4 Best Kids Tablets & iPads to Buy in 2025
With a huge saving of $175, your kid can have their very own Apple iPad
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Screens no longer have the bad rap they used to. In fact, in many ways, they're the MVP in our lives. Here are the ones we recommend for everyone from the littlest members of the family to your big kids heading off to school.
Not so long ago, screens were fairly taboo when it came to kids. Plenty of parents would feel guilty whipping out a tablet or handing their kid a phone just so they could eat a meal in peace while others would fret at night about the damage being done to their tiny brains by too much time spent staring into a device.
And while there's no doubt that every growing child needs a healthy balance (and screen-free exercise and activities are a crucial part of every kid's day) the Covid years have shown how important screens are, as a way to learn, connect, relax and have fun.
So, we've scoured the internet and studied all the kid-friendly tablets available in Australia - so if you're looking to get your child one of their own (so they don't keep borrowing yours), here's our guide to the best ones out there.
Best overall tablets for kids
Galaxy Tab S9, $768 at Harvey Norman
What You Need To Know
This tablet is super powerful and with the AMOLED 2X screen, you can expect amazing colour, contrast and detail. Lightweight and easy to carry around in the backpack or school bag, this can also double up as a laptop simply by adding the keyboard. It comes with the S Pen, which comes in handy and offers amazing value. Definitely one to consider for your kids first device, especially at this current price. Also available with 256GB and 12GB of RAM, if you need a bit more power and memory space.
One reviewer uploaded the comments, "First time tablet owner here — definitely impressed on what the Tab S9 productivity can handle. It can literally double as a laptop (just buy the keyboard). I've been using it for almost a month now, both for work and play."
Another customer said, "This device is wonderful! speedy, lightweight..."
Best cheap tablets for kids
Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4HD, $358.87 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Slim, lightweight, and inexpensive, this tablet isn't designed specifically for kids, but makes a great choice for them, nonetheless. It has a front and rear camera for all the selfies and snaps with their friends plus 32GB of storage and an expandable memory of up to 128GB. It's also fast and powerful, great for watching movies or playing games and for on-the-go learning.
Best Samsung tablet for kids
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, $424.32 at Amazon
What You Need To Know
This 10.5" tablet is a step up from the smaller-sized tablets that are aimed at kids - and packs a powerful punch in terms of technical features. For starters, it offers surround sound speakers and fast and powerful ram, just perfect for gaming. It comes with 64 GB of storage and offers family-friendly games and activities, along with parental control settings to help them stay safe online. "Great tablet for a great price," commented one verified purchaser, while another said, "Arrived in perfect condition and our son loves his birthday present".
Best drawing tablet for kids
Apple iPad mini 6th Gen, $794 at The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
Available in 256GB, the mini is Apple's smallest tablet, making it great for tiny hands. It packs many of the same features of the larger models into the smaller package and is compatible with Apple Pencil, so excellent for kids wanting to explore their creativity and master drawing skills. It has a sharp, clear display, fantastic sound capabilities, and excellent performance for streaming or gaming. Again, if you're an Apple fan and you're looking for a kid-friendly device that you can borrow too, you won't be disappointed.
WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A TABLET FOR MY KID?
Age: Choose a device that is age appropriate and includes the functions they need. Also make sure that they can physically use the device, for example press the keys comfortably.
Purpose: What do they need it for? Is it just for playing games or is it for school? If they're school- aged, it's good to get a tablet which will support video chat as well as online learning (because as much as we wish it was a thing of the past, we all know it's likely to stick around for awhile). If they're younger, or you have a family desktop computer they use for school and you want it mostly for games and streaming,
Safety: Are there adequate parental controls?
Battery life: Will it last the day at school - there's nothing worse than a device that's constantly running out of power.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can I monitor my kid's screen time?
If they're currently stuck at home and using the device for school, it's pretty hard to monitor screen time. But it's a good idea to set agreed limits with your child about how much "extracurricular" viewing they're allowed on their device, so they know the rules from the get-go. My son, (who doesn't use his for home learning) for example, is not allowed his device at all during the week but knows that come Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, he can catch up on his shows and play his games. He also knows that if occasionally he wakes up too early during the week (he is an early riser) that he is allowed to ask me for the computer but only to play his drawing or learning games. I put limits on certain apps which means he can't just mindlessly scroll YouTube Kids.
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Most devices will allow you to set parental limits and restrict certain apps and websites, but it's a good idea to have a conversation with your kids about why you are doing that, so they understand they're not being punished.
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