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Top 5 Best Midrange Tablets under $500 you can Buy in 2024.
The biggest surprise? Tablets under $500 can provide surprisingly strong performance: quality displays, long battery life, and enough power to handle modern apps and games with ease. While top-of-the-line models cost upwards of $1,000, there are now plenty of options that balance price and performance without feeling like budget compromises. So, we’ve got recommendation for the top 5 Best Tablets under $500 you can Buy in 2024.
Number 1. Apple iPad (2022, 10th Gen)
Best Midrange Tablet Overall
- USB-C port.
- Fast Performance.
- High-quality cameras.
- Sleeker design with slimmer bezels.
- Cellular upgraded to 5G.
- No Face ID.
- Apple Pencil awkward to charge.
- Just 64GB of storage.
Apple’s 10th-generation iPad strikes the best middle ground for most users with its balanced design and performance, coupled with value. Its redesign in 2022 was big for Apple; inside and outside, the modernization of both design and specs was necessary. So, now it comes with a flat aluminum chassis housing a 10.9-inch display with decent brightness, and from the Lightning port, USB-C has taken its position.
Admittedly, it’s not perfect, with a non-laminated display and other spec options staying the same, but performance is still solid on this iPad thanks to the A14 Bionic chip, making everyday tasks smooth. Improved camera systems provide improved photos and 4K video recording, while the relocated speakers do indeed provide a proper stereo experience in landscape. Though battery life does not change from before, the iPad’s 10-hour lifespan should be quite ample for most daily uses.
Offered at a discounted price of $349 in 2024, it’s an even better value while still being the default budget-friendly option from Apple. With portability like its 10th-gen iPad predecessor, along with its reliable performance, it makes for a perfect device for casual browsing all the way to multimedia consumption and light productivity.
Number 2. Oneplus Pad
A new standard for Android tablets
- Eye-catching design and excellent build
- Good display with good refresh rate.
- Great performance.
- The quad speaker configuration offers good sound.
- Fast charging and dependable battery life.
- Accessories are slightly expensive.
- It tends to get warm under pressure.
The OnePlus Pad is a well-designed first-generation Android tablet in almost every possible way. Artfully contrived, this first-generation wonder touts a sleek design and robust construction. For $465, you get a really impressive 11.6-inch screen with a special 7:5 aspect ratio and an astonishing 144Hz refresh rate. The screen bursts with 500 nits of brightness to show vivid and clear images at 296 PPI. Indoor and outdoor, the intelligent brightness control guarantees pleasure in view with 20 – 48 levels.
Under the hood, the OnePlus Pad is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. This should be a seamless performance, where almost everything one does on it is easy to accomplish. Running on OxygenOS, based on Android 13, this tablet includes unique features on its large display to keep it user-friendly.
Feeding this beast is a hefty 9,510mAh battery with support for a 100-watt charger. The tablet caps at 67W charging, but that gets it to do some pretty fast recharges. The official accessories will probably cost an arm and a leg, so the OnePlus Pad takes center stage. The OnePlus Pad is easily one of the Mid-range Android tablets out there, thanks to its brilliant performance, stunning build quality, and fast charging-ideal for any user needing an overall great device.
Number 3. Lenovo Tab P12
A mid-range tablet with a unique creativity focus
- Good quality bundled-in stylus.
- Uniquely huge 12.7in display.
- Use-expanding software.
- Supports variety of accessories.
- Not terribly powerful.
- Keyboard case isn’t very functional.
- Screen a little dim and only 60Hz.
The Tab P12 is a popular mid-range tablet with a special emphasis on video playback and creativity. With its huge, sharp display and built-in pen, it distinguishes itself from the smaller and more traditionally capable rivals. The tab p12 is currently on sale for $324, down from $400 at the Lenovo Official Store. The Tab P12 impresses with its large 12.7-inch IPS LCD display, offering a visually pleasing experience despite lacking the punch of AMOLED or HDR brightness.
