TOP TABLETS FOR EVERY TASK
Which tablet is the right one for you depends on exactly what you’re going to do with it – but there’s a slate to suit everyone
ENTERTAINING KIDS
Tablets are perfect for kids, whether they want to watch shows, play games, listen to music, or browse the web. Even while your children are too young for a phone, they can still happily tap and swipe away on a tablet, and today’s models come with plenty of parental control options built in as well – so you don’t have to worry about what they’re doing while your back is turned.
Perhaps the most important consideration here – depending on the age of your kids – is durability. You need something that’s robust, and a device that isn’t going to cost you a huge amount of money ( just in case the worst should happen and you need to replace it).
Then there’s the software on board: you need something that’s going to keep your kids out of trouble, be simple for them to use, and have access to an endless stream of apps. This is where it pays to go for tablets running software from the big names – Apple, Google, Amazon – because there’s going to be plenty of apps for them to try, from educational games to video streaming.
We’re now seeing custom tablet interfaces that cater specifically towards kids, reducing the amount of time you have to spend setting them up, and meaning they won’t accidentally order you a grocery shop delivery while they’re trying to view their favourite cartoons.
Long battery life is important too, because you don’t want a tablet for the kids dying halfway through a long car journey or when you’re out and about without a charger. There’s a balance to be had here as well – a bigger screen will of course show off videos better, but it’ll also drain battery life more quickly, so factor that in when you’re weighing up which of these tablets to go for.
While we’re strong supporters of sensibly managing your kids’ screen time, tablets have proven to be modern marvels at getting them quiet – and you can keep them entertained and educated as well. The ones we’ve picked out all come with different ways of making sure your youngsters don’t spend too long tied to their devices.
The good news is that kids don’t need the latest and greatest components inside their tablets – they just need something that’s capable of streaming video, opening the web, and playing a few basic games. That means you can save a substantial amount of money by getting them something from the cheaper end of the market.
1 APPLE iPAD 10.2 (2019)
The standard, entry-level, cheapest iPad right now – the one that Apple just calls ‘ iPad’ – is the 10.2-inch model. While its home-button design is getting a bit dated now, it still has plenty to offer and is the cheapest way to get access to Apple’s excellent App Store. The parental controls on iPadOS are robust as well.
From £349, apple.com
2 LENOVO TAB M10 HD GEN 2
The Lenovo Tab M10 HD Gen 2 is notable for debuting the new Kids Space interface from Google: an Android skin that puts games, ebooks, videos and other educational apps front and centre for little people. Besides the software setup, the new tablet from Lenovo comes with a large 10.1-inch screen, a big battery and Alexa on board.
Around £142, lenovo.com
3 AMAZON FIRE HD 8 KIDS EDITION
What makes Amazon’s kids tablets great are not just the tablet itself and the easy-to- use software, but also all the extras: the chunky, colourful plastic bumper case, the two-year window in which Amazon will replace the tablet for free if it gets broken, and the one-year subscription to the Fire for Kids Unlimited package of apps, games, videos and more. £139.99, amazon.co.uk
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB A
Samsung knows what it’s doing when it comes to electronics and the 8-inch Galaxy Tab A is a no-nonsense, solidly built, Android-running tablet with a decent screen and decent audio that will suit most kids. It’s also at the more affordable end of the scale, so you don’t need to be anxious about handing it over to your little ones. £139, samsung.com