Looking for a budget travel tablet? I found one under $200 that hits all the right notes
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Looking for a budget travel tablet? I found one under $200 that hits all the right notes
The AGM Pad P2 runs the latest version of Android with little to no bloatware. The included case is a bit flimsy, so you might want to purchase a third-party option. The display is bright and clear, but not the best I’ve ever seen. On sites with ads or graphics-heavy content, the tablet can jitter a bit when scrolling. The only caveat is that you don’t get many edits when taking a photo in Portrait mode (such as the ability to change the blur percentage). However, thePad P2 captures photos indicative of a more costly tablet, like the iPad Air, like $189.99 at Amazon. day of battery life is good, depending on your usage, you’ll easily get a full day out of a single charge. Lighter use (mainly web browsing and emailing) can extend that life to a few days. You can probably find a generic 11-inch case on Amazon that would work better with my iPad.
With a crisp display, solid mid-range performance, and decent battery life, it’s a solid budget Android option.
The Pad P2’s included case is a bit flimsy, so you might want to purchase a third-party option. $189.99 at Amazon
Many would say Android has a stranglehold on global market shares because of its inexpensive phones and tablets. Billions of people on the planet simply can’t afford the price tag of the latest Galaxy Tab Ultra or iPad Pro, and that’s where the more affordable Android options come into play.
I’ve tested several inexpensive Android tablets over the years, and although when you put them under the microscope, they may not perform at the level of flagship devices, the truth is that for most people, they’re fully capable of providing a satisfying experience. The idea that all users need top tier hardware from a $1,000 tablet is one that the brands would like us to believe, but it isn’t necessarily the case.
Also: Why I recommend this Lenovo tablet over competing Google and Samsung models
Such is the case with the AGM Pad P2. This 4G LTE-capable Android tablet is under $200, and has some pretty impressive features.
My experience
Cost-effective Android tablets typically mean mid-range hardware, older versions of the OS, and bloatware. This time around, I was taken by surprise. Although the AGM Pad P2 offers a less-premium hardware experience, it ships with the latest Android 14 and little to no bloatware.
In fact, you get a fairly vanilla version of the operating system and three apps you might not usually find on a tablet: FM Radio, TabletManager, and SIM Toolkit. Besides that, it’s a standard Android experience, and that’s a good thing. Because there’s no added UI or bloatware, the AGM Pad P2 runs really well out of the box. Apps open quickly, animations are smooth, and videos play without skipping or buffering (as long as you’re on a decent network).
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The only thing that gives away the price is the included case — which is flimsy. The case has what looks like a slot for a pen, but the tablet doesn’t ship with one.
The display is bright and clear, but certainly not the best I’ve ever seen. On sites with ads or graphics-heavy content, the tablet can jitter a bit when scrolling. Again, this is midrange hardware, so it’s to be expected. Fortunately, watching YouTube videos, one of the most popular use cases for a tablet — is a crisp and burdenless experience.
For those curious about how the camera performs, I found it besting some of the $400 tablets on my tech shelf. The only caveat is that you don’t get many edits when taking a photo in Portrait mode (such as the ability to change the blur percentage). However, the Pad P2 captures photos indicative of a more costly tablet, like the iPad Air.
On a final note, the battery life on the Pad P2 is good, but not great. Depending on your usage, you’ll easily get a full day out of a single charge. Lighter use (mainly web browsing and emailing) can extend that life to a few days. I left the P2 in standby mode, and after a week, it still had 14% battery. That’s not too shabby.
How it compares
Display size, Refresh rate Memory, Storage Camera Price AGM Pad P2 11 inches, 90Hz 8GB, 256GB storage 8MP front, 50MP rear $180 TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus 11.5 inches, 120Hz 8GB, 256GB storage 8MP front, 8MP rear $249 Blackview Mega 1 11.5 inches, 120Hz 24GB, 1TB 13MP front, 50MP rear $329 Tabwee T20 10.1 inches, 60Hz Up to 24GB, Up to 2TB 5MP front, 8MP rear $109
ZDNET’s buying advice
I honestly can’t complain about the overall experience I got out of this inexpensive tablet. The AGM Pad P2 runs well, looks great, includes the latest version of Android, sounds fairly decent, and has a rock-solid display. As I said, the only knock I can give it is the flimsy case. While it’s supposed to fold and serve as a stand, it seems too fragile to hold up for the long haul. You can probably find a generic 11-inch case on Amazon that would work better.
Also: I replaced my iPad with this $100 Android tablet – and it was pretty dang close
As long as you don’t expect high-end specs and performance, the AGM Pad P2 will surprise you. It’s available from Amazon for just under $190, which is a steal for a tablet that will probably serve you for some time.
AGM Pad P2 tech specs
11″ FHD 90Hz display
MediaTek Helio G99 chipset 8-core at 2.2Ghz
8GB of RAM with 256GB of internal storage
50MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
Widevine L1 certification (allows you to play HD or 4K content when the highest resolution is available)
7,850mAh battery with 20W fast charging
OS – Android 14
Weight – 530g
Thickness – 7.5mm
Price – $199 on the AGM site and currently $169 on Amazon
Latest updates
July 31st, 2025: Added a comparison chart with at-a-glance specs of competing tablets around the same price point, replaced some outdated links, and adjusted the price to reflect its current rate on Amazon.