Are you thinking of getting a new tablet or gifting one to your loved one, but after researching tablets for just a few minutes you find yourself overwhelmed with choices? From basic budget tablets to luxurious iPads – how does one find what he/she is looking for?
Well, practical people know that there’s always a bargain to be found – the tech sweet spot, where you can buy the maximum tablet specifications per dollar you spend. In the tablet market the magical pricepoint for such level tablets is just around 500 dollars.
So, our editorial team has once again come to your aid. We gathered and reviewed the best tablets under $500 that are currently found in the market. Enjoy!
1. Microsoft Surface Go Tablet
Microsoft Surface Go tablet is the lightest and smallest tablet that you can get under the Surface models. But don’t be fooled by its size. This is a powerhouse that you can easily put in your bag. And this tablet costs right below 500 dollars!
One of the best things about this Windows tablet is that it works well with many Microsoft office applications such as Outlook, OneNote, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. And you can even use Surface Mobile mouse to get full PC experience while doing work on this tablet. It is really a perfect solution for doing remote office work. With its 9h battery, if you missed a charger at home, you don’t need to worry. Your tablet will have enough juice to sustain you for a full workday!
One of Microsoft Surface Go tablet’s most prominent features is its 10-inch PixelSence touchscreen display. It is designed to be watched, touched, and even written on. Yes, with this tablet you can get full “old-style notetaking & drawing” experience. You just need to have a Microsoft Surface pen. When you decide to take a break from work, you will still be able to enjoy movies and games in crisp sharpness.
This tablet is really one of the best choices for day to day usage!
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| You can easily switch it from tablet to laptop mode and even to studio mode; | Keyboard and pen is not included; |
| This tablet has quite a large 10-inch screen but despite that Microsoft Surface Go is quite a lightweight tablet; | You cannot change some of the default app, features, and settings; |
| The backlit keyboard can enable you to easily type when it’s dark. | In case you decide to switch to window 10 Pro, you may not switch back again to windows 10 when you are in S mode. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 9.65 in x 6.9 in x 0.33 in (245 mm x 175 mm x 8.3 mm) |
| Screen size: | 10-inch PixelSense™ Display |
| Screen resolution: | 1800 x 1200 (217 PPI) resolution (Intel® HD Graphics 615) |
| Audio: |
2W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio™ & Single microphone |
| Weigh: | 1.15 lbs (522 g) |
| CPU: | Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y of 1.6 GHz |
| RAM: | 4GB (& 8GB in a bit expensive models) |
| eMMC/SSD memory | 64GB (&128GB in a bit expensive models) |
| Front camera: |
5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p Skype HD video |
| Rear camera: | 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video |
| Wireless type: | Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible & Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology |
| Security: |
TPM 2.0 for enterprise security & Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in |
| Battery life: | up to 9 hours of video playback |
| Fast charge: | Yes |
| Ports: |
USB-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 x Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover Port and MicroSDXC Card Reader |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 Home |
2. Google Pixel Slate Tablet
If you are looking for something bigger then the previous tablet under 500 dollar range, Google Pixel Slate Tablet will be a perfect fit for you. It is big, fast, and powerful.
Google Pixel Slate is a relatively new 2-1 tablet and it is a perfect fit for everyone who likes watching movies and Youtube videos. Tablet comes with a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen display and dual firing speaker setup that just takes entertainment quality to the next level.
With this Google tablet you can access everything that you love about Google products – Google Sheets, Google Docs, etc. And thanks to Google Pixel Slate’s powerful Intel 3.4 GHz processor, you can reach a new multitasking level. No more you will need to worry if your tablet can handle 10 different Google Sheet documents at the same time. From split-screens to multi-window browsing – it can do it all.
