Best Cheap Android Tablet for Kids

RCA 7" Tablet

• Pros:
  • Affordable at $50
• Cons:
  • Common battery issues
  • Poor build quality
• User experience: "Early in Nov. the battery began to blow up like a popcorn bag. This is apparently a VERY common complaint with these tablets."

Amazon Fire Tablet

• Pros:
  • Affordable
  • Easy to lock down with parental controls
  • Good for media consumption
• Cons:
  • Slow and clunky
  • Downloading content can be problematic
• User experience: "The OS isn't anything to write home about, but you can lock it down well enough. You can order icons on the home screen, dump them into sub-folders and use the parental controls to hide others."

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite 8.7"

• Pros:
  • Good for games and media consumption
  • Better performance compared to other models
• Cons:
  • Slow speeds on lower storage versions
• User experience: "The 64GB version works great, added 128GB MicroSD cards, and loaded them up for the kids... they're awesome, and great for games too."

iPad (used or newer models)

• Pros:
  • Longevity and reliable performance
  • Excellent parental controls
• Cons:
  • Higher initial cost
• User experience: "An older one is a better option... They’ve been easy to use, family sharing is great, they still run great and they are durable."

Lenovo Android Tablets

• Pros:
  • Affordable with Google Kids Space for parental controls
• Cons:
  • Can be slow when downloading
• User experience: "Works well for my daughter (and son, when he's old enough). Plex works great on it too and can download things for her for offline times."

In summary, for a cost-effective yet reliable Android tablet suitable for kids, considering the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite 8.7" or a used iPad may be the best options due to their performance, longevity, and parental control features, while products like the RCA 7" Tablet and Amazon Fire Tablet may have issues such as slower speeds, poor build quality, and difficulties in downloading content.