The incredibly cheap Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro nails a tablet's basics, but I'm still not certain it's worth the money

Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro : Two-minute review

The 10.4-inch Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro tablet is undeniably cheap, with Kogan offering it for a very affordable AU$299 – and it's regularly, if not always, available at the discounted price of AU$189 (or AU$169 for Kogan First members). At its standard price, the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro is hard to recommend, as the AU$300-AU$400 tablet market is dominated by Samsung’s A range and some solid options from Lenovo. In comparison to those competitors around the AU$300 price mark, this Kogan tablet simply doesn't match up.

For under AU$200, though, the Explore Tab 2 Pro's flaws are much easier to accept, making it an option worth considering depending on what you want a tablet for. This is a simple device, even among other budget counterparts, that excels at the basics – reading ebooks, playing mobile games and watching the best streaming services. For anything more than that, it might be worth looking elsewhere.

It'll also work adequately if you're looking for a cheap tablet for a child – running games for young children and playing shows for a kid who won't be worried about the resolution or framerate. If that's the use-case, I'd be sure to buy a case and screen protector, as the screen scratches quite easily with even careful treatment, no drops and living in my laptop bag.

For me, the biggest benefit of a tablet is having a large screen to watch YouTube and TV, read books when I forget my ereader and play a few casual games when the mood strikes. I'm not looking for a laptop-replacing beast like the Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra, or a digital slab for drawing – making me the exact person who would buy this tablet.

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And, generally, I found this tablet to be completely suitable for those with basic use cases, but that's not without caveats. I found myself preferring to read with a black screen and white writing within the Kindle app, as the white screen was difficult to focus on due to the large, visible pixels. And while I'm not a resolution snob, I take my movies seriously – I'd only ever watch YouTube or no-stress TV shows on this tablet. I find it hard to imagine watching cinematic movies on a tablet of any quality, let alone the budget display we have here. Frankly, if I was forced to watch Dune 2 on either this tablet or the smaller, higher quality display of my iPhone 15… I might choose my phone.

That said, it's important to remember that this is a budget tablet even among budget tablets. And while its supposed AU$299 RRP makes it hard to recommend, it's almost always discounted down to AU$189.

At that price, it's a worthwhile purchase. But if you’re looking for something at and around the actual AU$300-AU$400 mark, there are more powerful, versatile and generally better options like the Samsung Galaxy A9, or even the 10.9-inch 10th-Generation iPad, which has been seen for as low AU$485 and will give you a better overall experience no matter your use-case.

While the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro is a great option for someone who needs a basic tablet for reading, watching and browsing, with perhaps some video chats thrown in thanks to its solid 5MP and 8MP front and rear cameras. But for anyone who wants more from their tablet than reading, watching and browsing (such as creative tasks), you're better off looking elsewhere.

Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro review: price and availability

• Starts at AU$299 / NZ$239
• Regularly discounted to around AU$189 / NZ$219
• Only available on Kogan

As the name suggests, the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro is only available for purchase through online retailer Kogan, limiting its availability to customers in Australia and New Zealand. Kogan lists its "Standard Retail Price" at AU$299 and NZ$239 – giving Kiwi shoppers quite the saving compared to their mates across the ditch at full price.

There are several other Kogan Explore Tab models – such as the Kogan Explore Tab 10.1-inch and the Kogan Explore Tab 2 10.1-inch – the Explore Tab 2 Pro is the top option (in theory at least) and only available in a single 128GB / Wi-Fi configuration.

Although it's frequently available at discounted prices, its standard price places it in the same category as tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 and A9 Plus, which can be found at discounted prices for as little as AU$210 (around NZ$233.88) and AU$250 (around NZ$278.42) respectively in 2025, as well as the Lenovo M11 tablet. With this kind of competition, it’s hard to recommend the Explore Tab 2 Pro to anyone other than those seeking the absolute cheapest option.

• Value: 3.5/5

Kogan Explore Tab Pro 2 review: specs

If you didn't believe me when I called this tablet basic, the lowish-resolution display should act as proof. But basic doesn't equal bad – sometimes that's all you want or need.

This tablet provides 128GB of storage, more than the 64GB offered by other budget tablets, and it backs that up with a relatively impressive 6,000mAh battery. For reference, Samsung's budget tablet has a 7,000mAh battery, although Kogan's is admittedly a fair bit cheaper.

Another spec worth highlighting is the camera duo. They're not exceptional, and they won't turn you into a photographer or social media influencer anytime soon, but for video chatting and a few snaps here and there, the 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras are adequate.

