Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet (2023 release) ($99 – $149).
- Entry tablets from the big brands are excellent for streaming, school and video calls.
- Decide what you will do: streaming and reading need a good screen; notes and drawing need stylus support.
In this article
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
You do not need to spend a lot to get good tablets. These are the cheapest tablets we would still buy in the US, sorted by typical price.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet (2023 release) | Consider | 7.1/10 | $99 – $149 |
| Apple iPad 11-inch (A16 chip) | Buy | 9.0/10 | $299 – $349 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE | Buy | 8.1/10 | $449 – $529 |
Budget picks in detail
Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet (2023 release)
Budget streaming and kids · Verdict: Consider · Score: 7.1/10 · Typical price: $99 – $149
Why we like it: Big screen for very little money.
Pros: Very low price · Full HD 10.1-inch screen · Good for Kindle, Audible and Prime Video · Long battery life
Cons: No Google Play Store · Lock-screen ads unless you pay to remove them · Sluggish for anything demanding
Buy it if you want a cheap screen for Prime Video, Netflix and Kindle books and you live in Amazon's world.
Skip it if you need Google Play apps or a smooth, fast tablet; Fire OS is limited and ad-supported by default.
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16 chip)
Most people · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.0/10 · Typical price: $299 – $349
Why we like it: Full iPad experience at the lowest Apple price.
Pros: Fast A16 chip · 128GB of storage to start · Years of software updates · Works with Apple Pencil (USB-C)
Cons: Screen is not laminated · No Apple Intelligence support
Buy it if you want a fast, well-supported tablet for streaming, reading, homework and video calls.
Skip it if you want Apple Intelligence features or an anti-reflective laminated screen; look at the iPad Air.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE
Android users · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.1/10 · Typical price: $449 – $529
Why we like it: S Pen included in the box.
Pros: S Pen included · microSD storage expansion · IP68 water and dust resistance · Long Samsung update promise
Cons: Midrange chip · LCD rather than AMOLED
Buy it if you use an Android phone and want a big-screen tablet with a stylus included and expandable storage.
Skip it if you want the fastest Android tablet for heavy games; the Tab S10+ and Ultra are quicker.
How to save money
Entry tablets from the big brands are excellent for streaming, school and video calls.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
Decide what you will do: streaming and reading need a good screen; notes and drawing need stylus support.
Common mistake: Paying for a pro tablet and keyboard you will only use for streaming.
Compare more options
Search tablets on Amazon See top-rated tablets on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap tablets in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet (2023 release), typically $99 – $149.
Are cheap tablets worth it?
Entry tablets from the big brands are excellent for streaming, school and video calls. Do not compromise on the basics, though. Decide what you will do: streaming and reading need a good screen; notes and drawing need stylus support.
When are tablets cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.