These are the best tablets for kids, based on my research and testing
Not every top-rated tablet is actually a good pick for kids — trust me. I’ve seen more than a few end up cracked, frozen, or forgotten in a drawer. A solid kids’ tablet needs to be tough enough to survive daily chaos, flexible enough to grow with them, and loaded with the kinds of games and apps that make learning feel like play. And of course, built-in safety controls are a must.
That’s why I personally test a huge range of thebest tabletseach year, but only a select few make the cut for this kids list. They have to tick all those boxes and still be worth the money — because let’s face it, just like they outgrow shoes and uniforms, kids eventually need something more capable.
If you’re looking for something with an ocean of content and versatility across all age groups,Apple’s iPadis a great way to go (provided you buy a case)! But of course, there are better value for money options provided you are willing to upgrade as they grow — going from theAmazon Fire HD 10 Kidsfor the younglings, and graduating to theFire HD 10 Kids Prowhen they hit elementary school age.
To help you buy the best kids tablet for your needs, here are some key questions to ask.
Are there safety and parental controls?
All the tablets in my list have built-in parental controls to limit screen time and restrict what content is seen. Always be sure to check what these are before buying. For example, theAmazon Fire HD 10 Kids Prohas a phenomenal suite of options to tweak specific to every child who uses it.
That’s not to say the iPaddoesn’thave parental controls. They just take a little tweaking
How durable is it?
All too often, tablet makers focus on making their hardware slim and sleek, but don’t really think about the fact that a kid is clumsy. Check for a sturdy case and a good warranty.Amazon’s Fire HD 10 Kidsis the best on this list for that purpose — offering a 2-year warranty and a chunky shockproof cover.
Is there a lot of kid-friendly content?
Kids get bored easily (I know firsthand with my nephew). So is there a lot of stuff available for a child to watch, play and learn? Out of these three picks, for the sheer wealth of child-friendly apps in the app store,Apple’s iPadreigns supreme.
So whether you’re on the lookout for a big slab to distract your younger kid with Bluey, or you need an all-in-one slate for homework and entertainment, here are the best tablets for kids that I recommend right now.
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The best tablet for kids overall
Apple iPad 10th Gen (2022)
1. Apple iPad
The best overall for kids
Specifications
CPU:A14 Bionic
Camera Resolution:12MP (rear), 12MP (front)
Display:10.9-inch (2360 x 1640) Liquid Retina
Storage:64GB, 256GB
Ports:USB-C
Dimensions:9.7 x 7 x 0.2 inches
Weight:1.05 pounds
Wi-Fi:Wi-Fi 6, optional 5G
Who is this for?
The 2022 iPad is a great all-round tablet for kids of all ages. There are other tablets on this list that are more directly catered to certain age ranges, but if you wanted to make one purchase and accessorize with different cases as they grow up, this is the one to buy.
Why is it the best overall tablet for kids?
Looking beyond the design (which will just be covered up by a case to protect it from clumsy moments), the three superpowers here are its big and bright display for all your kid’s needs, impressive performance and power efficiency to keep running on long journeys, and the amount of child-friendly experiences you can find on the App Store. And all of this comes in at agood price of $299.
What do we like?
👍A16 Bionic performs well for kids:We’ve done all the lab testing to prove this is the fastest tablet on this list for apps and games. I’ll spare you the jargon and simply say this guarantees the A16 Bionic is zippy enough for zero temper tantrums while using it, and with over 11 hours of battery life, long enough for those big journeys.
👍Apps and accessories to match your child’s imagination:With any child-friendly tablet, you want to not just distract them from eating broccoli, you want to inspire learning and creativity. FromLegoDuplo world to Crayola Create and Play, the options are endless in iPad’s app store. And on top of that, the optional Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil can take that creativity one step further when the time is right.
What don’t we like?
👎An expensive bet:I know I mentioned the cases to protect your iPad, along with the $299 price being good value for money as a whole. But if you need something quick and cheap to do the job, there are cheaper options on this list that aren’t a potentially fragile combination of aluminum and glass.
