Best Tablets for Kids 2013
With Christmas fast approaching, we take a look at some of the best tablets for kids in 2013. Later on, we also take a look at four things that one should always consider before buying a kid-oriented tablet. If you would like to read the kids tablet buying guide first, click here.
Best Tablets for Kids 2013
The XO Tablet is a full-fledged Android 4.2 Jelly Bean tablet featuring 1024 x 600 pixels high-resolution 7-inch touch screen and dual-core processor clocked at 1.6 GHz. While the three parental dashboards track usage and learning styles, allowing parents to better understand their child’s intellectual development, the usual parental controls can be configured to limit access to the Internet, and app store purchases. Another feature that as a parent you will find quite handy is its Journal feature which captures every usage like web pages visited.
It is also worth noting that although being touted as a kids tablet, it is not limited to kids only. With the press of one icon, its ready for your usage too. For older users, it comes with Google Play app store, but, for children it has its own app store.
For the reason that it is not limited to kids only, while being equipped with all the features that regular kids oriented tablets have, this XO tablet has all what it takes to become one of the best tablet for kids.
Best Price: $129 (at Amazon)
LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra
LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra built specifically for kids is recommended for kids aged four to nine years. It has 7-inch resistive touch screen having resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, easy to understand controls and an ultra-tough frame that makes it highly durable. Unlike LeapPad 2 having 550MHz processor clock speed and 4GB internal storage, this LeapPad Ultra has an improved processor clocked at 800MHz and 8GB internal storage.
LeapPad Ultra has a secure browser, LeapSearch powered by Zui that allows kid safe web browsing via its WiFi connection. Furthermore, by configuring parental controls, you can easily limit what your child can access. This doesn’t end here. It is also possible to connect the LeapPad Ultra to your computer to see specific details of your child’s LeapFrog Learning Path like areas where your kid shines or needs more support.
Best Price: $149 (at Amazon)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids Edition
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids is a special edition of regular Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. It comes with a kid-centric easy to use interface filled with bright colors and animated characters to appeal kids rather than featuring typical Android 4.1 interface. Plus, the password protected parental controls let you set daily usage time limit and control what apps your kid can use giving you total peace of mind. There is also a wishlist of apps that your kid wants to use available through parental controls. You can use it to select which apps to buy from Samsung’s Kids’ Store. In addition, you can also choose your own Google Play apps to add to the Kids Mode by simply checking off those apps in Application Manager.
Other features include 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, a 7-inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, a 1.3 MP front-facing camera, and a 3 MP rear-facing camera. It also comes with 8 GB of internal memory and features a microSD card slot (microSD card sold separately) that allows you to add up to 32 GB of additional memory.
Best Price: $189 and up
Fuhu NABI 2
Fuhu NABI 2 is the 2nd generation tablet from FUHU Inc.(creators of Fooz Kids) designed with kids in mind. Despite being a 7 inch Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, this tablet is bit different from other traditional Android 4.0 ICS tablets as it features two distinct Android environments; one for kids with kids interface and launcher and the other one is traditional Android interface with stock ICS launcher. By disabling the kids interface aka Nabi Mode, it becomes ready for an adult’s usage. When the Adult Mode(Mommy & Daddy Mode) is turned off, the Nabi returns automatically to the kids interface. The Mommy & Daddy Mode is password protected, so unless your kid knows the password of it, there is no way your kid can gain access to the Adult Mode.
Full Review: Fuhu NABI 2 Review
Best Price: $179 (at Amazon)
VTech InnoTab 3S
VTech InnoTab 3S is both fun and educational 5-inch tablet targeted at young children in the age group 3 to 9 years. The InnoTab 3S features WiFi and a 2.0 MP rotating camera allowing kids to take pictures and record amazing videos. Also, you can configure what websites your kid can view while browsing the web. Moreover, the capability to send and receive texts with VTech Kid Connect Basic, and ability to send messages between two InnoTab 3S tablets makes it fun tablet for kids.
The InnoTab 3S also has e-book reading capabilities, 4 GB of internal memory and a rechargeable battery pack (a $34.99 value) allowing kids to use it for up to 9 hours. All these features along with its low price tag of around $80 (as of writing this), really makes it one of the best tablet for kids.
Best Price: $79.99
Kids Tablet Buying Guide: 4 Things to Consider
Still confused what tablet is right for your kid? Don’t worry. You already know what are the best tablets for kids. By the end of this part, you will also know four things that should always be considered before buying a tablet for kid. This kids tablet buying tries to answer all the basic queries that one may have in mind while buying a kid-oriented tablet.
Display Size & Weight
Kids have little hands, so buying a tablet with screen size equal to or greater than 10 inch will make it difficult for your kid to hold the device and operate it with comfort. While slates with a screen size of below 5 inch will make it too small for ideal usage. Therefore, going with a tablet having display size in the range of 5 to 7 inch is perhaps the best option. It’s also worth noting that those chunky protective bumpers, which are almost norms in kids tablets increase the overall size of a device further. Additionally, just make sure you are not buying a slate that’s too heavy which will only make it difficult to hold and operate comfortably. That only means creating trouble for your kid.
Build Quality
Even if your kid is well disciplined and don’t have any habit of breaking things, its not a guarantee that your kid will not accidentally drop the tablet damaging it. When accidental drops and spills are very much normal even with adults, kids are more likely to drop them. Therefore, you should pay extra attention on the build quality when buying a tablet specially for your kid. Most of the kids tablets comes with protective bumpers, which are very much effective in protecting them from accidental drops. But, if the one that you want to give to your kid don’t come with it or not even have any third party protective bumpers available in the market, buying accidental warranty along with the tablet is the last option available to you.
Parental Controls
Its important to protect your kid from adverse affects of Internet and provide age appropriate content only to your kid. Most of the kid oriented tablets comes with parental controls allowing you to limit access to the Internet, app store purchases and talk and chat features. This means while your kid can make full use of the tablet, you don’t have to worry if they are doing something which they aren’t supposed to do. However, as parents you may have to take slightly more care to ensure that parental controls are set up properly. Otherwise, it won’t make any sense of having parental controls features. Some tablets for kids go one step further by providing more detailed usage of the tablet. They capture every usage by the child of the tablet, including web pages visited, apps, games, downloads and files and documents created.
Apps
The last thing you may wish to check while buying a tablet for your kid is to see whether all apps that your kid already uses are available on it. This step is important especially if you are buying a tablet for your kid just to make sure they no longer borrow your beloved and probably more expensive tablet. Otherwise, get ready to share your own beloved tablet with your kid.
Also, any good kid-oriented tablet usually have plenty of educational apps and content. Therefore, select the one that have a wide variety of educational apps and content available.
Now that you are equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision on which tablet is right for your kid and knows what are all the best tablets for kids currently available on the market. Its the best time to go and enjoy shopping!
Nevertheless, don’t forget to leave comments if you have something to say (or whether you think we have missed a tablet that should be listed above).