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| High processing speed; | Google Pixel Slate pen and Google Pixel Slate keyboard are sold separately, therefore, they will increase your expenditure. |
| It’s highly portable due to its compact size; | |
| Use time is up to 12 hours. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 7.95 in (202.04 mm) x 11.45 in (290.85 mm) x 0.27 in (7.0 mm) |
| Screen size: | 12.3-inch Molecular Display™ |
| Screen resolution: | 3000 x 2000 pixels (Intel HD graphics) |
| Audio: |
Dual front-firing speakers for better surround sound & 2 mics for improved noise cancellation |
| Weigh: | 1.59 pounds |
| CPU: | Intel 8Gen (3.4 GHz) |
| RAM: | 8 GB (& 16GB in a bit expensive models) |
| Hard drive: | 64 GB (& 128GB & 256GB in a bit expensive models) |
| Duo camera: |
8 megapixel, ƒ/1.9 aperture, 1.4μm pixel size, wide field of view with 1080p HD at 30fps video |
| Rear camera: | 8 megapixel, ƒ/1.8 aperture, 1.12μm pixel size, Autofocus with 1080p HD at 30fps video |
| Wireless type: | Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2 (MIMO), dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz) & Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Security: |
Pixel Imprint™ Fingerprint Sensor with a dedicated microcontroller for better on-device security & Titan™ C security chip, your information, device passwords, and operating system |
| Battery life: | up to 12h |
| Fast charge: |
up to 2 hours in 15 minutes of charge |
| Ports: |
Two USB-Cs for charging, 4K display output and quicker data transfer |
| Operating system: | Chrome OS |
3. Apple iPad Air Tablet
The next contestant in our list is Apple iPad Air. It just screams: “QUALITY”! And it is also one of the best tablets that you can buy under $500.
This tablet is multifunctional and combined with a keyboard that can easily convert into to 2in1 tablet that works ar a perfect laptop replacement. You can easily switch between the keyboard and touchscreen for maximum efficiency. And it has a long battery life up to x h. So, when you are on the move, you don’t get stressed by frequent battery drainage notifications.
One of the best tablet’s features is it’s thin and light design. It just inspires to create! It can deliver incredibly fast performance and can run a lot of powerful apps. And it supports Apple’s pencil for note-taking and sketching experience.
And lastly Apple iPad Air tablet has quite high internal storage capacity. With it you will no longer require to use an external storage device for your photos, videos, or music.
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Has an ultra-slim design; | Does not support SD card |
| High-quality camera; | |
| Its screen has lower reflections; | You cannot upgrade its storage capacity. |
| Good battery life. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 9.8 inches (250.6 mm) x 6.8 inches (174.1 mm) x 0.24 inches (6.1 mm) |
| Screen size: | 10.5-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display |
| Screen resolution: | 2224-by-1668 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi) |
| Audio: |
Stereo speakers & Dual microphones for calls |
| Weigh: | 1.0 pound (456 grams) |
| CPU: | A12 Bionic chip with 64‑bit architecture |
| RAM: | 3GB |
| Hard drive: | internal storage is 64 GB |
| Front camera: |
7-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps |
| Rear camera: | 8-megapixel camera, ƒ/2.4 aperture, five-element lens, hybrid IR filter & 1080p HD video |
| Wireless type: | Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), simultaneous dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz), HT80 with MIMO & Bluetooth 5.0 technology |
| Security: |
Fingerprint scanner |
| Battery life: | Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi, watching a video, or listening to music |
| Fast charge: |
No |
| Ports: |
Lightning port |
| Operating system: | iPadOS |
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e Tablet
If you are more of an Android fan, then Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e will be a perfect fit for you. This tablet is perfect if you love photography or tend to take videos. It has an amazing 13MP rare camera, that allows you to take stunningly sharp pictures. And if you like to do aftertouches in photoshop app then you will enjoy working on its 2560 x 1600 pixel display. With that many pixels you can see crystal-clear every tiniest detail in your images.
Youtube lovers and movie watchers will appreciate the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e tablet. Its 4 stereo speakers provide clear high-quality audio sound. And tablets battery will outlast you binge-watching even the longest movie trilogies.
This tablet is quite secure. With its fingerprint authentication features you will not need to worry about strangers accessing your tablet without your permission.
It is one ultralight and very slim tablet with an eye-catching metal design – fast and beautiful. This really is one of the best android tablets under $500.
