Best Tablets Under $100 in 2024 – [Cheap Tablet]

Getting a tablet for work, entertainment, or staying connected is usually believed to be an expensive deal. This is mainly because most of the high-end and popular tablets have shockingly high prices.

However, there are definitely budget tablets on the market that won’t rip you off or make you regret your decision.

Not all budget tablets are the same, though. Anyone considering getting the best tablet for under a hundred dollars should be prepared for some sort of compromise. We’ll walk you through what you need to consider before finalizing a purchase for your cheap tablet. After that, you should take a look at some reviews in order to decide which option is the best one.

Best Cheap Tablets Under $100 List

Pick out your perfect tablet from our list of the latest Android, Apple and Windows devices.

1. Dragon Touch X10 Review

Cheap Tablet Under 100

Cheap Tablet Under 100

Quick Features

  • Screen Size: 10.1” IPS Screen 800×1280
  • Processor: Quad-Core 4×1.3 GHz
  • Storage: 16GB storage, 2GB RAM
  • Camera: Dual Camera
  • Connectivity: Wireless N (802.11b/g/n), micro HDMI
  • G-sensor

This is an Android tablet that measures a good 10.1 inches. It is a relatively larger option that might be a teensy bit upward of $100.

However, the difference is negligible, so you can probably stretch your budget for a large screen for watching movies and playing your favorite games. The screen is also an IPS display, so you can be guaranteed a rich range of colors during your experience.

This tablet would also give you a powerful performance and enough storage to fulfill your gaming, browsing, and researching needs.

Pros

  • Option of adding microSD card to extend storage capacity up to 64 GB
  • Relatively recent Android 7.0 Nougat operating system
  • Provides a smooth and quick experience for several activities
  • IPS display for crisp text and images and viewing from several angles
  • Multifunctional, including a micro HDMI port for syncing the screen to a projector or HDTV

Cons

  • Display is made of plastic, not glass
  • Reported to be vulnerable to light scratches, so a separate screen protector may need to be bought

2. Astro Tab A10

Best 10 inch Tablet Under 100

10 inch Tablet Under 100

Quick Features

  • Operating System: Android 6.0 – Marshmallow
  • Touch Screen: 10.1 inch High Definition IPS Display – 1280 x 800 Pixels
  • Internal Storage: 16GB NAND Flash
  • Sensors: G-Senso
  • Bluetooth 4.0

This Astro Tab is a 10-inch offering with an octa-core processor and a decent Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system. It contains around 1 GB of RAM with 16 GB flash memory and an HD IPS display. It’s even FCC-certified, which means that it does have a somewhat guaranteed measure of satisfaction for the end-consumer.

Google Play is pre-loaded in this tablet, so you’d have no issue with accessing and downloading all kinds of apps at absolutely no cost. The powerful performance would give you a smooth experience, which would allow for multitasking. This would make the tablet an excellent choice for office work as well as entertainment purposes like gaming.

Pros

  • Ability to run graphic-intensive 3D games and applications
  • IPS display for a wide viewing angle and excellent picture quality
  • Dual camera options of 0.3 MP in the front and 2 MP for the back
  • Decent battery life that lasts around 5 hours
  • Quickly opens apps
  • Large internal memory with microSD card slot for extending capacity

Cons

  • Cameras have a lot of room for improvement

3. Fusion 5 Android Tablet Review

Best Inexpensive Tablet in 2024

Affordable Fusion5 Tablet Review

Specification:

  • Display: 10 in Full HD IPS touchscreen (1280 x 800), 10-finger multi-touch support
  • Processor: Intel Atom x5-Z8300 1.44 GHz with Intel Burst Technology up to 1.84 GHz
  • Memory: 1GB DDR 1600 MHz
  • Hard drive size: 32GB eMMC
  • Operating system: ANDROID 8.1 OREO
  • Wireless: 802.11n (Miracast enabled)

This tablet measure 10 inches across, which should be a portable size that still allows for easy viewing and reading on the go. The IPS touchscreen is an excellent addition with the Quad Core A35 processor providing fast performance. The ANDROID 8.1 OREO operating system may not be able to give you as many apps like Google and iTunes, but it’s still decent for many basic uses.

While the tablet itself may be on the small side, there are a whopping 32 GB of storage for you to enjoy. This also makes for fast computing that’s energy-efficient at the same time.

