The Best Tablets For Kids In 2021: Parent-Approved & Kid-Friendly!

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A tablet for your kid is a great source of entertainment and learning for them. But not all tablets are built equally. Not to mention, these devices are also quite fragile and can be pretty expensive. So how do you know which ones will best suit your children? Well not to worry! Our top picks for the best tablets for kids in 2021 are here.

The chosen tablets in this list were specifically picked for their affordability, durability, as well as inclusion of parental controls and age-appropriate features. Trust me, the last thing you want is making the mistake of investing in an expensive iPad only for your kid to accidentally shatter it onto the floor.

So whether you’re buying a tablet for a toddler, a baby, or an older child, I hope you find a well-suited tablet for your kid on our list.

What’s The Difference Between A Kid-Friendly Tablet Vs. A Tablet For Adults?

Tablets for kids and adults differ so much in terms of features and specifications. First off, tablets for kids are made to be robust and more durable to withstand clumsy children. They’re usually much cheaper in comparison to adult tablets and are most likely sporting a rugged design to make them well-protected from accidental drops.

Not to mention, tablets made specifically for children also offer a lot of parental controls to make sure you can monitor what your child is watching or doing in their tablets, some even allow you to filter certain content you don’t want your child to be exposed to, as well as a lot of age-appropriate content that your child can enjoy to their heart’s content.

However, one big downside of tablets for kids is the fact that they don’t really offer a lot of features aside from keeping your kids happy. They’re quite limited. By that, I mean if you want to use the tablet to download a lot of games or productivity apps, it might not be powerful enough to handle all of those. Most of the time, these tablets are limited to mediocre or decent hardware that is just enough for children.

Meanwhile, tablets that are for everyone, they’re a lot more versatile and can offer plenty of features for both you and your children. Instilling parental controls on the device is possible as well but it takes more effort. Not to mention, they have a lot more access to all sorts of content on the internet, both age-appropriate and not. Plus, these types of tablets are just a lot more expensive in comparison.

Decide The Purpose Of Your Kid’s Tablet

Knowing the main reason why you want to invest in a tablet for your kid can really be helpful in narrowing down your options. The market is pretty saturated with so many different sorts of units and models of tablets, the choices are practically endless. And oftentimes, it can be overwhelming. Especially if you’re not that knowledgeable when it comes to the techy aspects of these devices.

So to make things easier for you, try to make a list of what you want your kid’s tablet to do. Will it be mainly used for school purposes? Or maybe a source of entertainment for your kid? Knowing these things can point you in the right direction as well as lessening your shopping stress.

For Games & Entertainment

Most parents buy tablets to help keep their kids entertained and behaved in one spot. Sometimes, you can even install streaming apps on these devices so they can watch learning shows dedicated to kids. Not to mention, it’s just a great way to keep your kid’s attention focused on one thing. Plus, they get to learn and enjoy themselves at the same time! Just don’t forget to turn on the parental controls!

If you’re a parent who’s stressed and has difficulty keeping up with your child’s energy, a tablet can also be your saving grace. Just turn it on for them and let them stream and play games to their heart’s content. Now you can just sit back and relax as you keep an eye out on your kid.

With that being said, tablets are a lot of fun for kids and they will surely enjoy spending their time learning new things and watching fun shows on these kid-friendly devices.

Are You A Gamer? Check Out Our Top Picks For The Best Android Tablet For Gaming In 2021 Here.

For Educational Purposes

If you’re planning to buy a tablet for your kid for their school, most tablets that are marketed for kids might not be enough. Especially when most of these models are mostly focused on providing games and entertainment. While on the other hand, features for productivity might be a bit lacking.

The thing is, tablets for kids are very limited in the things they can do outside of entertainment and games. Some of them don’t even have access to Google Playstore or any App libraries. So you’ll be stuck with the apps pre-installed on your kid’s tablet. And most of these apps are not very helpful when it comes to school works and assignments.

In these cases, you might want to look for tablets that offer better features and specs along with powerful enough hardware. This is when you might also want to start considering the tablet series of Apple or Samsung. But it’s not necessary to get the latest high-end models for your kid. Previous generations of the iPad or the Galaxy Tab should suffice and would save you a lot of money.

To know more about which ones you can look out for, just keep scrolling and reading to see our top recommendations!

Our Top Recommendations

1. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

Overview

Coming in at the top of our list is the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro. If you’re looking for a no-frills and fuss-free tablet made especially for your kids, this is it. This is perfect for kids from ages 6 to 12. Aside from that, this particular tablet for kids comes at a pretty affordable price if you take into account the number of features it comes with.

