What can one expect from a tablet under $300?
On a higher level, it could be about a decent performance for playing high-end games and a long battery life, enough to aid a business traveler for the entire day.
And, the list can go on.
However, all those needs narrow down to five basic performance parameters – CPU, RAM, Display, Sound, and Technology.
Tablets who score a good average on the above five parameters are ought to meet most of your needs with ease.
In this regard, here are top 9 tablets under $300 to get you started.
Check them out!
9 Best Tablets under $300
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A
This tablet sports a 10.1 inches Full HD corner to corner display with 1920×1200 pixel resolution. The metallic built is relatively lightweight and provides a very secure grip.
Complementing its stylish looks, the performance of this tablet is quite robust as it is powered by 1.6 GHz Exynos 7904A Octa-core processor alongside 4GB of RAM.
Given that it runs on the Android 9.0 Pie, it offers quite a smooth functioning tablet for everyday multitasking, while offering a battery life of about 13 hours with a one-time charge.
The cameras on the Samsung Tab A are quite decent with a 5MP front-facing and an 8MP rear camera paired with autofocus — which is outstanding given the price range.
Samsung offers this device in three internal storage variations: 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. So you can choose your model as per your storage needs. The tablet also comes with a dedicated microSD card slot for expandable storage of up to 512GB.
This can also be the best Android tablet under $300 for your kids as it comes along with a Samsung Kids³ subscription out of the box.
Specification:
Display: 10.1 Inches | Resolution: 1920×1200 Pixels | Storage: 64GB | CPU: Octa Core (Dual 1.8GB + Hexa 1.6GHz) | Connectivity : Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 13 Hours | Ports: USB 2.0 | Audio: Dual + Dolby Atmos | Camera: 5MP front-facing & 8MP rear
Pros
- Corner to Corner Immersive Display
- Dolby Atmos Surround Sound
- Long Battery Backup
Cons
- Tiny ‘Power’ & ‘Volume’ Buttons
2. Fusion5 Ultra Slim
The Windows Fusion5 Ultra Slim Tablet is the best windows tablet under $300 if you are looking for a combination of a large screen, stellar performance, and an impressive display.
This 10.1” screen tablet has a 1280*800 IPS Display that brings forth extra clear and crisp visuals paired with dual speakers, putting it at par with most high-end tablets.
This would be a great pick if your primary needs are gaming and streaming media. Weighing about 1.5lbs, the tablet has a sturdy in-hand feel to it and does not feel extra bulky.
Under the hood, you will get the 1.92 GHz Intel Quad-Core Processor (Cherry Trail) coupled with 4GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage. This allows you to multitask seamlessly and makes accessing files, programs, and data quick and easy.
Additionally, it supports MicroSD cards of up to 256GB.
The cameras on this tablet are nothing extraordinary but offer decent clicks and video conferencing with the front-facing 2MP and rear 5M cameras.
The battery life is of about 8-10 hours based on mixed usage and a single charge.
Specification
Display: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1280×800 IPS | Storage: 128 GB | CPU: Intel Atom cherrytrail quad-core | Connectivity : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 6 Hours | Ports: USB 3.0 | Audio: Dual Speakers | Camera: 2MP Front and 5MP Rear
Pros
- Slim and Lightweight
- Bluetooth & USB compatible
- Expandable Storage
Cons
- Ordinary Cameras
3. Fire HD 10 Tablet
This feature-loaded device comes with a 10.1 inch Full HD screen with 1920×1200 pixel resolution. If you expect to spend long hours on this tablet, rest assured.
With a battery backup of up to 12 hours and the in-built eye-comfort mode, you can endlessly stream or browse through your favorites.
Given its budget, the Fire HD 10 offers a sturdy plastic body in 4 neutral-toned colour options which doesn’t look tacky at all.
It has got a slender and sleek lightweight body that houses the powerful 2.0 GHz octa-core processor and 2GB RAM which runs on Fire OS.
This allows for switching between multiple apps and programs quite smoothly, thereby making this tablet one of the best tablets under $300 for multitasking.
It comes in 32GB and 64GB versions, both of which can be extended up to 512 GB via microSD.
The Fire HD 10 is indeed a must-have if you’ve been looking for a tablet media-consumption with varied features. It has in-built Alexa voice control for hands-free browsing and video playback.
It also avails you the award-winning Amazon FreeTime- an easy to use parental control.