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The best value
Amazon Fire 7 tablet
2. Amazon Fire 7
The best budget-friendly tablet for kids
Specifications
CPU:Quad-Core 2.0 GHz processor
Camera Resolution:2MP (rear), 2MP (front)
Display:7 inches, 1024 x 600 pixels
Storage:16GB, 32GB
Memory:1GB
Ports:headphone jack. microUSB, microSD,
Dimensions:7.6 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches
Weight:0.6 pounds (10.1 ounces)
Wi-Fi:802.11a/b/g/n
Battery life (tested):6:56
Who is this for?
Looking for a cheap and cheerful tablet that’s got enough going for it to keep the kids entertained during the times they need to be quiet? Look no further thanAmazonFire 7 Kids edition.
Why is it the best value tablet for kids?
$109. That’s it. That’s the reason. Well, it’s actually$54 right now over on Amazon, but I’m being a little ignorant of the many other reasons this is the best value tablet for kids. From its 2-year worry-free guarantee ensuring replacements if they’re broken, award-winning parental controls, and a 1 year subscription to Amazon Kids+ content, this is a fully thought-out package for children.
What do we like?
👍Speedy for the price:That Quad-core 2GHz chipset with 2GB of RAM is more than enough for the many books, games and learning apps your child will interact with — all without any signs of slow down or performance hitches.
👍Decent battery life:With nearly 7 hours of battery life in our testing, this small tablet can go for a while on one charge — perfect for road trips that can get a little long and boring.
👍A case that Amazon has confidence in:Amazon has worked hard and iteratively over years to land on the Kid-Proof Case you see here. With a good amount of heft for drop protection, and an adjustable stand for hands-free use. Oh, and if your kid does manage to break it, Amazon’s 2-year warranty is pretty open-ended on this — just return it and get a free replacement.
What don’t we like?
👎Dull display:With a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution and 370 nits of brightness, this is a dim, fuzzy panel that isn’t too colorful either. Not the best for bringing out the yellow in Big Bird’s feathers.
👎Watch out for ads:Out of the gate, you’ve got Amazon Kids+ free for a year — giving you access to great entertainment and educational content from the likes of Disney, Lego and National Geographic. This subscription also stops ads from being served too. So if you’re using this beyond a year, you’ve got a choice to make: $5.99 a month, or a deluge of ads.
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The best tablet for younger kids
3. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids
The best tablet for young children
Specifications
CPU:2.0GHz octa-core CPU
Camera Resolution:5 MP (rear) 2 MP (front)
Display:10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel
Storage:32GB
Ports:1x USB-C, headphone jack, microSD
Dimensions:9.7 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
Weight:17.8 ounces/1.1 pounds
Battery life (tested):14:02
Who is this for?
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet has been purpose-built for children aged 3-7 years old — from its ultra durable and colorful hardware construction to the tailored OS with engaging apps and robust parental controls.
Why is it the best tablet for younger kids?
With a specific focus on younger kids, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet is a fantastic option for any child to grow up with — packing enough performance and battery life to keep that 1080p panel going for a long time, comprehensive child safety controls for setting limits, and all the entertainment your kids will love from the likes of Disney and Blippi’s treehouse.
What do we like?
👍Kid-proof from all angles:Yes, this is a big 10-inch tablet, but Amazon has pulled out all the stops with its Kid-Proof case, parental controls to set screen time limits and restrict apps, and a dense library of content catered to every year, so the tablet actually grows with your child.
👍Performant and power efficient:To limit frustration, you’ve got to make sure its zippy and lasts a long time. While Geekbench scores (1,523 multi-core) may fall well behind iPad, the 2.0GHz octa-core processor is more than enough for the far more simplistic OS you get in the Fire HD 10 Kids tablet. Plus, this slab can last over 14.5 hours on one charge.
👍Big, bright display:The 10.1-inch display is a true eye-catcher with color and brightness — paired effectively with loud and clear speakers. The bass production is poor, but from personal experience with my nephew, a kid is going to miss that bassy warmth when watching Paw Patrol in the car seat.
What don’t we like?
👎Limited app selection:Just like the HD 7, you get a year of Amazon Kids+. The content selection is wonderful for kids, but beyond the Kids+ subscription, Amazon’s tablet app library is extremely constrained.
