Best Samsung Tablet for Kids UK (2026): Galaxy Tab A11 vs A11+

For most families, the best Samsung tablet for kids is the Galaxy Tab A11 8.7in Wi-Fi. At 335g it is light enough for small hands, Samsung Kids is built in, and the 128GB version costs £141.99 (checked 5 October 2026), just £4.99 more than the 64GB model at £137.00. For older children who use a tablet for homework and reading, the 11-inch Galaxy Tab A11+ Wi-Fi 128GB at £171.99 is worth the extra £30.00.

The biggest limitation is durability. Neither is a rugged kids' tablet: they aren't drop-proof, Samsung UK lists no water-resistance rating, and the warranty doesn't cover accidental or liquid damage, so a proper kids' case is part of the budget. Both are sold Open Box (Activated) as international stock, with a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets.

Quick decision: is a Samsung tablet right for your child?

Best for:

• Primary-school children who mainly watch, play, read and video-call family, using Samsung Kids as a locked-down home screen.
• Families who want one tablet with a separate user for each child.
• Older children who need a bigger screen for homework and e-books (the A11+).
• Android households, where a parent can manage the child's Google account with Family Link.

Choose something else when:

• It's for a toddler who will drop it, chew it and throw it. Budget for a heavy-duty case, or consider a purpose-built rugged kids' tablet.
• Your child needs to call you. These tablets aren't phones.
• Drawing is the main use. Neither model supports the S Pen.
• Your family uses iPhones and Apple's Screen Time. A refurbished iPad will fit in more easily.

Check before buying:

• No charger or case comes in the box, only a USB-C cable.
• The model code and box printing may differ from UK units.
• Set the tablet up yourself before you hand it over, so the parental controls are in place from day one.

Galaxy Tab A11 vs Tab A11+ for children: the buying facts

These are the specifications that matter most for a child's tablet, from Samsung UK's product pages unless noted.

These are the listings that suit a child's tablet at The Tech Gadgets. All are Open Box (Activated), international stock, checked 5 October 2026.

Which Samsung tablet is best for kids: Tab A11 or Tab A11+?

The Tab A11 is the better kids' tablet for most children under about ten, because it is lighter, easier to hold and cheaper to replace if the worst happens. The Tab A11+ suits older children and shared family use, where its sharper 11-inch screen and four speakers make homework, reading and films more comfortable. Both have the same parental controls.

A tablet for a 7-year-old: the Galaxy Tab A11

At this age the tablet is mostly for games, videos, e-books and video calls with grandparents. The A11's 8.7-inch screen is a comfortable size for small hands, and at 335g it weighs about 140g less than the A11+. Samsung Kids turns it into a separate, colourful home screen with only the apps you approve, and a PIN keeps your child inside it. Choose the 128GB model: £141.99 − £137.00 = £4.99 is a small price for twice the storage and twice the memory. Our Galaxy Tab A11 buying guide covers the rest of its specification.

A tablet for a 10-year-old: A11 or A11+?

Around this age, many children start to use apps for school, read longer books and want more independence. Either model works. Pick the A11 if the tablet is mainly for entertainment and travel. Pick the A11+ if it will be used for homework, because the 1920 x 1200 screen makes documents and small text easier to read and there is room for two apps side by side. Many families move from Samsung Kids to a child's own Google account managed with Family Link at this stage.

Teenagers and schoolwork: the Galaxy Tab A11+

For secondary-school children, the A11+ is the sensible choice. It supports Samsung DeX, a desktop-style layout with resizable windows, and works with a Bluetooth keyboard for typing essays. Google lets parents supervise a child's account with Family Link until the child reaches 13, the UK minimum age for managing their own Google account, so plan that handover.

What parental controls does a Samsung tablet have?

Galaxy tablets have three layers of control. Samsung Kids is a locked-down child mode with daily playtime, bedtime and approved apps. Google Family Link lets a parent manage a child's own Google account from their phone. Digital Wellbeing adds app timers and content limits. Both the Tab A11 and A11+ also support separate user accounts for each child.

