The best budget tablets of 2026: Testing Apple, Lenovo, and Amazon Fire tablets

So you want an iPad but don't want to spend a ton of money? The Apple iPad (11th generation) gets the job done. It's the base model, meaning it won't have the fastest processor, like the iPad Air's M4 chip, or the latest features, like Apple Intelligence. However, it is the most affordable Apple tablet. With the M4 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro models, this iPad's price dropped to $349 — a real steal for Apple. It's even better when it's on sale. You can regularly find it on Amazon for just $299.

Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro, it's great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading. It's also a nice choice if you're interested in using your tablet as a laptop, but don't want to spend a ton of money. It's compatible with the Magic Keyboard Folio and together costs $598 — the same price as the iPad Air.

Most of Apple's iPads now have the M-series chips; however, the classic iPad has the A-series, typically found in iPhones. That being said, the 11th-generation iPad still offers enough processing power for everyday use thanks to its A16 Bionic chip. You'll be able to multitask without the system sputtering out, whether you're watching YouTube videos, playing your favorite high-res games, or just have a habit of leaving your apps running in the background. It also packs a decent amount of storage space. The base model starts at 128GB, so there's no need to pick and choose what apps and pictures you want to keep. Speaking of, it sports 12MP front and rear cameras with Center Stage, a feature that keeps you in frame during FaceTime calls.

Combine all these features with the functionality of iPadOS 26 (yes, the A16 iPad is compatible with iPadOS 26), and you have an iPad that looks unassuming but is anything but — and all for a pretty unbeatable price point. It's a fine choice if you're just dipping your toes into tablets, especially if you want to spend under $400.

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Read our review of the OnePlus Pad Go 2.

Not a fan of Apple products? No problem. While we do find that iPads are the pinnacle of value with their performance and affordability, there are suitable budget Androids. Our preferred model is the OnePlus Pad Go 2, priced at $399.99, just $50 more than Apple's base iPad. It's a straightforward, reliable tablet that tackles all your needs from streaming to reading to gaming.

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 is a suitable tablet for anyone, regardless of your preference for iOS or Android. With Google integration, setup is a breeze; all you need is a Google account. It has a well-organized home page that's easy to navigate with pre-downloaded apps.

For basic tablet needs, I consider it to be a master of streaming, reading, and gaming. It zipped through mobile games without any lag, but keep in mind I wasn't playing anything more demanding than Subway Surfers. Reading was no issue either; however, I did find it a little too large and cumbersome to do so, as I do on most tablets with 10-inch or larger screens.

But I most appreciated how it handled streaming demands. It has bright, high-resolution displays that played all my shows in vivid color. My only complaint is that the speakers could be better; the sound is fine, often a little tinny.

The cameras are disappointing on the OnePlus Pad Go 2, so you won't be using it for photography; however, both front and rear cameras will be totally fine for taking video calls. Don't expect this tablet to handle big tasks either. While the OnePlus Pad Go 2 technically has more RAM than the Apple iPad, it has a fraction of the computing power. The Pad Go 2 has a multi-core score of 3,030 on the Geekbench 6 test, compared to the Apple iPad's multi-core score of 6,233.

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If you want a tablet, but also want all the accessories that come with it, the Lenovo Yoga Tab is an unbeatable value. The tablet comes with a keyboard folio and pen, and it's frequently on sale for $419.99. That makes it far cheaper than buying an iPad with all the same accessories.

At face value, the Lenovo Yoga Tab doesn't seem like it should belong on a budget tablet guide, but hear me out. Each Yoga Tab includes a keyboard case and pen, so you're getting more than just a tablet. On Lenovo's site, it's given an estimated value of $619.99, but in the weeks I've been working with it, I've never seen it priced higher than $419.99. That's an amazing deal, considering an iPad with equivalent accessories will run you $677.

I should say, I don't love the case on the Lenovo Yoga Tab, finding it stiff and not the most well-balanced. The keyboard and stylus, though, are far superior in design.

But the tablet itself is an impressive model — my favorite Android tablet I've tested. It's zippy, never giving me a problem when streaming or gaming. In the Geekbench 6 test, it's right on par with the iPad. The Lenovo Yoga Tab scores 5,799 on the multi-core benchmark, compared to the iPad's 6,233.

What I like best about the Lenovo is the writing experience and the haptic feedback. While the screen is smooth and glossy like any tablet, the pen has a roughed tip that makes it feel like an actual pen on paper. It's easily the best writing experience I've had on a tablet, and that's not to mention that Lenovo's built-in note-taking app has a better user interface than both Apple's and Samsung's.

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At a minimum, you need to spend around $100 for a good tablet, and the cheapest we found that still has some decent power behind it is the Amazon Fire HD 8. If you just want the basics like access to social media and streaming services, this tablet gets the job done. Just keep in mind that the Amazon Appstore doesn't have the most extensive app selection.

Amazon's Fire tablets aren't the best out there, but they're among the most affordable. The Fire HD 8 is my favorite Amazon model I've tested. The 8-inch screen on the Fire HD 8 is the ideal tablet size. It's comfortable to hold for hours of reading, but still has plenty of space for watching shows. However, the screen brightness on the HD 8 was surprisingly dim even at its max.

Since the HD 8 is the newest model among Amazon's Fire tablets, it's also the fastest, despite being the most affordable. Compared to even more technically advanced models like the Amazon Fire Max 11, the HD 8 was even faster, experiencing little lag time when downloading and switching between apps.

Don't expect the Fire HD 8 to handle large tasks, though. Compared to the iPad 11th generation, which has 6GB of RAM, and the Lenovo Yoga Tab with 12GB of RAM, the Fire HD 8 has a measly 3GB or 4GB. Not to mention, as an Amazon device, it's loaded with ads, especially on the home and lock screens.

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