It’s not so easy to find the best tablet under $100, because there are so many tablets. In addition, you must not only decide between Android, iOS, and Windows but should also criteria such as performance. If it is too costly for you to consider all factors, you can alternatively follow our buy recommendation, because we have already done the research work for you. We know. This is overwhelming, we have narrowed down all the cheap tablets right under the $100 price range. Below you will find all the tablets that are qualifying for this specific category.
Let’s have a deeper look into all of these tablets and see which one is suited for your needs.
1. Lenovo Smart Tab M8
Right now our #1 pick is Lenovo Smart Tab M8. There are some issues with availability in the US. You still can get it at Lenovo.com for $99.
When you consider how cheap it is, it actually becomes outstanding. Definitely, the best choice if you’re looking for a budget 8-inch tablet. For web-browsing, consuming media, messages, and simple routine tasks that you can do from your couch. Also, a great option if you’re looking for a device that your kids could play with.
While you using it, it feels like a premium device. The battery life is outstanding up to 14-hours, it’s not only significantly higher than any other tablet on the list but overall for all tablets.
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Android Pie
- Processor: MediaTek Helio A22 Processor (Quad-Core, 4 x A53 @ 2.0 GHz)
- Storage 32 GB eMMC
- RAM: 2 GB
- Camera: Front 2 MP Fixed-Focus, Rear 5 MP Auto-Focus
- Graphics: PowerVR GE8320
- Display: 8-inches
- Resolution: 1280 x 800
- Size: (in mm): 8.2 x 199 x 129 ( = 0.32 x 7.83 x 5.08 in)
- Weight: 0.67lbs (305 g)
- Port: The microUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD card slot
- Battery: up to 14-hours
Pros 👍
- Attractive design
- Charging dock
- Budget-friendly
- Battery life
- Integration with google assistant
- Premium feeling
Cons 👎
- Old and outdated OS
- Blurry camera
- Poor Audio(comparing to others in the list – still quite good)
Full Lenovo Smart Tab M8 Review
2. Amazon Fire 8 HD 2020 #Best-Seller
Amazon is very well known for a lot of products and this tablet is one of them. They are doing a hell of a job by producing these budget-friendly devices. They are creating very efficient devices alongside with reliable battery life.
Fire HD 8’s glorious display and Dolby stereo sound is the perfect way to enjoy Netflix, Amazon Video, HBO NOW, Hulu Plus, YouTube, etc. The Amazon Fire HD 8 features the hands-free Alexa personal digital assistant that even works when the tablet is in standby mode with the screen turned off. So using this tablet as a smart device controller is now more convenient than ever, and that’s why the tablet has been upgraded it seems.
Overall, Fire HD 8 tablet is the second best tablet you can currently find in the market that’s under $100
Specifications 🔧
- OS: Android (9.0 Pie), FireOS UI
- Processor: Quad-core, 2000 MHz, Arm Cortex-A53, 64-bit, 12 nm
- Storage: 32GB (Storage extension possible up to 1000GB)
- RAM: 2GB
- Camera: 2 MP
- Graphics: ARM Mali-G52 MP1
- Display: 8 inches
- Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
- Size: 7.95 x 5.39 x 0.38 inches (202 x 137 x 9.7 mm)
- Weight: 0.78lbs( 355.0 g)
- Port: Type-C (reversible)
- Battery: up to 12 hours
Pros 👍
- Alexa assistant
- Wireless charging
- Battery life
- Budget-friendly
- Amazon Prime content
- Color options
- Durable design
Cons 👎
- Limited applications due to OS
- Very oriented on Amazon content
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite
Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7.0 has a 9-hour battery life from a 3600 mAh battery, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, GLONASS, and accelerometer.
Why would you buy this tablet? That’s a great question that we asked ourselves. If you’re an adult and want an entertainment device- it’s not a good choice. If you have a kid and you need to have a “me time” then this is a good reason to get this tablet. It’s not very efficient in any way besides entertaining your kids.
Specifications 🔧
- OS – Android 4.4 KitKat
- Processor – Quad-core processor 1.4 GHz clock
- RAM -2 GB
- Storage – 32 GB
- Display – 7-inch
- Size – 4.58 x 0.38 x 7.61 inches
- Resolution – 1024 x 600
- Camera – 2 MP rear camera
- Weight – 0.68 lbs
- Battery – up to 9hrs
Pros 👍
- Small in size, compact
- Feels solid in your hands
- Easy to grip
- Bright display
- Great battery life comparing to others in the list
Cons 👎
- Reflective glass/display
- Camera is close to useless
4. Amazon Fire 7
The Fire 7 Tablet is a solid and above all cheap Tablets with either 16 GB or 32 GB of internal memory. The quad-core 32-bit processor is clocked at 1.3 GHz and ensures that the operating system is smooth and stable. The battery life is given with a maximum of 7 hours. (quite the difference between the Amazon Fire 8 HD model) Of course, in addition to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth is also on board, and thanks to GPS, you can also use the navigation software on the device.
