Tablets Under 500 have grown to become reliable and dedicated gadgets for beginners, students, casual, and even professional users. They are convenient and offer powerful laptop-like performance and simple smartphone portability. Due to the very many brands and version updates, choosing the best tablets under $500 is not easy.
If you are looking for the best budget-friendly tablets under $500 with powerful features but not too expensive, this guide is for you. We have compiled different versions and brands, such as iPad OS tablets, Android tablets, and Windows tablets.
These tablets are cheaper than most available in the market but will not compromise on quality. They offer clear displays, powerful performance, long battery life, and easy connectivity. Below are our top picks. If you are on a budget, consider our post on top tablets under $200 or drawing tablets for $300.
Top Picks for Tablets Under 500$
- Apple iPad 10th Generation: Best Affordable iPad Tablet
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Best Android Tablet Under 500$
- OnePlus Pad: Best All-Around Android Tablet
- Xiaomi Pad 6: Best Value for Money
- Lenovo Tab P11 Pro 2nd Gen: Longest Battery Life
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite: Best with S Pen Stylus Support
- Apple iPad (9th Generation): Best entry-level iPad
- Lenovo Tab P12: Best for Productivity
- Microsoft Surface Go 3: Best Windows Tablet
10th Gen Apple iPad: Best Affordable iPad Tablets Under 500$
- Screen Size: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display
- Resolution: 2360 x 1640 Pixels
- Processor: A14 Bionic chip
- Brightness: 500 nits
- Storage Space: 64 GB to 256 GB
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, USB-C
- Camera: 12MP front/12MP back camera
- 1st Gen Apple Pencil
- Security: Touch ID
- Battery: 10 hours
The 10th-gen Apple iPad is one of the most affordable iPads available in the market. It features a large 10.9-inch screen with Liquid Retina Display. This ensures clean and clear viewing when combined with 500 nits brightness and 2360 x 1640 pixels resolution.
For processor power, you have a powerful A14 Bionic chip and 4 GB of RAM available. This is great for regular tasks, but 8 GB and above is recommended for more complex tasks.
To save files, you have a 64 GB to 256 GB storage space that is not upgradable due to the lack of an external MicroSD card slot. To upgrade, you have to buy a larger version, which can be expensive. You will have Touch ID security options and up to 10 hours of battery life.
However, it is not compatible with new Apple Pencil versions like the Apple Pencil 2. You need to use it with the older Apple Pencil 1. Additionally, this pencil will have to be bought separately, adding to the cost.
Overall, this is a powerful but affordable device for many complex tasks, including gaming. It is compatible with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2, but you must buy them separately.
Pros
- Powerful A14 Bionic chip and 4 GB of RAM available
- Long 10 hours of battery life
- Large screen with high-resolution display
- Bright screen for indoor and outdoor view
Cons
- No MicroSD slot to expand storage
- It is not compatible with new Apple Pencil versions like the Apple Pencil 2. You need to use it with the older Apple Pencil 1
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Best for Android Tablet Under 500$
- Screen Size: 10.9 inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
- Processor: Snapdragon 600 Series
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- IP68 water and dust-resistant
- Battery Life: 18 to 20 hours
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a mid-range tablet with a sleek design and durable build. Featuring a 12.4-inch display with a fast 90Hz refresh rate, it’s water and dust-resistant.
Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870G chipset and up to 8GB of RAM, it handles most tasks with ease. Running Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI overlay, it offers numerous useful features.
It includes an 8MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear-facing camera with decent photo quality. The 10,090mAh battery provides excellent battery life, lasting a full day on a single charge, with support for 45W fast charging for quick refueling.
The Tab S9 FE also comes with an S Pen stylus, ideal for productivity and creativity. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers great value for money with its powerful performance and versatility, suitable for students, professionals, and anyone needing a robust tablet.
Pros
- Cool and durable water and dust-resistant Sleek Design
- Fast screen refresh rate
- Powerful performance with 8 GB RAM
- Comes with a free S Pen
- Modern Android 13 OS
- Samsung’s One UI overlay is also available for a premium user experience
Cons
- The Snapdragon 870G is a midrange processor
- It does not have the best camera specs
- No Headphone Jack is available
OnePlus Pad: All round Android tablet
- Display: 11.6 inches
- Resolution: 2800 x 2000, 7:5 aspect ratio, 144 Hz
- OS: Android 13
- CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9000
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 128GB
- Ports: USB-C
- Cameras: 13MP (rear), 8MP (front)
- Battery Life: 13.5 hours (tested)
- Size: 10.1 x 7.4 x 0.2 inches
The OnePlus Pad is a game-changing tablet offering incredible performance and value for its price. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor, one of the fastest available, it handles demanding tasks like gaming and video editing effortlessly.
It features a sleek design with a metal frame and soft-touch back panel, available in three colors: Halo, Moonlight Silver, and Obsidian Black. With a massive 8,000mAh battery, it provides enough power for a full day’s use, whether working, studying, or gaming.
The 11.6-inch IPS LCD boasts a 2800 x 1800 pixel resolution, delivering sharp, vibrant visuals perfect for enjoying movies, TV shows, and games. Additionally, it’s Dolby Vision certified for enhanced HDR content viewing.
Other features include a quad-speaker system for immersive audio, a 13MP rear camera, an 8MP front-facing camera for photos and videos, a microSD card slot for expandable storage, and a magnetic keyboard folio for productivity.
Overall, the OnePlus Pad is an excellent choice for anyone needing a versatile tablet with powerful performance, long battery life, and a stunning display. Its feature design and affordable price make it a great value.