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  • Extremely reasonable price
  • Lightweight, great build, and thin profile
  • Glass display with aluminum body makes for a high-quality look and feel
  • 1280×800 IPS screen provides clear pictures and wide angles for viewing
  • Fast-performing quad-core CPU

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  • Screen brightness and load on CPU could greatly diminish battery life

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4. Lenovo Tab 4 8inch Review

Best Cheap Tablet Under 100

Best Tablet For School Kids

Specification:

  • Screen Size: 8 inches
  • Screen Resolution: 1280 x 800
  • Max Screen Resolution 1280×800 pixels
  • Processor: 1.4 GHz Snapdragon
  • RAM: 2 GB DDR3, SDRAM
  • Hard Drive: Flash Memory Solid State
  • Graphics: Coprocessor integrated graphics

This 8-inch tablet has quite a nice processing power and a decent internal storage. You can try extending the storage even further with microSD cards, but this isn’t really recommended in Lenovo tablets. This is because the insertion of such cards could cause them to become corrupted and make the device useless.

Luckily, the HD display is equipped with Dolby Atmos Audio and dual speakers in order to give you a great video-watching experience. You can easily watch videos online using Wi-Fi without having to download them all the time. If you wish to give this tablet to your kids, it’s recommended that you get a Lenovo Kid’s Pack.

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  • Internal memory can be extended up to more than 100 GB with the use of a microSD card
  • Fast speed and almost-instant response time
  • The 8-inch screen is perfect for transporting
  • Clear images on the screen with a proper viewing angle
  • 10-inch screen for easy viewing, reading, and gaming
  • Decent storage space even without extended memory
  • Above-average battery life
  • Excellent performance of fingerprint scanner

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  • Some reviews report an issue, resulting in screen flickering
  • Lenovo forums state that this tablet could corrupt microSD cards
  • A few reports of lag, even when running a single app

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5. Samsung Galaxy Tab E Review

Best Android Tablet Under 100

Galaxt Tab for Students

Specification:

  • Screen Size: 8 inches
  • Screen Resolution: 1280×800
  • Max Screen Resolution: 2048 x 1536
  • Processor: 8032
  • RAM: 1.5 GB
  • Wireless Type: 802.11.b, 802.11.g, 802.11.n

This is another 8-inch tablet that has an internal storage of 16 GB. While it can be used as a phone as well, this is only possible if you use the AT&T network. It also needs the APN settings in order to get access to network data. The operating system is Android 4.4 KitKat, which is coupled with a quad-core 1.2 GHz processor for fast performance.

The camera in this tablet is another impressive feature, with the front camera being 1.3 MP and the back one being 3 MP. If the storage isn’t enough for you to store all these pictures, you can get a card and expand it up to 64 GB.

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  • Runs perfectly on the AT&T network
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Great for daily tasks like taking notes, browsing the web, watching movies, and playing games
  • Can be utilized as a phone as well
  • Excellent brightness and contrast options
  • Reasonable and affordable price
  • Accepts flash memory card to extend storage according to the user’s preferences
  • Several highly positive reviews online that attest to its high quality

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  • Some complaints about the device looking used and refurbished
  • Some reports about the provided charger being faulty and charging slowly unless the device is turned off

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6. ASUS ZenPad 7″ Review

Best Cheap Android Tablet

2-in-1 Tablet Reviews

Specification:

  • Display: 7″ 1024 x 600 IPS.
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop O/S.
  • Intel Atom x3-C3200 Quad-Core, 64bit, 1.2GHz CPU.
  • 1G RAM, 16G Onboard Storage.
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • 2M/0.3M Pixel Dual Camera.
  • 1 x microSD Card slot, up to 64GB SDHC

This handy little tablet is equipped with 16 GB of internal memory, making it one of the few 7-inchers to have this feature. With a decent amount of storage, you should be able to get a whole lot done with this budget device! The IPS display would also make sure that everything you view is in bright colors and a decent resolution. The display is further paired with ASUS TruVivid, which would further enhance the visual experience.

The processor of this tablet is Intel Atom x3-C3200 quad-core. This makes for fast performance and quick loading. Coupled with the dual camera, this tablet may be all you need for entertainment and working on the go.

