The Best Kids' Tablets of 2017

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Do Kids Even Need Tablets?

Kids want tablets. My daughter has had one since she was pretty small. First, it was just a music player helping to lull her to sleep at night. Then it was the indispensable movie theater for long plane and train rides. Now it's primarily a vehicle for Marvel Unlimited, the infinite comics app.

But tablets are fragile, expensive gadgets with potentially unlimited access to the internet, both issues that I've tried to stay away from in my parenting. A good kid tablet is different from a good adult tablet: While you want a grown-up tablet to be slim, light, and fast, you want a tablet for kids to be cheap, rugged, and protected.

The chart above shows some of our favorite tablets for children, chosen for a balance of affordability, durability, and kid-friendly features. Here's a quick walkthrough of how to decide which is best for you and your child. And whatever tablet you get, buy a case. With kids, it'll pay for itself.

Set Your Kids on Fire

Amazon's inexpensive Fire lineup is our top choice for children. The tablets are inexpensive and have a Kids Edition that comes with a rubber case and a no-questions-asked two-year guarantee. It costs more than the grown-up version we list above—the 7-inch, 8GB Amazon Fire Kids Edition costs $89.99—but it's worth it if you think there's a possibility of breaking it.

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Amazon's tablets have a simplified interface, strong parental controls, and FreeTime Unlimited, which is basically a giant bucket of content for kids. A "parent dashboard" lets you keep track of what your children are doing and restrict their screen time. You can put multiple user profiles on the tablets as well.

Also, they're under $100.

Why Not Just an iPad? (Or an Android?)

Some parents won't settle for less than an iPad. While there's no such thing as a "cheap iPad," the latest model is Apple's best value out there. Just make sure to get a big, rubbery case.

Android tablets can be great for kids who primarily want to watch movies and read. In general, they're less expensive than iPads. If comics are your main use, try to go with a 10-inch slate.

Parents will need to be more hands-on when it comes to restricting these general-purpose tablets, though. Apple has parental controls that can filter content and prevent purchases, and Android has restricted user profiles that can also prevent accidental purchases and filter Google Play apps.

But if you intend to let your kids use one of these tablets out of your sight, you should really consider installing some parental control software.

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Toy Tablets

Companies like Fuhu, Kurio, and Leapfrog have made their names with highly restricted tablets that come preloaded with kid-friendly software and, by default, don't offer access to the open internet. Fuhu and Kurio's tablets can also be converted to work as standard Android tablets. They also come with ruggedized builds and/or protective bumpers.

These are the best choices for non-tech-savvy parents who don't want to have to think about selecting or curating content. They often have special apps and games from popular entertainment brands: Fuhu has Kung Fu Panda and Peanuts, for instance. But they can get frustrating for older kids or kids who want apps that aren't available in the manufacturers' limited stores.

For a broader selection of tablets for older kids and adults, take a look at The Best Tablets we've tested overall.

Featured Tablets for Kids:

  • the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 4

    Amazon Fire Review

    the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 5
    $49.99 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% The 7-inch Amazon Fire tablet doesn't offer high-end specs or the latest apps, but it's the best way to put a wealth of multimedia content at your fingertips for an almost unbelievable $50 price. Read the full review
  • the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 6

    Apple iPad (2017) Review

    the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 7
    $329.00 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% The Apple iPad is more affordable than ever. If you're looking for a basic tablet with a wealth of apps, it's a solid deal. Read the full review
  • the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 8

    Nvidia Shield Tablet K1 Review

    the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 9
    $199.99 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% If you want to take your games to a tablet, the Nvidia Shield Tablet K1 delivers a top-notch gaming experience and a robust feature set for a very reasonable price. Read the full review
  • the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 10

    Asus ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580CA) Review


    $299.00 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% The Asus ZenPad S 8.0 strikes a good balance between price and features, with performance on par with more expensive Android tablets. Read the full review
  • the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 11

    Amazon Fire HD 8 Review


    $89.99 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% Amazon's latest Fire HD 8 tablet is a great value for media consumption, as long as you can live without access to Google Play. Read the full review
  • the-best-kids-and-39;-tablets-of-2017 photo 12

    Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Review


    $299.99 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% The Asus ZenPad 3S 10 gives you lots of multimedia value for your money. Read the full review
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    Fuhu Nabi Elev-8 Review


    $169.99 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% The Fuhu Nabi Elev-8 is a very good gaming tablet for kids, although its hardware doesn't quite measure up with slates geared toward grownups. Read the full review
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    Kurio Xtreme 2 Review


    $129.99 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% The Kurio Xtreme 2 is a solid gaming tablet for kids, but other tablets appeal to both parents and children alike-for less.  Read the full review
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    Verizon GizmoTab Review


    $249.99 MSRP
    %displayPrice% at %seller% The Verizon GizmoTab is actually an Ellipsis 8 HD in disguise, with child-friendly software and accessories. It's a flexible, if expensive option, if you need a kid-specific tablet with cellular connectivity.  Read the full review

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