The best tablet for older kids
4. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro
The best tablet for older kids
Specifications
CPU:2.0GHz octa-core CPU
Camera Resolution:5 MP (rear) 2 MP (front)
Display:10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel
Storage:32GB
Ports:1x USB-C, headphone jack, microSD
Dimensions:9.7 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
Weight:17.8 ounces/1.1 pounds
Battery life (tested):14:12
Who is this for?
For slightly older kids aged 6-12 years old, that’s where the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet comes in. The case is slimmer, the OS is tweaked to allow for more advanced interactions (while keeping those robust parental controls), and Disney,Marveland lego are all part of that Amazon Kids+ subscription.
Why is it the best tablet for older kids?
For the kids growing up and getting used to using tech/expanding their horizons of learning/being inspired by the gadgetry they use, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet is a respectively powerful slab with storage to take your films and TV shows on the go.
What do we like?
👍Big, bright display:With a 10.1-inch 1080p display, this is a big, bright and colorful canvas for your kids to interact with. Whether it’s jumping into all the age-appropriate Amazon Prime Video content or the apps and games built into the Kids+ service.
👍Enough under the hood to do more:It’s still not iPad-levels in terms of power, but for the limited amount of tasks that are possible on the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet, the Octa-core chip is fast enough for keeping apps running at a smooth 60 FPS with plenty of multitasking capability too — say for when you’re flipping between a word processor for your homework and Duolingo for learning foreign languages. Oh, and did we mention this has over 14 hours of battery life in our testing!?
👍Award-winning parental controls:Amazon goes on about the controls being award-winning a lot, but what that means in practice is so much more important when it comes to older kids. Those guardrails are critical in this transitional phase of a kids life, and being able to fine tune them along with screen time use limits too has limited my sister’s anxiety when it comes to making sure my nephew stays safe on the tablet.
What don’t we like?
👎Limited app selection:At this point in a child’s development, sometimes what you need to do isn’t necessarily going to be a purpose-built education app or a storybook. You need the ability to get stuff done, and the productivity side of Amazon Fire tablets has always been a bit of a weakness.
How to choose the best tablet for kids
Still not sure which tablet is the right fit for your child? Don’t worry — picking the right one can feel a bit overwhelming, especially with so many out there. I go through tons of tablets every year, and here are the key things I always think about when deciding which ones are actually worth recommending for kids.
Screen size:Think about how your child is going to use the tablet. If they’ll be watching lots of videos or playing games with detailed visuals, a bigger screen — up to 10 inches — will give them a better experience.
Battery life:All the tablets I recommend here last at least 7 hours, so you can expect them to survive a full school day or a long car ride. That said, some last even longer — over 12 hours — perfect for those long haul flight moments for vacation.
Budget:You can spend as little as $50 or as much as $600 on a kids’ tablet. But honestly, most parents don’t need to go anywhere near the top of that range. A good rule of thumb is to only spend what you’re comfortable losing if (okay, when) it gets dropped, sat on, or left behind somewhere.
Age matters:A tablet that works great for a preschooler probably won’t cut it for a pre-teen. For little ones (around ages 3–7), the Fire HD 10 Kids is ideal — it’s easy to use, durable, and has excellent parental controls built in. For kids a bit older (around 6–12), the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro offers the same reliability but with a more “grown-up” feel. And once they’re in their teens, they’ll likely want something more capable, like the iPad
How we tested these tablets
When we test tablets for kids (or anyone, really), we don’t just take a quick look and call it a day — we put them through their paces to make sure they’re really worth your money.
First, we check how fast they are compared to other tablets. Some are better at handling games and apps than others, and we try to measure that as clearly as possible.
Then we take a close look at the screen. Is it bright enough to use comfortably? Do colors look rich and vibrant? We actually use tools (like light meters) to check this, so it’s not just based on how it “feels” to us.
Battery life is a big one too. Nobody wants a tablet that dies halfway through a long car ride. So we run a set test that browses the web nonstop until the battery runs out — that gives us a consistent way to compare how long each one lasts.
And finally, we use the tablets the same way you and your kids might. We browse the web, watch videos, play games, write things — all the everyday stuff. If the tablet has a keyboard attachment, we’ll even try typing the entire review on it, just to see how it holds up in real-life.
All of this helps us figure out which tablets are actually worth recommending — and which ones aren’t ready for life with kids.