Best Tablets Under $500 (2026)

What are the best tablets under $500 in 2026?

Summary

For most people the Apple iPad 11 (A16) is still the tablet to buy under $500. Tom's Guide calls it the best cheap tablet it has tested, TechRadar the best iPad for most people, and CNET and ZDNet name it their best tablet overall; it lasted 11 hours 25 minutes in Tom's Guide's web-browsing test. It costs more than it did: Apple raised it from $349 to $449 on 2026-06-25, citing memory costs, and listed it at $449 for 128GB when we checked on 2026-10-13. The Apple Pencil (USB-C) it needs for handwriting is another $79. [src1, src5, src9, src11, src31, src32, src33]

The value pick is the OnePlus Pad Go 2, TechRadar's best budget tablet and Trusted Reviews' best cheap tablet: a larger 12.1-inch 120Hz screen than the iPad's and more than 16 hours of battery life in TechRadar's testing. Buy it knowing that OnePlus confirmed in July 2026 that it is leaving the US market. On the tightest budget, the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) is the pick of Tom's Guide, CNET and PCMag for reading and streaming — but it runs Fire OS, not Google Play, and Amazon has announced Android-based Alexa Tablets to replace it. [src1, src5, src6, src7, src9, src10, src26, src27, src30]

Around those three, the picks follow the job. The Motorola Moto Pad (2026) is Tom's Guide's best cheap Android tablet at $249.99; the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2, Tom's Guide's best tablet of 2026, is the one to buy for films and music; and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is the cheapest tablet here with an S Pen in the box. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Gen 2 are alternatives with clear trade-offs. Four tablets the outlets rate highly are above the cap at the prices we checked — the Galaxy Tab S10 FE ($549.99 at Samsung), iPad mini (A17 Pro), Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ and iPad Air 11-inch (M4) — and Google stopped selling the Pixel Tablet in September 2026. [src1, src2, src12, src15, src17, src19, src21, src23, src29, src32, src35]

Top 14 Models Compared

Best for Each Use Case

Top Pick: Apple iPad 11 (A16) — Check price

Tom's Guide calls the Apple iPad 11 "the best cheap tablet we've tested, boasting a vivid Liquid Retina display, long battery life and fast performance for its sub-$500 price", and its newer best-tablets guide names it the best budget tablet. In Tom's Guide's web-browsing test at 150 nits it lasted 11 hours 25 minutes, and its lab measured 506 nits and 108% of the sRGB gamut on the 11-inch 2360 x 1640 screen. TechRadar names it the best iPad for most people, CNET its best iPad overall and "the overall best tablet value for most people", ZDNet its best tablet overall (4.0 out of 5), PCMag the most affordable iPad and MyNextTablet the best value under $500. [src1, src2, src5, src9, src10, src11, src14]

The compromises are the same at every outlet: no Apple Intelligence, a screen that is dim in bright sunlight (Tom's Guide), and no support for the Apple Pencil Pro (CNET). Apple lists it as compatible with the Apple Pencil (USB-C), which is $79 at Apple. Apple raised the iPad from $349 to $449 on 2026-06-25, citing memory costs, and listed it at $449 for 128GB when we checked on 2026-10-13, so an iPad 11 and Apple Pencil (USB-C) bought from Apple cost $528, over this card's cap; the table above shows the last price we observed at Amazon. CNET reports a rumored new entry-level iPad this fall, and Tom's Guide expects one soon. [src1, src2, src9, src31, src32, src33]

Best Value: OnePlus Pad Go 2 — Check price

TechRadar ranks the OnePlus Pad Go 2 second in its whole best-tablet guide as the best budget tablet, saying its "$399.99 starting price delivers unmatched value", and its review calls it "a must-buy tablet for anyone shopping in the mid-range market". Trusted Reviews picks it as the best cheap tablet of 2026. It has a 12.1-inch 2800 x 1980 screen at 120Hz in a 7:5 shape that suits side-by-side apps, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra with 8GB of memory, microSD expansion, and it lasted more than 16 hours in TechRadar's Future Labs testing — longer than the iPad 11. [src5, src6, src7, src8]

Trusted Reviews finds its performance "isn't spectacular for the money" and its main accessory "a pricey additional purchase". [src6, src8] The bigger caveat is the brand: OnePlus confirmed in July 2026 that it is withdrawing from the US market, while saying existing OnePlus phones keep their software updates, security patches and warranties. [src30] When we checked on 2026-10-12, the only Amazon offer for this listing came from a third-party marketplace seller, not from OnePlus or Amazon.