Pros
- Excellent display at 11.6-inch IPS LCD with 2800 x 1800 showing vibrant colors
- Many accessories like a quad-speaker system, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, microSD card slot, and magnetic keyboard folio
- Long battery life at an affordable price
Cons
- Few software updates are available
- No Headphone Jack
- Weak back panel made of plastic instead of metal
Xiaomi Pad 6: Best Value for Money
- Display: 11-inch IPS LCD
- Resolution: 2880 x 1800 pixels
- Refresh rate: 144 Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 870
- RAM: Up to 8 GB
- Storage: Up to 256GB
- Operating System: Android 13 with MIUI 14
- Cameras: 8 MP front and 13 MP rear
- Xiaomi Smart Pen stylus support
- Connectivity: USB-C port, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity
The Xiaomi Pad 6 is a compelling mid-range tablet offering a well-rounded set of features and capabilities at a competitive price point. It boasts a sleek and modern design, a vibrant and responsive display, robust performance, and long battery life.
The Pad 6’s 11-inch IPS LCD display features a high resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels and a speedy 144 Hz refresh rate, delivering vivid, sharp visuals with excellent viewing angles and a smooth, fluid user experience. Additionally, it’s Dolby Vision certified for an enhanced HDR content viewing experience.
Powered by the potent Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset paired with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, it effortlessly handles a wide range of tasks from gaming and video editing to multitasking. The tablet runs Android 13 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 14 overlay, adding a plethora of useful features and customization options.
While the Pad 6’s camera setup isn’t the most impressive, it delivers decent image quality with its 8MP front camera and 13MP rear camera.
The tablet’s generous 8,840mAh battery ensures all-day usage on a single charge, with support for 33W fast charging for quick refueling. One of its key highlights is support for the Xiaomi Smart Pen stylus, offering valuable productivity and creativity features such as note-taking, drawing, and photo and video editing. The stylus also supports air gestures for convenient tablet control.
Overall, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a versatile tablet with a powerful processor, long battery life, and a stunning display. Its feature-rich design and competitive price make it a compelling option in the mid-range tablet market.
Pros
- Large, Vibrant, and Responsive Display
- Powerful processing with the Snapdragon 870 chipset paired with up to 8GB
- Long battery life and versatile specifications
- Affordable price
Cons
- Lacks a Headphone Jack
- Average Camera Quality
- Limited Software Updates
Factors to Consider When Buying the best Tablets Under 500$
- Display Quality
- Processor Power
- Battery Life
- Storage Options
- Accessories
- Price
Display Quality
A tablet’s display is very important. You will choose different screen types depending on your intended tasks. You will consider the screen size, resolution, type, and brightness levels.
Choose a large screen with high resolution, at least Full HD and above. Vibrant screens with high brightness levels ensure that you can use them even in outdoor setups or high-light conditions. For tasks like printing, choose a screen with a high color accuracy.
For the best experience, avoid LCD screens and go for IPS or AMOLED screen technology types. This eradicates parallax and ambient light interference. Tablets like the Xiaomi Pad 6 and Lenovo Tab P11 Plus feature stunning displays perfect for creative work.
Power and Performance
A powerful processor ensures tasks run fast and overall compatibility with many Pro applications. Additionally, large RAM and an updated OS will ensure fast multitasking even for complex programs like Photoshop and Illustrator. If you need a tablet for gaming under $500, we recommend the Apple iPad (10th Gen)‘s A14 Bionic chip or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 in the Xiaomi Pad 6.
Battery Life
A fast-charging and long-lasting battery is important if you work on the go. Additionally, if the perfect battery is combined with a slim, lightweight build, your tablet is considered to be easily portable without needing to keep recharging. Devices like the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro 2nd Gen and OnePlus Pad offer very long battery life.
Operating System
This is the ecosystem where your tablet operates. Most versions are freely upgradable to the latest versions. For easy customization and integration with different applications, consider the Android OS.
If laptop-like productivity is what you prefer, Windows OS tablets like the Surface Go 3 are recommended. If you are used to Apple devices like MacBooks and iPhones, iOS tablets are recommended for their seamless integration across all Apple products.
The choice of OS will depend on preference, with each of them offering its share of pros and cons. We, however, discourage using FireOS and ChromeOS due to their many limitations.
Storage Space
Storage determines the amount of space you have for offline file storage. Some devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite, offer storage space expansion using a MicroSD card bought separately. iPads, on the other hand, are rigid and not expandable. However, they offer a wide range of size versions that you can choose from. Most iPads range from 128 GB to 2 TB versions. Choose depending on your usage.
Accessories
Accessories and additional features enhance your usage. Speakers, front and rear cameras, free tablet cases, and stylus support offer more flexibility when using tablets. Some tablets, like the Galaxy S6 Lite, come with a free S Pen, while iPads do not. Others, like the Surface Go 3, offer excellent keyboard and pen support for artists, creatives, and writers. Consider what accessories are available for your tablet before buying.
What are the best tablets under $500?
The Apple iPad 10th Generation features the powerful A14 Bionic chip and a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. It delivers smooth multitasking and reliable performance at an affordable price. It is ideal for students and casual users who want a reliable tablet in the Apple ecosystem at a budget-friendly price.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers a high-resolution AMOLED display, S Pen support, and IP68 water resistance. It delivers flagship-level features while staying budget-friendly. It is ideal for Android users and professionals who want a premium tablet with excellent features under $500.
The OnePlus Pad packs a 144Hz display, a powerful Dimensity 9000 processor, and a 9510mAh battery into a sleek, stylish design. It handles gaming, multitasking, and media consumption with ease. It is ideal for users who need a stylish, well-rounded Android tablet for work, entertainment, and gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tablets come with stylus support or are stylus-ready?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite comes with a free S‑Pen. It is also compatible with Samsung Dex mode but the keyboard is bought separate. Apple iPads offer Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil support but you must buy them separate for around $100 each since non comes for free.