After trying this Walmart tablet, I’ll never buy an Android tablet from any other brand

While Onn tablets aren’t for everyone, I’ve found they’re a perfect fit for my family. In fact, I likely won’t buy an Android tablet from any other OEM going forward unless it can match Onn’s value.

The biggest reason to get an Onn tablet is that you’ll be hard-pressed to find another Android tablet series in this price range that doesn’t sacrifice key features. Not only is the pricing low, but you get a wide selection of screen sizes, from 7 to 13 inches, with prices starting as low as $97 for the Core 7 and topping out at $388 for the Onn 13 Pro.

To be fair, Amazon and other retailers offer plenty of cheap tablets with similar screen sizes and prices. The problem is that most of these come from brands of unknown quality and customer service, and they often skimp on processing power and RAM to an extreme degree. Thankfully, that’s not the case with Onn.

I’ve used extra-cheap tablets from RCA and countless other brands in the past. They usually don’t just feel slow; they feel cheap. Onn’s entire modern tablet lineup uses an aluminum casing, and I’m a big fan. It feels durable and is less likely to suffer serious damage from a minor drop, and I personally love the serious, minimalist vibe these tablets give off. Just be aware that they also pick up fingerprints fairly easily.

As for what’s underneath? While we won’t look at every model, let’s start with my son’s Onn Core 7.

At the heart of this tablet is a MediaTek Helio G80, backed by 4GB of RAM. This configuration isn’t going to win any performance awards, but it has handled browsing, media, and all my kid’s favorite games without skipping a beat. There’s also 64GB of storage with microSD expansion, battery life of close to ten hours, and a 7-inch display with 1,024 x 600 resolution.

On the higher end, we have the Pro series. I’ll admit that calling these models “Pro” is a stretch, but they do bring some notable upgrades.

Our 11 Pro is priced around $200 and runs a MediaTek Helio G99, which is probably best described as sitting at either the top of the budget category or the bottom of the midrange. You’ll also find a respectable 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a comparatively higher-quality 11-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 1,840 x 1,280.

For those who want even more, the Onn 13 Pro steps up to a 13.2-inch IPS LCD, a MediaTek MT8775 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. For those who don’t know, this chip is closely related to the MediaTek Dimensity 7300. In other words, this is a comfortably midrange device with a massive display, all for under $400.

Onn’s software experience is practically the opposite of most cheap tablets

What really makes Onn tablets shine is that they ship with a very clean install of Android 16, which is rare in the budget tablet market. There are a few extras, like an “instant games” section, but none are pre-installed, and they’re entirely optional. There’s no adware and no Walmart- or Onn-specific apps.

It feels as close to stock as you’re going to get, yet you still get official apps like the Play Store, Gemini, and all your other Google favorites. In contrast, Amazon offers tablets in a similar price range, but they come with ads and bloatware, and you’ll miss out on official Google apps unless you sideload the Play Store.

As much as I want to praise Onn’s efforts here, I understand these tablets aren’t for everyone. Some customers won’t feel comfortable buying a Walmart house brand, for starters. I have no such trust issues after using the Onn 4K Pro, an Onn monitor, and a few other Onn-branded products over the years. That said, I’ll admit there can be quirks, though they’re usually minor. For example, the front light on my Onn 4K Pro stopped working a year ago, but the device still works fine.

If you’re willing to give Onn a try, remember that these are multimedia-first devices, especially the Core models. Even the Pro models are closer to midrange than true “Pro” territory.

If you’re looking for a flagship-level Galaxy Tab or iPad equivalent capable of high-end gaming or professional-level drawing, you won’t find it from Onn. What you will find are aggressively priced tablets that run very clean software out of the box, with budget-to-midrange specs that are perfect for anyone who wants an everyday mainstream device.

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “Amazon Fire tablets feel pretty close to this.” That’s an understandable instinct, and the Fire lineup is probably the most comparable option out there. If you find them on sale for less, I can see how they’d be worth a closer look, as long as you can live without Google Play or don’t mind learning how to sideload it.

At full retail price, though, I’d still likely pick an Onn tablet. For example, the Fire HD 8 retails for roughly the same as the 8.1-inch Onn Core, yet the Onn has cleaner software, a faster processor, 6GB of RAM vs. 4GB, and a slightly higher-resolution display. A similar story plays out across the entire Fire vs. Onn lineup.

Unless something changes, Onn will likely be our go-to Android tablet brand going forward. The big question is whether you’re willing to give it a try yourself — I honestly don’t think you’ll regret it.