Best Tablets With a Stylus Under $500
Samsung’s Tab S10 Lite includes its pen in the box, which makes it the simplest choice. With an iPad, the pen costs extra.
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Quick answer
Samsung’s Tab S10 Lite includes its pen in the box, which makes it the simplest choice. With an iPad, the pen costs extra. Best overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite, from $399.99. Biggest screen: OnePlus Pad Go 2, $399.99. Cheapest: Lenovo Idea Tab, $269.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite | most people | From $399.99 (seen at $349) |
| Biggest screen | OnePlus Pad Go 2 | a big screen | $399.99 |
| Cheapest | Lenovo Idea Tab | the lowest price | About $269 |
Pen support is easy to find on cheap tablets. Getting the pen included is harder.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Tablet | Price | Screen | Stylus | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite | From $399.99 (seen at $349) | 10.9" | S Pen included | Most people |
| OnePlus Pad Go 2 | $399.99 (8/128GB) | 12.1" 2800×1980, 120Hz | Pad Go 2 Stylo, sold separately | A big screen |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | About $269 | 2.5K, 90Hz | Lenovo Tab Pen (in some bundles) | The lowest price |
| iPad A16 (also considered) | $449 + $79 = $528 | 11" | Apple Pencil USB-C, $79 extra | — |
The picks in detail
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite
Best for: most peopleThe Tab S10 Lite is the only pick here with a pen in the box. It starts at $399.99 for 128GB ($489.99 for 256GB), and SamMobile[2] reported Samsung cutting it to $349. Notebookcheck[3] found it can feel sluggish with its Exynos 1380 chip, so it’s best for notes and sketching, not heavy apps.
Price (Oct 2026): From $399.99 (seen at $349) Source
Pros
- S Pen included
- Samsung’s long software support
Cons
- Can feel sluggish (Notebookcheck)
2. OnePlus Pad Go 2
Best for: a big screenThe OnePlus Pad Go 2 has a 12.1-inch, 2800×1980 120Hz screen with a 7:5 shape, a Dimensity 7300 Ultra chip, a 10,050mAh battery with 33W charging and a microSD slot. It costs $399.99 for 8GB/128GB. The Pad Go 2 Stylo is sold separately; OnePlus included it free at launch.
Price (Oct 2026): $399.99 Source
Pros
- Large, sharp 120Hz screen
- microSD slot
- Big battery
Cons
- Stylus costs extra
3. Lenovo Idea Tab
Best for: the lowest priceLenovo’s Idea Tab has a 2.5K 90Hz screen and a Dimensity 6300 chip for about $269. It supports the Lenovo Tab Pen, which is bundled in some packages, so check the listing.
Price (Oct 2026): About $269 Source
Pros
- Cheapest
- Pen in some bundles
Cons
- Slowest chip here
Also considered
The iPad A16 costs $449 for 128GB, and the Apple Pencil (USB-C) adds $79, for $528 total, just over budget. The Galaxy Tab S10 FE includes an S Pen but costs $549.99. For artists, see best tablets for drawing.
Pen in the box matters
A stylus can add $79 or more to the price, so a tablet with an included pen can be the better deal even if it lists higher. For school use, see best tablets for students.
Spending less
If you don’t need a pen, see best Android tablets under $300 and best budget tablets.
Frequently asked questions
Which cheap tablet comes with a stylus?
Is the iPad A16 with Apple Pencil under $500?
Does the OnePlus Pad Go 2 include a stylus?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Samsung: Galaxy Tab S10 Lite (samsung.com)
- SamMobile: Tab S10 Lite price cut (sammobile.com)
- Notebookcheck: Galaxy Tab S10 Lite review (notebookcheck.net)
- GSMArena: OnePlus Pad Go 2 price and sale date (gsmarena.com)
- 9to5Google: OnePlus Pad Go 2 available (9to5google.com)
- Lenovo: Tablets (lenovo.com)
- Apple: Buy iPad (apple.com)
- Apple: Apple Pencil (USB-C) (apple.com)
Related
Best Tablets of 2026
The base iPad is still the tablet most people should buy. Apple raised iPad prices in June 2026, so watch for retailer discounts before you pay list.
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