Top 10 Best Budget 10-inch Tablets

Samuel Tan10-inch Tablets, Android Tablets, Best Tablets, Tablets, Windows Tablets 0

Not only do we want affordable tablets but reliable ones too. Here are 10 such tablets that fit the bill. These are tablets from reputable names such as Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon and Huawei.

There is never a better time to get a big tablet. Big tablets are better for entertainment, productivity and gaming. While they may be heavier than small tablets, they make up for better handling, usability, ergonomics and visibility.

But what if you are not prepared to fork out for an all-singing, all-dancing super tablet the likes of Samsung Galaxy Tab S series or Apple iPad Air and iPad Pro . We search and compare the web for budget tablets that do not cut corners and are just as reliable as the premium alternatives.

Table of Contents

10 Best Budget Big Tablets with 10-inch Display

Here is a quick look at our top 10 affordable and best, budget tablets.

BONUS: Lenovo Tab M10 Plus 10.3-inch Tablet

A Closer Look

Let’s take a closer look at each of these tablets and how they compare.

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1-inch Tablet – GOOD BATTERY LIFE, SLIM & LIGHTWEIGHT, MORE MEMORY

The new Galaxy Tab A has grown from 9.7 to 10.5-inch and then settled on 10.1-inch. Just like the smartphone market, Samsung tries to cover all market segments and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A is one for the entry level. Available in black, silver and gold, this latest offering from Samsung uses the new screen ratio of 16:10 vs previous Tab A 9.7-inch at 4:3 distancing itself from the likes of the iPad. The 10.1-inch display is packed with plenty of pixels. At Full HD or 1200 x 1920 pixels, it is a much welcomed upgrade.

As it is an entry level device, you will need to make do with mid range processor, the Exynos 7904, an octa-core processor with speeds up to 1.8Ghz. It also just features a standard LED panel with IPS tech instead of Samsung’s Super AMOLED panel. The latter is reserved for the premium Tab S series. Still, the display now has narrower bezel wrapped in premium metal chassis.

Another welcome upgrade is in the audio department. The dual firing stereo speakers now support Dolby Atmos surround. This makes the tablet a perfect media consuming device. You can make the most of Dolby Atmos content, experiencing wider sound range and immersive surround.

Memory and storage have also been given a lift. The Tab A’s memory and storage starts from 2GB of RAM memory and 32GB of storage space. Bigger options include 3GB of RAM memory with 64GB of storage space or 3GB of RAM memory with 128GB of storage. The battery life at 13 hours. WiFi and WiFi plus cellular (4G) models are available.

Processor: Dual 1.8GHz + Hexa 1.6GHz Exynos 7904
Screen: 10.1-inch Full HD 1080p 1920 x 1200 pixels LCD display
Memory: 2GB/3GB DDR3 – MORE MEMORY
OS: Android 9.0
Storage: 32GB/64GB/128GB eMMC storage
Expansion: MicroSD card expansion up to 512GB
Cameras: Front 5MP and rear-facing 8MP cameras with 1080 FullHD video capture support
Battery: 6,150 mAh Li-ion battery with up to 13 hours usage (Internet) – GOOD BATTERY LIFE
Connectivity and Sensors: 802.11 b/g/n Dual Band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi Direct, USB Port v2.0 Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, Accelerometer, Gyro, Compass
Dimensions and Weight: 245.2 x 149.4 x 7.5mm, 469grams – SLIM

2. Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet – IMPROVED PERFORMANCE

Changing its focus from high-end to mid-range and entry level tablets, Amazon launched the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 at price points that make even budget tablet makers look twice. With the usual Amazon build quality the latest Amazon Fire HD 10 boast 30% faster performance compared to its predecessor. Thanks to the new 2.0 Ghz octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM memory, you can now enjoy more games and apps. Even with more power, it manages up to 12 hours of battery life, 2 hours longer than previous generation.

Amazon Fire HD 10 9th gen 2019 — Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet on Amazon

On top of that, it is also the first Fire to use USB Type-C reversible connector. It takes the hassle of fiddling with the connector every time you need to charge the device just to make sure it is the right side up. Another welcome upgrade is the front facing camera, moving from VGA to 2MP on par with the rear facing 2MP camera. Finally, we are given more toned down, subtle colour choices of black, plum, twilight blue and white vs black, punch red and marine blue.