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Has an amazingly big battery life; | It does not come with a stylus pen, therefore you find it difficult to navigate through the screen. |
| Extremely fast; | |
| Elegant design; | |
| A wonderful camera which can record 4k videos. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 9.64 inches (245.0 mm) x 6.30 inches (160.0 mm) x 0.216 inches (5.5 mm) |
| Screen size: | 10.5 inches WQXGA Super AMOLED Display (287 ppi) |
| Screen resolution: | 2560 x 1600 pixels |
| Audio: |
4 speakers (Top: 2, Bottom: 2); sound by AKG; cinematic sound with Dolby Atmos technology |
| Weigh: | 0.88 pounds (400g) |
| CPU: |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 Mobile Platform (Dual 2.0GHz + Hexa 1.7GHz) |
| RAM: | 4GB (& 6GB in a bit expensive models) |
| Hard drive: | 64 GB (& 128GB & 256GB in a bit expensive models) |
| Front camera: | 8.0MP |
| Rear camera: | 13MP & video recording: UHD 4K (3840×2160) @ 30 fps |
| Wireless type: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth® 5.0, (LE up to 2Mbps) |
| Security: | Knox Platform: real-time security monitoring and protection; Virus, malware prevention. (Powered by McAfee); Secure folder: a secure space on the device to keep content such as apps, photos, movies, and private; Lock type: pattern, PIN, password; Biometrics lock type: fingerprint scanner, face recognition. |
| Battery life: | 7040mAh – Video playback up to 15 hours |
| Fast charge: |
Yes |
| Ports: |
USB 3.1, Gen 1 |
| Operating system: | Android 9 Pie |
5. Huawei MateBook Signature Edition 2 in 1 PC Tablet
Huawei MateBook Signature Edition 2 in 1 PC tablet is a mobile powerhouse. This tablet has a 6th gen Intel Core m7 dual-core processor and 8GB of RAM. And it runs Windows 10. That should satisfy even the most demanding office worker (or even some pc gamers). Especially if you combine this tablet with Huawei MateBook Keyboard.
Huawei MateBook Signature PC tablet comes with a gigantic 12-inch display. It is ideal for watching online videos & movies. And it’s dual-speaker setup actually has some power to them & sound quality is quite good.
So, if you are looking for a nice work-oriented tablet under $500, Huawei MateBook Signature Edition 2 in 1 PC tablet might just be the right choice.
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| One of the biggest screens in under $500 price range; | Has just 5MP camera; |
| Has good speakers; | It doesn’t have a fast charge. |
| Great battery life. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 11 x 7.6 x 0.3 in (27.9 x 19.4 x 0.7 cm) |
| Screen size: | 12-inch IPS TFT LCD Display |
| Screen resolution: | 2160 x 1440p |
| Audio: |
Dual speakers |
| Weigh: | 1.37 pounds (640 g) |
| CPU: |
6th gen Intel Core m7 processor, dual-core up to 3.1GHz |
| RAM: | 8GB LPDDR3 |
| Hard drive: | 256 GB (& 512GB in a bit expensive models) |
| Front camera: | Front camera (5 MP, fixed focus) |
| Rear camera: | No |
| Wireless type: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO, Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Security: | Fingerprint sensor |
| Battery life: | up to 10 hours (4430mAh) |
| Fast charge: |
No |
| Ports: |
3.5 mm headset jack, USB 3.0 Type-C |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 Home |
6. Lenovo Yoga Book Tablet
If you want the best productivity-focused tablet under 500 dollar range, then Lenovo Yoga Book Tablet will be the perfect daily companion.
It’s quite a powerful tablet with vibrant 10.1 inch IPS led LCD display and battery life up to 13h.
But the most noticeable Lenovo Yoga Book Tablets feature is that it supports a new level of realistic writing experience. Now you can use Real pen and paper and Leveno Yoga Book Tablet will seamlessly digitize every handwritten stroke for you. It is a perfect tool for students, writers, and artists.
It really is one of the best tablets under $500 price range.
