Discover the top affordable tablets for both work and leisure, evaluated through comprehensive research and firsthand testing.
Today’s budget tablets are no longer just about compromises. Striking a balance between performance and price, these devices excel at daily tasks without breaking the bank.
While they may not compete with top-tier tablets, you don’t always need cutting-edge specifications to enjoy a tablet’s basic functions. For everyday browsing, streaming, and reading, an affordable tablet can be a wise choice.
After years of evaluating numerous tablets from leading brands like Apple, Samsung, and Amazon, we’ve identified the best affordable tablets available for under $349. Our extensive hands-on testing confirms their impressive capabilities.
Top Affordable Tablets Available Now
You require an iPad: This is the most affordable new iPad available, as Apple has reduced the price of this entry-level model by $100.
You’re integrated into Apple’s ecosystem: If you own other Apple devices, this tablet is the only option on this list that seamlessly interacts with their numerous sharing features. Thus, if you desire quick file transfers to your tablet or want to use your Apple app library, this is the budget tablet to consider.
Funds are limited: While this is the most affordable new iPad, it’s not the least expensive tablet on this list. If budget constraints are a concern, there are other devices here that are significantly cheaper.
You are not a fan of Apple products: Given the premium you pay for this tablet compared to others on this list, and if you are not already a fan of Apple’s products or deeply embedded in their ecosystem, the extra expense might be hard to justify.
The Apple iPad (10th Gen) is the most affordable new iPad you can purchase, offering a contemporary full-screen design, A14 Bionic power, and prolonged battery life.
Essential Details
The Apple iPad 2022 is a robust tablet capable of smoothly running nearly any application from Apple’s App Store. The 10th Gen model is recommended for budget-conscious buyers because it is the last one Apple sold at a starting price of $349, a significant $100 price cut during the M4 iPad Pro event. While the newer iPads possess substantially more power (this model is equipped with an A14 Bionic), the design is sleek, and the performance and endurance are sufficient for daily tasks and entertainment.
Design: The 2022 Apple iPad adopts the button-free aesthetic of its pricier counterparts. The bezels are slightly thicker here, but they are symmetrical, contributing to a visually appealing design that is enhanced with vibrant colors.
Display: The 10.6-inch (2360 x 1624 pixels) Liquid Retina display on the 2022 iPad is bright and colorful, ensuring that everything you do on it looks appealing. While I’m not entirely certain about the new screen lamination techniques used here, reflections in direct sunlight have been significantly reduced compared to the 2021 iPad.
However, during our lab testing, we noted that the screen’s brightness peaks at 504 nits at the center of the display, which may be challenging to view in sunny conditions.
Performance: Apple has equipped the 2022 iPad with an A14 Bionic chip, the same processor that powers the iPhone 12 series. Although the chip is a few years old, it still handles apps smoothly, with only occasional stuttering observed during more intensive gaming sessions. Even now, four years after this chip’s debut, you can expect respectable performance.
Battery life: While the 2021 model lasted nearly 12 hours, the 10th Gen iPad (2022) still meets the 10-hour battery life promise but doesn’t match the older tablet. In our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi, we achieved 10 hours and 57 minutes.
Although this is a decrease from the previous generation, 11 hours is still an impressive amount of endurance that will carry you through a day of work or most long-haul flights without the need to recharge.
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Evaluation |
Details |
Overall Rating |
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Battery Duration |
10:57 tested battery duration |
★★★★☆ |
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 Tobias Nguyen covers mobile technology and social media trends. He combines a background in digital marketing with a passion for emerging tech to provide readers with data-driven insights and practical tech usage tips. Categories Latest Articles |