Tablets have become essential devices for work, play, and entertainment, but finding a high-quality option that fits within a budget can be challenging. Thankfully, a number of manufacturers provide excellent tablets for less than $100, enabling you to take advantage of contemporary features without going over budget. Whether you’re looking for something to browse the web, stream videos, or take notes, there are several excellent choices available. Here’s a list of the best tablets you can get for under $100.

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)

Price: $89.99
Best For: Entertainment, Kids, Media Consumption

Amazon’s Fire HD 8 offers a solid performance at a budget-friendly price. With an 8-inch screen, 32GB of storage and a respectable 2GB of RAM, this tablet is ideal for web browsing, e-book reading, and movie viewing. Powered by a quad-core processor, it runs on Amazon’s Fire OS, which is optimized for Amazon services, including Alexa, Prime Video, and Audible. The 12-hour battery life adds to its appeal, making it perfect for long flights or car trips.

Pros

• Affordable price: The Amazon Fire HD 8 is highly affordable, offering great value for users on a budget.
• Amazon-centric features and services: It integrates seamlessly with Amazon’s ecosystem, providing access to services like Alexa, Prime Video, and Audible.
• Long battery life: With up to 12 hours of battery life, it’s perfect for extended use, such as long trips or work sessions.
• Expandable storage: The tablet includes a microSD card slot, allowing users to easily increase storage capacity, making it suitable for media-heavy users.

Cons

• Limited app selection compared to Android or iOS: The selection of programs that users may install on Fire OS is limited when compared to Google Play or the Apple App Store.
• Basic camera quality: The camera on the Fire HD 8 is average at best, making it less ideal for photography or high-quality video calls.

Lenovo Tab M7 (2nd Gen)

Price: $79.99
Best For: Casual use, Budget-conscious buyers

The Lenovo Tab M7 is a great option for those seeking a no-frills tablet for everyday tasks like web browsing, social media, and video streaming. Its 7-inch display is sharp enough for casual use, and its compact size makes it portable and easy to handle. While it doesn’t have the most powerful specs, it’s a reliable choice for light usage. It has a 32GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, and the Google Play Store is accessible through the Android operating system.

Pros

• Compact and portable: The Lenovo Tab M7 is a great option for anyone who need a tablet on the road because it is portable and lightweight.
• Affordable: With its budget-friendly price, it offers a great entry-level option for casual tablet users.
• Android OS with Google Play Store access: The Android operating system on the tablet gives users access to a large selection of services and apps from the Google Play Store.

Cons

• Low performance for demanding tasks: The Tab M7 may struggle with resource-intensive applications or multitasking, making it less suitable for heavy workloads.
• Smaller screen: With a 7-inch display, the screen size may be limiting for those who prefer a larger viewing area for media consumption or productivity tasks.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite

Price: $99.99
Best For: Kids, Basic Work, Web Browsing

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is an excellent option for those who want a larger screen experience at a budget price. With its 8.7-inch display, the tablet strikes a balance between size and portability. It has a 32GB of storage that can be expanded with a microSD card and 3GB of RAM. While its performance is not suitable for heavy gaming, it’s perfectly adequate for web browsing, video streaming, and light productivity apps.

Pros

• Good display size for the price: The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite’s 8.7-inch display strikes a solid mix between portability and screen real estate, making it an excellent device for web browsing and video viewing.
• Samsung’s reliable build quality: As a well-established brand, Samsung ensures high-quality construction, resulting in a durable tablet.
• Decent performance for basic tasks: While not designed for heavy tasks, it handles everyday activities like web browsing, streaming, and light productivity well.

Cons

• Limited internal storage (expandable): Although it may be upgraded with a microSD card, users may discover that their 32GB of internal storage quickly runs out.
• Average camera: The camera on the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is basic and may not meet the expectations of users looking for high-quality photos or video calls.

Vankyo MatrixPad Z4

Price: $79.99
Best For: Budget productivity, Streaming

The Vankyo MatrixPad Z4 is a budget tablet offering a larger screen than many other devices in this price range. With its 10-inch HD display, it’s a fantastic option for web browsing, movie streaming, and light gaming. It’s powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Though it doesn’t have the power of premium tablets, it provides solid value for its price and performs decently for everyday tasks.

Pros

• Large 10-inch display: The Vankyo MatrixPad Z4 features a spacious 10-inch screen, providing a great viewing experience for media consumption, browsing, and casual gaming.
• Affordable: Despite its larger display, this tablet remains budget-friendly, offering excellent value for users who want a bigger screen without a higher price tag.
• Expandable storage: It features a microSD card slot which permits users to boost the storage capacity for those who need more room for apps, images, and movies.

Cons

• Low RAM and performance limitations: With only 2GB of RAM, the tablet may struggle with multitasking or running resource-intensive apps, making it less suitable for heavy usage.
• Less brand recognition: Vankyo is a lesser-known brand compared to industry leaders like Samsung or Apple, which might concern users looking for well-established support and reliability.

Amazon Fire 7 (2022)

Price: $59.99
Best For: Budget buyers, Kids, Reading

The Amazon Fire 7 is a compact tablet that’s perfect for casual tasks, particularly reading and watching media. With a 7-inch display, it’s very portable and easy to carry around. This tablet offers 16GB or 32GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card), 1GB of RAM, and runs on Fire OS. While the Fire 7 doesn’t have the same processing power as other tablets, it’s an affordable option for those who want to keep things simple.

