more
- ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 Review
Buy now from Amazon
LG G Pad 2 8.0 (LGV498)
The LG G Pad 2 8.0 is a great option if you’re looking to save a bit more money. It has a big 8.0-inch display, a Snapdragon processor and enough on-board storage for all of your photos and games. It also has a decently-sized battery that should be big enough to last multiple hours on a single charge. And as an added bonus, this tablet also comes with a stylus and a full size USB port, which is definitely a nice touch.
This isn’t the most capable tablet on the market, but you certainly could do worse for this low price point. Nowadays you can find it on Amazon for just around $150.
Specs
- 8.0-inch IPS LCD display with 1280 x 800 resolution, 189 ppi
- 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 1.5GB of RAM
- 32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
- Non-removable 4200mAh battery
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- 210.8 x 124.2 x 9mm, 347g
Buy now from Amazon
Acer Iconia Tab 8
The Acer Iconia Tab 8 is another great option for those looking for a low-cost tablet that offers solid specifications and performance. The device also comes with a premium design and build quality that goes beyond what its price point suggests, a high resolution display, and dual rear speakers that allow for a good audio experience, along with a large battery and the promise of an impressive battery life.
It’s a good option on the hardware front, but buyers should be aware that this tablet likely won’t ever see an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Specs
- 8-inch IPS LCD display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, 283 ppi
- 1.86GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3745 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 16/32GB storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB
- 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
- Non-removable 4600mAh battery
- Android 4.4.2 KitKat
- 215 x 130 x 8.5mm, 360g
Buy now from Amazon
Amazon Fire line
Following in the footsteps of the previous Kindle Fire HDX tablets, Amazon has launched not one, but 5 new tablets in recent months. While this sounds like a lot, rest assured, these are all just updates to previous models. And to be fair, two of them are pretty much the same device. What stands out in this new line is the prices, setting a precedent that we’ll talk about later.
The main tablet we’ll be focusing on here is the Fire 7, which comes with a 7.0-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 600 x 1024, a quad-core processor, expandable storage and a battery that allows up to 7 hours of use on a single charge. There’s only 8GB of on-board storage and the display might seem a little fuzzy, but the minimal approach to Amazon’s Fire OS 5 promises smooth performance out of the device. The best part of this deal is the price, by far. You can pick one of these tablets up for just $50, brand new, straight from Amazon. The company is also selling them in 6-packs for $250.
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From there, you can find the Fire HD 6, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10, all of which sport slightly better specs than the Fire 7, with optional larger internal storage capacities and features, priced at $100, $150 and $200 respectively.
Specs
- 7-inch IPS LCD display with 1024 x 600 resolution, 171 ppi
- 1.2GHz quad-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 8GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion
- 2 MP rear camera, VGA front camera
- Up to 7 hours of battery life
- 191 x 115 x 10.6mm, 313g
Read more
- Amazon Fire HD 10 hands-on and first impressions
- Six-pack of tablets and the iPad Pro: the tablet market is polarizing
Buy now from Amazon
Lenovo Tab 2 A10
The Lenovo Tab 2 A10 has a lot going for it when compared to the rest of the devices on this list. Not only is it the tablet with the largest screen on our list, it’s also the first tablet to feature Dolby ATMOS 3D Cinema audio enhancements, which aims to make your audio experience much clearer while taking advantage of the beautiful, large Full HD display.
Performance is impressively smooth, and while mobile photography isn’t a key feature when it comes to tablets, this device does offer a solid camera experience. If you’re looking for a large-screen tablet experience on a budget, look no further than the Lenovo Tab 2 A10.
Specs
- 10.1-inch IPS LCD display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, 218 ppi
- 1.7GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8165 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 64GB
- 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
- Non-removable 7000mAh battery
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- 247 x 171 x 8.9mm, 509g
Read more
- Lenovo announces the Tab 2 A10 and Tab 2 A8 tablets at MWC 2015
- Lenovo Tab 2 A10 hands-on and first impressions
Buy now from Amazon
Bonus tablet: Xiaomi Mi Pad
Fully admitting that the Xiaomi Mi Pad is not available in all parts of the world, that it runs a highly skinned version of Android that purists won’t care for, and it’s successor, the Mi Pad 2 is already out, we still think it is a great device to consider. Before the new NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 launched, the original Mi Pad was basically the only sub-$200 tablet on the market with the NVIDI Tegra K1 processor, 2GB of RAM and a beyond FHD display.
To be specific, the Xiaomi Mi Pad comes with a 7.9-inch 2048 x 1536 resolution IPS display with a pixel density of 326ppi. The Tegra K1 is clocked at 2.2GHz, there is 16GB or 64GB internal storage options available, with microSD expansion for cards up to 128GB. After the Mi Pad 2 launched, the original Mi Pad dropped in price. You can now find it most places for around $200.
Specs
- 7.9-inch IPS LCD display with 2048 x 1536 resolution, 326 ppi
- 2.2GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 16/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
- 202.1 x 135.4 x 8.5mm, 360g
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Non-removable 6700mAh battery
Buy now from ebay
There you have it – our picks from the best affordable tablets Android has to offer right now. Missed anything? Tell us in the comments!
For more tablet information, head on over to the TabTimes blog for more tablet news, reviews and information.
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