What are the best Android tablets under $200? Android tablets have come a long way in the last decade. It used to be that Apple’s iPad was the only viable solution on the market. Since then, Android tablets for all sorts of use cases and price points have popped up.
Today’s guide takes a look at the more budget-friendly options around. These aren’t your typical no-name Android tablets you’ll see in department stores and less reputable online retailers. While the cost might be low, these are quality tablets from reputable brands. After looking at countless options, these are our top picks:
- Best Overall: Lenovo Tab M10 Plus
- Best Runner-Up: Galaxy Tab A8
- Best for Media Use: Amazon Fire HD 10
- Best Display: Lenovo Tab M9
- Best for Multitasking: TCL TABMAX 10.4
#1 Best Overall: Lenovo Tab M10 Plus
- 10.3" FHD display with TDDI technology
- 2.3 GHz main frequency
- 8 MP rear plus 5 MP front cameras
- Bluetooth 5.0
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus is built like a tablet with a far higher price tag. You’ve got super thin bezels, a vibrant 10.6-inch screen, and stellar battery life. You can grab this tablet with 2 to 4 GB of RAM, with the latter being the suggested option. Performance is alright with the Tab M10 Plus.
The MediaTek Helio G80 handles itself well for the likes of light gaming, streaming video, and basic multitasking. You won’t be setting benchmarks for the Tab M10 Plus, but it is hard to deny this is one of the best Android tablets under $200.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Tab M10 Plus has an FHD display with TDDI technology. | The packaged charger isn’t great. |
| It comes with stylus support. | The gesture-based interface might take some adjustment time if you’re used to virtual or physical buttons. |
Check out the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus on Amazon.
Best Runner-Up: Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
- 10.5" LCD screen
- Access to Samsung Kids, a library of safe and fun games, books and videos
- Large 7,040mAh battery
- 32 GB flash memory
Samsung has a line of tablets for every price point. The Galaxy Tab A8 is a notable improvement over previous budget offerings and is a great choice for casual users. You’ve got access to a 10.5-inch screen, up to 4 GB of RAM, and an octa-core processor.
The Galaxy Tab A8 isn’t a powerhouse, but it has more than enough performance to handle more demanding games and streaming media. Battery life isn’t quite as good as the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus. You’ll get around nine hours of mixed-use under ideal conditions.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You can upgrade the storage. | It doesn’t come with S-Pen support. |
| It supports fast charging. | The speakers are on the weaker side. |
Check out the Galaxy Tab A8 on Amazon.
Best for Media Use: Amazon Fire HD 10
- 3 GB RAM
- 12-hour battery
- 10.1" 1080p Full HD display
- 5 MP rear-facing HD camera
The Fire HD 10 is one of the best Android tablets under $200 thanks to its tight integration of Amazon’s media options. It comes straight out of the factory with support for Prime Video, Kindle books, Prime Music, and more. Amazon’s line of Fire tablets has been a great budget purchase for a number of years.
The Fire HD 10 is quite powerful for its price thanks to the MediaTek Helio P60T processor and the upgraded 3 GB of RAM. The onboard storage is on the lower side, but you do have the option of expanding it with the included microSD slot. If you’re a movie buff, this is a fantastic choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Fire HD 10 has great native media support through Amazon’s various services. | Amazon’s app store has a somewhat slim selection of apps. |
| It has plenty of battery life for watching your favorite shows and movies. | The camera is adequate at best. |
Check out the Fire HD 10 on Amazon.
Best Display: Lenovo Tab M9
- 9” HD display (1340 x 800 resolution)
- 5100 mAh battery
- MTK G80 processor
- Features Google Lens
When it comes to displays, the Lenovo Tab M9 is a bit of an oddity. While most Android tablets come in 8- or 10-inch form factors, this one is right in the middle at nine inches. It’s a great compromise, however. You’ve got access to a stellar screen with a resolution of 1340×800.