Best Budget: Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — Check price

Three outlets recommend Amazon's 2023 Fire HD 10 as the cheap tablet to buy. Tom's Guide names it the best cheap Amazon tablet: its 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 screen "gets nearly as bright and colorful as an iPad screen", and it lasted 12 hours 39 minutes in Tom's Guide's battery test. CNET picks it as its best budget tablet ("very good value when discounted"), and PCMag as the best Fire tablet overall, with 10 hours 18 minutes in its own battery test. [src1, src9, src10]

It is a reading and streaming tablet, not a do-everything one. It runs Fire OS with Amazon's Appstore rather than the Google Play Store, and Tom's Guide calls the app selection lackluster. Tom's Guide tested it with 3GB of memory; Liliputing reports that since July 2026 Amazon has also sold a 4GB version for $155, only with lock-screen ads. [src1, src28] This card links the 3GB model Tom's Guide tested, which Amazon listed as out of stock when we checked on 2026-10-13. Amazon announced on 2026-10-08 that Android-based Alexa Tablets replace its Fire tablets, and Engadget reports that the top model adds the Google Play Store; the 11-inch Alexa Tablet 11 starts at $329.99 and the Alexa Tablet 8 at $229.99, both on sale in the US from 2026-10-14, and no outlet we read has tested them yet. [src26, src27]

Best Cheap Android Tablet: Motorola Moto Pad (2026) — Check price

Tom's Guide's review headline says the Motorola Moto Pad (2026) "might be the new budget tablet king", and its tablet guides name it the best cheap or budget Android tablet: "the MotoPad (2026) is the best all-around value" for browsing, streaming and reading with full Google Play access. It has an 11-inch 2560 x 1600 90Hz screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 with 8GB of memory, 128GB of storage plus microSD, and 5G; it lasted 10 hours 31 minutes in Tom's Guide's web test on Wi-Fi. CGMagazine scores it 8 out of 10 and calls it "an awesome tablet for casual users". [src1, src2, src19, src20]

Its weakness is graphics: Tom's Guide's reviewer found basic 3D games struggled to reach 30 frames per second at the lowest settings. It comes in one configuration, and in the US T-Mobile is its only 5G carrier (CGMagazine). Motorola listed it at $249.99 when we checked on 2026-10-13. There is no Amazon listing for it, so the link goes to Motorola. [src1, src19, src20, src36]

Best for Films and Music: Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2

Tom's Guide gave the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 its best tablet of 2026 award and names it the best Android tablet and the best cheap tablet for entertainment: a 12.1-inch 2560 x 1600 120Hz screen, a nine-speaker JBL system with a woofer on the back, and a rotating kickstand. It ran 16 hours at 60Hz (13 hours 39 minutes at 120Hz) in Tom's Guide's battery test. MyNextTablet calls its speakers "the best tablet speakers on the market" and says that at its $399 list price it "beats everything close in price for video streaming and listening to music". [src1, src2, src3, src21, src22]

It is heavy — 760g in MyNextTablet's measurement — and its MediaTek Dimensity 7400 is weak for games; Lenovo promises only two Android upgrades and security updates until 2030. Tom's Guide says it is "frequently on sale for under $300". [src1, src21, src22] We could not load Lenovo's US page for the Tab Plus Gen 2 when we checked on 2026-10-13, so this card does not link it.

