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We share with you our best tablets for kids ranging from Apple to Amazon, and factoring in age and parental controls.
Written by Sneha Kashyap, Content and PR Executive | Conscious Consumption and Tech Trends
Last updated on 12 June 2026
Keeping kids away from screens is a never-ending battle. But with learning becoming increasingly digitalised, tablets can come in handy when used appropriately. Whether your child loves educational games, watching cartoons, or reading, finding the right tablet can keep them entertained, safe, and learning. Unfortunately, with the market cluttered with a million choices, it can be difficult to know which one is age-appropriate, and more importantly, worth your money!
In this updated guide, we compare the top tablets for kids of every age group - from toddlers to teens - based on durability, price, parental controls, and performance.
Not all kids need the same kind of tablet; what works for a toddler probably won’t suit a teenager. To help you choose the right one, we’ve broken down our top picks by age group, so you can find the best match for your child’s needs. The reason our picks start for 3-year olds, is that the World Health Organisation does not recommend any screen time for under 2.
| Tablet Model | Price from | Screen Size and Storage | Age | Parental Controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 | £100 | 8.7” 128GB | 3-5 y | Samsung Kids and Google’s Family Link App |
| Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2023) | £199.99 | 10.1" 32GB | 6-9 y | Amazon Kids+ and Parent Dashboard |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ | £249 | 11" 256GB | 10-13 y | Samsung Kids and Google’s Family Link App |
| Apple iPad 11th Gen | £350 | 11" 128GB | 13+ y | Apple Screen Time |
Why did we pick it?
✅ Price: from £100
✅ Specifications: 8.7” screen, 128GB of storage, 5,100 mAh battery
✅ Parental Controls: Samsung Kids and Google’s Family Link App
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 is a compact, budget-friendly tablet perfect for toddlers and young children. It’s lightweight and easy for small hands to hold. With its 8.7-inch screen, slim profile, and powerful performance with an octa-core processor. It’s great for watching videos or playing early learning games. Samsung Kids Mode allows you to restrict apps, websites, and screen time. With a respectable 128GB storage, it also offers expandable storage via microSD of up to 1TB, making it suitable for growing needs.
Why did we pick it?
✅Price: from £199
✅ Specifications: 10.1” screen, 32GB expandable storage, 6,300mAh battery
✅ Parental Controls: Amazon Kids+ and Parent Dashboard
The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is Amazon’s top-tier option for younger children. With its rugged, kid-proof case, 2-year worry-free warranty, and built-in Amazon Kids+ subscription, this tablet is designed for safety and fun. It comes with preloaded educational apps, books, and games - all curated by age. The parent dashboard also allows you to control screen time and content access.
Why did we pick it?
✅ Price: from £249
✅Specifications: 11” screen, 256GB of storage, 7,040mAh battery
✅ Parental Controls: Samsung Kids and Google’s Family Link App
A great choice for kids transitioning to more advanced features. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ offers a larger screen, slim profile, and powerful performance with an octa-core processor. It’s great for interactive homework, eBooks, and gaming. Samsung Kids Mode allows you to restrict apps, websites, and screen time.
Why did we pick it?
✅ Price: from £350
✅ Specifications: 11” screen, 128GB of storage, 7,698mAh battery
✅ Parental Controls: Apple Screen Time
Although pricier, the Apple iPad 11th Gen is ideal for older children and teens who need a reliable tablet for both school and entertainment. For a more budget-friendly option, consider purchasing a refurbished iPad, which can offer the same performance at a lower cost. With Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, this tablet handles multitasking, video editing, and high-performance games with ease. Apple have updated their parental controls, creating a dedicated Child Safety web page and features like ‘Ask To Browse’ which requires a parent to grant permission to their child when browsing websites on Safari. Parents can also monitor screen time and content through iOS family sharing and restrictions.
Navigating the world of tech is hard enough, add a child into that equation and it’s a complete mindfield that can riddle us with stress and anxiety. Now that technology is a major part of our everyday lives, it’s difficult to know when and if we should incorporate it into our children’s. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that we should completely avoid any sort of screen time for children under the age of two. This changes slightly when they reach 3-4 years old where no more than 1 hour of screen time per day is advised. Once they reach the age of 16 it’s no more than 2 hours of recreational time per day.
If you are thinking of introducing a tablet to your young kids, why not start with a less tech heavy option which is strictly for educational purposes. The new VTech ToyStory 5 Tablet is more of a toy but is a great introduction to the tablet world especially for toddlers. Then over time the tablets mentioned above will be a great replacement for their growing needs, with all of them still including great educational features.
Finding the best tablet for kids means looking beyond just screen size or storage; it’s about safety, usability, and supporting your child’s development at every stage. At Compare and Recycle, our recommendations are based on a mix of real-world parenting experience, expert insight, and market feedback to ensure every device we feature is age-appropriate, reliable, and built for learning.
As a team that includes parents ourselves, we understand what truly matters when choosing a tablet for children. From ease of use and durability to built-in safety settings, our selections reflect the kinds of features parents look for because we’ve looked for them too.
In developing this guide, we considered the latest insights on how screen time affects learning and development. Our recent internal research, carried out in collaboration with child development specialists, highlighted the importance of age-appropriate content, screen time limits, and interactive learning tools. We’ve prioritised tablets that help support healthy tech habits right from the start.
We also considered broader consumer sentiment — from product reviews to brand reliability — to better understand which tablets consistently deliver in real-life situations. The devices on this list have a solid track record when it comes to performance, safety features, and overall value for families.
Choosing the best tablet for your child comes down to understanding their age, interests, and how they’ll use the device - whether it’s for learning, creativity, or just watching their favourite shows. From toddler-friendly tablets to powerful options for teens, there’s something on this list for every age.
All the tablets we’ve featured are picked with kids in mind - offering the right balance of performance, safety, and value. Whichever one you choose, you’ll be giving your child a smart, age-appropriate tech experience that supports both fun and learning.
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