Pros

• Extremely affordable: The Amazon Fire 7 is one of the most budget-friendly tablets on the market, making it an ideal option for cost-conscious buyers.
• Compact and portable: With its small size, the Fire 7 is lightweight and easy to carry around, perfect for those who need a tablet for simple tasks on the go.
• Access to Amazon’s ecosystem of services: It integrates seamlessly with Amazon’s services like Alexa, Prime Video, and Audible, giving users quick access to a range of content and services.

Cons

• Small display: The 7-inch screen may be too small for some users, limiting its effectiveness for tasks like reading, media consumption, or multitasking.
• Limited RAM and performance for multitasking: With just 1GB of RAM, the Fire 7 may struggle to handle multiple apps at once, making it less suitable for multitasking or performance-heavy activities.

Dragon Touch Notepad 10

Price: $99.99
Best For: Media consumption, Light productivity

The Dragon Touch Notepad 10 is a 10-inch tablet that provides a great balance of performance and affordability. It comes with a 10-inch IPS screen, which offers vibrant colors and decent resolution. Powered by a quad-core processor, it’s ideal for basic tasks like video streaming, social media browsing, and light productivity. For the price, it provides a fantastic experience with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

Pros

• Large, vibrant screen: The tablet features a spacious display with vibrant colors, offering an enjoyable viewing experience for media, browsing, and everyday tasks.
• Decent performance for the price: Although it isn’t the most potent choice, it performs well for routine activities like social networking, video streaming, and online surfing, making it ideal for occasional use.
• Affordable: With its competitive price point, this tablet delivers excellent value for users looking for a budget-friendly option that still offers a solid feature set.

Cons

• Average build quality: The tablet’s construction is functional but lacks the premium feel of higher-end models, making it less durable or sturdy for long-term use.
• Not ideal for gaming or heavy multitasking: Due to its limited processing power, this tablet may struggle with gaming or running multiple apps simultaneously, making it less suitable for power users.

Tablet Comparison Chart: Best Budget Tablets Under $100

Below is a comparison chart to help you quickly assess the key features and prices of the best tablets under $100.

Tablet Model	Screen Size	Price Range	Key Features
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)	8 inches	$89.99	32GB storage, Alexa, expandable storage, 12-hour battery
Lenovo Tab M7 (2nd Gen)	7 inches	$79.99	2GB RAM, 32GB storage, Google Play access, compact design
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite	8.7 inches	$99.99	3GB RAM, 32GB storage, expandable, good for light productivity
Vankyo MatrixPad Z4	10 inches	$79.99	10-inch display, 32GB storage, expandable, budget-friendly
Amazon Fire 7 (2022)	7 inches	$59.99	16GB or 32GB storage, Alexa, very affordable
Dragon Touch Notepad 10	10 inches	$99.99	10-inch IPS display, 32GB storage, decent performance

Conclusion

When shopping for the best tablets under $100, there are a variety of options that cater to different needs, from compact and affordable choices to those offering larger displays and access to popular ecosystems like Amazon’s. While these budget-friendly tablets may not have the power or premium features of higher-end models, they still offer great value for users seeking basic functions such as web browsing, media consumption, and light productivity.

Key Takeaways:

• Affordable options: For those on a tight budget, tablets under $100 offer great value without compromising on necessary qualities like a good display, portability, and a long battery life.
• Ecosystem integration: Many budget tablets offer seamless integration with popular services, such as Amazon’s ecosystem or Google Play Store, enhancing the user experience for those who rely on these services.
• Performance limitations: While these tablets excel at basic tasks, they may struggle with demanding applications, gaming, or heavy multitasking. It’s important to consider the trade-off between performance and price.
• Considerations for usage: For users primarily seeking a tablet for media consumption, reading, or simple web browsing, these devices are more than sufficient. However, power users may want to consider investing in a higher-end tablet for greater performance and multitasking capabilities.

FAQs

What can I expect from a tablet under $100?

Tablets in this price range generally offer basic features such as decent screen quality, long battery life, and access to popular apps. They are ideal for light tasks like browsing the internet, reading, and watching videos. However, they may have limited processing power, so they may not be suitable for demanding activities like gaming or heavy multitasking.

Are tablets under $100 good for gaming?

Most tablets under $100 are not optimized for gaming. They have lower processing power and RAM, which can result in lag or poor performance with graphic-intensive games. For casual gaming, they may suffice, but for a smoother gaming experience, you may need to invest in a higher-end tablet.

Can I expand the storage on tablets under $100?

Many tablets in this price range offer expandable storage through a microSD card slot. For users who save a lot of material or apps, this function makes it possible to expand the tablet’s storage space.

Which brand offers the best budget tablet under $100?

Among the most well-known companies selling high-quality low-cost tablets under $100 are Lenovo, Samsung, Vankyo, and Amazon (with its Fire tablets). Each brand has its own unique features, so the best choice depends on your needs, such as Amazon integration or access to the Google Play Store.

Are tablets under $100 suitable for kids or as a second device?

Yes, budget tablets under $100 are great choices for kids or as a secondary device. They are affordable, durable, and offer the necessary features for casual use such as watching educational videos, reading, or light gaming. However, for advanced tasks or productivity, a higher-end model may be needed.