Cheap Tablets for Preteens and Kids in 2013

Cheap Tablets for Tweens 2013

I tend to wait on some tech products for my kids until the newness in the market wears off.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  First, competition from various manufacturers goes to work, leading to better features, greater reliability and often, lower prices.  Secondly, the availability of cool gadgets doesn't always match my budget.  While the tablet craze is perhaps not as exciting as it was at the introduction of the iPad, it's definitely a medium that seems like it will stick around.  The good news is that there are some much better options in the lower pricing ranges today.  In fact, I won't be surprised if the 2013 Black Friday tablet deals are some of the best yet.  Right now, you can find some low end options in the $50 to $60 range, and I expect that this will continue.

I also won't be surprised if there are important updates to existing options in the fall.  I learned my lesson last year when I couldn't get the model of Kindle my daughter wanted for her October birthday because of problems with supplies.  A couple of search tips worth noting, especially if you are looking for new but cheap tablet options during the year.  If you begin with a basic Amazon search in electronics, make sure you use the refinement tools on the side of the page to denote price range.  While it's easy to leave the low end set at $0, you should bump it up to something a little more reasonable.  Otherwise, you'll wade through a lot of accessories and things that aren't tablets.  You can also limit your search by tablet size (in this result for Tween Tablets, I limited the search to tablets from $30 to $100 and selected 6 to 7 inch results).  You can refine further to check out your faves by how many GB, etc.

Best Tablets for Tweens in 2013

The 2012 tablet season was rather exciting, especially with the expansion of the Kindle Fire family and the development of the iPad mini.  As 2013 unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the big players in the tablet market continue in their struggle for dominance.

My observations based on 2012 trends include the fact that the Kindle family really makes the touchscreen technology accessible to the family.  I find friends and their children using various elements of the collection for everything from reading to game playing.  I love Amazon's content, and the ability to take that material with me to different devices.  Child's play is a smart concept for managing use, and will save lots of frustration in keeping track of whose turn it is.

For the tween, the low-cost tablet market is expanding with a host of under $100 options.  My teenagers talk about a cheap tablet being a doorprize at a holiday party they attended.  The winner of the prize put his tablet quickly to use.  I fully expect to see more options in the low-cost range by the time the holidays arrive.

Expect to see some of the same tendencies of recent years continue with major tablet and ereader models.  I can't imagine the Kindle family not having major advances, probably announcing their plans in late August or early September.  That's just intuition speaking, of course.  iPad will no doubt see some updates as well.  Also, watch for more combinations of laptops and tablets.

Which of these will be the best tablet for your tween in 2013?  If budget is your main constraint, look at ratings in the below $100 category.  If you want a more upscale model, look for both iPad and Kindle Fire options to be some of the best tween-friendly tablets.  Regardless of the model you select, keep in mind the tendency of a tween toward mishaps.  One of my husband's coworkers is dealing with the need to replace a tablet damaged by his son.  It was used to block a football.  Don't skip the protection plan!

Benefits of a tablet for a tween?  I love the hands on interaction and the availability of so many types of apps.    The access to a huge library of reading material is a plus, and Kindle has really expanded the reading opportunities for my teens and tweens in a small town with a limited library.




Check out these tablets that are less than $100 as examples of some quality and trendy choices:

Chromo Inc. 4GB 7" Tablet

Zeepad 7.0 4GB Tablet

Zeepad Pink

Coby Kyros 7-Inch Tablet 4GB

Save on a Tween Kindle Fire

If you've been thinking about a tween Kindle Fire for the holidays, there is a great deal today (Dec 10, 2012) while supplies last.  One per customer, you can save $50 on the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablet by using the code FIREHD89.  The 16GB option is $249 with the savings applied, and excellent deal for a large tablet with HD and Dolby Audio.

The site has provided some great deals throughout the holidays.  There have been a couple of opportunities to save $30 on the Kindle 8GB 7" tablet, but this is the first really great deal on a larger tablet.  I like the large size for video content, and it's great to be able to have larger space for ereading and games.  For the tween who's challenged by the awkwardness of a smaller screen, this is a nice alternative.

It's worth the extra investment to make sure that you have a good tween tablet case and a protection plan as tweens can be a little bit ruthless with their tech belongings.  My tween can be careless with her Kindle, and I definitely wouldn't pick up a tech device for her without a related plan.  My older daughter, a college student, is much more careful with her Kindle, but a case is still a much needed accessory.

