With technology now being accessible to people from all generations, gaming has slowly become one of the most prevalent pastimes around the world. While hardcore gamers still prefer using PCs and consoles, many casual gamers are more than happy to make use of a tablet to play one of the many free-to-play mobile games that fill the Google Play and Apple stores, as well as some of the more premium games like Minecraft and Plants vs Zombies. Whether you are a casual gamer yourself or want to buy a new device for the gamer in your life, below are the best tablets for casual gaming as of January 2020.
1. iPad (2019 model) – Best Budget Apple
The 2019 Apple iPad is billed as a budget model but it’s a good upgrade option for those with the 2018 model. It comes with either 32GB or 128GB of internal storage; the latter of which should be a good option for most casual gamers. Some may, however, be disappointed with the lack of a MicroSD slot, which is a negative point for all Apple devices. That said, the 2019 iPad has a beautiful retina display, smooth performance, and support for a keyboard and the Apple Pencil. It’s a solid budget option for those who can’t afford any of the pricier options.
2. Samsung Galaxy S5e – Best Budget Android
The Samsung Galaxy S5e was released in early 2019 and is more than capable of holding its own against the Apple devices, including the new iPad Air. The Super AMOLED display delivers fantastic contrast and is a must for those who like to play the premium games available in the mobile stores. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support any form of stylus, but it does have double the amount of RAM as the iPad Air and some fantastic Quad Speakers that can help to make the gaming experience more integrative. Cost-wise, it’s appealing, and a top budget choice for Android users.
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 – Best Feature-Rich Android
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 rivals the iPad Pro in many ways with both having a Super AMOLED display and both being 10.5”. Feature-rich, it features better hardware than the iPad Pro, expanded ram, a slightly better GPU and, of course, additional storage. A stylus also comes bundled with the device. The main issue that many have with the Galaxy Tab S6 is its price point; however, it is well worth entering into a payment plan, or researching bad credit loans if you’re sure you can afford the repayments. It’s pricey for an Android device, but the specs more than hold their own.
4. Amazon Fire HD 10 – Best FireOS
Finally, we have the Amazon Fire HD 10. FireOS may not be as popular as Apple or Android, but Amazon has been pushing their tablets as a great budget option and they’re especially popular with younger gamers who want a cheap device that still offers good functionality. The Fire HD 10 is the best tablet that Amazon currently offers, but it’s still available at a lower price point than most on this list. The 64GB storage option will be ideal for most gamers, while the full HD display portrays most games well. The short battery life (10 hours) is a negative for some, and not everyone will appreciate the smaller amount of games available from the Amazon store compared to Google Play. That said, it’s still a great choice for many.
Do you agree with the tablets on this list? Do you use a device that you prefer? Let us know in the comments.