TOPELOTEK Kids Tablet 7IN Toddler Tablet for Kids, Children Review

A $42 babysitter with a screen. It's fine for toddlers, but expect sluggish performance and don't plan on it being a family heirloom.

Let's be real: this is a $42 tablet for toddlers. The one thing you need to know is that it's a disposable learning tool, not a real tablet. It comes pre-loaded with a bunch of educational apps and has a shockproof case that looks like it could survive a tantrum. For the price, it's a low-stakes way to introduce a young kid to a screen without handing them your $1,000 iPad. Just don't expect it to last more than a year or two.

Honestly, nothing about the performance surprised us, because our database shows it's mediocre across the board. The CPU and GPU scores are in the 40th percentile, which means it's slower than most tablets. It's fine for the simple, pre-installed learning games, but if you try to download anything more demanding from the Google Play Store, you'll likely hit a wall. The 99GB of storage is decent for a kid's device, but the RAM is in the bottom third, so don't expect smooth multitasking.

For $42, it's hard to complain too much. You're getting a functional, protected screen with educational content. It's worth it strictly as a first-time, beater tablet for a toddler. The moment you start thinking of it as a real Android tablet, its value plummets.

This sits in a totally different universe than the iPads and Galaxy Tabs listed as competitors. Those are real computers. For a true head-to-head, look at the 'N-one Android Tablet' or other generic kids' tablets in the $40-$80 range. The Topelotek's main advantage is its included heavy-duty case. Many competitors at this price make you buy a case separately, which bumps the total cost. However, some of those other models might have slightly better screens or performance. It's a race to the bottom, and this one is firmly in the mix.

Skip this if your kid is in elementary school or if you want a device that will grow with them. This is a starter tablet with an expiration date. Go look at refurbished Amazon Fire Kids editions instead.

If you need a cheap, durable distraction/learning tool for a child under 5, and you're fully prepared for it to possibly break within a year, go for it. It does the basic job. For any kid older than that, or if you want something that will last more than a couple of road trips, save up for a used, older-model Amazon Fire Kids tablet or a basic iPad with a bulky case. They're more expensive upfront, but they'll actually last.