Samsung Kids

Samsung Kids is built into both tablets and opens from the quick settings panel. According to Samsung's UK Samsung Kids page, parents get a PIN lock, a usage dashboard, a daily playtime limit, a daily bedtime, and allow-lists for apps, contacts and media. You can also add approved websites, so only those appear inside Samsung Kids. It works best for younger children, because they never see the normal Android home screen. Samsung notes that the content available inside Samsung Kids can vary by country and device.

Google Family Link

Family Link manages a child's own Google account rather than the tablet itself, and you control it from the Family Link app on your phone. Google's Family Link overview lists daily screen time limits, downtime and school-time schedules, limits for individual apps, approval of new app downloads, and filters for Chrome, YouTube, Google Search and Google Play. It suits children who are old enough for a normal Android home screen but not for an unsupervised account.

Digital Wellbeing, user accounts and AI features

Samsung's user guides for both tablets list Digital Wellbeing tools: a daily screen time goal, app timers that close an app once its daily limit is reached, and a volume monitor to help protect hearing. Content restrictions can limit websites and set age ratings, but only in Samsung Internet and the Galaxy Store. You can add a separate user for each child, and on Wi-Fi models Samsung's guide also describes restricted profiles that can only open the apps you allow.

The A11+ includes Google Gemini features. Samsung's newsrooms note age limits on these (13+ for Gemini on a personal account, and 18+ for Gemini Live), so treat them as adult tools rather than kids' features.

How do you set up a Samsung tablet for a child?

Set the tablet up yourself with your own Google account first, update the software, and choose a screen lock PIN your child doesn't know. Then decide between Samsung Kids for younger children, a supervised Google account through Family Link for older ones, or a restricted profile on a shared Wi-Fi tablet. Fit a case before you hand it over.

1. Set it up as the owner. Sign in with your own Google account. The first account created is the owner account, which controls the others.
2. Update it. Open Settings, then Software update, and install anything waiting before you add apps.
3. Lock it. Set a PIN or pattern that only adults know. Samsung Kids uses it to stop children leaving kids mode.
4. Choose your control. Use Samsung Kids for younger children. For older children, add their own supervised Google account as a new user and manage it with Family Link.
5. Set limits. Choose a daily playtime and bedtime in Samsung Kids, or screen time limits and downtime in Family Link.
6. Approve apps. Install the apps you're happy with, and turn on approval for new downloads.
7. Protect eyes and ears. Schedule Eye comfort shield for the evening, which reduces blue light, and switch on the volume monitor.
8. Fit the case and screen protector before the tablet leaves your hands.

If two children share one tablet, give each a separate user so their apps, progress and limits stay apart. The parent's owner account stays in control of all of them.

How much screen time should a kids' tablet allow?

There is no single right number, and the tablet won't decide for you. What a Galaxy Tab does well is enforce the rules you choose: a daily playtime and bedtime in Samsung Kids, or screen time limits and downtime through Family Link. Agree the rules with your child first, then let the tablet hold the line.

Tablets are a big part of how children go online. In Ofcom's Children and Parents report (published May 2026), six in ten (59%) children aged 8–17 use a tablet to go online. Parents report that 77% of 8–9s use one to go online, and for all the younger age groups Ofcom reports on, the tablet is the most common device for going online. The exception is the very youngest, aged 6 months to 2 years, where smart TVs lead.

Two habits help: charge the tablet overnight outside the bedroom, and give educational apps a separate allowance in Family Link so reading and maths don't eat into game time.

Is the Galaxy Tab A11 waterproof or drop-proof?

No. Samsung UK lists no water or dust rating for either tablet. Samsung Australia's specifications list IP42 for the Tab A11 and IP52 for the A11+, which means protection against dripping water at most, not spills or a dunking. Ratings also describe a tablet when new. Neither is drop-proof, and the warranty excludes accidental and liquid damage.

That makes the case the most important accessory you buy. For a child's tablet, look for:

• Raised edges around the screen, so it lands on the case rather than the glass.
• Thick corner protection, where most drops land.
• A handle or fold-out stand for watching films hands-free.
• A case listed for the Galaxy Tab A11 or Tab A11+ by name. The older Tab A9 has very similar dimensions, but Samsung redesigned the camera and side buttons on the A11, so check the cut-outs.

