Best Android tablets for kids
Kids
love touchscreens. They are accessible and intuitive to use. That makes
tablets ideal for learning and for play. The Android platform offers
some really
great apps for kids
and manufacturers are starting to see the potential for dedicated
child-friendly devices. That means you can reclaim your Galaxy S3 or
your Nexus 7 and keep the kids happy with a tablet of their own.
We
thought we’d take a look at some of the dedicated Android tablets for
kids that are now hitting the market. It’s worth considering one for
your child for a number of reasons. They can help children to learn
about various subjects, improve their motor skills, spark their
creativity, and keep them amused on road trips or while you cook dinner.
The
question is – are these dedicated child-friendly Android tablets worth
getting as opposed to a standard Android tablet with the right
collection of apps? Considering that you can install parental control
apps and limit what your kids do with a standard Android tablet, the
limitations of dedicated tablets for kids might be enough to make you
think twice. Let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer.
- 7-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
- 1GHz single-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- Android 4.0 (ICS)
- 4GB memory (and micro SDHC slot)
- WiFi
- 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera
The
Tabeo looks like a kid’s toy and it comes with a range of brightly
colored plastic frames for that 7-inch screen. It also comes with
parental controls and 50 pre-installed apps. There’s no access to Google
Play so new apps have to be acquired through the Tabeo App Store which
has around 7,000 to choose from right now. Even at $150 this isn’t a
great tablet.
- 7-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
- 1GHz single-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- Android 4.0 (ICS)
- 4GB memory (and micro SDHC slot)
- WiFi
- 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera
You
might be getting a sense of déjà vu because the Archos ChildPad is
virtually identical to the Tabeo. The original ChildPad was $10 cheaper,
but it had a resistive touchscreen, this updated version has a
capacitive touchscreen and it works much better. It also comes with a
bunch of pre-installed apps including Alvin & The Chipmunks 3
content thanks to some kind of deal with 20
th Century Fox.
There’s a clunky interface, parental controls, and a kid friendly app
store with around 10,000 apps and games in it. This is tough to
recommend.
- 7-inch touchscreen (1024×600 resolution)
- 1.3GHz quad-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- Android 4.0 (ICS)
- 8GB memory (and microSD slot)
- WiFi
- 2-megapixel front-facing camera
This
is a bit more like it, just because a tablet is for kids, doesn’t mean
that it has to be underpowered and the Fuhu Nabi 2 proves it with a
Tegra 3 processor. You also have the usual kid-friendly interface and
curated content including Mom-approved apps, music, and optional TV
shows (unlimited streaming of Spinlets+ TV is $2.99 per month).
The parent mode is stock Android and you can also access the Amazon App Store on the Fuhu Nabi 2. In fact, you could even
root the Fuhu Nabi 2
and add Google apps if you like. This tablet has a kid-friendly, tough
exterior and a solid set of specs. The interface, the combination of
entertainment and educational content, and the decent quality hardware
make this well worth a look.
- 7-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
- 1GHz single-core processor
- 512MB of RAM
- Android 4.0 (ICS)
- 4GB memory (and microSD slot)
- WiFi
- 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera
The
early reviews for this underpowered tablet are not good. The main
selling point seems to be the durability factor as this is a rugged
Android tablet designed to stand up to boisterous kids. It also has
parental controls that can be adjusted remotely, which is a good idea.
There are also some interesting accessories like a drum pad and steering
wheel, but they cost extra. It’s tough to look past the disappointing
specs here.
- 7-inch touchscreen (800×480 resolution)
- 1.2GHz single-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- Android 4.0 (ICS)
- 4GB memory (and microSD slot)
- WiFi
- 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 2.1-megapixel rear-facing camera
A
colorful rubber bumper, parental controls, and a batch of pre-installed
apps combined with a decent set of specs make the Kurio a good option
in this price bracket. The interface isn’t the most intuitive in the
world and there’s no Google Play, just the limited Kurio App Store.
There is an adult mode and kids might enjoy taking snaps with the
rear-facing camera. If you can scrape together another $50 then you
should skip this.
- 7-inch touchscreen (1024×600 resolution)
- 1.2GHz dual-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- Android 4.0 (ICS)
- 8GB memory (and microSD slot)
- WiFi
The
Kindle Fire is worth considering, especially with the new Kindle
FreeTime service which is effectively a set of parental controls. This
is an Android tablet that the whole family can enjoy. It lacks a camera
and there’s no Google Play, but Amazon offers a huge selection of
content and there are little extras like cloud storage. It is also
lightweight and Amazon claims it’s tough enough to let your kids play
with, but some kind of bumper or case would probably be a good idea.
Decisions, decisions
If
you want something designed specifically for kids and you have $200 to
spend then pick up the Fuhu Nabi 2. It combines the best blend of
kid-friendly features, usability, and polish. If you want something you
can use when the kids are in bed then the ad-supported Kindle Fire is
worth a look. If you can’t stretch your budget then the long awaited
OLPC XO 3.0 should be on your list, especially if the makers can hit the touted $100 price tag.
Most
of these kid-friendly tablets aren’t really worth considering. You
could pick up any Android tablet, install some parental controls and
kid-friendly apps, and buy a bumper or case for it. The obvious
advantage being that you’d have something without limitations that
anyone in the family could use.
Have you tried out any of these
Android tablets for kids? Do you know of another one that you’d
recommend? Post a comment and tell us about it.