It includes 1 year of Amazon Kids+ along with parental controls, a slim case, and a 2-year worry-free guarantee, which means you don’t have to buy them separately. The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro also features an octa-core processor, 3 GB of RAM, 10.1-inch Full HD display, dual cameras, USB-C (2.0) port, and you can also get up to 1 TB of expandable storage.

Amazon Kids+

But what’s really great about the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is the free 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+. This subscription unlocks over 20,000 apps, games, books, videos, songs, and Audible books your kid can freely access. Your kids will find educational content from National Geographic, Rabbids Coding, LEGO, and others, including more than 9,000 other titles.

In addition to Amazon Kids+, you can also access a digital store on this tablet if you would like to purchase more apps for your kids. Such apps include Minecraft and plenty more titles. If that’s not enough, this tablet also has a web browser that comes with built-in controls designed to help filter out inappropriate sites and lets you add or block specific websites at any time.

When it comes to durability, Amazon has you covered with its inclusion of a rubber casing and a screen made of strengthened aluminosilicate glass. And if this tablet does break, the 2-year worry-free guarantee will allow you to get it replaced by Amazon.

Check Out Our Full Review Of The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Here.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches.
• Manufacturer / Brand: Amazon
• Item Weight: 25.3 ounces (718 grams)
• Screen Size: 10.1 inches
• Screen Resolution: 1080p full HD
• Wireless Communication Technology: Wi-Fi
• CPU: Octa-core 2.0 GHz
• RAM: 3 GB
• Storage: 32 GB (expandable by up to 1 TB)
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours.
• Ports: USB-C (2.0) for charging and a microSD slot for external storage.
• Front Camera: 2 MP
• Rear Camera: 5 MP
• Colors: Black, Sky Blue, Doodle, and Intergalactic.
• Accessories: Amazon Kid-Friendly Case with stand/handle, Amazon power adapter, USB-C (2.0) charging cable, built-in rechargeable battery, and 1-year Amazon Kids+ subscription (auto-renews at an applicable rate).
• Extra Special Features: Accelerometer, ambient light sensors, and 2 built in microphones.
• Warranty: 2-year worry-free guarantee

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro?

2. Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

Overview

Another tablet from Amazon that is made especially for kids is the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition. This tablet has some similar qualities to the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro but the design is a little chunkier compared to the latter’s slimmer case.

But just like the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition also offers your kids a 1-year free subscription to Amazon Kids+, an impressive bundle of parental controls, a kid-proof case with a built-in stand, as well as a 2-year worry-free guarantee that lets you replace the tablet to Amazon in case it breaks.

When it comes to design, it’s 2 inches smaller than the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro but it’s definitely a lot cheaper too. So if you find the latter a little out of your budget, this is the next best thing.

Amazon Kids+ also provides parental controls which allow you to set educational goals, create time limits, and filter content for your child. The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition also comes in with 32 GB of internal storage and a micro SD slot for additional storage up to 1 TB.

Not to mention, you can also give your kids access to more apps like Netflix, Minecraft, and Zoom via the Amazon Parent Dashboard.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.0 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: Amazon
• Item Weight: 19.4 ounces (550 grams)
• Screen Size: 8 inches
• Screen Resolution: ‎1280 x 800 (189 ppi)
• Wireless Communication Technology: Wi-Fi
• CPU: Quad-core 2.0 GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Storage: 32 GB with up to 1 TB of expandable storage.
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours.
• Ports: USB-C (2.0) connector for charging and a microSD slot for external storage.
• Front Camera: 2 MP
• Rear Camera: 2 MP
• Colors: Pink, Blue, and Purple.
• Accessories: Amazon Kid-Proof Case, USB-C (2.0) cable, 5W power adapter, and a Quick Start Guide.
• Extra Special Features: VoiceView screen screen reader enables access to the vast majority of Fire tablet features for users who are blind or visually impaired using text-to-speech or a connected refreshable braille display, accelerometer, and ambient light sensors.
• Warranty: 2-year worry-free guarantee

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition?

3. Apple iPad (8th Generation, 2020)

Overview

The Apple iPad is definitely a huge price jump if you have been heavily considering the Amazon Fire tablets up until now. However, Apple’s iPads have been successful and popular for plenty of good reasons. While they’re not technically targeted towards kids, this particular model will be great if you’re also planning on using this tablet for your kid’s school works.

Fortunately for you, iPads have lowered in price tremendously since this model’s release and you’ll get even more bang for your buck with this gadget. As you might already know, Apple reigns supreme when it comes to tablets in general in the market. Apple offers a lot of amazing tablet apps to choose from and it will surely last you and your kid for a long time.