Add a screen protector and keep drinks off the table during tablet time. If you want cover for breakages, check whether your home insurance includes accidental damage to portable devices before you buy separate cover.

Should a child's tablet be Wi-Fi or LTE?

Wi-Fi is the right choice for most children. A Wi-Fi tablet costs less, has no monthly data bill, and can only go online where you have Wi-Fi, which is a control in itself. Choose the 4G Tab A11 only if your child often needs data in the car or away from home and you would rather not share your phone's hotspot.

The price difference is modest on the A11: £151.99 − £141.99 = £10.00 for the 4G LTE 128GB in Grey over the Wi-Fi 128GB in Silver. On the A11+, the 5G 128GB costs £219.00 − £171.99 = £47.01 more. Remember the ongoing data plan too. Samsung's user guides also describe restricted profiles for Wi-Fi models only. The SIM slot is for mobile data; the tablet isn't a substitute for a child's phone. For long journeys, download films and shows over home Wi-Fi before you leave.

How much storage does a kids' tablet need?

Choose 128GB. The 64GB Tab A11 leaves 44.9GB free after the system, which fills quickly with games and offline downloads, and the 128GB version costs only £4.99 more. A microSD card of up to 2TB adds room for downloaded films, music and photos, but apps and games install on the tablet's own storage.

Games grow with every update and offline video adds up, so 128GB is the sensible minimum for a tablet meant to last. The A11+ starts at 128GB, with 105.0GB free.

Cheap children's tablets: how good value is the Galaxy Tab A11?

Among cheap children's tablets, the Galaxy Tab A11 Wi-Fi 128GB at £141.99 stands out for one reason beyond price: support. Samsung UK lists security updates until 30 September 2032, so a tablet bought for a seven-year-old today should still get them when that child is about thirteen. The A11+ runs to 30 November 2032.

Here is how the money stacks up. The Tab A11 128GB is £141.99. The A11+ 128GB is £171.99, so the bigger screen and faster chip cost £30.00 more. If your family uses iPhones, a refurbished iPad 9th generation 64GB is from £164.00 in Very Good grade (refurbished UK stock), which is £164.00 − £141.99 = £22.01 more than the A11 128GB. Our comparison of the Galaxy Tab A11+ and iPad covers that choice in detail.

Unbranded budget tablets can cost less again. They don't have Samsung Kids, so check what parental controls they offer and whether the maker publishes a security update period before you buy. For a wider look at prices across the range, see our guide to the best cheap Samsung tablet by budget, or browse all tablets in stock, including iPads.

Is an Open Box tablet safe to give a child?

Yes. Each Open Box (Activated) Galaxy Tab has been switched on and activated once, then factory reset, checked and signed out of every Google and Samsung account before dispatch. You set it up from scratch with your own account, exactly as you would a sealed tablet, so no previous settings or apps carry over.

The tablets are international stock, made for sale in the UAE or Europe rather than supplied by Samsung UK. They run the same Android and One UI software, Samsung Kids included, and work in the UK. The model code and box printing may differ from UK units. Samsung UK may not carry out manufacturer warranty repairs on non-UK units, so The Tech Gadgets' 12-month warranty is the cover. Our explainer on buying an Open Box Galaxy Tab goes through this in full, and the guide to international stock versus refurbished explains the stock-origin side.

Checks to do before you hand it over

• At first setup, the tablet should ask only for your Google account, with no request for a previous owner's details.
• In Settings, then About tablet, note the model code for your records.
• Install any software update before you set up Samsung Kids or Family Link.
• Charge it fully with a USB-C charger and check that it holds charge over the first few days.
• Look over the screen on plain white and black backgrounds, and test the speakers, cameras and headphone jack.
• Check the box for the USB-C cable, the SIM/microSD ejector tool and the quick start guide.