The tablet’s design is sleek and professional, with an all-gray plastic body that might feel a bit dull to some. The build quality is solid, and the device has a premium feel, though the 615g weight is noticeable. Functionality is a mixed bag. The tablet comes with a pen and ample 8GB RAM, but its Mediatek Dimensity 7050 chipset struggles under heavy multitasking, making it less suitable as a laptop replacement. Simple tasks like browsing and note-taking are handled well, but switching between apps can be sluggish, especially in the 4GB RAM variant.
The fixed 60Hz refresh rate also limits the fluidity of the experience. Audio quality is strong, thanks to the quad JBL speakers, but the lack of a headphone jack and slow USB 2.0 port may disappoint some users. The cameras are adequate for video calls, with the front camera offering better performance than the rear.
Battery life is impressive, with a 10,200mAh capacity that can last through days of moderate use, though charging takes time. Overall, the Lenovo Tab P12 is a solid choice for basic tasks and media consumption, but it falls short as a powerful multitasking device.
Number 4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Best Midrange Tablet for Android Users
- Very well built, with IP68 certification.
- Bright & colourful screen.
- Includes a great S-Pen stylus.
- Loud, clear speakers.
- One UI is a bit Marmite.
- No headphone socket.
- Light on RAM.
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a well-rounded mid-range tablet, finding a nice balance between features and price. Prices have often been found at $350 on the marketplace. With a 10.9-inch display that, while not an OLED, still features good color accuracy and a 90Hz refresh rate, everyday usage is a pleasure, even though it’s not exactly mind-blowing in poor lighting conditions.
Design-wise, it takes after the premium Galaxy Tab S9 with a squared-off aluminum body and slightly thicker bezels. While it isn’t as deft compared to high-end models, the fact that an S Pen stylus comes in-box without an additional cost puts it as even more of a value for digital artists. Powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, it’s competent but not a powerhouse, particularly when compared with more heavyweight rivals such as the OnePlus Pad or the iPad, and hence less ideal for gaming.
There’s a large 8000mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging, although the charger isn’t included. The tablet is water-resistant, IP68-rated, which is a real rarity for this category, and it also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which works but isn’t exactly leading edge. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE derives its strengths from overall capability rather than excelling in just one point. It offers capable experiences for anyone who needs a reliable device for the most general use without the frills of its more expensive iterations.
Number 5. Xiaomi Pad 6
A great affordable Android tablet
- Impressive performance .
- Good speakers.
- Surprisingly good camera.
- Solid build quality.
- Excellent 144Hz screen.
- No fingerprint sensor.
- Some ads in the software.
- Limited accessory availability.
- Quirky software.
The Pad 6 is the greatest mid-range Android tablet available, and it competes well with the 10.2-inch iPad. Even the tablet version of Xiaomi’s MIUI operating system is satisfactory, yet software support is unclear. The design resembles Apple’s tablets, with solid build quality featuring an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 3 for durability. Though the camera module protrudes awkwardly, the device remains lightweight and portable, weighing only 490g.
The standout feature is the 144Hz refresh rate on an 11-inch LCD screen with a high 2880×1800 resolution. Vibrant colors and smooth performance make it ideal for media consumption, supported by impressive quad stereo speakers. However, the lack of a fingerprint sensor and a 3.5mm audio jack might disappoint some.
At the price of $325, The Pad 6, powered by the Snapdragon 870, handles multitasking well with 8GB RAM, but its 256GB storage is not extendable. While Xiaomi touts it as a productivity device, it shines at entertainment. Its 8840mAh battery lasts 2-3 days with light use, however gaming drains it more quickly.
Besides, Despite Android’s shortcomings in optimizing apps for larger screens, the Xiaomi Pad 6 offers solid performance, especially for its price. Though the battery life is average, and its features lack certain conveniences, it remains a strong mid-range option.