The sound is pretty decent, thanks to Dolby Atmos and two speakers for a tablet, so watching videos is fun. The display resolution of 1024 x 600, however, is more in the below-average range, so you can watch movies in Full HD only with a slightly slimmed-down resolution. Also, the device weakens in multitasking something, which is mainly because the processor is only mediocre and also only 1 GB of memory is available. Conventional applications, internet surfing, and simple games are easily and fluently possible so that in combination with the low price results in the bottom line a very good price-performance ratio.
lower specs and cheaper than Amazon Fire HD 8 2020, but still a good pick for specific uses.
Specifications 🔧
- OS – Fire OS
- Processor – Quad-Core 1.3 GHz MediaTek 8163
- RAM -1 GB
- Storage – 16 or 32 GB
- Display – 7-inch
- Size – 17.6inch x 4.5inch x 0.4inch
- Resolution – 1024 x 600
- Camera – 2 MP front and rear-facing cameras with 720p HD video recording
- Weight – 0.7 lbs
- Battery – up to 7hrs
Pros 👍
- Alexa assistant
- microSD card slot expandable up to 512GB
- Budget-friendly
Cons 👎
- Limited applications due to OS
- Very oriented on Amazon content
- Weak performance
- Ads on lock screen
5. Vankyo MatrixPad Z1
Vankyo MatrixPad Z1 comes with Android Go certification. These “Go” applications are optimized to run on entry-level hardware, so you won’t get slowed down when trying to use different apps.
As for the tablet itself, Vankyo includes 32GB of onboard storage (expanded up to 128GB). The 7-inch display is touted as featuring 178-degree viewing angles, which will ensure that you can still keep enjoying your content, regardless of how your tablet is being held. Pretty cool feature.
Some of the possible concerns you may run into involve the hardware underneath the display. We would have liked to see support for more than 128GB of microSD storage expansion, as 32GB is just not enough nowadays. The lower-density display won’t be as crisp, even on a 7-inch display, and with only 1GB of RAM, you may end up getting bottle-necked even with Android Go.
It also has a great battery life, well comparing to under tablets that are under $100 – up to 8 hours.
Specifications 🔧
- OS – Android 8.1 Oreo
- Processor – 64-bit Quad-core processor 1.5GHz
- RAM – 1 GB
- Storage – 32 GB (expandable by up to 128 GB)
- Display – 7-inch
- Size – 7.44 x 4.25 x 0.33 inches
- Resolution – 1024 x 600
- Camera – 2 MP front camera and 2 MP rear-facing camera
- Weight – 0.55 lbs
- Battery – up to 8hrs
Pros 👍
- Possibility to upgrade OS
- Simple navigation
Cons 👎
- Lower battery life compared to other devices on the list
- Touch responsiveness
- Bad camera
- Bad speakers
6. Dragon Touch 7-inch Tablet
We want to say good things about tablets, but we also want to stay objective here. You have to understand these aren’t iPad Pro’s here. these are budget tablets, so when we say something good about these tablets that are under $100 we are comparing them to other tablets in this category.
This tablet is great for storing your pictures and videos. It comes with 16 GB internal storage and can be expanded to 128 GB.
Stunning Viewing Experience: This tablet sports the 178-degree view IPS display which presents the best graphics performance to you. IPS (In-Plane Switching) 178-degree wide viewing angle covers more of your range of vision for a less-distorted image.
VIVID DISPLAY – 1024 * 600 IPS display with a 178-degree wide view, perfect for viewing the tablet on a chair or bed to enjoy.
overall it’s the average cheap tablet. Nothing more, nothing less.
Specifications 🔧
- OS – Andriod 9.0
- Processor – Quad-core Cortex-A35 64-bit (1.5GHz)
- RAM -2 GB
- Storage – 16 GB
- Display – 7-inch
- Size – 7.1 x 0.4 x 4.7 inches
- Resolution – 1024 x 600
- Camera – 2 MP read and 0.3MP front
- Weight – 1.5 lbs
- Battery – up to 3hrs
Pros 👍
- Bright screen
- Price
Cons 👎
- Slow response
- Poort battery life
7. Alldocube iPlay 7T
Here’s probably you haven’t heard before, but we assure you it will interest you. A brand new 7-inch Android tablet by the name Alldocube iPlay 7T with Android 9.0 that costs under $75 and was launched in October 2019.
And while it’s relatively thick for a tablet towards the end of this decade, it is ultra-light, at just 224 grams.(0.49lbs) That will make the Alldocube iPlay 7T the lightest tablet in the world. At least so far. So if you’re looking for the lightest tablet – this is is.
