Tablet and Dollars

Are you looking for a tablet under $300? The good news is that there are lots of excellent tablets available at budget prices. Whether you want to browse the web, play games, connect with family and friends on social media, or use your tablet for school or work, we’ve got some great options for you.

Each of the top five best tablets under $300 was chosen by our expert advisor. Their top pick, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, is a fantastic tablet with a great-looking display, strong performance, and impressive battery life, too.

Our Expert’s Top Pick

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7

For a lightweight, stylish tablet with impressive specs, check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7.

If your tablet is going to be one of several devices in your home, make sure you’ve got a great Wi-Fi router for multiple devices.

Our Expert’s Top 5 Tablets Under $300

Here are the top picks from our expert. Compare the ratings and features of different models.

Editor’s PicksBrandRatingOperating SystemScreen SizeInternal StorageWeight
Best OverallSamsung Galaxy Tab A74.7Android Q10.4″64 GB1.05 lbs
Best Budget BuyFire HD 84.6Fire OS8″32 GB12.5 oz
Best Laptop ReplacementKingPad 10 Pro4.2Android 1010.1″64 GB1.1 lbs
Best for WorkFusion5 FWIN232 PRO S24.2Windows 10 Pro10.1″128 GB1.3 lbs
Best for Books and MoviesFire HD 104.6Fire OS10.1″64 GB1.025 lbs

*Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 and based on reviews, feedback, and opinions of actual customers

Who Should Buy a Tablet Under $300?

  • Casual users Budget-friendly tablets are great for everyday computing. If you want to send emails, update social media, play some casual games, make Zoom calls, and so on, all these tablets will be well able to manage those tasks.
  • Frequent travelers Are you on the go a lot? Whether you travel for work or for leisure, a budget tablet is a great way to stay connected on the go. You can opt for a work-friendly tablet or one that plugs into a keyboard for easier computing while away.
  • Parents If you’re choosing a tablet for your kid or teen, any of these could be a great pick. You probably don’t want to spend a fortune on an expensive tablet that might get broken or lost. These budget buys are still perfect for watching YouTube, playing Minecraft and Fortnite, or chatting with friends.

Who Should Not Buy a Tablet Under $300?

  • Keen gamers – If you’re a dedicated gamer, then budget tablets probably aren’t going to cut it for you. Instead, you’ll want to look at options like these gaming laptops under $800.
  • Apple fans – While many people think the iPad is hands-down the best tablet out there, a new iPad will set you back a lot more than $300. You might find an older, refurbished model within the $200 – $300 range, but we’ve picked reliable new products for our list.

Research Tips (from an Expert)

When friends and family ask me how to choose the best tablet under $300 or so, there are a few key factors I always recommend looking for. Depending on what you want to use your tablet for, some of these may be more important to you than others. Of course, it’s also a good idea to ask friends what they use and like. You might even ask if you can try out their tablet to get a good feel for it.

  1. Check how much the tablet weighs – Most budget tablets are light and easily portable, but if you’re going to do a lot of traveling with your tablet, you want to make sure it’s not going to be too heavy to carry around.
  2. Make sure you get a tablet with good battery life – You might need to carry your tablet around all day without charging it. Or, you could be using it on a road trip where you won’t have easy access to electricity.
  3. The more internal memory, the better – While you can add micro SD cards to increase your tablet’s storage, internal memory is faster.1 This means that if you want to install and run lots of apps, you’ll need plenty of internal memory. These days, 64GB is my recommended minimum for most users. If you don’t plan to install many apps, then 32GB should be fine for you.2
  4. Your tablet’s operating system (OS) matters – The most popular OSs are Android OS (from Google) and iOS (from Apple). Windows 10 (from Microsoft) is also quite popular.3 Most apps are available for both Android OS and iOS, but it’s still worth checking before you make your purchase.

How Much Do They Cost?

Between $100 and $300

Since we’re only including tablets under $300, you know there won’t be anything hugely expensive here. Some budget tablets come in much cheaper, however. You can potentially find a good, new tablet for $100 or even less. The cheapest options tend to be Kindle Fire tablets (for example, the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 are two of our top picks), but keep in mind that they don’t run as many apps as Android OS and iOS.

The Best Tablets Under $300: Full Reviews

Our Expert’s Top Pick

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7

For a lightweight, stylish tablet with impressive specs, check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is an excellent tablet at a very good price. I recommend opting for the 64GB version, but if you want to save some extra money and don’t plan to install many apps, the 32GB version is a bit cheaper. This tablet really has it all. It’s light and portable, has an ultra-wide screen, Dolby Atmos surround sound speakers for watching movies, and it looks sleek and stylish.

With a Qualcomm processor and 3GB of RAM, this tablet has a reasonable amount of power, too. It runs the Android Q operating system and is compatible with almost all apps. If you’re going to download a bunch of movies to watch, you’ll want to add some external memory: the good news is that you can easily pop in a microSD card of up to 1TB.

Pros
  • Fantastic ultra-wide screen for movies or video calls
  • High-quality surround sound
  • Light and comfortable to hold
  • Great battery life (and charges quickly via a USB-C cable)
Cons
  • May lag if you have 8+ apps open
  • A couple of reviewers said they were unable to install apps on their external memory card
Best Budget Buy

Amazon Fire HD 8

If you’re on a very tight budget, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is an impressive little tablet at an incredibly low price.

The Amazon Fire HD 8 is a small, inexpensive tablet that’s very much worth a look. While the Fire OS isn’t compatible with all apps, the majority of apps that are available for Android will also have a Fire OS version. If you buy Kindle ebooks, then an Amazon Fire tablet makes it quick and easy to access these, as you can have them sent straight to your tablet. You can also use Alexa on your Fire tablet.