Elsewhere, things kinda stays the same; 1080p Full HD display, 32GB or 64GB storage but expandable to 512GB as oppose to 256GB with microSD card, Dolby Atmos dual firing speakers but louder, dual band WiFi, Alexa hands-free and display mode.

Build to consume content mainly from Amazon or streaming services, the tablet’s simple and intuitive interface is bound to be a hit with users that care not for fiddling or tweaking but just want to get in front of their movies, books, magazines and TV shows. Prime members can also download Prime Video movies and TV shows to watch offline.

Processor: Octa-Core 2.0 GHz with 2 GB of RAM – FASTER PROCESSOR
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 32GB or 64GB, MicroSD Slot supports up to 512GB
Screen: 10.1-inch Full HD 1080p 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution with IPS (in-plane switching) technology and advanced polarising filter
Cameras: 2MP front and rear facing cameras with 720p HD video recording
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours of mixed use
Connectivity: Dual band WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth
Dimensions & Weight: 262 x 159 x 9.8 mm, 504 grams
OS: Fire OS
Colours: Black or White

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5-inch Tablet

Launched in 2018, the 10.5-inch device is a step up from 9.7-inch of its predecessor. It goes to show Samsung’s commitment to the tablet market where others have LG, Asus and Toshiba are winding down. Apart from the big 10.5-inch display, the tablet has plenty to offer. From Dolby Atmos enhanced audio from four speakers to massive 7300 mAh battery serving up hours of practical use, the Galaxy Tab A has everything going for it. While the body is plastic, not metal like the 2019 version, it is still sturdy and the matte finish avoids smudges.

In the display department, it may not have Super AMOLED tech found on the Tab S series but the panel is still bright and sharp at Full HD resolution. The big display, amazing sound, low price point and long battery life alone are convincing points to buy the tablet. Those points alone also help you overlook the fact that the device is powered by a mid-range processor, that it has a plastic body and the facial recognition struggles at times to work properly. If you need to know, the Tab A comes with USB C connector with Qualcomm Quick Charger 3 support.

Processor: Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53
Memory: 3GB RAM – MORE MEMORY
Storage: 32GB, MicroSD Slot supports up to 400GB
Screen: 10.5-inch Full HD 1080p 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution LCD with IPS (in-plane switching) – BIGGEST
Cameras: 5MP front and 8MP rear facing cameras with 1080p HD video recording
Battery Life: Up to 15 hours of mixed use – BEST BATTERY LIFE
Connectivity: Dual band WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth
Dimensions & Weight: 260 x 161.1 x 8 mm (10.24 x 6.34 x 0.31 in) 529 (WiFi) 534 (LTE) grams
OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo)
Colours: Black, Blue or White

4. Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab 10.1-inch Tablet

As part of the Smart Tab series, Lenovo is revamping their tablets to include Amazon’s voice service, the Alexa. Yes, the ‘Smart’ in Smart Tab refers to being able to summon the voice activated assistant and do all the smart stuff you can do by simply asking. We see this in the Lenovo Smart Tab P10 and Lenovo Smart Tab M10, tablets with conventional slate like profile. But what about Lenovo’s popular Yoga tablets, ones with a rolled cylindrical long edge.

This makes the tablet easy to hold with one hand especially in portrait mode for reading and browsing. It also works as a weighted based together with the build in kick stand in landscape mode. Plus, if you have a hook on the wall handy, you can also hang the tablet up. The cylindrical bump not only houses the battery but stereo JBL speakers too on either ends for Dolby Atmos surround sound.

The Yoga series tablet is getting the same Smart treatment too to support hands-free access to Google Assistant. To that end, it comes with three digital mic arrays with 360 degree far field voice recognition. Known as the Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab, it is a thin, light and comfortable hold tablet with that same long battery life, amazing sound and built-in kick stand. The display serves up 1080p resolution which is more than sufficient for most applications. This is also the first Yoga tablet to feature a USB C port.

Compared to other Lenovo Smart Tab on this list, the Yoga Smart Tab is by far the most expensive but still cheaper than the entry level Apple iPad.