Battery life is likewise excellent, with Lenovo’s upper estimates around 13 hours of mixed usage. Performance is quite solid, as it uses a more recent MediaTek Helio G80 processor. This pint-sized powerhouse also comes with Dolby Atmos support for immersive audio.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The 9-inch screen is beautiful and quite bright. | It doesn’t support fast charging. |
| It has great performance for the price. | The Tab M9 has a weak camera. |
Check out the Lenovo Tab M9 on Amazon.
Best for Multitasking: TCL TABMAX 10.4
- 8000mAh battery
- 10.36’’ 2K Display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 Octa-Core processor
- 13MP rear camera
- 2.4G/5G Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless transmission
TCL is known more for TVs than tablets. However, the TABMAX 10.4 is one of the best Android tablets under $200 because of what it has to offer. You’re getting a lot for your money here. You’ve got access to 6 GB of RAM, the highest available out of any of these tablets.
It comes with a default 256 GB of storage and a 2000×1200 screen resolution. This is a full-sized 10-inch tablet, which is astonishing for the price. You typically don’t think of budget tablets as high-quality, but the TCL Tab Max far exceeds expectations.
The cameras on the tablet leave something to be desired, though. The resolution is certainly there, but the actual hardware results in somewhat grainier pictures than other tablets in this price bracket.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The TCL tablet boasts some impressive specs for its price. | The included camera is adequate at best. |
| The Tab Max 10.4 comes with stylus support. | TCL’s built-in speakers are on the weaker side. |
Check out the TCL TABMAX 10.4 on Amazon.
Picking the Best Android Tablets on a Budget: What to Know
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Finding a great tablet under $200 can be a bit difficult. There are a few considerations you can keep in mind when looking for the best device for your needs.
Screen Size
As you’ve likely seen throughout this buyer’s guide, there are quite a few options when it comes to screen sizes. Choosing the ideal device should mean you’re picking a screen size that fits your wants and needs. Smaller tablets are more readily portable and can serve as a great way to read on the go.
Larger tablets are more suitable for watching videos and playing games, as the larger screen usually entails a higher resolution. They aren’t as easily stowed, but the screen can certainly be easier on the eyes.
There are a few outliers, like the 9-inch tablets featured. These are a decent midpoint between the smaller and larger form factors. They remain quite portable while also having decent screen resolution for consuming media or reading.
Performance
Most tablets in this price bracket aren’t going to be top performers. There are some exceptions, like the Fire HD 10 and Lenovo’s Tab M9. However, for the most part, you’re going to be dealing with average performance.
The best Android tablets under $200 are going to be very middle of the road. You’re going to be compromising your performance in exchange for lower costs. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to aim for a minimum of 3 GB of RAM. This should give you plenty of memory for handling web browsing, media, and some gaming. More RAM is better, as you can probably guess, and will allow for better multitasking.
Storage
One of the great things about Android tablets is you generally have the means to customize the experience to your liking. As you’ll find with some of the tablets covered, you have the option of expanding your storage. More storage is great for having more apps and photos. It also gives you the option of downloading movies and music for offline use if you’re without an internet connection.
32 GB of storage is the absolute minimum you should accept, provided there is the option for a microSD card. Expandable storage is greatly preferred in this price bracket, especially since you’re already compromising on the overall performance of the device.
Using the Best Android Tablets: What It’s Like
If you’ve used an Android smartphone in the last decade, you’re familiar with the overall method of operation. A more budget-friendly Android app is going to operate roughly like a smartphone; you’ll have the same primary ways of navigating the interface.
Apps should be fairly universal between each device, except Amazon’s Fire HD 10. Amazon has its ecosystem of apps, but there are workarounds to get access to the Google Play Store.
If you’re comfortable with Android on your phone, then a tablet is a great choice. You’ve got a familiar method of operation and access to your favorite apps. Where a tablet shines is in the size of the screen. They’re usually higher resolution, and you’ve got more room to comfortably watch videos or surf the web.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock.com.
