Is anyone else out there starting to realize that the demands of parenthood are constantly changing? It feels like as soon as we get into a flow where everything is going smoothly in our house, something changes forcing us to mix things up and find a new system.
Let me offer an example to clarify what I’m getting at: take technology, for example. Just as soon as I feel like all of my kids have the perfect electronic devices, they outgrow them and need something faster, newer, and bigger!
It recently came to my attention that the tablet my daughter has been using for years is no longer adequate for her. The biggest issue is that it doesn’t have the storage she needs to store the videos she makes with her friends. Furthermore, since it’s several years old it is sluggish which frustrates her when playing Roblox or watching Netflix. So I’ve finally conceded and have decided that my tween is right: she needs a new tablet.
Maybe you’re in the same boat as I am – in the market for a new tablet for your teen or tween. If you’re like me, you’d really like to find one that will last more than a year. Look no further because I’ve saved you a lot of time browsing the web by compiling this list of the top rated tablets for teens or tweens.
What To Look For
Now you’ll quickly find that there are a lot of options out there. However, I really have made it simple for you because all you need to do is consider the following features.
- Affordability. The average price of a decent tablet is around $200, but you can certainly find some significantly less and significantly more than that. You’ll notice that I’ve used symbols to signify the price range; $ means under $200, $$ means under $300, and $$$ means over $300.
- Storage capabilities. The last thing you want is to get a tablet with insufficient storage space. In my opinion, you’ll want to make sure you have at least 32 GB. But this will largely depend on how your teen plans on using the device since some activities require more space than others.
- Screen size. Consider how much space your teen/tween has to work with. Maybe they need something that can fit in a purse or maybe the size doesn’t matter since the tablet will never leave their room. You need to decide if a small or large screen would be best.
- Operating system. We all have preferences when it comes to tablet operating systems. I, for one, can’t seem to get the hang of Apple devices since I’ve used androids my whole life. Make sure you understand which operating system the tablet employs before purchasing.
With that said, let’s move on to the ten best tablets for teens and tweens on the market today! You are sure to find the perfect fit for your child!
| Model | Key Features |
|---|---|
Apple iPad Air 4th Gen. | |
Amazon Fire HD 10 | |
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A | |
Lenovo Smart Tab M10 Plus | |
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite | |
Microsoft Surface Go 2 | |
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 | |
Amazon Fire 7 | |
Dragon Touch Notepad K10 |
Apple iPad Air (4th Gen.)
Wow, this is another fantastic choice! It comes with a magic keyboard, Apple pencil, and touch ID sensors – all handy extras. Also, the audio and cameras are state of the art. Make it match your teen’s style and personality by choosing from the following color options: Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue. There are so many awesome features on the Apple iPad Air!
Price: $$$
Storage capacity: 64/256 GB
Resolution: 2360 x 1640 (264 ppi)
RAM: 4 GB
Screen size: 10.9″
Battery life: 10 hours
Dimensions: 9.74 x 7 x 0.24 inches
Operating system: Apple
Camera: 12 MP wide camera lens
Video Recording: 4K video recording at 24, 30, or 60 fps
Amazon Fire HD 10
There is so much to love about this all-new edition of the popular Fire tablet! First of all, it comes with lots of fun extras including Alexa (of course), Netflix, Disney +, Microsoft Office, and Spotify, just to name a few. Plus, it has a much brighter display and more RAM than past models. All for a reasonable price!
Price: $
Storage capacity: 32/64 GB
Resolution: 1024 x 600 (171 ppi)
RAM: 3 GB
Screen size: 10.1″
Battery life: 12 hours
Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches
Operating system: Amazon
Camera: 5 MP rear and 2 MP front
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A
Despite the Galaxy Tab A’s large screen, it is surprisingly lightweight, making it easy to tote around. And note how long the battery lasts: 13 hours! This will give your tween plenty of time to watch YouTube videos, listen to music, and check out social media. In fact, they could use it all day long on a single charge. And what’s awesome is that it is very responsive and will load your apps super fast. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed with this tablet!
Price: $
Storage capacity: 32/64 GB
Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
RAM: 2GB
Screen size: 8″
Battery life: 13 hours
Dimensions: 0.31 x 4.9 x 8.27 inches
Operating system: Android
Camera: 8 MP rear 5 MP front
Lenovo Smart Tab M10 Plus
The Lenovo Smart Tab M10 Plus stands out because of its built-in smart dock which produce theater-like sound. In addition to that, it runs fast and is packed with all sorts of neat features. One of my favorites is that it automatically lowers harmful blue light to reduce eye strain. All in all, a great option for teens and tweens!