Specification
Display: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 Pixel | Storage: 64GB | CPU: 2.0 GHz octa-core processor | Connectivity : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | RAM: 2GB | Battery life:12 hours | Ports: USB-C (2.0) | Audio: Integrated speaker | Camera: 2 MP front & 2MPrear-facing
Pros
- Affordable
- Alexa Integration
- Amazon FreeTime Controls
Cons
- Mediocre 2MP Cameras
4. Microsoft Surface Go
Microsoft Surface Go is the best 2 in 1 tablet under $300 if you are looking for a tablet that can function as your backup laptop.
It comes with a ‘Laptop Mode’ which features a built-in Kickstand and a detachable keyboard that can be adjusted as per user requirements.
If you want to use the ‘Tablet Mode’ for easier grip and portability, remove the keyboard and close the Kickstand and you’ll be left with the 10” tablet.
Additionally, the tablet comes with Surface Mouse and a Surface Pen to complement the respective mode.
The device is powered by Intel Pentium Gold and runs on Windows 10 Home in S mode. You can choose from the three variations of the Surface Pro, which are- 4GB/64GB, 4GB/128GB, and 8GB/128GB.
The battery backup provided is up to 10 hours with a single charge. This means you can meet all your binge-watching needs on this table’s 10” PixelSense Display even for prolonged hours.
The premium services offered by Microsoft, such as Office 365, ensure that you can do all your projects, tasks, and assignments efficiently and on time.
Specification
Display: 10 Inches | Resolution: 1800×1200 Pixels | Storage: 64GB | CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 9 hours | Ports: USB C (2.0) | Audio: 2W stereo speakers with Dolby | Camera: 5.0MP Front & 8.0MP Rear
Pros
- 2 in 1 Tablet
- Unique Design
- Office 365
Cons
- Only one USB C port
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Tough well-rounded competition for any entry-level iPad would be the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite WiFi Tablet. An affordable version of the previously released Tab S6, this tablet has few similarities with its predecessor.
The only similarity between the two is the S Pen Stylus which makes doodling and note-taking easy and convenient.
Cased in a slim metal body, the tablet feels and looks quite sturdy and durable. With smaller bezels than Galaxy Tab A line, the 10.4” inches TFT LCD provides vivid and crystal clear visuals.
However, if you prefer not using headphones, you’d still be backed by the dual AKG-tuned speakers which offer Dolby Atmos surround sound.
Apart from that, you also get massive storage of 64GB/12GB which can be further extended to 1TB via micro SD.
The slim lightweight built of the device makes it the best 10-inch tablet under $300 for entertainment on-the-go. On the top of it, the 13 hours battery life and the strong Exynos 9611 coupled with 4GB RAM ensures long hours of multitasking.
However, it lacks the desktop-imitating Samsung DeX mode which might sometimes lead to sluggish performance.
Specification
Display: 10.4 inches | Resolution: 2000 x 1200 Pixel | Storage: 64 GB | CPU: Octa Core(4×2.3GHz + 4×1.7GHz) | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 13 Hours | Ports: USB-C (2.0) | Audio: Dual + AKG + Dolby Atmos | Camera: 5.0 MP Front and 8.0 MP Rear
Pros
- Customizable UI
- S Pen Stylus
- In-built Headphone Jack
Cons
- No DeX Mode
6. Huawei + Harman Kardon MediaPad M3
Huawei MediaPad M3 juxtaposes Huawei’s brilliant camera quality and crisp display with Harman Kardon’s hallmark speakers to create the ultimate entertainment-centric tablet.
This tablet has an 8.4-inch inches IPS display with a 2560*1600 pixel resolution.
The narrow bezels along with the aircraft aluminum body look nothing less than an artwork. Weighing only 0.7lbs and with a thickness of 4.6mm, it becomes easy to get a firm grip on this device.
It comes with a solid 8MP camera each on the front and rear that offers HDR photography and impressive video recording. The dual Harman Kardon certified speakers are placed on the top and bottom edges which produces excellent sound and audio quality.
It is also backed by a non-removable 5100 mAh battery that provides up to 9 hours of continuous video playback.
Powered by a combo of the proprietary HI Silicon octa-core processor and 4GB RAM, this tablet proves to be the best gaming tablet under the $300 budget.
The Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) + Huawei Emotion UI 4.1 OS can be updated to the latest Android version to experience the smooth functioning of all apps and programs.