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| You can use Real Pen/pencil while drawing, writing; | RAM could be bigger; |
| Battery life is up to 13h; | It doesn’t have a fast charge. |
| Enough memory to fit all your creative works. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 10.1″ x 0.38″ x 6.72″ / 256.6 x 9.6 x 170.8 (mm) |
| Screen size: | 10.1″ IPS LED LCD Touch Display |
| Screen resolution: | 1920 x 1200 p |
| Audio: |
Dolby Audio Premium |
| Weigh: | 1.52 lbs (690g) |
| CPU: |
Intel Atom x5-Z8550 Processor (2.40GHz 2MB) |
| RAM: | 4 GB LPDDR3 |
| Memory: | ROM: 128 GB |
| Front camera: | 2 MP Fixed-Focus |
| Rear camera: | 8 MP Auto-Focus |
| Wireless type: | 802.11 AC (1 x 1) & Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Security: | TPM 2.0 for enterprise security & Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in |
| Battery life: | Type: Li-ion Polymer; Capacity: 8500 mAh; Standby Time: Over 70 Days; General Usage: 13 Hours. |
| Fast charge: |
No |
| Ports: |
USB3 charging port, HDMI port & SC port |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 Pro |
7. Vanquisher 8-Inch Ultra Rugged Tablet
This is not your typical daily user’s tablet. Vanquisher 8-Inch Ultra Rugged Tablet is designed for professionals. If you are working in a harsh environment, in the geology field, in engineering or you are a mobile workforce, you just need to have it.
This is one of the most durable tablets currently found in the market. It measures against one of the highest waterproof and dustproof standards and it is one of the best professional tablets right under $500.
This tablet has up to 8h battery life. So you can work on it for the entire workday without needing to charge it. And even longer if you have a tablet power bank with you.
What we really like is, that it runs Windows 10 that allows users to use most of their favorite apps.
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Waterproof and Dustproof; | The camera could be better |
| Great connector support; | If you use it seriously as office PC replacement then you will need a bit more RAM and stronger CPU. |
| Runs Windows 10. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 8.66 x 0.47 x 5.51 inches (220 x 140 x 12.5 mm) |
| Screen size: | 8 inch LCD screen |
| Screen resolution: | 1280*800 IPS screen |
| Audio: |
8/0.8W waterproof speaker x 1 |
| Weigh: | 1.43 pounds (650g) |
| CPU: |
Intel Cherrytrail (Quad-core) -1.44Ghz (basic), 1.92GHz (max) |
| RAM: | 2GB |
| Hard drive: | 32GB |
| Front camera: | 2MP |
| Rear camera: | 5MP |
| Wireless type: | 802.11(a/b/g/n), 2.4G+5.8G dual-band & 3G: WCDMA(900/2100MHz), GSM(900/1800MHz) |
| Security: | Industrial Protection Grade: IP67 (waterproof & dustproof) |
| Battery life: | 3.7V/7500mAh – 8h video playback time |
| Fast charge: |
No |
| Ports: |
support SDHC/SDXCx1, max 128G, micro USB 3.0*1, 5V 3A 3.5mm power connector x1, 1.4a Type C x1 |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 Pro |
8. MobileDemand Flex 10A Rugged Touchscreen Tablet
This is another durable tablet. MobileDemand Flex 10A tablet comes with a protective case and scratch-proof & waterproof screen protector. It can operate in extreme temperatures form 32° F to +120° F (0° C to +49° C) and it can be stored in even more extreme temperature from 22° F to +160° F (-30° C to +71° C).
The great news is that this tablet runs so well known Windows 10 Pro operating system. So, you will have no problems setting it up with all the necessary apps. Plus its CPU and RAM are powerful enough, for you to experience working with them smoothly even in the Sahara desert.
Yes, it is not the typical consumer tablet fond in the market. But, every parent will find it very useful to spend a bit less than $500 for really durable and powerful tablet, that your youngling can drop without you worrying.
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Very durable and waterproof tablet; | Weak in the camera department. |
| Has Strong CPU and RAM; | |
| Runs Windows 10. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 10.5 x 7.14 x 1.22 inches (267 x 181 x 31mm) |
| Screen size: | 10.1-inch IPS LCD Display (149 ppi) |
| Screen resolution: | 1280 x 800 pixels |
| Audio: |
2 built-in speakers |
| Weigh: | 1.92 pounds (0.87 kg) |
| CPU: |
Quad-core Intel Cherry Trail X5-Z835, 1.44GHz, 1.92GHz burst frequency |
| RAM: | 4GB DDR3L-RS-1600 |
| Hard drive: | 64GB eMMC |
| Front camera: | 2MP |
| Rear camera: | 5MP |
| Wireless type: | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Security: | Waterproof, Dustproof, Very Durable |
| Battery life: | 5,800mAh, 8 hours |
| Fast charge: |
No |
| Ports: |
1 x micro USB 2.0 (for charging), 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x mini-HDMI, audio, power, docking |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 Home |
9. CHUWI UBook Pro Tablet
When it came out CHUWI UBook Pro tablet was positioned as an alternative to more expensive Windows Surface pro 7. And it kinda holds its ground.
