While considering their lifespan makes investing more worthwhile, there are many situations where we might find ourselves looking for cheap tablets . Even if we want to spend as little as possible, we'll certainly want to make sure we don't end up wasting money by being too frugal. We'll review some general tips and the best options currently available.
Before you start: general recommendations
We are going to leave you later a few recommendations for specific tablets depending on your budget, but in case you have doubts about any that we did not mention, we review some questions to take into account.
Design
Mobile devices always catch our eye, and it's easy to be drawn to a tablet with sleeker lines, something that can make them stand out in this price range where a somewhat more rugged design is the norm. However, it's important to emphasize that what we really need to pay attention to is the quality of the finish and, if anything, the weight . It's also worth noting that some options have a metal casing, which is always a plus in terms of resistance and durability, as it helps prevent overheating.
Operating System
Among the cheapest tablets, we have to forget about the possibility of choosing Windows or iOS (there are some cheap tablets with Windows, but the user experience will be poor and we cannot recommend them), but even within Android tablets there are two important issues to consider: the first is the version they run, because at this point we should no longer accept anything older than Android Marshmallow (which still exist); the second is making sure that we can install Google Play.
Technical Specifications
Among the technical specifications to consider, there are three key areas: screen, performance, and storage. For the screen, the minimum resolution for a 7-inch model should be 1024 x 760 and for a 10-inch model 1280 x 800 , but it's equally important to check that they have good levels of contrast, brightness, etc., and whenever possible, that they use LCD panels instead of TFT. Regarding performance, the main recommendation is to look for reliable processors: Qualcomm and Exynos processors tend to be quite expensive, but MediaTek is still preferable to others. Finally, the minimum internal memory should be 8 GB, but in this case, we must ensure that it has a microSD card slot.
The cheapest tablets: less than 100 euros
If we're looking for a tablet for children or one we'll only use occasionally, we can easily find tablets for under €100. These are the options we consider the most reliable.
Fire 7: 70 euros
The Fire 7 is the cheapest of them all, and we can opt for it without worrying about sacrificing much, since its technical specifications are very similar to the others (7-inch screen, 1024 x 760 resolution, Mediatek processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage). However, it's important to note that it runs Fire OS, not the conventional Android we're used to, although we can make it look quite similar with a few tricks that we cover in our Fire tablet guide.
MediaPad T3 7: 80-90 euros
The Huawei tablet is slightly more expensive, although the exact price will depend on the discount you find when you buy it (we've even seen it for as low as 70 euros). The technical specifications are basically the same (again, 7 inches, 1024 x 760 resolution, Mediatek processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage), but in this case, it features a more conventional Android customization (Marshmallow) and also boasts a more streamlined design and a metal casing.
Lenovo Tab 4 7 Essential: 80-90 euros
Our third recommendation is a bit harder to find (it appears and disappears from the stock of a few distributors, and often the one being sold is still the previous model), but if you manage to find it, it can be an interesting option, for one simple reason: it comes with Android Nougat (with the ability to use split-screen, for example). The basic technical specifications don't differ much from the others (7 inches, 1024 x 760 resolution, Mediatek processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage).
Safer bets: between 100 and 150 euros
Although it may not be necessary, we would advise you to consider investing a little more, because for between 100 and 150 euros we already have tablets that introduce some interesting improvements, as you can see in more detail in our comparison with the most popular cheap tablets.
Fire 8 HD: 110 euros
A good example of why it might be worth investing a little more is the Fire 8 HD , since the price difference isn't just due to the screen size, but also includes other interesting improvements , such as HD resolution, slightly more RAM, and double the internal storage. When compared to other tablets in this price range, the most important thing to keep in mind is that the operating system is quite different, but what we said about the Fire 7 in this regard also applies here, of course.
Lenovo Tab 4 8: 120-140 euros
The Lenovo Tab 4 7 Essential can be a bit hard to find, but you won't have that problem with the 8-inch model, and this is probably the one we'd most recommend , especially if you can get it discounted to around €120, as we've been seeing it often lately. In addition to the 8-inch HD screen, this model also features stereo speakers, a Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and Android Nougat. It also boasts one of the best battery lives.
Aquaris M8: about 140 euros
The other tablet in this price range that might be worth considering is the Aquaris M8 , but we should point out that it's a somewhat older model. It's not as noticeable as in some other cases, it must be said, and it comes with Android Marshmallow, just like other tablets released much later. The processor in this case is a Mediatek, not a Qualcomm, but on the other hand, its design and sound, thanks to its front-facing stereo speakers, are definite pluses.
Cheap 10 inch tablets
Our latest roundup of affordable 10-inch tablets is still relevant for those who can't or don't want to settle for 8 inches, but keep in mind that getting a reliable tablet will require a bit more investment. It includes a few more options, but we'll highlight two in particular.
Lenovo Tab 4 10: 150-170 euros
The Lenovo Tab 4 10 is essentially the same tablet as the 8-inch version we looked at earlier, but with a larger screen. Therefore, everything we highlighted in favor of the other model (HD resolution, Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, Android Nougat) applies here as well. This is all fairly standard for entry-level to mid-range 10-inch tablets, and what makes us recommend it in the first place is the price: officially it costs around €200, but it's frequently discounted , even dropping below €150 lately.
MediaPad T3 10: 150-170 euros
The same is true for the MediaPad T3 10 , whose basic technical specifications are very similar (HD resolution, Snapdragon processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, Android Nougat) to those of the Lenovo tablet, although it has an advantage in that it comes with a metal casing , which may make us lean towards it, depending on the price of each one at the time: officially it costs 200 euros, but normally it is between 160 and 170 euros, and from time to time it is reduced to 150 euros or less.
Chinese tablets
We'll finish by mentioning an option that's always available if you're on a budget and don't want to compromise on certain features: importing. There are aspects where they won't offer much more than other brands (it's rare to find processors that aren't MediaTek, for example), but you can find tablets with Full HD resolution or more memory for around 100 to 150 euros. We have a very recent review of the best Chinese tablets of 2018 that you can check out to see which options are the most interesting.