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You want to introduce your child to educational and entertaining apps and maybe even some YouTube videos, but how much should you spend on their first tablet? Should you go straight for the iPad, or find something a bit more affordable as their first device, perhaps among Amazon Fire’s tablets made just for children?
It’s easy to see why children gravitate to tablets, which can be as easily loaded with educational apps as well as entertaining content. Not only can kids read books, watch movies, play games and listen to music, they can learn the basics of using a computer and even learn how to code on a tablet.
It’s important to consider the durability, affordability and lifespan for a child-friendly tablet before actually buying a tablet for your kid. Since children tend to be a little more clumsy and unusually sticky, it’s a good idea to invest in a tablet with a sturdy construction or a durable case that can protect a delicate glass screen against any drops or scratches. Most kids also don’t need top-of-the-line features, either. With that in mind, it may be best to avoid pricey premium tablets like the iPad Pro and Surface Pro. (It would be a particular type of heartbreak to watch an iPad shatter on the ground.) Many kid-friendly tablets even give robust parental control options that let parents monitor the amount of screen time and the content children can access.
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Amazon
The Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is the kid-friendly version of the Amazon Fire HD 10 with the largest display in the lineup of Amazon tablets. Just like its 7- and 8-inch siblings, the tablet features a ton of parental control options and a rubberized bumper case to protect the device against drops. This 10-inch tablet also includes a two-year “no questions asked” replacement warranty and a one-year subscription to FreeTime Unlimited, a content library that gives kids access to plenty of age-appropriate videos, books, games and apps.
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The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is two inches smaller and $70 cheaper than the 10-inch version, but it includes the same bundle of parental controls, rubberized bumper case to protect the device, two-year worry-free replacement warranty and a one-year subscription to FreeTime Unlimited. Compared to the Kids Edition of the Fire 7, the HD 8 is $30, more but is packed with a higher-resolution screen, faster performance and more storage making it a worthwhile upgrade.
Read our Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition (2017) review.
Amazon
Priced at $100, the Amazon Fire 7 is the most budget-friendly option out of the lineup of Kids Edition Amazon tablets. It does a decent job at most tasks and apps and includes the same bundle of parental controls, padded case, a two-year warranty and a one-year subscription to FreeTime Unlimited.
Read our Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition (2017) review.
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When it comes to tablets, iPads definitely have the more recognizable name and in-app purchases are easy on an iPad. However, handing over an iPad with endless apps to a child can be a nerve-racking experience considering that high iPad price tag. Compared to Amazon’s Kids Edition tablets, iPads offer the versatility to adapt to a growing kid’s changing needs in a tablet. The 2018 entry-level iPad offers all the benefits and smooth performance of an iPad at a more affordable price.
Read our Apple iPad (9.7-inch, 2018) review.