Best Tablets for Preschoolers (Our Top 14 Picks for 2021)
Kids are huge fans of electronic devices. To be honest, most kids are experts at operating these devices than their parents. Nowadays, tablets not only help keep the kids entertained, but they also come with numerous learning opportunities about literally everything on earth.
If you plan to buy a tablet for your preschooler kid, we are about to make things easier for you. We scoured the internet for good quality tablets and prepared an extensive list of the best ones out there.
Our best overall product is the Apple iPad Mini, as no other tablet beats this one. Although it is expensive, the features that come with it are worth the money. However, if you are pretty sure that your little one is likely to throw away the tablet in a few months, we suggest you invest in a cheaper one.
Related post: Best Board Games for Preschoolers
Quick Nav
- Best Tablets for Preschoolers
- Best Overall – Apple iPad Mini
- Best for Learning – VANKYO MatrixPad S30
- Best Budget Option – Fire 7 Tablet
- Best for Connecting With Friends – VTech KidiBuzz G2
- Best for Skill Development – ANIMAL ISLAND Tablet
- Best for Interactive Activities – Samsung Galaxy Tab A Kids Edition
- Best for Academics – Contixo Kids Learning Tablet
- Best for Streaming – Fire HD 8Kids Tablet
- Best for Fun Learning Sessions – Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet
- Best for Reading – Dragon Touch Y88X Pro Kids’ Tablet
- Best for Watching Videos – Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet
- Best for Learning Concepts – Dragon Touch K10 Tablet
- Best High Storage Option – Samsung Galaxy Tab A
- Best Battery Life – Lenovo Tab M10 Plus
- What to Consider When Selecting the Best Tablets for Preschoolers
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Tablets for Preschoolers
Best Overall – Apple iPad Mini
Apple iPad Mini is probably familiar to all of us. Once you turn to this tablet, you are unlikely to go for another one. But of course, some people prefer other operating systems. However, the iPad Mini is chosen as the best overall due to various reasons.
The battery life of the iPad Mini is up to 10 hours. It comes with two storage options, 64 GB and 128 GB. Kids will definitely love the fingerprint sensor, the stereo speakers, and the excellent camera quality. You can also purchase an apple pencil that the kids are most likely to fall in love with.
Also, the compact size and the ease of carrying of iPad Mini makes it user-friendly for preschoolers. It also works at high speed, so your kid can multitask without wasting time.
ESR iPad Mini 5 and ProCase iPad Mini 5 are among the top-rated iPad Mini tablet cases. For the little ones, choose ZUGU iPad Mini or BMOUO iPad Mini as these provide 5 ft drop protection and a secure magnetic stand.
Best for Learning – VANKYO MatrixPad S30
VANKYO MatrixPad S30 is a very efficient tablet that is very user friendly and worth its price. If you want to gift your kid a good quality tablet that does not cost a fortune, buying this one isn’t a bad idea.
It comes with a 10-inch widescreen that is great for watching movies and videos. It also has all the wireless communication systems such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and FM. Besides, the kids can learn how to use a proper tablet!
It also has a long-lasting battery, up to 15 hours, and a storage space of 32 GB. The customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and most of them recommend using it.
Since the little ones are handling the tablet, the VANKYO S30 Tempered Glass Screen and VANKYO S30 Tablet Case may come in handy.
Best Budget Option – Fire 7 Tablet
If you want to buy a useful but inexpensive tablet, the Amazon Fire 7 Tablet may be the right option. Even though the price is pretty low compared to other tablets, the quality is not compromised. It has 7 hours of battery life and comes in both 16 GB and 32 GB. You can also use a microSD to increase the storage space.
They also provide a 90-day limited warranty. To be honest, considering the features this tablet offers, the Amazon Fire 7 is a steal deal.
Also, SuperGuardZ Fire 7 Case and Kindle Fire 7 Case are excellent Amazon Fire 7 tablet covers that are shockproof.
Best for Connecting With Friends – VTech KidiBuzz G2
VTech KidiBuzz G2 is a go-to among the kid tablets if you want built-in interactive games. This one has numerous learning games that will help your kid learn a variety of concepts in math and science. There are also three e-books and nine utility apps.
The feature that the kids are going to love is the text and voice messaging. Parents can approve contacts using the KidConnect app and even set time limits. The little ones can take photos using different face filters and share them with their friends!
The tablet comes with a shatter-safe screen, but the Aproca Travel Case is a great option if you want a protective cover.
Best for Skill Development – ANIMAL ISLAND Tablet
This one is an exceptional device that can track curriculum milestones and help kids learn various concepts. The ANIMAL ISLAND Tablet paves the way for effective virtual learning that supports the development of cognitive skills, social skills, and emotional skills.
Teaching letters, colors, shapes, words, and stories are made extremely easy through the fun activities in the Animal Island tablet. Parents can set learning sessions and take some time off while the tablet does its work, improving kids’ vocabulary and skills.
Best for Interactive Activities – Samsung Galaxy Tab A Kids Edition
Made exclusively for kids, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A Kids Edition comes with fun learning activities featuring the characters kids love. You can also set time limits and monitor what the children are watching and browsing.
