Save some dough and enjoy these sub-$100 Android tablets
There are quite a few Android tablets on the market at all different price points, but there are only a few that are worth the money, especially when you get under $100. However, when you have options like the Amazon Fire HD 8, the decision can be pretty easy to make. Here are the best Android tablets under $100.
Best Overall: Amazon Fire HD 8
Amazon does a fantastic job of producing tablets for those in need of a budget-friendly device. The Fire HD 8 is one of our favorites with its 10 hours of battery life, 8-inch HD display, and easy access to the world of Amazon services.
The Fire HD 8 has access to hands-free Alexa, meaning it can act as a smart speaker of sorts if you have questions. Plus, you will be able to clearly hear Alexa's answers with the dual Dolby Atmos speakers built-in.
As one would expect, Amazon's Fire Tablet runs a modified version of Android, without out-of-the-box access to the Google Play Store. Instead, you'll need to rely on the Amazon App Store or sideload the Play Store onto the Fire HD 8.
Pros:- 16GB or 32GB of storage
- Hands-free Alexa
- Four color options
- Dual Dolby Atmos speakers
- Only 1.5GB of RAM
- 2MP front and rear cameras
- No access to Google Play Store
An excellent tablet for consuming Amazon content
The Fire HD 8 is a fantastic option for a budget-friendly tablet, especially if you love everything Amazon has to offer.
Best for a Big Screen: Vankyo MatrixPad Z4
When it comes to budget tablets, there are some concerns that the manufacturer will throw too much bloatware onboard. That's not the case with the Vankyo MatrixPad Z4, as there is no bloatware to be found, providing a near-stock Android experience.
This 10.1-inch tablet makes media consumption a breeze, along with the 32GB of onboard storage. There is also an 8=mgeapixel rear-camera if you like taking pictures with a huge viewfinder. Plus, there is a microSD card slot to hold a lot of your favorite content, pictures, and videos.
While there is microSD card support onboard, it has been limited to supporting cards up to 128GB. This is an upsetting inclusion, as you will end up running out of space if you plan on loading up movies and TV shows. The six hours of battery life likely won't last you throughout the day, so you will want to keep a portable charger nearby.
Pros:- 10.1-inch HD display
- Near-stock Android
- 32GB of onboard storage
- 8-megapixel rear camera
- MicroSD card support limited to 128GB
- Only available in Black
- Mediocre battery life
Get a big screen for the best media consumption
Vankyo's MatrixPad Z4 is a surprisingly good tablet for the price point with its 10.1-inch HD display, and solid spec sheet.
Best for the Kids: Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition
It can be tough to keep the kids occupied, whether you are at home, on the road, or at a friend's house. The Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition helps to do just that with access to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited. This provides a slew of content and games to not only teach your kids lessons but let them have some fun at the same time.
Amazon also provides a two-year "worry-free" guarantee, meaning that if anything happens to the Fire 7 Kids Edition, the company will replace it. This is in addition to the built-in Kid-Proof case, which has a kickstand on the back so that it will be safe from the eventual accidental drops.
For better or worse, there is only a single speaker included with the Fire 7 Kids Edition. If your child is hard of hearing, this may not be the best solution, but it will be serviceable for most. While Amazon touts the inclusion of a front and rear camera, they are only 2-megapixel sensors and will end up being even more blurry.
Pros:- Two-year warranty
- Includes Amazon FreeTime Unlimited
- MicroSD card support up to 512GB
- Includes Kid-Proof Case
- Only 1GB of RAM
- Single speaker
- Poor front and rear cameras
Keep the kids occupied
With the included Amazon FreeTime Unlimited access and included Kid-Proof case, the Fire 7 Kids Edition is fantastic for the little ones.
Best for Docking: Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD
Lenovo's Smart Tab M10 HD is different from the rest, as you can turn this tablet into a smart display for Alexa services. With the included charging dock, you can place the Smart Tab M10 into the dock and have a completely different smart screen, while still getting access to Alexa's Voice Services.
Not only can you get a portable smart screen, but Lenovo has packed in two 3W speakers with Dolby Atmos features. This makes sure that your speakers will fill the room, even if you don't have the M10 HD docked. And it's lighter than other 10-inch tablets, making it more portable and easier to carry around with you if you need to get on the road.
Unfortunately, there are some pitfalls with the Smart Tab M10 HD, as it only ships with Android 8.1 Oreo. This makes a bit more sense when taking a look at the dated design with the big bezels that surround the display. We also would have liked to have more than just 16GB of onboard storage, even though it can be expanded with a microSD card slot.
Pros:- Storage expansion up to 256GB
- Turns into an Alexa Smart Screen when docked
- Dolby Atmos sound with two 3W speakers
- Only 16GB of storage
- Dated design
- Ships with Android 8.1 Oreo
Dock it for a tablet smart screen
The Lenovo Smart Tab M10 is fantastic if you want a hybrid tablet/smart screen while offering great sound.
Best Value: Amazon Fire 7
Year after year, the Amazon Fire 7 tablet continues to be one of the most popular tablets available. Maybe it's the price point, or perhaps it's the combination of price and access to Amazon's suite of digital content.
This 7-inch tablet offers seven hours of battery life, up to 32GB of expandable storage, and provides access to Amazon Alexa with just your voice. There is even dual-band WiFi support, making it easy to use this wherever your travels take you.
On the other side of the fence, you will have to deal with a subpar display coming in at a resolution of just 1024x600. And while the processor has been updated, Amazon only included 1GB of RAM, so don't expect to do heavy gaming or multitasking.
Pros:- Seven hours of battery life
- Expandable storage up to 512GB
- Alexa hands-free
- Only 1GB of RAM
- 2-megapixel front and rear cameras
- Lower density display
Great entry-level tablet to pair with Amazon's services
The Amazon Fire 7 is a fantastic entry-level tablet with access to Amazon's content, but the specs could be better.
Best for Android Go: Vankyo MatrixPad Z1
It can be frustrating when you are dealing with applications taking up a load of space on your devices and tablets. But if you find a tablet like the Vankyo MatrixPad Z1 with its Android Go certification, you won't have to worry about those issues. 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, which can be expanded up to 128GB with a microSD card. 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.
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.
Pros:- Certified for Android Go
- 32GB of storage built-in
- 178-degree viewing angles
- MicroSD expansion limited to 128GB
- Just 1GB of RAM
- Lower density display
Get a near-stock Android experience in a small package
The MatrixPad Z2 gives you access to a near-stock Android experience with excellent viewing angles and more.
Bottom lineIf you are looking for the best sub-$100 tablet, you can get any better than the Amazon Fire HD 8. The 8-inch HD display will show off all of your favorite content beautifully while transforming into a super-powered e-reader if the opportunity arises.
You get access to all of Amazon's content in a lightweight and portable package that will continue to be a joy to use. This, combined with the 10 hours of battery life and you are sure to use this tablet throughout the day, and then some.
We just warn you that this is not a traditional Android tablet, as it has Amazon's Fire UI overlay pre-installed with the Amazon App Store. You can get the Google Play Store, but it will take a little bit of work and should not be done by just anyone.
Credits - The team that worked on this guide
Andrew Myrick is a regular freelancer at Android Central and iMore. He has been a tech enthusiast ever since the original iPhone was released and continues to flip-flop between devices. You might as well hook him up to an IV filled with coffee to get him through the day. If you have any questions, you can find him on Twitter, and he'll get back to you.