Tablets make the perfect first device for a kid. They're much better suited to static, supervised use than a smartphone, can shrug off damage that would leave a laptop in pieces, and can be used as easily for watching YouTube or playing Minecraft as they are for schoolwork or other more practical activities. So all you have to do is pick which one makes sense for you.

You could of course just pick up one of the best iPads. Apple's had the whole tablet thing sorted for years at this point, even on the standard model we recommend in this guide. But you should also check out the offerings below from Amazon and OnePlus - for their value and versatility respectively.

It's hard to know what your kid will need from a tablet as they get older, but these options will go the distance if you need them to. Check our main best tablets and best Android tablets guides if you need more recommendations, but here are the best kids tablets you can buy right now.

Best tablet for kids

It's hard to think of a tablet without immediately picturing an iPad. And fortunately, when shopping for a kid-friendly slate, the 11th-gen iPad is indeed the best option for most people.

Even though it is Apple's cheapest, most basic tablet model, the standard iPad has more than enough power, storage and battery performance to last your kid for years, even if they start to need a device for schoolwork as well as entertainment. Just grab one of Apple's own keyboard cases and Apple Pencil styluses (or one of the many third-party options) and bam, you basically have a laptop.

There are no Apple Intelligence AI features present due to this slate's older chipset, but that probably won't bother your child that much. It's also the most expensive option on this list, which may feel a risky option depending on how your child likes to treat their tech. But rest assured that for older, more careful kids, the iPad 11 would be a smart investment.

Read the full iPad 11 review

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Best budget tablet for kids

Although it's a couple of years old, the Fire HD 10 is still Amazon's latest and best option for an affordable tablet that will give you or a younger user all the basics.

As well as the price being appealing, the rugged plastic design hopefully means even the standard non-Kids edition will survive even the roughest treatment. Amazon's built-in kids apps provide a perfect child-ready entertainment suite, and if you want to use it yourself, you may find the strong integration with Alexa and your smart home gadgets rather handy too.

The main limitation is the Fire OS operating system; you get all the basic streaming apps you could want, but the gaming experience leaves a lot to be desired due to limited compatible titles and an old low-powered chipset. Plus there's a bunch of bloatware apps that you cannot remove if you decide you don't want them, not to mention the adverts you are subjected to unless you pay to remove them. If you can live with this though, you are unlikely to find a better value tablet for your family to use.

Read the full Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) review

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Best Android tablet for kids

The closest you can get to an iPad running Android is the OnePlus Pad Go 2. But OnePlus' tablet has more going for it than just its resemblance to an Apple product.

You won't be wanting for screen space with the Pad Go 2's big 12.1-inch, 2.8k resolution display. Streaming video and games look and run brilliantly, as does the Android-based OxygenOS operating system. OnePlus' Open Canvas system being a great productivity tool as well, letting you open multiple apps across its spacious display - ideal if this needs to be a tablet for studying too.

Our only complaints are the rather plain design, which may also be a little too big for small hands to use comfortably, and the charging speed remaining a slow 33W. But keep the OnePlus Pad Go 2 topped up regularly, and you'll likely have no trouble from the tablet's primary user.

Read the full OnePlus Pad Go 2 review

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How we test tablets

Our reviewers test the best tablets at home and in the office, and work with Future Labs to test them in our performance laboratory; specifically for tablets with US availability.

We use tablets in our daily lives every day, and will replace our work laptop computers with a tablet for regular use and testing. We travel with tablets and use them extensively for work and personal travel. We use tablets for fun, for games, for creating art, for getting work done, and for doing nothing at all.

Richard is an editor in the Buying Guides team, which specialises in curtating, updating and maintaining the buying guide portfolio across TechRadar and Tom's Guide. Based in London, Richard has a specialism in phones, tablets, gaming, and is a bit of a coffee connoisseur. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.