Kindle Fire Deal on Cyber Monday

Save Big on Kindle Fire: Use Code FIREDEAL, CyberMonday only

 If you are looking for a good quality tablet at a great price, this is the day to pick up a Kindle Fire for your tween, teen or you! The $129 price is fantastic, and this is probably the lowest you will see any of the mainstream tablets that are trendy. My daughter's tween friend loves her Kindle Fire, and this pricing makes it comparable to the ereader choices. Well worth the investment, you may not see this pricing again this season.  Check it out here, and recognize that there is a limit of one per customer.

Vivitar Digital Camera Deals for Tweens and Teens

Digital Cameras for Preteens and Tweens:  Great Deals before Black Friday

You will find a lot of hot deals this season on digital cameras for tweens and teens. The pictured 14.1 mp is an example, a Vivitar available from Kohls. I picked up a much less advanced Vivitar for my tween daughter last Christmas, and though its price was my main interest, I'm looking at some of the current prices and loving them. The Vivitar digital camera deals this coming Black Friday are supposed to be pretty nice, but the one pictured is under $40 right now. It's a good started camera for a pre-teen or tween as it provides the basics but doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Tweens are notorious for changing interests awful quickly, and if you spend a huge sum on a camera only to watch it be ignored, it can be frustrating. My older daughters each received their first digital cameras in their tween years. One has gone on to upgrade, the other not. Comparatively speaking, you can get twice the mp at half as much as I spent on that Black Friday camera deal 6 years ago!

The New Kindle as an Ebook Reader for Kids

Kindle Ebook Reader for Kids

The Kindle ebook reader is one of the most popular items sold by Amazon, and as an ebook reader for kids, it's a great starter tech gift.  Over several years, the designs have been altered and the features improved.  Pricing on the basic Kindle has also adjusted, currently at $69.  What a great deal on a real tech tool that isn't just video games and mindless activity! 

 

The original Kindle has been adapted to create a variety of additional ebook reader options that appeal to a broad range of interests and individuals.  With the touch of a button or screen, electronic books can be quickly loaded on the device to enable easy reading and access to a vast library.  If you love to read, the Kindle is one of the most suitable devices for facilitating your thirst for more material.  There are many other E-readers on the market that will work for kids, though, and it’s important to understand the advantages inherent in choosing a Kindle.

 

The Kindle has a six inch display and weighs less than six ounces.  It’s easy to carry with you, making it possible to read at your convenience.  Protective cases allow you to transport the E-reader without worrying about damaging the device.  The e-ink pearl screen reads just like paper.  You don’t have to contend with an unnatural glare that can lead to eye strain.  The no glare experience is one of the best physical features of the device.  Kindle’s battery life is one month, meaning that a single charge will ensure that you can keep up with your latest reads without worry about having to stop because of power loss.  Charging time is approximately three hours.

 

The Kindle is easy to navigate with simple buttons at the bottom of the unit.  Content is downloaded through a Wi-Fi connection, and Whispersync technology ensures that you can access your reading material from other devices, picking up where you left off.  Search features and adjustable text and font sizes make your reading experience more interactive and educational.  Kindle will hold more than 1,000 books.  The Amazon library gives you access to millions of books and materials at affordable costs, and Amazon Prime enables you to borrow popular titles each month.

 

If your kids love to read, the Kindle will keep them supplied with lots of ebook choices.  Amazon's library is filled with both paid and free ebook online options that work with Kindle devices, Kindle apps and Kindle for the PC.  Your materials are stored in the cloud, meaning that your child's library stays intact if you upgrade to a new device.  Every year, the Kindle goes through transformations to make it more user friendly and useful. 

 

If you have reluctant readers, a Kindle is a great approach to encouraging better reading time and more reading.  Kindle materials are extensive.  Whether you are dealing with a preteen in need of reason to read or an early learner challenged in reading, there are great choices.

 

You'll find specifics on this basic ebook reader for kids and others here.

Wii U Gaming Systems for Tweens, Teens and Families

Normally, I wouldn't be too excited about a new video game system for our household.  However, my tween boys have me a bit interested in the new Wii U gaming system for tweens or family use.  The regular Wii has been a lot of fun, and occasionally we will move the kids off so that we can have a bowling night.  The ability to use Netflix has been really nice until recently.  Lately, the availability of Netflix features that we haven't watched umpteen times has made me seriously consider suspending the account.  The gaming system is fun, but I've wished for a while that it had the availability of Amazon Video on Demand.

The good news is that the Wii U video console is rumored to include Amazon VOD, making it an outstanding alternative to the current version if you are looking for a way to stream movies and television content to your big screen.  The continuing expansion of Amazon's content to new devices and venues makes it attractive, and this may be the final nail in the coffin of my Netflix account.

If you are trying to decide on a system that will stream Amazon Instant Video, I think that this may prove to be a worthwhile choice.  Release of Wii U is rumored in early November, just in time for the holidays.  You can check the latest Amazon Video Game Console details here.