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 octa core
Memory: 3GB RAM – MORE MEMORY
Storage: 32GB, MicroSD Slot supports up to 256GB
Screen: 10.1-inch Full HD 1080p 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution LCD with IPS (in-plane switching)
Cameras: 5MP front and 8MP rear facing cameras with 1080p HD video recording
Battery Life: Up to 15 hours of mixed use 7000mAh – BEST BATTERY LIFE
Connectivity: Dual band WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, LTE
Dimensions & Weight: 242.00 x 166.00 x 8.50 mm, 580 grams
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie)
Colours: Iron Grey

5. Huawei MediaPad T5 10.1-inch Tablet

The MediaPad T5 with 10.1-inch Full HD display is both thin at 7.8mm and light, weighing only 460 grams. It may not have the super narrow bezels found on newer tablets but is wrapped in a symetrical metal body. Designed to consume content especially videos, the clue is in its name, the MediaPad excels on both display quality and sound. The Full HD display uses the 16:10 aspect ratio making it suitable for videos as well as browsing while the dual speaker pumps out enough volume for an immersive cinematic experience.

It is also not cutting corners on performance. The MediaPad T5 10 being the higher model to the MediaPad T3 10 makes use of the company’s Kirin 659 octa-core processor that clocks up to 2.36GHz. Together with a spacious 3GB RAM memory and 32GB storage, it will load apps quickly and allow you to switch between them easily while consuming less power. Other features includes the 2MP selfie camera and 5MP rear lens, 5100 mAh capacity battery and EMUI 8.0 skin over Android 8.0. Having been around for a while, it features a micro USB connector.

Processor: Kirin 659 Octa-core processor
Memory: 3GB RAM – MORE MEMORY
Storage: 32GB
Screen: 10.1-inch Full HD 1080p 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution LCD with IPS (in-plane switching)
Cameras: 5MP front and 8MP rear facing cameras with 1080p HD video recording
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours of mixed use 5100mAh
Connectivity: Dual band WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2
Dimensions & Weight: 243.00 x 164.00 x 7.8 mm, 460 grams
OS: Android 8.0 + EMUI 8.0
Colours: Black or Champagne Gold

6. Lenovo Smart Tab P10 10.1-inch Tablet

The Lenovo Smart Tab P10 has a cheaper twin brother, the M10. Both based on the same processor, display and design, both tablets support Amazon Alexa voice service. Both tablets are also offered with speaker dock that turn the tablets into a smart displays.

There are however subtle differences in the looks department. The P10 being slimmer by 1mm and lighter by 40 grams has a different shade of black. It also has double the storage at 32GB and comes with 3GB of memory both of which are our recommended minimum for todays application. On top of that, the tablet comes with more audio fire power in the form of 4 front facing Dolby Atmos enabled speakers.

Finally, it runs on Android Oreo 10, has a 5MP front facing camera and an 8MP rear facing camera. To support voice recognition and voice activated assistance, the companion smart dock comes with three far-field microphone built-in. The built-in speakers pumps out a total of 6W of power (2 x 3W) and a few handy controls let you power on or off, mute, pair and control the volume.

	Lenovo Smart Tab P10	Lenovo Smart Tab M10
Dimensions	242 x 167 x 7mm – SLIMMEST	243 x 168 x 8mm
Weight	440g – LIGHTEST	480g
Operating System	Android Oreo	Android Oreo
Color	Aurora Black	Slate Black
Virtual Assistant Experience	Alexa Built-in	Alexa Built-in
Display	10.1” FHD (1920 x 1200) LCD IPS display	10.1” FHD (1920 x 1200) LCD IPS display
Processor	Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 450	Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 450
Storage	32GB	16GB
Memory Layout	3GB – MORE MEMORY	2GB
Audio	4 x front-facing speakers Dolby Atmos®	2 x front-facing speakers Dolby Atmos®
Front	5MP fixed focus	2MP fixed focus
Rear	8MP autofocus	5MP autofocus

7. Lenovo Tab E10 10.1-inch Tablet

There are two versions to the E10. Pick one with 32GB ROM storage as oppose to 16GB. The Lenovo Tab E10 may not be Smart like the Smart Tab series with voice recognition and smart display support but is super cheap. Basically, it has everything one needs from a tablet, a clear and crisp display at HD resolution, that’s 1280 x 800 pixel and dual front firing speakers that supports Dolby Atmos so you can enjoy all your movies and TV shows.

It manages to keep the price bargain basement low by using a budget processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8009, a quad-core chip clocking in at only 1.3GHz speed, 2GB of RAM memory and battery that can only sustain up to 7 hours of continuous use. Still, the saving grace is the 32GB ROM storage. And, if that is not enough, the onboard microSD card reader lets you add up to 128GB of extra storage.

