ConsFirst / Kids' tablets

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+: the downsides first

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#6 of 8
$$Regular tablet + caseScore 3.4/5
9%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)General-audience listing (64GB, Graphite). Amazon search now surfaces the newer Galaxy Tab A11+.

PCMag's Editors' Choice for affordable Android tablets, and Good Housekeeping calls it the most iPad-like pick without the iPad price: an 11-inch 90Hz screen, Google Play, and Samsung Kids, which blocks ads and in-app purchases. Battery life is only average in PCMag's test, base storage is low, there's no case, and its Amazon low-star share (9%) is among the highest here.

Subscription: None required. Samsung Kids comes preinstalled (Good Housekeeping), and Google Family Link is available (PCMag).

Top complaints

  • Needs a case; durability reports mixed

    Good Housekeeping says to add a protective case and give it to a kid who can be careful with it. PCMag notes there's no IP rating. Amazon's summary says durability gets mixed feedback, with some saying it didn't last a year.

    Source: Good Housekeeping, PCMag review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Average battery and slow recharging

    PCMag measured about 7 hours of full-brightness 1080p video and calls it unremarkable. There's no charger in the box. Amazon owners say battery life is mixed, with some saying it takes forever to recharge.

    Source: PCMag review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Low base storage, no fingerprint sensor

    PCMag says the 64GB base model leaves about 48GB free (Genshin Impact plus test apps nearly filled it), and face unlock is the only biometric option.

    Source: PCMag review

What owners love

  • Smooth performance on a big screen

    PCMag says it handles streaming, multitasking and even Genshin Impact at medium settings, and the 11-inch 90Hz screen suits video. Amazon shoppers call the display crisp.

    Source: PCMag review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Samsung Kids blocks ads and in-app purchases

    Good Housekeeping says the preinstalled Samsung Kids app automatically blocks ads and in-app purchases. PCMag notes Google Family Link controls are available for Android tablets.

    Source: Good Housekeeping, PCMag
  • Expandable storage and loud speakers

    PCMag notes microSD support up to 1TB and quad speakers that reached 103.8dB.

    Source: PCMag review
Good for
  • Families on Android and Google Play
  • Schools using Google Classroom
  • Older kids and tweens who want a bigger, faster screen

Scores (tap for why)

  • Parental controls3.5
    Why 3.5?Samsung Kids and Google Family Link offer time limits and content filters (Good Housekeeping, PCMag), but no expert tested them in depth, and nothing is set up out of the box like on Fire kids' tablets.
    Source: Good Housekeeping, PCMag
  • Kids content & ads4.0
    Why 4.0?Full Google Play and Google Classroom support, and Samsung Kids blocks ads and in-app purchases (Good Housekeeping).
    Source: Good Housekeeping
  • Speed & screen4.0
    Why 4.0?Good performance and a 1,920 x 1,200 90Hz screen, though it washes out in direct sun (PCMag).
    Source: PCMag review
  • Battery3.0
    Why 3.0?About 7 hours in PCMag's full-brightness video test ('unremarkable'); Amazon owners are mixed.
    Source: PCMag review, Amazon.com product page
  • Durability & warranty2.5
    Why 2.5?Sturdy plastic and updates until fall 2027 (PCMag), but no case, no IP rating and mixed durability reports.
    Source: PCMag review, Good Housekeeping, Amazon.com product page

What experts say

  • PCMag: Best affordable Android tablet for kids and an Editors' Choice (4.0). The cons are no fingerprint sensor and low base storage.
  • Good Housekeeping: Best Samsung tablet (updated 2026-08-13). The most iPad-like option on its list, but you'll want to add a protective case.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Generally advises against buying Android tablets for kids over an iPad or Fire, since there are no kid editions with similar perks. Its Android pick is the pricier Galaxy Tab S10 FE.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked kids' tablets whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in kids' tabletsAmazon Fire HD 10 Kids

Good Housekeeping's best overall and Tom's Guide's pick for young kids: a big, sharp 1080p screen, the longest battery life in Tom's Guide's tests, a thick case and a two-year replacement guarantee. It's slow for serious games, has no Google Play, and Amazon has just announced Android-based Kids Tablets to replace the Fire line.

Its catch: limited app selection, no google play#2 in kids' tabletsApple iPad (11th gen, A16)

Wirecutter's, Tom's Guide's and PCMag's top kids' tablet: the fastest here, with by far the biggest app library, and it grows with your child. It's the most expensive pick, there's no case or kid warranty in the box, and reviewers and parents say Apple's Screen Time controls are clunky and kids find workarounds.

Its catch: parental controls are clunky and easy to work around#3 in kids' tabletsAmazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

Tom's Guide's pick for older kids and PCMag's best Amazon tablet for kids (4.0): the same 10-inch hardware as the Fire HD 10 Kids, with a slimmer case, a kickstand and a digital store kids can shop with parental approval. PCMag's main gripes are Amazon's in-your-face ads and Amazon-first content, the limited app store, and no promise of software updates.

Its catch: limited apps, no google services

See all 8 kids' tablets ranked →