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  • Excellent for basic everyday tasks without lagging
  • Power management utility from ASUS that would keep the battery going for about a week
  • Google Play comes pre-installed. This allows you to download and install apps such as YouTube Kids.
  • Sturdy feel that makes for a better experience
  • Rapid downloading and loading of pages
  • Smooth playing of videos and a quick loading time for basic games

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  • Not the most suitable option for gaming
  • Might not have enough storage or CPU power to run several kinds of modern apps

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7. Amazon Fire 7

Cheap Tablet For Kids And Seniors

Amazon Fire 7 Review

Specification:

  • Display: 7” touchscreen, 1024 x 600 resolution
  • CPU & RAM: Quad-Core 1.3 GHz with 1 GB of RAM
  • Storage: 8 GB or 16 GB
  • Battery Life: Up to 8 hours of reading, surfing the web, watching video, and listening to music.
  • Charge Time: Fully charges in under 6 hours
  • Wi-Fi Connectivity: Single-antenna dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n

The Amazon Fire 7 tablet is among the most popular choices when it comes to buying tablets on a budget of $100. It only has a storage space of 8 GB, though, so its popularity has to come from other features. The price is certainly attractive with many customers even saying that they’d buy a few more for their young family members.

These adorable devices are made even more attractive by the fun variety of colors they come in. Plus, they’re thinner, last longer, and have a lighter weight than their predecessors. Their display is also exponentially better.

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  • Extremely low price, so suitable for those on a budget or several purchases at once
  • Includes blue light control for ebook readers
  • Compact, safe, and useful charger included
  • Option for using Alexa
  • Cheap and best tablets
  • IPS screen for an excellent viewing experience
  • Amazing quality and high durability with regards to the price
  • Available in many fun colors like Punch Red and Canary Yellow

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  • Some glitches are reported in the online reviews, such as the FreeTime application not loading when the tablet is offline
  • Doesn’t run the classic Google or iTunes apps

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8. Samsung Galaxy Tab A

7 Inch Tablet Under 100

Mobile Tablet Ubder Budget

Specification:

  • Screen Size: 7 inches
  • Screen Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
  • Processor: 1.3 GHz Tablet Processor
  • RAM: 1.5 GB DDR3
  • Hard Drive: 8 GB Flash Memory Solid State
  • Graphics Coprocessor: Mali-400 GPU
  • Card Description: Integrated
  • Wireless Type: Bluetooth

This tablet may satisfy your Samsung cravings, but the limited space could very well turn you off. If you just need a cheap tablet for reading, basic browsing, and a little light entertainment, this may be the best option for you.

The tablet itself is small, comfortable, and light enough to be taken anywhere you wish, whether on a road trip, work commute, or to school. You can enjoy more videos, take more pictures, and game even longer if you extend the memory with an SD card. It might even be possible to add a whopping 200 GB to your tablet!

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  • Impressive battery life, which allows for extensive browsing and reading. It might not even need to be charged every single day
  • Comes with only a minor amount of bloatware
  • Excellent sound for videos
  • Samsung Kids comes pre-installed for the use of children
  • Great for playing basic games and doing everyday activities
  • Doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy and gives a sturdy and solid holding experience

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  • PIN lock screen has tiny numbers that are difficult to use
  • Space is highly limited. Even SD cards may not help as applications can’t be transferred to them

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9. RCA Viking Pro Review

Best Budget RCA Tablet

Best Budget Tablet

Specification:

  • Screen Size: 10.1 inches
  • Max Screen Resolution: 1280 x 800
  • Processor: 1.3 GHz None
  • RAM: 1 GB

This is another somewhat large tablet that you can easily purchase under a hundred bucks. It has a highly decent storage of 32 GB along with a fast MediaTek MT8127 quad-core processor for multitasking.

There’s even a detachable keyboard in case you want to get your work done in the most comfortable and convenient manner possible.

The operating system inside the RCA Viking Pro is Android 5.0 Lollipop, which should be good enough for your basic tasks. However, it’s doubtful that the tablet would have any capacity for updating this system. The dual camera would delight anyone who loves taking pictures with their devices, including selfies and group photos.