Cheapest With an S Pen: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite — Check price

Android Central ranks the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite first among cheap Android tablets for its S Pen, its display and Samsung's seven years of OS and security updates. The S Pen comes in the box and has no battery, so it never needs charging; MyNextTablet found it writes "precisely and without lag" and that the laminated 10.9-inch 90Hz screen gives a much better writing feel than the iPad 11's, making it "the best lower mid-range tablet with a pen". [src12, src15]

Its Exynos 1380 is "significantly weaker" than the iPad 11 in MyNextTablet's benchmarks, and it has no fingerprint reader, no IP68 rating and no headphone jack. It lasted 8 hours in MyNextTablet's video test at full brightness. Samsung listed it at $399.99 for 128GB when we checked on 2026-10-13. [src12, src15, src34]

Seven Years of Updates for Less: Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ — Check price

Samsung promises the Galaxy Tab A11+ Android and security updates until at least November 2032, which Tech Advisor calls "above and beyond for an affordable tablet". Consumer Reports tested the US 5G model this card links: it browsed the web for 11.9 hours and played video for 11.7, and its screen is very bright with reduced glare. MyNextTablet measured big gains over the Galaxy Tab A9+ it replaces — 55% in multi-core CPU and 150% in GPU — and found demanding games playable at low settings. [src16, src17, src18]

The reviews are mixed. Tech Advisor gives it 3.5 out of 5, listing it as "arguably overpriced given the competition" and saying "Samsung's budget rivals offer more for similar money"; MyNextTablet faults its 1920 x 1200 display and its lack of active pen support, and says it offers "considerably better value than most competitors" only if it sells for under $200. The 5G unlocked model this card links had no purchasable offer at Amazon in three daily checks to 2026-10-12. [src16, src17]

Biggest Screen With a Pen in the Box: Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Gen 2 — Check price

MyNextTablet calls the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Gen 2 "the cheapest current-gen 13'' tablet" and "practically the best tablet at this price you can pick up for watching movies or shows": a 13-inch 3504 x 2190 144Hz screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and a keyboard it rates highly. ITPro's colorimeter measured 629.78 nits, and the tablet lasted 15 hours in its looped video test. The listing this card links bundles the Tab Pen Plus and a folio case. [src23, src24]

Both reviews have reservations. MyNextTablet's "fatal flaw" is software: two Android upgrades and four years of security patches; it lasted 5 hours 52 minutes in MyNextTablet's video test at full brightness. ITPro calls it "an OK tablet" and the bundled pen "poor" and "low-quality". When we checked on 2026-10-12, the only Amazon offer came from a third-party marketplace seller and was out of stock. [src23, src24]

Above the $500 Cap: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE — Check price

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE was this card's stylus pick, and the outlets still rate it: CNET gave it its award for the longest battery life, more than 17.5 hours, with the S Pen in the box, and MyNextTablet's under-$500 guide named it the best tablet with a stylus. It is no longer under $500: Samsung listed the 128GB Wi-Fi model at $549.99 when we checked on 2026-10-13, and Amazon's price was also $549.99 on 2026-10-12. The Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is the S Pen tablet that stays under the cap. [src9, src14, src35]

Not Sold Any More (checked 2026-10-12): Google Pixel Tablet — Check price

Outlets still rate the Pixel Tablet as a tablet and smart display in one: Tom's Guide named it the best Android tablet under $500 and measured about 12 hours of battery life, ZDNet its best Android tablet, and Android Central the best for Pixel fans. But Google stopped selling it: 9to5Google reported on 2026-09-09 that Google had removed it from its store and that it was out of stock everywhere, and Amazon had no purchasable offer when we checked on 2026-10-12. Android Central says Google's regular Android updates ended in June 2026, and 9to5Google says updates are set to continue through 2028. [src4, src11, src13, src29]

Above the $500 Cap: Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) — Check price

Tom's Guide tested the iPad mini (A17 Pro) at just over 10 hours of battery life and called it "absolutely excellent as a portable slate"; CNET names it its best travel iPad and MyNextTablet the best 8-inch tablet, noting that it now supports the Apple Pencil Pro. Apple raised it from $499 to $599 on 2026-06-25 and listed it at $599 when we checked on 2026-10-13, so it is above this card's cap. [src1, src4, src9, src14, src31, src32]