Price: $$
Storage capacity: 128 GB
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
RAM: 2/4 GB
Screen size: 10.3″
Battery life: 8.5 hours
Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.04 x 0.33 inches
Operating system: Android
Camera: 8 MP rear 5 MP front
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Here’s the thing about the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: it has everything your teen or tween will want in a tablet! With a slim design, incredibly clear display, magnetic S pen (stylus), and wireless hotspot capabilities it is sure to impress you. You really can’t beat the clear, vivid display either – it will be perfect for anyone who plans to use it to catch up on Netflix or watch YouTube videos.
Price: $$$
Storage capacity: 64/128 GB
Resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels
RAM: 4GB
Screen size: 10.4″
Battery life: 12 hours
Dimensions: 0.28 x 6.07 x 9.63 inches
Operating system: Android
Camera: 8 MP rear 5 MP front
Microsoft Surface Go 2
One of the reasons reviewers love the Surface Go 2 is the responsive touch screen! In particular, casual users find this latest model from Microsoft to be very user friendly. It even comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11!
And you’ve got to appreciate the adjustable kick stand which allows you to prop the tablet up for easy viewing. This features makes the Surface Go 2 a great substitute for a laptop so your teen may be able to use it for homework if they’re able to withstand all the fun distractions this tablet offers!
Price: $$$
Storage capacity: 128 GB
Resolution: 1920 x 1280
RAM: 8 GB
Screen size: 10.5″
Battery life: 10 hours
Dimensions: 0.33 x 9.65 x 6.9 inches
Operating system: Windows
Camera: 8 MP rear 5 MP front
Video Camera: 1080p video
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
Our list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Lenovo Chromebook. It stands out from the other options on this list since it is technically a laptop, although you can flip the keyboard behind the screen at 360 degrees.
I like this option for studious teens who plan to mix school work with entertainment. A fast processor makes it perfect for streaming music or watching movies and doing browsing the web for a research paper. It even has a built in webcam so your child can take this with them to college and FaceTime you at home when that day comes!
Price: $$$
Storage capacity: 64 GB
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Pixels
RAM: 4 GB
Screen size: 13.3″
Battery life: 10 hours
Dimensions: 12.2 x 8.43 x 0.67 inches
Operating system: Chrome
Camera: 720p web cam
Amazon FIRE 7
BUDGET PICK
Let me present the ultra-affordable Fire 7 from Amazon! If you’re like me, you’re not sure you’re ready to trust your child with an expensive electronic so you’d prefer to start them out with something cheaper. If that’s the case, this tablet is ideal for you! At less than $100, it has front and rear cameras, Alexa, and a faster processor than previous models. This is a great starter tablet for your tween!
Price: $
Storage capacity: 16/32GB
Resolution: 1024 x 600
RAM: 1GB
Screen size: 7″
Battery life: 7 hours
Dimensions: 7.57 x 4.51 x 3.8 inches
Operating system: Amazon
Camera: 2 MP rear 2 MP front
Video Camera: 720p video
Dragon Touch Notepad K10
The Dragon Touch Notepad may be an economical tablet, but it will not disappoint your teen or tween! They will be thrilled about the 32 GB which allows for plenty of storage to keep books, songs, photos, movies, and games. Plus, the 64-bit quad-core processor makes it so that apps launch quickly and gaming goes smoothly. It even has dual speakers and connects to the TV! As you can see, there is so much to love about this tablet!
Price: $
Storage capacity: 32 GB
Resolution: 1280×800
RAM: 2GB
Screen size: 10″
Battery life: 8 hours
Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.69 x 0.39 inches
Operating system: Android
Camera: 8 MP rear 2 MP front
Video Camera: 720p rear and 480p front
FAQs
What are teens looking for in a tablet?
Teens want a tablet that supports their individual interests, whether that is social media, music, web browsing, gaming, or video editing. Also, they’re looking for a tablet that has great aesthetics and is stylish. Since teens are typically tech-savy, they’ll also appreciate the specs, such as mega pixels, storage space, and battery life.
How much can you expect to pay for a tablet for kids?
The average price of a decent tablet for kids is around $200, but you can certainly find a few for less than that if you’re on a budget. On the other hand, you can expect to pay around $300 for upper end kid tablets. Keep in mind that you may also want to purchase a screen protector or protective case.
What safety features are available on a kid’s tablet?
The best kids’ tablets come with safety features to protect your children from mature content. For instance, many enable parents to monitor how much screen time and what content the kids are able to access. Also, you can enable a setting to password protect purchases in the app store in order to control what they buy. These are just a few examples of the many safety features that come on kid’s tablets.
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