And (perhaps most importantly for some users) the Explore Tab 2 Pro sports a regular 3.5mm headphone jack. Sure, it gets in the way depending on where your palm sits, but if you're hanging on to your corded headphones, the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro is here for you.

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: display

• Large 10.4-inch screen
• Low resolution
• Smudges and scratches easily

The 10.4-inch screen of the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro sits right in the sweet spot for what the generic tablet size should be. Sitting between a phone and a massive tablet alternative like the 14.6-inch Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra, while still being bigger than a compact tablet like the 2024 iPad Mini. This makes it a pleasant size for those who want a large display for gaming, reading, and watching, even if the screen isn't as large as it looks at first, thanks to the centimetre thick border around it.

The display performs adequately for these tasks. As previously mentioned, this tablet isn’t for cinephiles looking to watch Bladerunner 2049 or Dune: Part Two in the highest possible quality. However, for watching YouTube videos in bed or TV shows on a plane, it gets the job done. The display is functional but not the most vibrant, and its pixels become quite visible when the screen is white or lightly coloured.

With constant movement and mostly dark scenes, movies and TV shows don’t highlight the biggest shortcoming of this tablet – the anti-glare layer often produces glimmering, blurry visuals, particularly when on a white background. This was especially an issue when reading in the Kindle app, as the screen was constantly white. This was easily fixed by switching to a dark theme, making the display much more enjoyable, but if you're a light-theme user, this screen doesn't perform well on brighter backgrounds.

Once that change was made, I thoroughly enjoyed reading on this tablet. It obviously doesn't provide the same experience as my Onyx Boox Page ereader, but the Kindle app ran smoothly, it changed pages quickly, allowed me to highlight and make notes easily, and provided a large screen that I enjoyed reading on. The Explore 2 Pro also has a solid minimum brightness, and a feature called 'extra dim' that allows you to decrease the brightness a touch further – making reading and watching in bed much more comfortable on the eyes.

It’s a very basic display, but it’s large and bright enough for most situations. It doesn’t perform well in direct sunlight, or when viewed from an angle, but considering its price, that’s to be expected. While a child might enjoy the drawing feature in the notes app, this isn’t a tablet for artists –it’s designed for casual tasks like reading, browsing, gaming, and media consumption. If that's all you want it for, it performs adequately.

• Display: 3/5

Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro review: design

• Labelled buttons and ports
• Buttons and ports hamper grip
• Thin, light and portable

There are a few things to dislike about the design of this tablet, but before diving into those, let's first highlight some positives. The Explore Tab 2 Pro is incredibly thin, making it easy to fit into most bags without hassle. It's also lightweight, which makes it easy to carry with you, and also a convenient replacement for a book that's easy to hold over your head in bed without worrying you're going to drop it and break your nose. If you’re looking for a tablet that can travel with you effortlessly, the Explore Tab 2 Pro fits the bill.

There are, however, some not-so-great design choices… The first thing I noticed were the labels on the tablet’s charging port (for power button, volume button, SD card slot, and headphone jack), all of which are printed with basic writing and symbols on the back of the metal frame. While the silver metal build is relatively attractive, these labels make it feel more like a prototype than a finished product, taking away from the overall premium look.

One big problem I have with the design of this tablet is that when it's in its 'correct' screen orientation, the power and volume buttons and headphone jack sit where your hand naturally rests when holding it. Most of the time, this isn't an issue, as you can rotate the screen any which way you please. But during certain activities – like playing games – the screen will lock to its 'correct' position, putting your hand on the buttons. Luckily, they require quite a bit of pressure to push, but it's still an annoying design flaw.

And then there’s the camera bump, which is both raised slightly from the back and painted navy blue. Why Kogan chose to make the camera stand out instead of matching the tablet’s dark grey/silver colour is unclear. This unusual design choice adds to the overall odd aesthetic. If the labels were in black or dark blue and the camera bump matched the silver colour of the tablet, the Explore Tab 2 Pro could look quite sleek. As it stands, though, the design leaves much to be desired, while getting the important things right.

• Design: 3/5

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: software

• Android 13 provides a clean, familiar interface
• Occasional software bugs

There isn’t much to say about the software of this tablet. At its core, it runs a basic version of Android 13, offering a straightforward user experience. It’s not bogged down with excessive bloatware, aside from the usual Google suite of apps, FM Radio, Sound Recorder, and Personal Safety applications.