CHUWI UBook Pro tablet is a strong choice for everyone who spends day to day working on pc. It comes with a huge 12.3-inch UHD screen that makes working with multiple spreadsheets documents really easy. And compared to Windows Surface tablet it comes already with keyboard and HiPen H5 Stylus. So, it really has that laptop feel from day 1.
This tablet cams with a huge 256GM SSD drive and 8GB Ram. It works really fast – you can boot it up just in 5s.
CHUWI UBook Pro tablet is indeed one of the best tablets under 500 dollars. You can’t go wrong with this choice.
Summary of Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Large 12,3-inch screen; | Weak in the camera department. |
| Large memory & ram; | |
| It comes with a keyboard and stylus. |
Product specifications
| Measurement: | 11.5 x 8.15 x 0.35 inches (292 x 208 x 8.5 mm) |
| Screen size: | 12.3 inch IPS full-laminated touchscreen Display (with Intel UHD 615 graphics that supports 4K video) |
| Screen resolution: | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Audio: |
Yes |
| Weigh: | 1.73 pounds (780g) |
| CPU: |
Intel Core m3-8100y – 3.4GHz |
| RAM: | 8GB LPDDR3 |
| Memory: | 256GB Netac |
| Front camera: | 2.0 MP |
| Rear camera: | 5.0 MP |
| Wireless type: | Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 2.4GHz/5Ghz |
| Security: | Windows face recognition |
| Battery life: | up to 8h |
| Fast charge: |
No |
| Ports: |
1x USB-C, 2x USB-A 3.0, Micro-HDMI, audio jack |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 |
What to consider when buying the best 2-in-1 tablets under $500
a) Battery life
You must ensure that the battery of the tablet that you wish to buy can serve you for long hours when you charge it fully. This will ensure that you can enjoy any activity that you are doing without interruptions. Long battery life can also instill confidence that even if you are traveling it can sustain you until you get back to your house so that you can charge it again.
b) Storage
Storage size can also be a key determinant when choosing any 2-in-1 tablet especially if you are a person who loves to download documents, movies, and take photos. You can also choose a tablet that allows you to expand internal storage using a microSD card. Usually Android OS-based tablets offer such options.
c) Operating system
It’s good to buy a tablet that has an operating system that you can easily navigate through. As seen above the most popular tablet OS systems that you need to choose from are iPadOS, Windows 10 & Android OS. Each of the operating systems comes with its unique features. However, you should pick the one you are familiar with. Or if you plan to buy your first tablet and already know Windows PC OS, then Windows 10 tablet interface will be familiar to you. That said Android and iOS are quite intuitive and easy to learn as well.
d) Camera
If you are a fan of video calling, photos, selfies, then you must look at the camera resolution of the device that you wish to buy. Each of the devices has varying resolutions for the front and rear cameras. Just get one that can take higher-quality pictures.
e) Portability
As you look for the best tablet to buy under $500 you must look for one which you can easily carry around. This price range offers you quite a few lightweight tablets with an ultra-slim form factor. They are really portable. And if you cant even more functionality and portability check 2-in-1 tablets. They came with keyboards and offer really smooth portable computer experience.
g) Cellular
It’s also important for you to consider cellular connectivity. Especially if you are likely to use the tablet while on a go. Remember that there are tablets that just have built-in WIFI antenna. While other tablets have a SIM slot and can use a cellular network as well as WIFI to access the internet.
Conclusion
The above-highlighted tablets, are just a sample of devices to choose from in under $500 price range. However by now you already realize that they vary quite a bit. Some tablets are designed to help you work remotely where ever you are, while other will help you even in harshest environments. Some tablets focus strictly on battery life and screen size factors while others on camera quality and pixel density. Therefore, before you buy any tablet under $500 or less, first ask your self: “What are my needs and preferences? And you will make the right choice.
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