Trying to find the best tablets for kids in the UK? We shopped around to find the best child-friendly devices, whether you're seeking durability, built-in apps or the best parental controls you can find. Here are the pros and cons to some of the hottest kids' tablets out there.
Best Tablet for Parental Controls: Amazon Fire Kids Edition Tablet
The Amazon Fire Kids Edition Tablet lets you customise content for kids ages 3-12 on up to four different child profiles. They get access to kid-friendly apps and shows, and you can control what they watch. Set screen time limits, educational goals and prevent your kids from making in-app purchases or accessing email or social media.
- Price: £99.99
- Two-year warrantee included
- 7" display, 16 GB digital storage + a microSD slot for up to 200 GB
- Comes with a one-year subscription of Fire for Kids Unlimited
- Kid-proof case available in blue or pink
- Does it play Netflix? Yes, but the app can only be downloaded when you bypass the parental controls
- Can be slow when watching movies, opening apps or switching profiles
- Limited battery life (about 7 hours at best)
Best Tablet for Older Kids: Kurio Tab 2
The Kurio Tab 2 is a sleeker-looking Android tablet that still offers safe internet access and a protective bumper-style case. The Kurio Genius Internet Filtering System lets you create and modify custom web browsing filters to control what content your kids can reach on up to eight different profiles.
- Price: £69.99
- 7" display, 8 GB internal storage + a microSD slot for up to 32 GB
- Pre-loaded with over 60 apps for gaming, video-on-demand, ebooks and educational content
- Does it play Netflix? Yes
- Low video and camera quality
- Smaller, harder-to-read icons than other kid-friendly devices
Best Tablet for Learning: VTech InnoTab MAX
The VTech InnoTab MAX offers a secure connection to VTech's Learning Lodge, so you and your child can access age-apporpriate Android learning apps. Children can browse the web using filters use control or VTech's preprogrammed site limitations. The colourful, thicker design is ideal for younger kids, and the detachable cover can be used as a stand and removed for older kids (or for you!).
- Price: £69.99
- 7" display, 8 GB internal memory + microSD card capability
- Comes with 18 pre-loaded apps + 2 free apps of your choice and is backward-compatible with InnoTab game cartridges
- Available in blue or pink
- Does it play Netflix? No
- Battery is not removable and takes a while to charge and start up
- Low-quality camera
Best Resolution Tablet: iPad Mini 2
The iPad Mini 2 is great for older kids – and for you! The Retina display is great for watching movies and TV shows or playing games. This one isn't exactly kid-proof, so it's best to invest in a protective case. A Family Sharing feature lets you set parental controls, so you can prevent in-app purchases or web browsing.
- Price: £239
- 7.9" display, 32 GB internal memory capacity
- Can access photos, videos, music from other devices via iCloud
- Has a long battery life (up to about 10 hours) and high image quality
- Does it play Netflix? Yes
- Pricy for a child's tablet, but it can grow with your child
- Less durable and protected than other options
Best Customisable Tablet: LeapFrog Epic
The LeapFrog Epic lets young kids create their own personalised playable home screen. They can play engaging games that foster curiosity, creativity and critical thinking skills, without the hassle and danger of in-app purchases, ads or full web browsing abilities. After all, EPIC stands for Explore, Play, Imagine, Create.
- Price: £98.98
- 7" display, 16 GB internal storage + micro-USB capability for up to 32 GB
- Comes with 20+ apps, including games, LeapSearch kid browser and ebooks ideal for younger children
- "Chunkier" design great for little hands
- Does it play Netflix? Yes
- Limited battery life (about 5 hours)
- Apps can be expensive
Comments