You get a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets, starting on delivery, covering faults that develop in normal use (not accidental or liquid damage). The details are in our refund and warranty policy. The warranty policy lists battery defects and reduced capacity as exclusions, but the Consumer Rights Act 30-day right to reject still applies. Change-of-mind returns are accepted within 30 days if unused and complete (you pay return postage), plus your 14-day right to cancel. Orders placed by 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day from Manchester, and standard delivery (1–3 working days) is free because every tablet here costs more than £50.

Samsung tablet for kids: parents' questions

What age is the Galaxy Tab A11 suitable for?

There's no fixed age; it comes down to supervision and handling. With Samsung Kids switched on and a sturdy case fitted, the Tab A11 suits young primary-school children, because they only see the apps you approve. From about eight to twelve, many families switch to a child's own Google account supervised through Family Link. For toddlers, the bigger question is durability: a tablet that will be dropped often needs a heavy-duty case.

Does the Galaxy Tab A11 have Samsung Kids?

Yes. Samsung's user guides for both the Tab A11 and Tab A11+ include Samsung Kids, so you don't need to download it. You can open it from the quick settings panel, or from Settings, then Apps, then Samsung Kids. The first time you start it, you follow the on-screen setup and choose the apps your child can use. Your screen lock PIN or pattern is then needed to change parental settings or leave kids mode.

Can I control my child's Samsung tablet from my phone?

Yes, through Google Family Link. If your child has their own Google account supervised with Family Link, you can set screen time limits, approve or block apps, and adjust content filters from the Family Link app on your own phone. Samsung Kids settings, by contrast, are managed on the tablet itself, behind your PIN. Many parents use Samsung Kids for younger children and move to Family Link once a child is ready for a normal home screen.

Can two children share one Galaxy Tab?

Yes. Both models support multiple user accounts, so each child can have their own apps, game progress and limits. The parent's owner account stays in charge and is the only one that can add or delete users. On Wi-Fi models, Samsung's user guide also describes restricted profiles, which can only open the apps the owner allows. That makes a single Wi-Fi tablet a practical shared family device.

Can my child draw on the Galaxy Tab A11 with a stylus?

Not with an S Pen, which neither the Tab A11 nor the A11+ supports. A basic capacitive stylus, the rubber-tipped kind, works like a fingertip, and Samsung includes a simple touch pen with its own Kids Edition of the A11+ in some markets. It's fine for colouring apps and tracing letters. It has no pressure sensitivity, though, so a child who is serious about digital art will want a tablet with proper pen support.

Does the tablet come with a case or a charger?

No. Samsung includes a USB-C cable, a SIM/microSD ejector tool and a quick start guide, but no charger or case. Any USB-C charger works. The A11 charges at up to 15W and the A11+ at up to 25W, so a lower-powered phone charger will simply take longer. Buy a kids' case made for the exact model, the Galaxy Tab A11 8.7in or the Tab A11+ 11in, and fit it before your child gets the tablet.

Will the tablet still get updates as my child gets older?

For several years, yes. Samsung UK lists security updates until 30 September 2032 for the Galaxy Tab A11 and 30 November 2032 for the Tab A11+, and both are on Samsung's quarterly security update list. The timing of individual updates can vary by model code and region. Security updates matter more on a child's tablet than many parents expect, because children download apps and open links readily.

Verdict: the best Samsung tablet for kids in 2026

For most children, the Galaxy Tab A11 Wi-Fi 128GB at £141.99 is the best Samsung tablet for kids: light, simple to lock down with Samsung Kids, and supported with security updates to September 2032. Choose the Galaxy Tab A11+ Wi-Fi 128GB at £171.99 instead for an older child who needs a bigger, sharper screen for homework, or for a tablet the whole family shares. Whichever you buy, budget for a kids' case.

Who should not buy one? A family with a toddler who needs a tablet built to survive drops should look at a purpose-built rugged kids' tablet. A child who needs to call home needs a phone. A young artist will want proper pen support, and an all-iPhone household will find a refurbished iPad easier to manage. For everyone else, the Galaxy Tab A11 is a sensible, well-supported first tablet. If you are still choosing between the two sizes, our Tab A11 vs A11+ comparison covers the differences in more depth.