Specifications 🔧
- OS – Andriod 9.0
- Processor – quad-core Unisoc SC9832E
- RAM – 2 GB
- Storage – 16 GB
- Display – 7-inch
- Size – 7.48 inch x 3.86 inch x 0.39 inch
- Resolution – 1280×720
- Camera – 0.3MP front camera, 2MP rear camera
- Weight – 0.49 lbs
- Battery – up to 5hrs
Pros 👍
- USB-C Port
- IPS display
- Price
Cons 👎
- Touchscreen isn’t as responsive as you wanted it to be
8. Emerson EM756BK Android
Emerson EM756BK stands out because It’s cheap, but it’s efficient enough. The device allows you to perform all tasks comfortably. Don’t expect to multitask on this device. It only has 0.5 GB of ram.
The proof is that the product uses Android 1.5 as an operating system running smoothly. It offers also 4G connectivity, also with Wifi and Bluetooth so you do not miss anything.
It’s worth $60. It performs exactly as a device that costs $60.
Specifications 🔧
- OS – Andriod 1.5
- Processor – 1.3 GHz Apple A4
- RAM – 0.5 GB DDR3
- Storage – 8 GB
- Display – 7-inch
- Size – 7.50 x 4.25 x 0.25 inches
- Resolution – 1024×600
- Camera – 0.3MP rear camera
- Weight – 0.8 lbs
- Battery – up to 3 hrs
Pros 👍
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Price
Cons 👎
- Battery life
- Occasional glitches
Finding out which tablet is the best tablet in a particular category is almost a science in itself because the offers are now enormous. We tried to narrow down the search for you and we feel pretty comfortable that we did a pretty good job.
Android, Fire OS, iOS, or Windows?
The most important question is certainly, with which operating system the tablet should be equipped. If you think about this in advance, you can already narrow down the offer and find a model that is better for you. Below we have summarized briefly the most important characteristics of the most common operating systems for you to get an overview.
Unfortunately, you won’t find and devices under $100 that are running iOS or Windows. They are currently not making any devices under this category.
Android:
Android is the most common operating system in smartphones and tablets. The Google-born system is more open, adaptable, and more customizable than Windows or iOS. However, one pays for the price, that it is much more chaotic in terms of updates than, for example, iOS. Every manufacturer must adapt the specially adapted to the system Android operating system after an update so that updates can take a long time to wait. This increases security risk during Internet use. The dependence on Google is overall but significantly lower than that of Apple on iOS. Another advantage of Android is the wide choice of models. Android tablets can be found in a huge price range of less than 50 to over 500 euros. They are also available in various sizes from 5.5 to 12 inches. However, only a few Android apps are really well optimized for larger displays. The benefit of a large, high-resolution display is thus limited. In addition, entry-level devices are rarely equipped with the latest version of Android.
Amazon Fire OS:
Amazon’s Fire OS is used exclusively on its own Fire Tablets. They are based on Android but are much more limited and there is even a separate Amazon shop, so no access to the entire Google Play Store is possible – unless you are intensively concerned with the software and circumvents the hurdles. The big advantage is the very simple operation and handling and high security. Especially for Prime customers of Amazon, the Fire OS is a very interesting alternative, because you get very easy access to the contents of Amazon such as movies, books, and music.
How comes Lenovo Smart Tab M8 is a better budget tablet than Amazon Fire HD 8?
In our believes Amazon Fire HD 8 is a great tablet. For a budget tablet that is. It has great specs and good performance and now even with the Fire OS, which is based on Android you can install Google’s Play Store, so there are no more limitations to Amazon’s ecosystem. You can get apps like Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, and million other apps that you can get on Google Play Store(They are not preinstalled, you have to do it on your own, and quite honestly it might be a hassle if you’re planning to give it as a gift to your grandparents, we recommend preinstalling all the necessary apps on your own). So how come Lenovo Smart Tab M8 is in the first place instead of Amazon Fire HD? It’s not about OS, but purely about specs. Lenovo Smart Tab M8 has a better camera, it has more RAM, more storage space, and the design, Amazon Fire HD 8 uses plastic corpse, but Lenovo Smart Tab M8 has a metal body and it just feels like a premium tablet when holding it in hands.
Some features that you’ll find missing in Amazon Fire 8 HD 2020 but are present in Tab M8 include 1080p video recording, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS. Lenovo Smart Tab M8 is also about 16% slimmer than Amazon Fire 8 HD 2020 and 145 lighter.
Final Verdict
You know..when we write these guides, we often have arguments on which is the best tablet in the category. In this case, we didn’t. We all are on the same page. The best tablet under $100 is definitely Lenovo Smart Tab M8. There’s no argument here. The 8-inch display will show off all of your favorite content beautifully. The incredible battery life will keep you entertained as long as needed.
The new Amazon Fire HD 8 2020 is also worth mentioning. With the new updated version, it’s even more powerful than before and the price hasn’t changed. We know there are some issues with the availability of Lenovo Smart Tab M8 in the United States therefore Amazon Fire HD 8 would be a great second pick. It’s also currently the best seller.
Now we hope this article was somewhat helpful before you made your final decision. Please, leave us a comment below and let us know which tablet did you pick.
Have a good one, guys, cheers!
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