So even if your kid reaches a certain age, the iPad will still be pretty usable and can even double as a pseudo-laptop for your kid’s school.

Is The Apple iPad Good Enough For Kids?

The short answer is yes! Compared to the Amazon Fire tablets for kids, the Apple iPad has easily the more powerful processor and hardware that can take on even the most demanding games your kids might want to play.

As I have previously mentioned, the iPad isn’t necessarily targeted specifically for kids but it does have a decent amount of tools and setting options that will allow you to monitor your kid’s overall tablet use as well as keep an eye on what applications they’re accessing, using, and for how long.

Apple also has robust parental controls which let you filter and block content that you might not want your kid to see. In addition to that, parental controls also help you avoid incidents wherein your kid might purchase stuff online without your consent or permission.

Overall, the iPad is a solid and versatile choice. Personally, if you have the money to splurge on this tablet or if have an older kid, I would suggest opting for this one. Apple definitely has one (if not the best) of the best ecosystems for applications that encourage productivity, entertainment, and creativity.

Check Out Our Full Review Of The 2020 Apple iPad 8th Gen Here.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: ‎9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: Apple
• Item Weight: 1.09 pounds
• Screen Size: 10.2-inch Retina display
• Screen Resolution: ‎2,160 × 1,620 px (264 ppi) with a 4:3 aspect ratio, 500 nits max brightness.
• Operating System: iPadOS
• Wireless Communication Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
• CPU: A12 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture Neural Engine
• RAM: 3 GB.
• Storage: 32GB and 128GB variants.
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours.
• Front Camera: 1.2MP FaceTime HD front camera with HDR
• Rear Camera: 8MP camera with HDR and 1080p HD video
• Colors: Silver, Space Gray, and Gold.
• Accessories: Lightning to USB-C Cable, USB-C Power Adapter, Apple Pencil, and Smart Keyboard (bought separately).
• Extra Special Features: Touch ID, access to Apple’s app store.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The Apple iPad (8th Generation)?

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

Overview

Just like the iPad, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is also a tablet not specifically meant for kids. But it can definitely be more than enough to keep your kid satisfied with its decent amount of specs and features. Not to mention, if you have an older kid, they might appreciate the more “grown-up” and sleek look of this particular tablet.

If the Apple iPad’s price point is still a little too much for you, but you still want the versatility this adult tablets offer, then you might want to set your eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. It’s not as affordable as the Amazon Fire HD series but this one is a lot more affordable than the tablets Apple has to offer.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 sports a more mature and sophisticated design that comes in with an option to add parental controls for your child to transform this tablet into a more kid-friendly device.

One of the best things about getting an adult tablet is that when your kid grows much older, they won’t feel the need to discard their gadgets. All you have to do is to remove the parental controls so they can have more access to their desired apps and content.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 0.31 x 4.9 x 8.27 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: Samsung
• Item Weight: .76 lbs. (‎12.2 ounces)
• Screen Size: 8.0 inches
• Screen Resolution: ‎1280 x 800
• Operating System: Android
• Wireless Communication Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
• CPU: Quad 2.0 GHz
• RAM: 1.5 GB
• Storage: 64GB (expandable up to 1512 GB)
• Battery Life: 13 hours
• Front Camera: 2 MP
• Rear Camera: 8 MP
• Colors: White, black.
• Accessories: S Pen, Book Cover (all sold separately)
• Extra Special Features: Free Youtube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, YouTube Red and Google Play Music subscription for 2 months for new users.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8?

5. Amazon Fire 7

Overview

Last but not least in our list is the Amazon Fire 7. It’s cheap, it’s durable, it’s kid-friendly, and it’s just overall been a reliable tablet for kids to use. It comes in a wide range of fun colors for your kid to choose from as well as a terrific range of age-appropriate apps that will surely keep your kids entertained. This is an ideal choice if you have a kid from ages 3 to 7.

As usual with the Amazon Fire Tablets for kids, this also has parental controls that you can toggle before handing it over to your kid as well as a 1-year free subscription to Amazon Kids+. However, because this is solely made for children’s use, don’t expect any cutting-edge specs or performance. But it’s definitely enough for a toddler.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 1.0 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: Amazon
• Item Weight: 16.1 ounces (456 grams)
• Screen Size: 7 inches
• Screen Resolution: ‎1024 x 600 resolution at 171 ppi
• CPU: Quad-Core 1.3 GHz 
• RAM: 1 GB
• Storage: 16 GB (expandable up to 512 GB with a micro SD)
• Battery Life: 7 hours
• Front Camera: 2 MP
• Rear Camera: 2 MP
• Colors: Pink, Blue, and Purple
• Accessories: Amazon Kid-Proof Case, USB 2.0 cable, 5W power adapter, and a Quick Start Guide.
• Extra Special Features: External volume controls, built-in Bluetooth with support for A2DP compatible stereo headphones, speakers, microphone, and LE accessories support.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The Amazon Fire 7?