You can opt for the 32GB or 64GB version of the Amazon Fire HD 8, depending on your budget. If you mostly want to read books and use email and social media, the cheaper 32GB version should suit you fine. If you want a larger screen, the Fire HD 10 is also a great option, but it does cost more. Lastly, if you need something really budget-friendly, try the Fire 7 (which is smaller and is not HD).

Pros
  • An inexpensive tablet that still has plenty of functionality
  • Good battery life (charges fast using a USB-C cable)
  • Has hands-free mode using Alexa
  • Great if you want to read Kindle books on your tablet
Cons
  • Not compatible with all Android apps
  • Displays lockscreen ads (unless you pay extra)
Best Laptop Replacement

KingPad K10 Pro

Looking to replace your laptop with a tablet? The KingPad K10 Pro includes a docking keyboard case with trackpad.

One drawback to having a tablet for everyday use is that it’s difficult to type on. If you want to have the convenience of a tablet that you can also use for writing lengthy emails (or even a novel), then the KingPad K10 Pro from Vastking is a great option. Its docking case not only has a keyboard but also a trackpad: ideal if you find touch screens fiddly to work with.

The KingPad K10 Pro runs Android OS 10.0, so you can run all the apps you’d expect. It easily converts from laptop mode to studio mode (for writing and drawing with a stylus pen, which is included), and to tablet mode (without the keyboard and kickstand). You also get 64GB of internal storage and 4GB of RAM.

Pros
  • Includes keyboard case (and stylus pen) for use as laptop or drawing pad
  • Powerful enough to run multiple apps and watch HD videos
  • Screen is crisp, clear, and responsive
  • Customer support team is helpful and prompt in responding
Cons
  • Runs Android 10.0, which isn’t the latest version
  • Not such strong battery life as competing tablets
Best for Work

Fusion5 FWIN232 PRO S2

If you need MS Office for work, the Windows 10 Pro S2 Tablet is a great option.

Want to use your tablet to work from home? The Fusion5 FWIN232 PRO S2 lets you not only run Zoom meetings and MS Office applications, it also allows you to remote login to your work desktop. It can even double up as a Windows laptop if you connect a keyboard dock.

With FusionCharge technology, this laptop charges fast, runs fast, and is a great option if you prefer the Windows operating system over Android. It has a generous 128GB of storage: plenty for MS Office and all the other apps you need.

Pros
  • Includes a regular USB port (as well as a USB-C port for charging)
  • Includes 128GB internal storage: plenty of space for apps
  • Has 6GB RAM so runs quickly without lag
  • Comes with 12 month USA warranty
Cons
  • Battery drains quite fast
  • Heavier than some other options
Best for Books and Movies

Amazon Fire HD 10

Mainly use your tablet for enjoying books and movies? Then the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a great option.

If you’re not interested in playing games on your tablet but love to read and watch movies, then the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a great option. You can easily link it to your Amazon account, allowing you to download Kindle books straight to the tablet. Plus, you can install apps like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ so you can stream TV and movies too.

With a 10″ HD screen and surround sound, the Fire HD 10 offers a great viewing experience. The 64GB of internal storage gives you plenty of space for apps and downloads, and you can use Alexa on the Fire HD 10 too.

Pros
  • Connects seamlessly with Amazon to access Kindle books and Alexa
  • Tough screen, made from strengthened aluminosilicate glass
  • Wide HD screen plus quality speakers make it great for watching movies
  • Designed for improved energy efficiency
Cons
  • Not compatible with all Android apps
  • Displays lockscreen ads (unless you pay extra)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose a tablet?

The first step in choosing a tablet is to figure out what you need and want to use it for. If you plan to mainly use your tablet to watch movies at home, you’ll want a high-quality display but you might not be concerned about battery life or weight. But if you want to use your tablet while traveling for work, you’ll likely want a light tablet with good battery life, and you may need access to specific apps.

How long will a tablet last?

Tablets don’t tend to have a very long lifespan. Android tablets might not perform so well after two years or so, as they’ll likely be running quite an old version of the Android OS by then. You’ll probably want to replace your tablet after about three years. However, the average lifespan of a tablet PC is projected to be about 4.72 years by 2025, so you might be able to hang onto it a bit longer if it’s still performing well enough for your needs.4 To get more out of your tablet, buy as much internal storage as you can, and look for a rugged tablet that can withstand a few knocks.

What is the average cost of a tablet?

The average cost of a tablet in 2020 was around $333, but you can find tablets that cost much less (and indeed much more) than this. Unless you need a very high-end tablet, you probably don’t need to spend more than $300.

Is it bad to use your tablet while charging?

Normally, it’s fine to use your tablet while it’s charging. If the device feels hot to the touch, though, stop using it while it cools down. Your tablet will automatically stop charging once it reaches 100% charged, so you don’t need to unplug it once it’s fully charged unless you want to.

Article Sources

Tech Pro Daily uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Price D. 6 Reasons Why You May Not Want to Use SD Cards With Android Phones. Updated September 23, 2021. Accessed October 6, 2021.
  2. Mediati N. Tablet Buying Guide: 8 Essential Tips. Laptopmag.com. Published February 24, 2016. Accessed October 15, 2021.
  3. Statista. Tablet operating systems market share worldwide from 1Q’16 to 1Q’21. Statista.com. Published April 2021. Accessed October 15, 2021.
  4. Statista. Average lifespan (replacement cycle length) of consumer tablets in the United States from 2018 to 2025. Statista.com. Published September 2021. Accessed October 15, 2021.