Ranking: Best tablets for under 300 dollars/euros

The most affordable Samsung tablet with S Pen support is the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024). Unlike the cheaper Tab A9+ (ranked 4th), its refresh rate is limited to 60 Hz, and it comes with just 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of eMMC storage.

The mid-range Samsung Exynos 1280 SoC is somewhat outdated and falls well behind the Snapdragon 870 5G in the Xiaomi Pad 6 (ranked 1st). However, battery life is impressive at 12.5 to nearly 16 hours, and the tablet features solid speakers and a sturdy metal case.

For those seeking an affordable tablet with S Pen support, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a solid option.

However, other budget tablets outperform it in most other areas. The 128 GB variant is currently available on Amazon DE for 222 euros.

The Honor Pad 9 features a 12.1-inch QHD IPS display with 120 Hz, 600 cd/m² brightness, and pen support, while the Snapdragon 6 G1 delivers mid-range performance and 11-hour battery life.

It sports a sturdy metal case among other good things. Among the things lacking are an IP certification, 5G, WiFi 6, and a fingerprint sensor.

The Honor Pad 9 is currently available on Amazon DE for 240 euros.

Its high display brightness of over 800 cd/m² as well as the 144 Hz refresh rate really help the Pad 7 stand out. Despite the great display, its real-world battery life leaves little to desire at around 18 to 20 hours. The SoC (Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7+ Gen3) is super fast for the price range.

Its build quality and speakers are very decent and for those who need it, stylus input is supported. A Xiaomi keyboard case is available for this tablet, too. Please note that 4G LTE or GPS are not on board, there is no fingerprint sensor and the base warranty is quite short [in Germany]. We don't expect this product to get many years of software updates, either.

The Xiaomi Pad 7 is a good offering thanks to its fast SoC, very good display with stylus support and long battery life.

For 299 euros, you can get the Xiaomi Pad 7 from Alza [in Germany].

The Huawei MatePad 11.5 S features an 11.5-inch 2.8K 144Hz matte display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, pen support, and a fast Kirin 9000WL SoC.

Its premium metal case is just 6 mm thin and weighs only 510 grams, complemented by quality speakers and nearly 14-hour battery life. However, it lacks LTE, GPS, and its 450 cd/m² brightness is lower than some competitors.

The MatePad 11.5 S impresses with its work-friendly matte display but could improve in contrast and brightness. Saturn is currently offering it for 269 euros, with the next best price at 299 euros on Amazon DE.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ offers a 90Hz refresh rate on its 11-inch FHD IPS display, optional 5G, Samsung DeX, and four years of updates, with the Snapdragon 695 replacing its predecessor’s Unisoc T618.

It includes 64 GB of storage, 4 GB of RAM, expandable up to 1 TB via microSD (without internal formatting), and a sturdy aluminum case. The four speakers deliver solid audio, and battery life reaches nearly 15.5 hours.

While the Tab A9+ provides a bright 90Hz display, DeX, and good performance at a budget price, drawbacks include slow 15W charging, no power adapter, and no fingerprint sensor. The base version is available for 165 euros on Amazon DE.

The 8.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab A9, unlike the larger Tab A9+, features a 60Hz display with a lower resolution of 1,340 x 800 pixels and optional 4G.

For those seeking a compact tablet, the Galaxy Tab A9 is an affordable option, though it lacks a fingerprint sensor and does not include a power adapter.

It is powered by the MediaTek Helios G99 SoC paired with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. Battery life reaches up to 19 hours, and Samsung guarantees updates for four years. Galaxus currently offers the base model for 122 euros with free shipping.

The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE succeeds the Redmi Pad, maintaining a durable aluminum housing and an impressive 17-hour battery life, while increasing the screen size from 10.6 to 11 inches, though pixel density drops from 220 to 206 ppi. A headphone jack is now included.
The Snapdragon 680 4G is up to 30% slower than the Helio G99, particularly in single-core tasks.

Xiaomi delivers an affordable mid-range tablet with excellent quad speakers, but it lacks satellite positioning and a fingerprint sensor.

The 90Hz FHD+ IPS display is now 50 cd/m² brighter at 450 cd/m² and covers around 93% of sRGB. The 8GB RAM/256GB model is priced at 177 euros, while the 4GB/128GB version is available for 145 euros on Amazon DE.

The Lenovo Tab M11 offers a metal case for under 200 euros, along with quad speakers, a 90Hz FHD+ display, and stylus support.

Powered by the Helio G88 SoC with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, performance lags slightly, but battery life is solid at 15 hours, and software updates are guaranteed until 2028.

While the 400 cd/m² display is dimmer than competitors, and the cameras and SoC are average, the Tab M11 stands out for its strong price-performance ratio.

It is currently available for 149 euros at Saturn and Media Markt.

The Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro 5G is a budget-friendly 12.1-inch tablet featuring a QHD+ 120Hz IPS display, a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, and 6 to 8 GB RAM with 128 to 256 GB storage. While the cameras and speakers are underwhelming, and no charger is included, battery life is excellent at 15.5 to 17.5 hours.

The Redmi Pad Pro supports 5G and dual SIM, with an optional stylus available. However, it lacks dust and water protection and long-term software updates.

The 6 GB RAM/128 GB variant is currently available for 239 euros at Galaxus.

The Lenovo Tab K11 Plus is an 11-inch tablet with a 90Hz 2K display, pen support, and a premium metal case with four high-quality speakers.

Its Snapdragon 680 4G SoC performs similarly to the Helio G85, which may be limiting for demanding tasks, but the device remains cool under load.

The Lenovo Tab K11 Plus offers great value at a low price, though performance is not its strong suit.

It is currently available for 227 euros at Office-Partner.