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  • Excellent Bluetooth capabilities, including working with a Bluetooth mouse
  • Great battery life for the price and is suitable for gaming, reading, browsing, etc.
  • Can access certain apps that are not available on other budget tablets
  • Amazing screen experience which is suitable for watching videos for an extended period of time
  • Includes HDMI port, USB port, and several keys crowded into a small area
  • Storage is extensive and can be increased according to your preference

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  • Does not include access to all classic Google apps
  • Could freeze at times and have to be rebooted

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10. Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite

Samsung Tablet Under 100

Videos Tablet For Kids

Specification:

  • Screen Size: 7 inches
  • Screen Resolution: 1024 X 600
  • Processor: 1.3 GHz Tablet Processor
  • RAM: 1 GB DDR3
  • Hard Drive: 8 GB Flash Memory Solid State
  • Graphics Coprocessor: Yes
  • Card Description: Integrated
  • Wireless Type: 802.11abg

This is an extremely handy 7-inch tablet that holds around 8 GB of space inside. Since it’s available for less than a hundred dollars, you can easily purchase two or three to give to your kids! It’s perfect for casual browsing, basic gaming, or just watching videos on its bright, clear screen.

On a single charge, you can make the battery last around 9 hours, which is almost as long as the average time for a high-end tablet. You can also extend the otherwise limited storage with an additional microSD card. The device is light enough to be carried anywhere in a small bag or purse or just be carried around by a small child.

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  • Extremely reasonable and low price
  • Highly durable and suitable for use by kids
  • Streams videos in a fast and reliable manner
  • Size is great for easy transport and to be held by children
  • Excellent value in terms of gaming and everyday web browsing
  • Satisfactory screen resolution and decent performance
  • Easy to set up and start using even for newbies
  • Samsung Kids addition is an educational option

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  • Not suitable for use by adults due to the slow performance
  • Wi-Fi card performs slow

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Features to Consider

If you’re looking for a cheap tablet, there are some factors you should consider before making a final purchase. While all the factors would depend on what you need the tablet for, these are the general considerations you should take into account:

Operating System

The operating systems in budget tablets are probably not the latest kind. If the tablet you choose has an Android system, it would likely work well if it isn’t earlier than the 2.3 version.

Another kind of operating system used on budget tablets is webOS. This is the sort of OS that could ruin an otherwise decent tablet. While you would be able to run Linux or Android on it, it would take a lot of hardware adjustment.

Apps

If your budget tablet has Google Play, you’d have access to more than 500,000 applications for free, while iTunes would give you around 650,000 apps. You wouldn’t get anything like this amount if you have a Windows OS, so be sure of what you’re going to get. Unless you’re happy with a very limited option for applications, you should avoid having an alternative OS on your tablet.

You should also be aware that some budget Android tablets may not have the license to get you Google Play. Of course, Google Play can still be installed since it’s an open-source program. However, you wouldn’t get the full version, which means that some apps may not show up even when you search for them by name.

Resistive vs Capacitive Screens

Before making the decision between a budget tablet and a regular one, you should also consider the kind of touchscreen it offers. This would enable you to decide what you can live with as a result of purchasing a budget tablet.

There are basically two kinds of touchscreens used on both tablets and phone. Resistive touchscreens are better for accuracy and stylus use, while capacitive touchscreens are faster than the former kind as well as more responsive.

iPad and other expensive options for tablets usually come with capacitive touchscreens. This makes for faster browsing, gaming, scrolling, or anything else you want to do with your tablet. However, cheaper options usually have the resistive kind, which would limit anything that requires fast and smooth movement. If you want to purchase a tablet for drawing with a stylus or just reading ebooks, a resistive touchscreen wouldn’t be such a bad option. However, it would make even internet browsing a challenging task.

Connection Issues

If you require 3G/4G connectivity, a cheap tablet is certainly not going to help you. You would probably only get the Wi-Fi option, so don’t expect to use your budget tablet for internet surfing on the go. At the very least, you would need a decent internet connection or tethering to a smartphone. If you only require a little internet usage, relying on your phone’s wireless hotspot may suffice.

The Wi-Fi range for cheap tablets is also quite limited. This is definitely something that you should take into account, especially if you plan to move around a lot. The range on some models is so poor, in fact, that even your home router may not be able to reach your device unless you’re sitting in the same room as the router.

