Which tablet for elementary age kids?

[disneyfab]

Which tablet would you recommend for reading, games, and learning activities?

 

[wiigirl]

Nexus 7!

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

What kind of smart phone do you have? I would buy the compatible tablet to go with that so that your app purchases are usable on all of your devices.

We are a mixed family (droid/iphone) and actually own all three of these devices. The Kindle Fire is a great reader with great choices on amazon. You can also stream movies if you are a prime member.

I voted for the ipad mini though, as it is the ones that my children all pick up the most over the past few years. (three kids, ages 12, 12, and 8) My twins each have their own kindle fire for school, but they always pick up the ipad at home. The Kindle app works exactly like a kindle for reading.

 

[disneyfab]

What kind of smart phone do you have? I would buy the compatible tablet to go with that so that your app purchases are usable on all of your devices.

We have both. Dh and I both have Ipads. He has an iphone. I have a galaxy. Most of the time, the kids play on the ipads or our ipod touches. But, they seem to enjoy playing on the android more. My mom has an android phone too. They will choose that over the ipad.

I have a kindle keyboard and dh has a nook simple, but the kids don't use either for reading.

I like the kindle fire parental control features to limit access to certain function, but dh is worried that there is not enough apps for the kindle in compassion to the app stores for apple and google.

He likes the price of the Samsung better, but leans to apple.

I prefer the least costly option that will give me the most for my money.

Which tablet has the largest library of children books?

 

[My3kiddos]

My son has a Samsung Galaxy and loves it. I do suggest the otterbox though. The otterbox is pricey but worth the money. I got a good deal on Amazon last year before Christmas for the tablet.

 

[timmac]

Nexus 7!

Ditto this. Best bang for your buck in a tablet by a long shot. The Kindle Fire is a close second, though I don't like the amazon-customized android as much.

 

[tikilyn]

Timmac, can you explain the differences between the Galaxy tab and the nexus7? My daughter has asked for a galaxy tab for Christmas. Is there a major difference between them? I think she just asked for the galaxy because she has a galaxy s3 for a phone and that the tablet would work the same (ie no learning curve, so she thinks).

thanks

 

[timmac]

Sure. First, full disclosure: I have a financial relationship with the maker of the Nexus.

The galaxy tab, similar to the galaxy s series, runs a version of android that is very customized with added functionality and visuals. The Nexus is running vanilla or "stock" android. They both use the same source for apps (Play Store), and the same apps run on both. One major way that the nexus is somewhat set apart however, is that it will likely get updates for a longer period of time than the galaxy, and is basically guaranteed to be the first android tablet to get each new version of android (and new versions of any of the stock google apps).

 

[LJSquishy]

I voted 'Other'.

I think a full size iPad is the best, followed by either Samsung or Nexus. I only put the iPad ahead of the others because the App store is far superior.

I own an iPad and have an Android phone. I love my iPad (hate iPhones, though) and I love my phone, but the Apple app store is way better.

I'm not a fan of iPad Minis. A larger screen in a full size tablet is more ideal for reading, learning, and games.

 

[SandrA9810]

Timmac, can you explain the differences between the Galaxy tab and the nexus7? My daughter has asked for a galaxy tab for Christmas. Is there a major difference between them? I think she just asked for the galaxy because she has a galaxy s3 for a phone and that the tablet would work the same (ie no learning curve, so she thinks).

thanks

There's not much of a learning curve between a Galaxy and Nexus. I use the Galaxy and my bf uses the Nexus (he also has a SIII phone). I prefer the OLED screen of the Tab, and he prefers the higher processor of the Nexus.

At this point in the game, I believe Samsung went back to a standard LED screen, and that puts it on an even field with Nexus. Nexus has a quad-core with more ram vs Samsung's dual-core processor. Nexus is also cheaper than the Tab. Samsung has jumped on the popularity contest, and now seems to charge a premium for its products without offering anything better. I've also heard the Nexus has a better life-span than the Tab.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I voted 'Other'.

I think a full size iPad is the best, followed by either Samsung or Nexus. I only put the iPad ahead of the others because the App store is far superior.

I own an iPad and have an Android phone. I love my iPad (hate iPhones, though) and I love my phone, but the Apple app store is way better.

I'm not a fan of iPad Minis. A larger screen in a full size tablet is more ideal for reading, learning, and games.

The regular iPad is the best, especially when you consider the far greater number of fantastic apps available (many are free) for kids when compared to the other tablets.

