The year of never-enough-screentime is in full swing. Tablets and smartphones have become a parent’s best friend during the pandemic, with everyone doing whatever they can to make it to bedtime. Experts say there will be a massive readjustment period, but overall not to worry — you’ll have plenty of time to reinstate limits once things go back to normal.
Technology has changed a lot since you were small. Your kids have probably mastered the features on your iPhone better than you have due to constantly asking to play with it. And when you do eventually get it back, it’s a sticky mess covered in slobber and other unexplainable slimes. But in the age of touch screens and constant connectivity, there’s not really a way to say “no” without feeling like a parent from the dark ages. Read more…
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BEST COMBO OF SPECS AND KIDS' CONTENT
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition
Amazon has outdone themselves with an ultra-durable version of the Fire HD Tablet that can take whatever kids throw at it.
- Resolution: 1280 x 800
- Storage: 32 GB
- Battery life: 12 hours
IMAGE: Best Buy
BEST FOR TEENAGERS
Apple iPad
Apple's newest entry-level option has more power than many PC computers and will likely last for your kid's whole school career.
- Resolution: 2160 x 1620
- Storage: 32 GB, 128 GB
- Battery life: 10 hours
IMAGE: Best Buy
BEST 2-IN-1 CHROMEBOOK
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
For the tasks a kid needs to do, this 2-in-1 is a champ that's much cheaper than other Chrome OS tablets.
- Resolution: 1920 x 1200
- Battery life: 13 hours
- Storage: 128GB
IMAGE: Best Buy
MOST DURABLE
Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition
Energetic kids are no match for the Fire 7's protective case and Amazon's worry-free guarantee.
- Resolution: 1024 x 600
- Storage: 16 GB
- Battery life: 7 hours
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BEST IOS TABLET FOR FAMILIES TO SHARE
Apple iPad Air
The diet iPad Pro welcomes a blistering fast processor and is Apple's best bang for your buck
- Resolution: 2224 x 1668
- Storage: 64 GB, 256 GB
- Battery life: 10 hours
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BEST ANDROID TABLET FOR FAMILIES TO SHARE
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Little ones will love the creative leeway of the S Pen and parents will love having a totally separate interface.
- Resolution: 2000 x 1200
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB
- Battery life: 7 hours
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BEST BATTERY LIFE
Lenovo Tab M8
Kids can set alarms or Google questions via voice commands, squeezing some self-sufficiency into their tablet use.
- Resolution: 1280 x 800
- Storage: 32GB
- Battery life: Up to 20 hours
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BEST FOR PRESCHOOLERS
LeapFrog LeapPad Academy
Large icons, specially curated-for-kids internet access, and a shatterproof screen makes this great for little ones.
- Resolution: 1024 x 600
- Storage: 16 GB
- Battery life: 7 hours
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BEST FOR AVID READERS
All-new Amazon Kindle Kids Edition
Though it's nothing special in the spec department, this distraction-free platform can help young bookworms tackle lengthy reading lists (while building their vocab along the way).
- Resolution: 800 x 600
- Storage: 8 GB
- Battery life: Up to four weeks