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8009 Quad Core 1.3Ghz
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 32GB
Screen: 10.1-inch HD 1280 x 800 pixel resolution LCD with IPS (in-plane switching)
Cameras: 3MP front and 5MP rear facing cameras
Battery Life: Up to 7 hours of mixed use
Connectivity: WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
Dimensions & Weight: 247 x 171 x 8.9 mm, 530 grams
OS: Android 8.0
Colours: Slate Black

8. Lenovo Smart Tab M10 10.1-inch Tablet

From this point onwards, our budget tablet list takes on lower memory at 2GB RAM and smaller storage at 16GB ROM. However, they are by no means rubbish, just more suitable for simpler tasks like browsing the web, checking emails, streaming videos, listening to music and some occasional light gaming. Although, that’s about what everyone needs their tablets for.

The lower of the two Lenovo Smart Tab offerings, the M10 has the same processor and display as its higher sibling the P10 but comes with only 2GB of RAM memory and 16GB of ROM storage. Still, the Smart Tab is offered with Alexa voice service, speaker dock that turns the tablet into a smart display and the same tablet design albeit in a different shade of black.

	Lenovo Smart Tab P10	Lenovo Smart Tab M10
Dimensions	242 x 167 x 7mm	243 x 168 x 8mm
Weight	440g	480g
Operating System	Android Oreo	Android Oreo
Color	Aurora Black	Slate Black
Virtual Assistant Experience	Alexa Built-in	Alexa Built-in
Display	10.1” FHD (1920 x 1200) LCD IPS display	10.1” FHD (1920 x 1200) LCD IPS display
Processor	Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 450	Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 450
Storage	32GB	16GB
Memory Layout	3GB	2GB
Audio	4 x front-facing speakers Dolby Atmos®	2 x front-facing speakers Dolby Atmos®
Front	5MP fixed focus	2MP fixed focus
Rear	8MP autofocus	5MP autofocus

9. Huawei MediaPad T3 10 9.6-inch Tablet

The MediaPad T3 has a slightly smaller display at 9.6-inch as oppose to 10.1-inch. The budget T3 series is available in three different sizes, the 7-inch, 8-inch and 9.6-inch. For 9.6-inch version, the tablet is offered with two different storage sizes; 16GB or 32GB of storage. For todays applications, we would recommend the bigger 32GB version but it really depends on what you need the tablet to do.

Battery life is an amazing 16 hours with mixed use and while the 9.6-inch display is not Full HD, it does pack 1280 x 800 pixels making it higher than 720p HD. It is driven by an entry level Qualcomm MSM8917 processor, a quad core chip clocking at 1.4GHz with 2MB of cache. Together with 2GB of memory, it will handle all day to day tasks without breaking a sweat.

For cameras, you get a 5MP main rear facing camera located on the top right corner in landscape mode and a 2MP front facing camera located in the top middle bezel again in landscape mode. As for audio, the stereo speakers are Dolby Advanced Audio v4 enhanced. All that is wrapped in a single piece anodised aluminium body exuding quality and style.

Processor: Qualcomm MSM8917 Processor Quad Core 1.4Ghz
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16/32GB
Screen: 9.7-inch HD 1280 x 800 pixel resolution LCD with IPS (in-plane switching)
Cameras: 2MP front and 5MP rear facing cameras
Battery Life: Up to 16 hours of mixed use with 4800mAh capacity battery – GOOD BATTERY LIFE
Connectivity: Dual Band WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2
Dimensions & Weight: 80 x 159 x 229 (H x W x D) mm, 460 grams
OS: Android 8.0
Colours: Space Grey

10. Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 10-inch Tablet – BEST BATTERY LIFE, HIGH RES. SWIVEL CAMERA

Now in its third generation, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 is a multi-mode tablet with super long battery life, that is if you can forgive the bulge or what we like to call the rolled canister edge where the battery is stored. It also doubles as speaker chamber for a pair of front firing speakers and rotatable camera.

Lenovo-Yoga-3-10 — Lenovo Yoga 3 on Amazon

The third generation Yoga Tab 3 is all grown up, now in a dark metallic shade but maintains the original design with four ways to use the tablet. This has primarily been the selling point for the Yoga range. A kick stand from the back close to the rolled edge lets you operate the tablet laying on its back in tilt mode, or stood up in stand mode.