The poll should have included an option for the regular iPad.

 

[Tiffemilee]

Santa is bringing my 8 year old the iPad mini. Sine she is constantly on my iPad reading or playing games so we thought this would be best for her. The full size iPad gets a little heavy after awhile but the mini is light as a feather.

 

[disneyfab]

The poll should have included an option for the regular iPad.

OP here - Dh and I both have regular iPads, but budget and portability -wise we don't prefer them for the kids. We're looking to spend $250 max for the tablet after cashback.

 

[lucyem]

We have macbooks, ipods, iphones and an ipad so for us any future purchases would be apple related just because of all the apps and movies we already own. I would not want to branch out at this point and most likely for a young child start as inexpensive (refurbished) as possible. I had a friend who was like me but then went and bought her daughter a kindle last year for Christmas. She is still kicking herself because she was buying all new stuff which kind of defeated the savings not buying her daughter an ipad. Then of course she has two kids and they would want to play the same games but because she did not have the same ones on the kindle....well you get the idea.

I do not know where things stand comparing all the above if you were starting from scratch. I would do some research online. I know apple had the best number of apps out there, especially educational apps, but others are slowly catching up. They are certainly the best for people with disabilities. My friend's mom is blind and is having a ball with her new iPhone. She did a ton of research beforehand. My kids use iPads in school and I get some of the same educational apps on it for them to do at home.

Book availability is kind of the same as the iPod/iPad has a kindle app. The difference would be kids books that are their own apps with sound etc.

 

[luvthemouse71]

My 3 year old niece has a Nabi tablet, which she loves. She just watches video and plays games(educational and just for fun) on it, doesn't go online with it, although you can.

She calls it her "iPad" because she's with me a lot and that's what I have,lol.

 

[pigletto]

We got ds9 a Nexus 7 for his birthday last year. LOVE IT. Love the amount of FREE apps, love the choice of Apps. Love everything about it. But what do we love most of all? The user accounts! We set up a master account with our email address and information with a password. He has another user account. He can't pay for apps without our say-so, can't browse Youtube or the internet without our say so etc. We control the device and the content. He's a good kid but it's so easy to wander into something they shouldn't see. Nexus 7 can be locked up tight for them so they only have access to what you say they should. We haven't had one single complaint about this device.
The Google Play store also has just about every ap, book or game we have ever looked for.

 

[HoosierDaddy71]

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab for myself (ver 2) and DD7 (ver 3) mainly because it is easier to load videos on the Tab vs iPads and because the Tab supports microSD cards. But it really depends on how it will be used. If it is strictly for games, iPad is better because of the volume of games available and ease of use (I have an iPad from work). If it will be used from watching videos, I suggest an Android because it is much easier to copy the videos to the tablet. Having to use iTunes is a PITA to me. Having a microSD slot lets you store a lot more by buying a larger card like a 32GB ($20) or even using multiple cards.

 

[~Brandy~]

My kids had a new technology initiative at school this year and were allowed to bring their own tablets. We bought them Galaxy Tabs, refurbished at Walmart, and they've been great. We're primarily an Android family though, so that's what we're used to. Because my kids are so young and they'll be taking these to school, I didn't want to risk a higher-priced tablet.

 

[SandrA9810]

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab for myself (ver 2) and DD7 (ver 3) mainly because it is easier to load videos on the Tab vs iPads and because the Tab supports microSD cards. But it really depends on how it will be used. If it is strictly for games, iPad is better because of the volume of games available and ease of use (I have an iPad from work). If it will be used from watching videos, I suggest an Android because it is much easier to copy the videos to the tablet. Having to use iTunes is a PITA to me. Having a microSD slot lets you store a lot more by buying a larger card like a 32GB ($20) or even using multiple cards.

The only upside to Ipad over Andriod for movies is that Disney's digital copies can only be played through iOS or Windows. Since I don't have an ipad, I haven't installed any of my digital copies (but I only have a handful of them).

 

[tinkgirl1984]

The only upside to Ipad over Andriod for movies is that Disney's digital copies can only be played through iOS or Windows. Since I don't have an ipad, I haven't installed any of my digital copies (but I only have a handful of them).

That's not really applicable anymore though. It still applies to old digital copies, but anything released since June if this year has gone to the new system. Now, you can use iTunes, Vudu or Amazon for your digital copies, so they'll work just as well on an android tablet or a kindle fire as they will an iPad.