Though it comes with a 32 GB storage space, you might want to buy an SD card for additional space. The tab comes with a durable case that protects it against bumps and drops. The battery life is approximately 13 hours, which is pretty great.
Overall, a good tablet with kid-friendly features, games, and activities.
Best for Academics – Contixo Kids Learning Tablet
With 16 GB storage and battery life up to 10 hours, the Contixo Kids Learning Tablet is a good tablet that will be useful for children. Parents can create profiles for kids and hand-pick content for them. You can even set educational goals and screen time limits so that the kids do not spend too much time on the tablet.
This kids’ edition tab has many academic and entertaining apps certified by Google, including cartoons, videos, games, and ebooks. The kids can use these to learn concepts like letters and their sounds, colors, numbers, etc.
As for safety, you need not worry much as it comes with a hard case that protects the tablet from bumps and drops. Moreover, it has a 3-layer screen protector to prevent scratches.
Best for Streaming – Fire HD 8Kids Tablet
The Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet comes with 32 GB of storage. You can also use a microSD to increase the storage up to 400 GB to not worry about storage space. It has a robust kid-proof case that comes in blue, pink, or purple.
Kids can watch movies and episodes, listen to songs, read books, and play games on this tablet. The high definition and vibrant display are indeed commendable. The battery life is up to 10 hours.
Overall, the Amazon Fire HD 8 kids is a decent tablet at a reasonable price.
Best for Fun Learning Sessions – Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet
The Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet has a 10.1″ display, so the kids will love to navigate screens and watch movies and videos. It has a storage space of 32 GB. You can use a microSD card for additional storage.
This kids edition tablet has a kid-proof case with a built-in stand. The strong case protects the tablet from minor bumps and drops. There are numerous apps, games, and books in the Amazon Fire HD 10 that the kids can use to learn different concepts.
Using parental controls, you can set educational goals, set screen time limits, and filter content. You can even monitor what they are browsing.
In short, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is a great learning tablet for kids and will keep the little ones entertained!
Best for Reading – Dragon Touch Y88X Pro Kids’ Tablet
If you want to buy your kid a tablet that has kids’ content as well as access to Google services like Gmail, google drive, and maps, you should probably go for the Dragon Touch Y88X Pro Kids’ Tablet.
Since this one is a kids’ edition tablet, it comes with pre-installed ebooks and audiobooks authorized by Disney. The kids will also have access to hundreds and thousands of apps, games, videos, and filtered websites. It also has a kid-proof case, where the sides of the case are slightly above the screen for added protection.
As the Dragon Touch Y88X Pro functions both as a kids’ tablet and a fully functional Android tablet, the customer reviews are exceptionally positive. You can use the tablet when the kids are asleep!
Best for Watching Videos – Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet
The 8″ Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet has a storage space of 32 GB and a battery life of 12 hours. You can download apps for your kid to learn through interactive activities.
You can access apps like Netflix, Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, and Tiktok. You can download more on Amazon’s Appstore. However, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Plus tablet does not support Google Play.
For charging, you can use the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus Wireless Charging Dock in either portrait or landscape mode. If you are not a great fan of the charging dock, you can also use any Qi-certified wireless charge to power up the device.
Though the camera is not of the best quality, the tablet overall will meet your kids’ needs as there are thousands of learning apps on the Amazon Appstore.
Best for Learning Concepts – Dragon Touch K10 Tablet
The Dragon Touch K10 Tablet has a 10″ display and 128 GB expandable storage. It supports micro HDMI, GPS, and FM. The battery life is normally up to 5 hours for video and 7 hours for reading time.
The tablet fully recharges in 4 to 6 hours. Children can download songs, e-books, and videos and use the expandable storage to store everything safely. If your kid is likely to throw the tab once in a while, you may want to buy a screen protector and a tablet case.
The Supershieldz Dragon Touch Screen Protector and the Fintie Dragon Touch Leather Stand Cover are among the best of their kind in the markets today. To sum up, the Dragon Touch K10 is definitely worth its money for the features it provides.
Best High Storage Option – Samsung Galaxy Tab A
The 10.1″ Samsung Galaxy Tab A has a storage space of 64 GB and up to 10 hours of battery life. The kids can learn using various apps and videos of popular cartoon characters. Learning is fun and easy for kids when cartoons come into play!
The parental control facility lets you monitor kids’ screen time and adjust the time limit accordingly. You can also keep track of the websites they access and block a few, if necessary.
The Galaxy Tab A Screen Protector is a high-quality screen protector, and the ZoneFoker Leather Case is an excellent tablet cover. If you want a shockproof case since the tablet is for the kids, the Moko Shockproof Case and the Rantice Heavy Duty Rugged Case are great options.
Best Battery Life – Lenovo Tab M10 Plus
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus has a 10.3” display and a storage space of 32 GB. It supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS.
You can turn on the kids’ mode on the tablet so that the children can enjoy fun and child-safe content. You can also monitor the websites they access and the total screen time. The Lenovo M10 Plus also has a built-in eye-care protection technology to reduce eyestrain.
The battery life is exceptional and lasts up to 3 days. Kids will love the FHD display and the numerous learning apps available in the app store.