The kick stand also flips all the way around to reveal a loop or hole. This together with a suitably sturdy wall hanger, allows the tablet to be hung. Finally, with the kick stand stored away, use the fairly weighted rolled edge as a handle in hold mode. This to some is more comfortable and easier to grip than the conventional tablets that all but want to be super thin.

What is new in this generation and not seen in previous Yoga Tab is the rotatable camera. The 8MP camera can be swiveled 180 degrees and works with pre-loaded software that lets you use gesture to control the camera. Simply open-close your hand to take a shot. The integrated front firing speakers push Dolby Atmos sound for louder, clearer and more dynamic audio, perfect for entertainment.

Another new feature with the Yoga Tab 3 is the Lenovo AnyPen technology. The display detects any conductive object as pen. This allows you to use any pen on the tablet as a stylus to take notes, sketch and draw. Did we mention it has a super long battery life of up to 18 hours, the only tablet that can achieve this, it is the best in-class for those looking to stay away from the wall socket for as long as possible.

A higher model the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pros is also available with Intel Atom x5-Z5800 processor clocking at 1.44GHz with Burst Frequency of up to 2.24GHz and ultra high definition 10.1-inch display with 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution.

Processor: Quad Core 1.3GHz Qualcomm APQ8009/MSM8909
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16GB eMMC, MicroSD Slot
Screen: 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 pixel resolution (149 ppi) with IPS (in-plane switching) technology
Cameras 8MP rotatable auto focus camera – HIGH RESOLUTION CAMERA
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours of mixed use with 8400 mAh non-removable battery (up to 125 days standby time) – BEST BATTERY LIFE
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth V4.0, GPS, G-sensor, Vibrator, Hall Sensor
Dimensions & Weight: 9.7″ x 0.37~0.13″ x 7.28 (253 mm x 9.5 ~ 3.5 mm x 185 mm), 655 grams
OS: Android Lollipop 5.0
Colours: Slate Black

BONUS: Lenovo Tab M10 Plus 10.3-inch Tablet – BEST FOR DESIGN

In the budget segment, no tablet come close in terms of design appeal to a mid-range or even high-end device other than the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus. Available in variants with the either 2GB or 4GB memory and 32GB or 64GB eMMC storage configuration, the tablet is not short of memory or space either. Naturally, we would gravitate towards the 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage option however be prepared to spend up to a third more from the base model. Not a huge amount given the starting price is just over a hundred but will go a long way with multitasking and file storage.

Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Body — Lenovo Tab M10 Plus on Amazon

Back to that gorgeous design that we like so much, with its slimline bezel and stylish all metal chassis. With a high 87% display to body ratio, the device has the smallest footprint amongst tablets with the same or even bigger displays. That 10.3-inch is also Full HD so there is no lack of detail (1920 x 1200 pixels or 220PPI) and brightness (330nits). The tablet is geared towards family and entertainment use and will play nicely with most apps. There is even an 8MP auto focus rear facing camera and a 5MP fixed focus front facing camera. For entertainment, the a set of stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos flanks the display and if you have to download your movies or music for that long journey, pop-in an optional microSD card (up to 256GB).

A couple of things to be award of here, as the tablet is after all a budget device, it is powered by an Octa-Core MediaTek Helio P22T 2.3GHz chip and offers up to 9 hours battery flex. The P-series chips are design for efficiency so don’t expect a great deal of performance from them, certainly no where close to the G-series geared for gaming or X-series for extreme performance. Don’t get us wrong, these will pull off the odd 3D and 2D titles but at low settings. The tablet is also available bundled with smart charging station that functions as a speaker dock.

Processor: MediaTek Helio P22T Tab, octa-core, 4 x A53 @ 2.3GHz, 4 x A53 @ 1.8GHz
Memory: 2/4GB RAM
Storage: 32/64GB eMMC, MicroSD Slot (up to 256GB)
Screen: 10.3-inch 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution (200 ppi) with IPS technology
Cameras: 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras – HIGH RESOLUTION CAMERA
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours of web browsing, up to 7 hours of video playback use (5000mAh)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot Bluetooth 5.0 LE, A-GPS, USB Type-C 2.0
Dimensions & Weight: 244.2 x 153.3 x 8.2 mm (9.61 x 6.04 x 0.32 in), 460 grams
OS: Android Pie
Colours: Iron Grey