Before You Buy

Now that we have covered our top recommendations for the best tablets for your kids, here are some friendly quick shopping tips for you before you finally invest in a tablet.

Consider Prices Wisely

When it comes to gadgets for your kids, you don’t always have to go all out and buy the most expensive ones out there. As long as the tablet does its job in keeping your kid entertained for a great amount of time, then that should be more than enough. You can invest in more expensive devices for them when they grow much older.

So unless you have a lot of money to spare, it’s best to consider kid-friendly tablets that are no more than a few hundred dollars. However, if you’re planning to use the tablet to help your kid in their school works, then investing in tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab or Apple iPad might be very worth the money.

Specs Still Matter

Tablets for kids are more than a piece of tech junk for your children to tinker around with. Just because it’s meant for your child’s use, doesn’t mean that the hardware has to be an afterthought or overlooked. Sometimes, you have to really consider the specifications as well as the hardware these devices offer.

This is to avoid the device from breaking easily and to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth. Not to mention, it can be quite nice if the tablet can handle apps like Netflix so your kid has more options for streaming his favorite shows.

Apart from that, when your kid’s tablet has decent hardware, random meltdowns and the device shutting off after a certain amount of use can be avoided. Nothing is more frustrating than having your child’s source of entertainment suddenly cut off while your kid is in the middle of enjoying themselves. Sometimes, these scenarios might even lead to sudden outbursts and lots of crying.

However, while a decent amount of specs are great in the long run, these are not the ones (except maybe for the storage capacity) you should prioritize. When it comes to purchasing a tablet for your kids, warranty, parental controls, and its durability are the more practical features you need to consider first. The more technical aspects should come second.

Streaming Apps For Kids You Might Like

Most tablets for kids already have plenty of apps pre-installed into their system. But adding a few more apps so your kid has more options to choose from is always nice. As long as they’re age-appropriate and filtered. Some of the most popular apps you can install are streaming apps.

You can let your kid watch their favorite shows or you can join in and watch with them for some family bonding. Here are a few of them you might want to check out:

Youtube has a separate site and app called Youtube Kids that is oriented towards children. It has tons of curated selections of content along with parental control features, as well as filtering of videos deemed inappropriate viewing for children aged under 13, 9, or 5 depending on the age group you have chosen for your kid.

Aside from Youtube Kids, if you have a Netflix account, you might have already come across their “kids” option. This allows your child access to skim through all sorts of kid-friendly content that they might want to watch.

Avoid “Toy” Tablets At All Cost

If you want to get a tablet that you can get the most bang out of your buck, avoid toy tablets. Trust me, you’ll end up wasting more money purchasing these kinds of tablets than getting one that has better hardware and provides access to the internet.

A lot of these toy tablets are highly restricted and limited to the apps that are built-in and preloaded into their “kid-friendly” system. So you won’t be getting a lot of versatility from these devices as well as having very limited choices for your kids.

What’s worse, most of these tablets’ software is pretty outdated and has not been updated for years now. This means they’re running older and slower versions of Android’s operating system that we do not recommend for anyone.

Durability

Tablets that are made specifically for children’s use are mostly known for their amazing durability. Most of them sport a rugged design along with a thick, rubber case intact to ensure maximum protection in case your kid drops the device. As you already know, kids can be clumsy sometimes. They drop objects, they like to run around and do all sorts of exciting activities.

So if your kid does these things, it’s best to look out for tablets that offer good cases to protect the actual device from any potential damage or accidents. This is especially so if you invested in an iPad for your kid. Those units are quite fragile and getting them fixed might cost you more than it took you to buy them. You wouldn’t want to see your hundreds of dollars shatter into a million pieces, right?

Conclusion

Now we have finally reached the conclusion of our article on the best tablets for kids in 2021. I hope our selection was able to help you decide on which tablet you should get for your child.

Do you already own any of the devices listed in this article? Did your favorite make it into our list? Let me know in the comments section below if this article helped you in deciding which tablet is best suited for your kid. Any suggestions or insights would also be greatly appreciated. I would love to hear all your thoughts!

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