Tablet for a 9 yr old?? What to get?

[FusionChefGeoff]

DS has been using a VERY old iPad for lockdown learning then Roblox and a few other shitty games . Also use to watch stuff on long car journeys via Netflix / SkyApp

We want to get him a new tablet for his birthday but don't know which route to take:

Amazon fire - if so, which model?
New iPad - spendy!!
Galaxy tablet
Other

What have your 9/10 year olds got and what would you do??

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MNHQ

We have amazon fires here.

Amazon fire here too, but buy the normal version not the kids & get a case. The kids versions are way more expensive for no good reason

We have recently bought our 10 year old an ipad. It's what she uses at school, and many of the apps she uses aren't available on a tablet. Have a look on music magpie, they have used ones that are in great condition.

Sorry should say the apps she uses aren't available on a fire tablet.

My 11&13 year olds have iPad minis, they’re about 4 years old now and going strong.

My primary age child has one of our older hand me downs tablet computers - the first generation Apple iPad with the 12.9 screen. I think it’s one of the earliest Pro models and it has a scribe pencil. There are so many new product releases that the new one “instantly” becomes the previous old model soon. As long it has the latest software updates for functionality and security protection plus access to current Apps is fine. You don’t need the latest and greatest for a young child. But we always prefer old school hard copy materials ie normal books than excessive blue light screen time playing pointless unnecessary and potentially worrying non age appropriate social media nonsense. So just grab a new basic cheaper plain Apple iPad as it’s good value for the specifications, functionality and longevity or a slightly older preloved model with a larger screen real estate. Don’t buy a non brand cheap and cheerful Android tablet (apart from Samsung etc) as they are not economical in the longer term and you may be disappointed with the functionality etc after the initial enjoyment period. Not a Apple fan per say but it’s just a symptom of their market dominance especially in the educational and creative fields as their kit just seem to work better but they milk the price tags especially for additional stuff and keep refreshing their product lines too frequently as building in shorting product lifecycles to sell more perpetually.

Ipad will last longer, even a second hand one. We went through loads of tablets before we copped on

We got DD(10) a Samsung S6 Lite for Christmas and it's been great. She wanted a tablet that would be good for drawing, and the S6 Lite includes a stylus. The equivalent Apple tablet would have cost around £150 more (you have to buy the stylus separately. Lovely big screen so also good for watching Netflix, Roblox etc.

Definitely think about the stylus and whether or not that it Important to your DS.

@2andahalfpints

Ipad will last longer, even a second hand one. We went through loads of tablets before we copped on

I'm really not sure that is true. Agree that you should avoid cheap generic tablets like the plague but Samsung etc have completely closed the gap here.

iPad.

Mine have fires and use them for reading instead of carting books back and forth to school every day but they really are crap for anything else.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Samsung galaxy tab. Really good. They had Amazon fires when very young for car journeys, but they were awful.

Thank God I asked as was going for a Fire but will look at reconditioned iPads I think.
@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia can you expand a bit more on the stylus as I hadn't even considered that - what's the benefits you find?

@ FusionChefGeoff

I am no expert as I used to be a tech geek for fun and curiosity but nowadays the tech just moves too fast for my liking as hard to keep up!

Apple is I still arguably king in tablet computing and apps but Samsung Galaxy Tab with more established stylus is equally amazing! As an aside Google Android are better for mobiles especially for cutting edge technologies for photography eg Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra (www.dxomark.com/category/smartphone-reviews/)

This below will hopefully explain and introduce the Apple Pencil (note there is the original and current second version):

Everything Apple Pencil - Full Guide & Review m.youtube.com/watch?v=lRe38domkUM&feature=youtu.be

Apple Pencil compatibility: support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211029

I use the pencil for general notes handwriting and particularly for collaboration signing off electronic documentation as I am no touch typist and actually more because I am multilingual so important for recognition of other non alphabet languages as it is more accurate than finger touch screen. I don't think the pencil is so great for drawing. It's a nice productivity tool to have but not necessary especially for a child as you can't really use it as the tablet as if a blank canvas with your drawing implement. It's a good digital equivalent but not pen and paper replacement. Like smart watches you still unfortunately need to recharge the built in battery of the Apple pencil stylus.

Hope this helps as I am sure whatever your child gets will make their day! If only these things were around in my childhood - kids these day and their new age toys! Well as long as it is also educational as well media, communications and amusement then it sort of justifies the investment. If you buy a preowned Apple product check the battery health data as replacement older batteries like screens are not cheap!

My 10&8 year olds have ipads. My 5 yr old has a kids amazon fire and even he asks for an ipad! Personally I'm a Samsung fan.

Samsung have just released a new Galaxy Tab Lite A7 for £150 - looks good.

I agree Fire is a bit rubbish. My older kids have iPads through school so use them a lot. DS has a stylus for his as he loves doing art on it and it's handy for annotations sometimes. It's not an apple one though, just a cheap one and uses AAA batteries instead of charging. Youngest has a second hand mini that I got for home learning and it's been great.