Above the $500 Cap: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ — Check price

Tom's Guide's best Android tablet overall is the 13.1-inch Galaxy Tab S10 FE+: a 2880 x 1800 screen, the S Pen in the box and 15 hours 43 minutes in its battery test. MyNextTablet named it the best 13-inch stylus tablet under $500 in February 2026, but Amazon's price was $699.99 when we checked on 2026-10-12. [src3, src14]

Above the $500 Cap: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) — Check price

Tom's Guide's best tablet overall and CNET's best iPad for power users for less: an M4 chip with 12GB of memory and Wi-Fi 7. Tom's Guide found the iPad 11 lasts longer on a charge. Apple raised it from $599 to $749 on 2026-06-25 and listed it at $749 when we checked on 2026-10-13. [src1, src2, src9, src31, src32]

For Gaming, Price Not Confirmed: Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 — Check price

Windows Central calls the Legion Tab Gen 3 "the best Android-powered iPad Mini alternative", and MyNextTablet recommends it to gamers for its 8.8-inch 2560 x 1600 165Hz screen and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. MyNextTablet faults its pen and its short support, with security updates ending in 2029. Windows Central reviewed it at $549.99 at Lenovo, and Amazon had no purchasable offer when we checked on 2026-10-12, so we cannot confirm a price under $500. [src14, src25]

Key Market Trends (2026)

• Memory costs have pushed tablet prices up: TrendForce, reported by Tom's Hardware, measured DRAM contract prices up roughly 60% quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2026 and projected 13-18% more in Q3, with NAND up 10-15%. Apple raised every iPad on 2026-06-25 — the iPad from $349 to $449 — with Tim Cook citing memory and storage costs, and the Galaxy Tab S10 FE now lists at $549.99. [src31, src35, src37]
• Amazon is ending Fire OS on tablets: on 2026-10-08 Amazon announced Android-based Alexa Tablets with Alexa+ built in, starting at $229.99 and going on sale in the US on 2026-10-14; Engadget reports the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro adds the Google Play Store and that the Fire Max 11 was quietly discontinued in the US. [src26, src27]
• Fewer brands in the US: OnePlus confirmed in July 2026 that it is leaving the US, and Google removed the Pixel Tablet from its store in September 2026. [src29, src30]
• Seven years of updates at budget prices: Samsung promises seven years on the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite and Galaxy Tab A11+; Lenovo promises two Android upgrades on the Tab Plus Gen 2 and Idea Tab Pro Gen 2. [src12, src17, src22, src23]
• Entry-level iPads still lack Apple Intelligence: the iPad 11 (A16) does not support it, and CNET and Tom's Guide expect a new entry-level iPad soon. [src1, src2, src9]

Important Caveats

• Prices move. The table shows the last price we observed at Amazon; prices in the text are the maker's own on the date given. A price under the cap at one retailer can be over it at another.
• Four tablets in the table — the Galaxy Tab S10 FE, iPad mini (A17 Pro), Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ and iPad Air 11-inch (M4) — were above $500 at the prices we checked on 2026-10-12 and 2026-10-13, and the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3's price is not confirmed. Do not present them as sub-$500 picks.
• The Google Pixel Tablet is no longer sold by Google, and Amazon had no offer for it when we checked on 2026-10-12.
• The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) and Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ links are the models the outlets tested, but neither had a purchasable Amazon offer when we checked on 2026-10-12.
• Battery figures come from different tests — web browsing at fixed brightness (Tom's Guide, Consumer Reports), video at full brightness (MyNextTablet), looped video (ITPro) or the outlet's own lab test (TechRadar, CNET) — and are not directly comparable across rows.
• Some outlets' picks are not ranked here: PCMag's best affordable Android tablet and Trusted Reviews' best cheap tablet for students is the Lenovo Idea Tab Plus. [src7, src10]