When it comes to a kid-friendly tablet, you don’t necessarily need top-of-the-line features or the most powerful processing. But you also don’t want something that’s slow and frustrating for kids to use and does everything they want it to like play games, listen to music, watch movies, read books and access all kinds of kid-friendly apps and educational content. The best kids’ tablets can be used for schoolwork, email and video chats, too.
Joshua Goldman/CNET
When you’re searching for the best kids’ tablet, it’s important to consider affordability, battery life, durability and life span before buying, especially if you’re shopping for younger kids. The best tablets for kids have robust parental-control features that let parents monitor their kids’ screen time and the content they can access. (You can go a step further and set parental controls on your Wi-Fi network.) Many of the tablets on our list come preloaded with kid-friendly content and educational apps to facilitate learning alongside the fun entertainment apps. There are even toys that work alongside a kid-friendly tablet to teach children how to code.
And, since kids can be clumsy (and sticky for some reason), it’s a good idea to invest in a tablet with sturdy construction and a durable kid-proof case that can protect a delicate glass screen against any scratches or drops. You might also want to add a screen protector.
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Amazon
The Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is the kids’ tablet version of the Amazon Fire HD 10, with the largest display in the lineup of Amazon tablet options. Just like its 7- and 8-inch screen size siblings, this Fire tablet features a ton of parental control options and a rubberized bumper case to protect the device against drops. This 10.1-inch Amazon Fire tablet also includes a two-year “worry-free” replacement warranty and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus. Previously called Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, Amazon Kids Plus is a content library that gives kids access to plenty of books, games, app options and age-appropriate kid-friendly content whether you’re purchasing this Fire HD tablet for a younger child or older kid.
Amazon also offers another version of the child-friendly tablet, called the Fire HD 10 Pro Kids Edition, which has a slimmer case alongside more web browsing and app options for older children.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is cheaper and 2 inches smaller than the 10-inch version of the kids’ tablet, but it includes the same bundle of parental controls, rubberized bumper case to protect the device, two-year “worry-free” replacement warranty and one-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus. You can add a microSD card for additional storage. Compared with the Kids Edition of the Fire 7 tablet, the HD 8 Kids tablet costs more, but it’s got a higher-resolution screen, faster performance and more storage, making it a worthwhile upgrade.
Like the 10-inch version, the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition also has a slimmer Pro version for older kids. It is, however, a little bit pricier than the standard 8-inch kids’ tablet.
The Amazon Fire 7 is the most budget-friendly “learning tablet” option out of the lineup of Amazon Fire Kids Edition tablets. This Kids Edition tablet does a decent job at most tasks and apps and includes the same bundle of parental controls, padded tablet case, two-year warranty and one-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus. This is also the most kid-friendly size for use as an e-reader.
Like both the 10- and 8-inch options, the Fire 7 also has a kid-friendly Pro tablet for older children that features a slimmer case, more web browsing and app options.
When it comes to a children’s tablet, Apple’s iPad definitely has the more recognizable name, and in-app purchases are easy on an iPad. However, handing over an iPad with endless app options to young kids — or even an older child — can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially considering that high iPad price. But compared with Amazon’s Kids Edition tablets, an iPad has more versatility in adapting to a growing kid’s changing needs in a tablet. The 2021 version remains the most useful iPad for the greatest number of people and can be found for as little as $250 if you wait for the right sale.
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