Tablets

Tablets for Sale in South Africa

Smartphone Shop stocks Android tablets from OPPO and Honor, in LTE and WiFi versions, with covers and a stylus on the models that support them. The prices shown on the product cards above are live. They update as stock and exchange rates change, so what you see there is always the current price.

Smartphone Shop has sold online since 2010 and holds a 4.9 rating across 126 Google reviews. Every tablet carries a one year manufacturing warranty, and if it is not right when it arrives we arrange and pay for the courier to bring it back.

Some of our stock is global variant rather than local-badged. We say so on the product page where it applies, it is part of why the price is lower, and it carries the same one year warranty as everything else we sell.

LTE or WiFi: the Decision That Costs People Most

Get this one right and the rest of the choice barely matters.

A WiFi tablet only works where there is WiFi. It is cheaper, and if the tablet lives on a couch or a desk that is the sensible buy.

An LTE tablet takes its own SIM and works anywhere a phone works. It costs more up front and needs its own data, but it is the only version that is useful in a car, at a site, on a taxi or anywhere the WiFi is not yours.

The trap is buying WiFi to save money and then discovering the thing is dead weight outside the house. If there is any chance it leaves home regularly, buy the LTE version.

The OPPO Pad SE 4GB RAM 128GB ROM 4G LTE in Twilight Blue is the LTE option here, and it takes a SIM the same way a phone does. Our explainer on the difference between 4G and 5G covers whether the faster network is worth paying for where you live.

Buy an Android Tablet with a Stylus and Cover

Most tablets are sold bare and the accessories cost as much again. That is worth watching when you compare prices.

The Honor Pad X8b with Flip Cover and Stylus Pen in Space Grey comes with both in the box, on an 11 inch screen with 128GB of storage. For anyone taking notes, marking up a document or handing it to a child, the stylus and the cover are the difference between a tablet that gets used and one that gets scratched.

If you have an OPPO Pad already, the OPPO Pad Neo Smart Case is the matching cover.

What Screen Size and Storage to Buy

Screen first. Around 11 inches is the size that works for video, reading and note taking without becoming something you need two hands and a bag for. Smaller is more portable and worse for everything else.

Storage next. 128GB is the sensible floor now. A tablet fills up faster than a phone because the things people use tablets for, downloaded video and offline maps, are the large files.

RAM last, and it matters less than the number suggests. 4GB runs everything most people do on a tablet. More RAM helps if you keep many apps open at once, which on a tablet most people do not.

Tablet Prices and What Each Band Buys You

Prices move, so treat these as bands. The live figure is always on the product card above.

Under R3,000 buys an entry Android tablet: a usable screen, enough storage for video and documents, WiFi only.

R3,000 to R6,000 buys a better screen, LTE on some models, 128GB of storage and often a cover or stylus included. This is where most buyers end up and where both tablets on this page sit.

Above R6,000 buys a larger high-resolution screen, more RAM and a longer software support window.

If the amount up front is the obstacle, Mobicred is a revolving credit facility that lets you pay monthly and Payflex splits the purchase into instalments. Our piece on buying gadgets on credit explains how both work, and four reasons to avoid a contract sets out why buying outright usually beats a 24 month deal.

Buying a Tablet for a Child

The questions people ask about a kids tablet are different, so here they are answered directly.

Durability matters more than specification. A cover is not optional, it is the thing that decides whether the tablet survives the year. The Honor Pad above ships with one.

Android has parental controls built in through Family Link, which lets you set screen time, approve app downloads and see what is being used. You do not need a special children's tablet to get that.

Buy WiFi rather than LTE for a child unless it travels with them, and put the money into storage instead. Downloaded video is what a child's tablet is mostly for, and running out of space is the complaint we hear.

Tablet or Phone: Which One You Actually Need

Worth asking honestly, because a large phone covers most of what people buy a tablet for.

Buy a tablet if the screen is the point: video, reading, drawing, note taking, or handing one device to someone else while you keep yours. Buy a phone if it is going in a pocket.

If it is a phone you want, the cellphone range carries the lot and smartphones under R5,000 is the most searched price band on the site. The OPPO range, the Honor range, the Huawei range, the Xiaomi range and the Realme range cover the brands we are asked about most, and rugged phones are worth a look if it is going somewhere hard. Our Ulefone Armor 24 review covers what rugged actually buys you.

What Else You Might Need

A tablet drains considerably faster than a phone, so power banks are the accessory worth buying at the same time, and size up rather than down. Charging habits matter, which we set out in how to properly charge your device.

Earbuds and headphones are the other obvious pairing, and smart watches and Huawei watches and bands round out the range. Covers, stands and cables sit in cellphone accessories, and the Xiaomi TV Box is worth knowing about if the tablet is really there to watch things on.

Latest Arrivals shows what has just landed, which is the page to watch if the model you want is out of stock today, and Best Sellers shows what is moving.

Kitting out a classroom, a team or a site? Our bulk and wholesale page covers pricing and lead times. There is no minimum order quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best tablet to buy in South Africa?

The one that matches how it will be used. If it stays at home, a WiFi Android tablet around 11 inches with 128GB is the sensible buy. If it leaves the house regularly, buy the LTE version so it works on its own SIM. Screen size and connectivity decide more about whether you are happy with it than the processor does.

Should I buy a WiFi or LTE tablet?

LTE if there is any chance it leaves home regularly, WiFi if it genuinely lives on a couch or a desk. LTE costs more and needs its own data, but a WiFi tablet is dead weight anywhere the WiFi is not yours. This is the decision people most often regret.

How much is a tablet in South Africa?

An entry Android tablet starts under R3,000, the middle of the market sits between R3,000 and R6,000 where most buyers end up, and above R6,000 buys a larger high-resolution screen and a longer support window. The product cards above carry the live prices, and those are the ones to go by.

What is a good tablet for a child?

One that comes with a cover, has enough storage for downloaded video, and is set up with Android's Family Link so you control screen time and app downloads. Buy WiFi rather than LTE unless it travels with them, and put the saving into storage.

How much storage do I need on a tablet?

128GB is the sensible floor. Tablets fill faster than phones because downloaded video and offline maps are large files, and running out of space is the most common complaint we hear.

Can I use a tablet as a phone?

An LTE tablet takes a SIM and can make calls and send messages on most models, though holding an 11 inch screen to your ear is not the idea. It is more useful for data, so you have your own connection without tethering to a phone.

Do your tablets come with a warranty?

Yes. Every tablet we sell carries a one year manufacturing warranty, global variant stock included. It covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. It does not cover physical damage, liquid damage or unauthorised software changes. Full terms sit on our Returns and Refunds Policy page.

How much is delivery and can I return it?

We deliver anywhere in South Africa and orders arrive within 1 to 4 working days. The delivery cost is shown at checkout before you pay. Returns are free, we arrange and pay for the courier, and the window is 7 business days.

Do you supply tablets to schools and businesses?

Yes. We supply tablets in volume alongside phones and accessories, and our bulk and wholesale page sets out how it works. There is no minimum order quantity.

Last updated: 23 September 2026