Android tablets continue to improve in performance and features while remaining surprisingly affordable. In 2024, you can get a very capable Android tablet for media, communication, and even light productivity for under $200.
After extensive research comparing over a dozen budget Android tablet options, here are my top 5 picks for 2024 based on factors like display quality, battery life, storage, everyday performance, build quality, and extra features.
#1 Best Overall: Lenovo Tab M10 Plus
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus stands out as the best Android tablet under $200 thanks to its vibrant 1920×1200 FHD display with TDDI touchscreen technology, MediaTek Helio G80 processor for solid everyday performance, and excellent battery life reaching up to 15 hours of mixed use.
Key Features:
- 10.3" FHD TDDI touchscreen
- MediaTek Helio G80 processor, up to 4GB RAM
- 8MP rear + 5MP front cameras
- Up to 256GB storage (microSD expandable)
- 15 hour battery life
The Tab M10 Plus runs Android 11 out of the box, so you can take advantage of newer Android features. Its performance handles media apps, web browsing, messaging, and basic games without issue. The display looks sharp and has good color accuracy too.
While the cameras are just average, the Tab M10 Plus shines where it matters most for an entertainment tablet. It also costs less than $200 even for the highest storage and RAM variants, making it a great overall value.
#2 Best Display: Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
If beautiful display quality is your top priority, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers the best screen in this price range with its 10.5" 1200×1920 LCD complemented by dual speakers with Dolby Atmos surround sound.
Key Features:
- 10.5” 1200×1920 LCD display
- Octa-core 2.0GHz processor, 3/4GB RAM options
- Dolby Atmos quad speakers
- 7040mAh battery, up to 11 hours mixed use
- Android 11, One UI Core 3.1
Between its vibrant and sharp display plus loud stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, the Galaxy Tab A8 is designed for an immersive entertainment experience. It also delivers smooth enough performance for most apps and games without stuttering or long load times.
While more expensive Samsung tablets add fancier features, the Galaxy Tab A8 focuses spending on the areas that matter most for media and casual usage. If you want the best screen and audio possible under $200, the Tab A8 is it.
#3 Best Battery Life: Lenovo Tab M8
The most portable and long-lasting Android tablet you can get for under $200 is the Lenovo Tab M8. Its tiny but mighty 5100mAh battery stretches for an incredible 20 hours of mixed usage.
Key Features:
- 8” 1280×800 TDDI touchscreen
- MediaTek Helio A22, 4GB RAM
- 20 hour battery life
- 8MP rear + 5MP front cameras
- Supports fast charging
Weighing less than 1 pound, the Lenovo Tab M8 is designed for maximum portability with its slim form factor and epic battery runtimes. The lower resolution matches its smaller 8” size, but display quality remains good. Performance can occasionally stutter with demanding apps, yet handles everyday media and web use just fine.
If you want a budget Android tablet that keeps going for extended travel trips or long days of reading/streaming away from an outlet, the Lenovo Tab M8’s incredible battery life makes it the top choice.
#4 Best for Gaming: Amazon Fire HD 10
The Amazon Fire HD 10 isn’t your typical Android tablet since it runs Amazon’s Fire OS instead, but its excellent performance and display capabilities make it the best choice under $200 for gaming and graphics-intensive apps.
Key Features:
- 10.1" 1080p Full HD display
- Octa-core 2.0 GHz processor, 3GB RAM
- Up to 12 hours mixed usage battery
- Expandable storage up to 1TB
- Native Amazon appstore access
Between its Full HD display pushing over 2 million pixels and a high-performance octa-core processor with 3 gigs of RAM, the Fire HD 10 handles graphics-heavy games and apps better than other tablets at this price. The rear 5MP camera also outperforms cheap tablet competitors.
Keep in mind the Fire HD 10 doesn’t come with Google apps and services out of the box since it runs Amazon’s Fire OS. However, it’s easy to install the Google Play Store yourself. For gaming, graphics, and great display quality at a budget price, it‘s the best choice.
#5 Best Portability: Lenovo Tab M7
If you want the most portable Android tablet money can buy, it’s impossible to beat the 0.65 pound Lenovo Tab M7 with its 7” IPS touchscreen display encased in a metal back cover.
Key Features:
- 7” 1024×600 IPS touchscreen display
- Quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT8166, 2GB RAM
- Metal case with grip finish
- 8+ hour battery life
- Android 11 Go Edition OS
This tiny 7-inch tablet easily fits in bags, backpacks, even large pockets with room to spare. Its battery lasts through most of an average day‘s mixed usage too. While the Tab M7‘s low resolution display and entry-level processor don‘t excel, they perform fine for reading ebooks, messaging, emails, music, and video.
If you want an Android tablet to cover the basics that‘s supremely portable, the featherlight Tab M7 gets the job done.
What to Consider in an Android Tablet Under $200
With these top picks covering a range of needs and priorities, there are a few key factors to weigh when choosing an Android tablet on a $200 or less budget:
Display Size – Consider how much portability matters versus having ample screen real estate for watching videos and gaming. Tablets range from compact 7-8” sizes to more expansive 10”+ screens.
Storage & Memory – Look for at least 32GB storage; anything less will fill up fast. Having a microSD card slot for expansion is also useful. For memory, 2-3GB RAM is average but 4GB performs better.
Battery Life – Many cheaper tablets still deliver 8+ hours of battery per charge. Know your expected average usage time between charges before deciding if a tablet’s typical runtime meets your needs.
Performance & Brand – Stick with known, reputable brands like Samsung and Lenovo to ensure sufficient performance and build quality. Lesser-known companies often cut corners negatively impacting everyday use.
The 2024 Android Tablet Experience
Over the past few years, Android tablets keep getting better at doing more despite decreasing prices. Here’s what you can expect using one of these budget tablets in 2024 compared to just a couple years ago:
- Sharper displays with 1920×1200 resolution, higher brightness, and more accurate colors on premium tablets like Tab M10 Plus
- Improved chipsets that handle multitasking and app performance without frustration
- Longer battery life from more efficient processors and optimization
- More premium metal and glass materials on mid-range devices instead of all plastic
- Android 11 standard out of the box on newer models
However, using a sub-$200 Android tablet still has some drawbacks over pricier options:
- Average camera quality at best
- Touch response can occasionally lag or feel “sloppy”
- Less ram so app reloading happens more frequently
- More cheaply built entry-level models prone to damage
- Stuttery graphics performance in intensive 3D games
For most typical tablet needs like videos, ebooks, web browsing, messaging, and simpler games though, these best cheap Android tablets deliver very good 2024 performance, display quality, and battery runtimes.