Battery Life

The latest models of the best high-end tablets usually have a battery life of 10-12 hours, sometimes even more than that. When you get tablets on a budget, however, you can’t really expect to make a charge last anywhere near that long. Most of them go up to 6 hours maximum with the average being 2-4 hours even if all you do is browse the web. If you mainly use the tablet for watching videos or playing games, expect the battery to peter out much sooner.

Hence, when purchasing a budget tablet, make sure to get one that caters to your needs at least to a certain extent. If you value battery life, get one of the options that last a long time even if it compromises on other features.


Buyer’s Guide For Cheap Tablet Under $100

Tablets on a budget certainly do demand a lot of leeway and compromise. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get your money’s worth out of them. You may get a lower quality screen, performance, and fewer hours of battery life, but a little knowledge could answer many of your initial questions.

First of all, be sure to read the reviews before you finalize the purchase of a budget tablet. Even if you’re buying one from an actual store, go online and read up on the warranties you’re entitled to as well as what to expect. This way, you’d be prepared for any surprises along the way and can avoid getting completely ripped off.

In order to get started on your hunt for the best budget tablet, consider the following pointers. This buying guide would hopefully let you know what to consider and what to look out for when searching for the best tablet under $100.

Screen Size

If you’re buying a tablet, you’re probably looking for something between a laptop screen and a small smartphone screen. However, there are several options even within this range. A young person might be able to handle a small 7-inch screen, but the elderly usually need something bigger in order to read and navigate properly.

You also need to consider the transportation issue. If you get a smaller size, it’ll be easier to slip into small bags for your work commute. While a larger screen would be easier for viewing and gaming, it would probably not be the best option for portability.

You should be on the lookout for an IPS screen since this would almost guarantee rich colors, decent viewing angles, and proper contrast. On the other hand, don’t fall for the marketing tactic of screen resolution. Search for relevant pixel density. 220 pixels/inch or thereabout for a small screen should be the best choice.

Storage

When you’re getting a tablet under $100, you shouldn’t be expecting much storage space. However, many models should have a microSD card slot for adding more space if necessary. Be sure to get one that has at least 16 GB of space without an additional card. If you feel like 16 GB is too much, you should know that much of the existing space is already utilized by the OS and pre-installed applications, so the actual space would be lesser than that.

Camera Options

Many budget tablets under $100 are not equipped with both front and back cameras. You may also not be able to get quality photos or videos from such options. If this is an important factor in your purchase, read the reviews and choose the model with the least amount of complaints about camera quality.

Now that you know what to look for in a budget tablet, we will take a look at some of the best options in the market.

Faq’s

Why Buy a Tablet for Under $100?

You may be wondering if it’s even worth purchasing a tablet that’s under a hundred dollars. Some may feel like the compromise is too much, especially if the model’s build feels cheap or refurbished. It’s true that the user experience may not be as outstanding for cheaper units. However, getting a budget tablet means considering what you actually want to do with such a device.

For instance, you may not be able to use it for hardcore gaming, programming, or even for watching videos for an extended period of time. However, most budget models are quite excellent if you simply need a cheap ebook reader or just a light entertainment device.

Can You Use a Tablet Under $100 for Office Work?

If you are doing office work on an electronic device, you may need to run heavy software or programs on it. If this is the case, a budget tablet would probably not be up to the task.

However, some office work may only require a certain amount of internet browsing, research, or typing. If that’s the bulk of your office commitment, a budget tablet may be the perfect solution for working on the go.

Of course, some budget tablets may very well be able to conduct even heavy-duty office work. This would depend on the kind of operating system they use, the amount of memory and processing power they have, and the battery life they offer.

Does a Tablet Under $100 Offer Gaming Capacity?

As mentioned above, a tablet on a budget would probably not be the best option for hardcore gaming. Some options, however, are equipped with the battery life and storage space along with the processing power needed to game frequently.


Conclusion

Even if you can afford a high-end tablet, you may want to consider a budget model if it’s going to be used roughly. There’s no doubt that tablets under $100 are actually great for several activities. There are several excellent budget models on the market, and the reviews above would certainly help you choose the absolute best one for your needs.

By James Klett

James Klett a senior editor at GeekyMag focused on computer hardware and gadgets, offers a wide range of information in this field. Have a question, need some help, or want to give your opinion? Drop us a comment below!

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