Bige M10 Case and CaseBot Case are high-quality standard tablet covers for the Lenovo M10 Plus. If you want shockproof cases, go for the i-original Lenovo M10 Case or Cherry Rugged Case.
What to Consider When Selecting the Best Tablets for Preschoolers
Whether the tablet is for you or your kids or for the both of you, if you want the tablet to function properly long term, you have to buy the right one. Here are a few factors to keep in mind while hunting for the perfect tablet:
Budget
Before you start looking at the different tablet options, think about how much you are willing to pay for the device. The best way to determine how much money you should spend depends on the need for the tablet.
- Is the tablet for you and your kid?
- Is the tablet just for your kid?
- How long are you hoping to keep the tablet?
Ask these questions to yourself before deciding on a budget. For instance, if your kid is not good with tablets and toys, you might want to stick on to a low-budget tablet and buy a good one once your kid learns to take good care of his stuff.
Depending on the features, tablets usually cost between $200 and $500. But kids tablets cost much less, so you might want to take a look at those.
Size
There are a lot of sizes of tablets for kids to choose from. Tablets usually range from 6 inches to 18.4 inches. For kids, you may want to stick to an 8″ or a 10″ tablet. You should also consider the weight of the device and determine if it will be easy for your kid to carry the tablet around.
Heavy tablets might not be a good option for kids, as they will be tired after holding the tablet for long periods. Tablets with large sizes might not fit in the hands of the little humans and will be hard for them to use.
Display Quality
Screen resolutions are great in most tablets, but some of them are exceptionally sharp. If your kid enjoys movies and videos, choose a tablet with an HD resolution of at least 720p and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The larger the resolution, the clearer the image will be.
Also, consider factors like viewing angle, pixel density, brightness, and coating of the tablet. To avoid eyestrain, stick eye-care screen protectors on the tablet screen.
Storage
Storage is simply the amount of space the tablet has to store files. If you want to save many media, apps, and other documents on the device, go for tablets with larger storage spaces. If you cannot afford those, check if the cheaper ones support SD or microSD, so that you can expand the storage.
The storage space of most tablets ranges between 8 GB and 64 GB. However, you can expand the storage up to 128 GB or more using an SD card or a microSD card.
How much storage you will need again depends on how your kid is going to use the tablet. If he/she wants a tablet just to browse the web, listen to music, and play games, the storage space does not matter much.
Battery Life
Most decent tablets have a battery life of about 8 hours. But how long a battery lasts greatly depends on usage. For instance, if your kid opens a lot of tabs and is multitasking, expect battery life to be shorter than shown on the product.
There are two ways to measure battery life. When you are simply browsing the web, the device draws less power than watching a video. Choosing devices with longer battery life is always best to avoid charging it now and then. Some tablets have a charging dock and support wireless charging.
Connectivity
Most tablets support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Some also use 4G/LTE if a service provider is available. Since tablets are similar to mobile devices, it is critical to have good connectivity to browse the internet, stream videos, and download apps.
If the internet is very slow, it will certainly be frustrating for the kids, making them less motivated to spend time online.
Accessories
Since you are planning to buy a tablet for your kid, you must take precautions to prevent the device from breaking or undergoing damage.
Most tablets do not come with screen protectors and outer cases, so you will have to buy these separately. If your kid usually throws toys and other things, it is better to choose a shockproof tablet case to provide that extra protection.
Other accessories include charger and external hardware like keyboards, mouse, styluses, etc. Most tablets come with a charger; you would want to buy the external hardware separately if you need them. Always buy good quality accessories that are likely to last long.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is too much screen time?
Kids nowadays spend most of their time in front of screens that parents often ask themselves, “how much screen time is too much?” While there is no specific answer to this question, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the kids aged 2 to 5 do not spend more than one hour a day in front of screens, be it a computer, mobile, or TV.
Research suggests that prolonged exposure to screens can cause health issues like headaches, blurred vision, shoulder, and back pain, and increase the risks of other diseases. Studies suggest that children who spend more than two hours a day in front of screens scored lower on language and cognitive tests.
How do you choose the right tablet for your kid?
There is no single tablet that is right for your child. To make the best decision, you have to determine why your kid needs a tablet in the first place. If you want him/her to learn with the help of apps and the internet, you might want to look for tablets with educational apps.
If you want to monitor your kids’ activity on the tablet or set a screen time limit, you would want to buy a tablet with the parental control facility. It all comes down to how much money you are willing to spend on the tablet, why your kid needs a tablet, and how he/she will use the tablet.
At what age should you give your child a tablet?
Studies suggest that the best time to introduce children to a tablet is when they are 2 years old. At this age, they are keen on knowing the things happening around them. The kids are likely to benefit from tablets with educational apps that offer fun and interactive learning sessions.
What are the features to look for in a tablet?
Based on your kids’ needs, consider features like size, display quality, storage, battery life, and connectivity. If you want the tablet to last for a long period of time, choose the one with the best specifications. However, buy accessories like screen protectors and tablet cases to prevent damage to the tablets, especially when the kids are using it.
Last update on 2021-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
