Best Budget Tablets in the UK 2026: Top Low‑Price Slates Under £300

Best Budget Tablets in the UK 2026 – Low‑Price Slates Under £300

Even though high‑end tablets from Apple and Samsung dominate the headlines, the market now offers plenty of features on cheap devices that were once exclusive to premium models. For under £300 you can find tablets that stream video, handle light productivity, read e‑books and even manage a bit of gaming. Our tech team has tested each option and grouped them by what they do best, so you can pick the right budget tablet for your needs without guessing.

During Amazon Prime Day (ending 26 June) a range of UK‑priced tablets received deep discounts. Notable offers included the Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 for £135, Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ for £269, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 at £119, Amazon Fire HD 8 for £56.99 and the Fire Max 11 for £180.49. Lenovo’s Idea Tab Plus dropped to £229.99 and the Lenovo Tab One is available for just £79.99. All prices were verified on 25 June and represent the lowest deals seen.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 delivers a premium‑looking 11‑inch 90 Hz screen, quad speakers and solid battery life for only £169. Performance is decent, but charging is limited to 18 W and the cameras are basic. It’s an excellent all‑rounder if you don’t need fast charging or top‑tier software.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 retains the compact chassis of its predecessor while adding a 90 Hz display, improved front camera and a remarkable seven‑year software‑support promise. The tablet is lightweight, cheap and ideal for anyone who wants a portable device for media consumption and casual browsing.

Apple iPad A16 (entry‑level) sits just above the £300 ceiling at £329 but often drops below during sales. Even at full price it offers iPadOS, multitasking, excellent speakers and an 11‑inch display, making it a strong value proposition for Apple fans seeking productivity without paying iPad Air prices.

OnePlus Pad Lite marks the brand’s first budget slate. It sports an 11‑inch 90 Hz panel, OxygenOS, a 9340 mAh battery and a MediaTek Helio G100 chip. Brightness is modest and it lacks a fingerprint sensor or micro‑SD slot, but the price‑to‑performance ratio is hard to beat for indoor use.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE costs £199 and offers a Full‑HD 90 Hz screen, 128 GB of storage (expandable), and two‑day battery life. The Snapdragon 680 chipset is modest, and charging is slow, but the tablet feels premium for its price.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ upgrades the standard A11 with a larger 11‑inch LCD, better speakers and seven‑year software updates. It’s a solid choice for a big‑screen budget tablet, though the regular A11 remains cheaper and still capable.

Lenovo Tab Plus shines as an entertainment device with a 90 Hz FHD+ display, eight JBL speakers and a built‑in kickstand. Performance and software support lag behind rivals, so it’s best for watching TV rather than heavy multitasking.

OnePlus Pad Go 2 pushes the price ceiling at £319 but frequently falls on sale. Its 12.1‑inch 7:5 aspect‑ratio screen excels at side‑by‑side multitasking, and a 10 050 mAh battery lasts over 15 hours. A 5G variant is available, though the tablet only feels budget‑ish when discounted.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro offers a durable case, parental controls and a subscription‑based kids content library. The display and cameras are basic, but for children aged 6‑12 it provides a safe, affordable tablet.

When choosing a budget tablet, consider screen size, storage, camera needs, processor and software ecosystem. An 8‑ to 9‑inch model is ideal for portability, while 10‑inch plus screens suit home media and light work. Aim for at least 64 GB storage (128 GB preferred) and check for micro‑SD expansion. Android tablets vary by manufacturer skin; Amazon’s Fire OS is more limited than Google Play, whereas iPadOS remains the most polished for Apple users.

Keep an eye on upcoming sales – Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days, Black Friday – for further price drops. Amazon is expected to replace its Fire OS overlay with a cleaner Android version later this year, which may improve app availability. The entry‑level iPad is unlikely to see a new generation soon, so current discounts represent good value.

Our testing process involves a week of everyday use, covering streaming, gaming and web browsing, plus benchmark scores from Geekbench and PCMark. This ensures the tablets we recommend truly deliver on the promises made in the specifications.