Specification
Display: 8.4 inches | Resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixel | Storage: 32GB | CPU: HI Silicon octa-core | Connectivity : Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 9 Hours | Ports: Micro-USB | Audio: Huawei Mediapad Mp3 | Camera: 8 MP front & rear
Pros
- Robust and Fast Processor
- Fingerprint Sensor
- Harman Kardon Certified Speakers
Cons
- No LED Flash
7. Lenovo M10+
It makes the video appear better than a TV with an accurate and vibrant color display. The adaptive brightness is a plus as well.
With a 4GB RAM, you can watch fast action movies and play media-rich games with a snappy performance. That also explains why it doesn’t lag with multiple apps running in the background.
Talking of speed again, it starts up in less than 30 seconds from being totally off. Even the facial recognition gets complete in no time.
As it holds a 5000 Mah battery, expect a full day battery backup for your surfing needs. However, you may need a socket or external backup for watching 4K videos or playing high-end games as they drain battery faster.
You get expanded memory upto 256 GB with a microSD card. It can format Fat32 and ExFat cards, unlike others those accept only the later.
You get stereo speakers on both sides to experience excellent sound reproduction like you would find on high-end tablets.
Lenovo M10+ comes with no media player out-of-the-box. You can play videos up to 1080p with limited functions such as play and pause. That’s being said, you need to install external media players.
Specification
Display: 10.3 Inches FHD | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 Pixel | Storage: 64GB | CPU: 2.3 GHz Octa-Core processor | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS| RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 7 hours | Ports: micro-USB | Audio: 2 x side speakers with Dolby Atmos | Camera: 5MP Front and 8MP Rear
Pros
- Solid built metal housing
- Impeccable picture quality
- Snappy performance
Cons
- Short Battery Backup
8. Simbans Tango
Simbans surprises you with superb video quality coupled with built-in HDMI port for big-screen fun.
You can attach the mini keyboard and turn it useful for your business but the touch screen is responsive enough to save you from that hassle. The keyboard is solid and offers fairly less travel time to give you better user experience.
Turn its battery saver mode on and you can watch four hours of downloaded Netflix Video with your battery down to 30% from full. Besides, it goes from 0-100% in four hours of charging.
The connectivity options offered are slightly above for a tablet under $300. You get a HDMI output, full-size USB port, and an OTG port on its body, which is a nod to its popularity in the market.
It comes with Microsoft and WPS apps out-of-the box.
Both front and rear cameras can capture good quality images under low-light conditions. They also aid you in streaming video calls without lagging.
Occasional Live video freeze can be bummer but an additional memory might cure it easily.
Specification
Display: 10.1 Inches | Resolution: 1280 x 800 Pixel | Storage: 32 GB | CPU: Quad Core MTK8163 1.5 GHz/Core | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | RAM: 3GB | Battery life: 5 Hours | Ports: USB 2.0 | Camera: 2.0 M Front and 5.0 Back
Pros
- Budget-friendly Android Tablet
- 10 inch IPS HD Display
- Built-in HDMI port
Cons
- Short battery life
9. Dragon Touch Max 10
Dragon Touch is best known for providing immersive entertainment experience with its 10.1” IPS Display powered with Dual Speakers. The blistering performance comes from its Octa-core processor powered by 2GB RAM to satisfy you daily needs.
With a long-lasting battery of 5000 mAH, it even keeps your entertainment uninterrupted until your heart feels content. To be precise, you can have 10 hours of movie watching with its 2.4G/5Gdual-band WiFi support on.
The videos look nice and sharp with zero stutters even if you play 1080p or above. High graphic games like Grand Theft Auto 3, Riptide GP, and Crazy Taxi run smoothly without any graphics card in the tablet.
For voracious readers, it has enhanced eye-comfort features to reduce the harmful blue lights damaging your eyesight while reading pdf or ebooks.
It has also built-in GPS for frequent travelers who like to explore unknown places in their free time. That’s being said, you can save your money on paying for offline map updates as Dragon Touch Max 10 would do it for free.
Specification
Display: 10.1 Inches | Resolution: 1920×1200 Pixel FHD | Storage: 32GB| CPU: Octa-Core 1.6GHz| Wireless Communication Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, FM | RAM: 2GB | Battery life: 10 hours | Ports: Type C-USB | Audio: dual speakers | Camera: 2MP front and 8MP rear
Pros
- Fantastic Display
- Smooth Touch interaction
- Blazing fast performance
Cons
- Speakers lack bass
Conclusion
There is more to a tablet than just watching movies and playing games. They can aid for your various business needs such as handling online meetings, distributing works, editing graphics, or managing blogs- all through a compact, light, and travel-friendly medium without requiring a laptop. So, invest in them keeping your future requirements in mind. Cheers!