While it doesn’t offer the customisation options of flagship tablets or AI-powered phones – like custom themes, wallpapers, icon shapes, or font options –it still allows for essential changes such as font size and brightness, as well as accessibility tools like magnification, Select to Speak and colour correction. There’s even a Night Light feature that increases the warmth of the display, reducing harsh brightness for a more comfortable experience before bed. Interestingly, and annoyingly (though you can download photos or use your own), there's only one built-in wallpaper.

One software feature I particularly enjoyed was the 'extra dim' option. With a minimum brightness already comfortable enough for reading in bed, 'extra dim' made using the tablet in low light even more pleasant, and easier to fall asleep while reading or watching content.

• Software: 3/5

Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro review: performance

• Decent for basic tasks, but not for heavy lifting
• Light gaming performance falls short

This is about as basic a tablet as you can get. While I hoped it would serve as a larger display for light gaming – mainly Marvel Snap, along with a few rounds of Last War: Survival, Candy Crush, and Subway Surfers – it struggled more than expected.

For the latter three games, the tablet ran mostly fine. However, even with a relatively light game like Marvel Snap, the Explore Tab 2 Pro had issues. Launching takes a while, and the main menu runs sluggishly until the tablet has a moment to catch up. The same could be said for gameplay, where occasional stuttering persisted. That said, once the game has been open for a few minutes, it plays decently – barring some stuttering here and there – and doesn't drain the battery too quickly.

Starting a match caused noticeable lag however, even forcing me to reconnect at times despite a strong connection. While the experience was still generally passable, if gaming is a key reason you're looking for a tablet, the Explore Tab 2 Pro might not meet your expectations. However, for younger users or those with less-demanding gaming needs, it should be sufficient.

Outside of gaming, there’s little else to complain about. For daily tasks – scrolling through Reddit, online shopping, reading the news, and enjoying a book – it performed smoothly.

While this anecdotal experience helps paint a picture, it can be hard to know how it compares to other tablets. Our benchmarks, which you can see in the table below, paint the same picture: this tablet is built for basic tasks, and not much else. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, as it fulfils the needs of light users quite well. Geekbench tests the central processing unit (CPU), while 3DMark's Wildlife test compares the tablet's graphics performance.

• Performance: 2.5/5

Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro review: battery

• 6000mAh battery packs enough power for light use
• Slow but acceptable charging speeds

I don’t need to repeat myself – this is a basic piece of tech, and it's just good enough to make it a worthy purchase for those on a very tight budget. The same can be said for its battery life.

Boasting a 6,000mAh capacity, Kogan states that the tablet offers up to 4 hours of uninterrupted use, and in my experience that estimate is actually a little low.

Battery depletion, of course, depends on what you're doing and the screen brightness. That being said, even with more taxing activities like light gaming, the battery performed soundly and if you love to play a few games of chess or Clash Royale while waiting for the kettle to boil (or using the bathroom), you don't need to worry about the Explore Tab 2 Pro being dead when you try to read during your commute. 10 minutes of Marvel Snap saw it lose just 4%, while a full 30 minutes caused the battery to drop by 15%.

And that's just gaming. An episode and a half of Seinfeld on 50% brightness saw the battery decrease only from 49% to 42%, and another half-an-hour dropped it down to 37%. Across watching the NBA app, YouTube, and a few games of Marvel Snap, the Explore Pro 2 sailed past the 4-hour mark with continuous use – still sitting on 22% after 4.5 hours straight.

As for the charging speed, the Explore Tab Pro 2 won't be winning any races in the 2028 Olympics. A five-minute charge only increased it by 3%, while 15 minutes saw it increase by about 15%. A full charge will take more than an hour, with the tablet taking 57 minutes to charge from 27% to 100% in our testing.

There's no incredible specs or numbers to be had here, but this tablet lasted plenty long for my regular daily use of videos, books and social media doom-scrolling. Charged up overnight, this tablet had no problem entertaining me on my 2 hour commute to and from work – even lasting long enough that I could leave it in my bag, forget to charge it and still have enough juice for a second day.

• Battery: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

Not convinced by the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro as your budget tablet? Here are a few other options to consider:

How I tested the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro

I’ve had the Kogan Explore Tab 2 Pro for several months, and it’s travelled with me to and from work, tucked away in the front section of my laptop bag. However, I really began using it extensively over the 4 weeks period prior to publishing this review.

During this period, I treated it as my daily device—watching movies in bed, reading during my commute, and keeping YouTube running in the background while I worked. I also squeezed in some gaming sessions (OK, sometimes longer, especially while making coffee). To put it through its paces, I ran benchmark tests using GeekBench and 3DMark and even played more demanding games via cloud gaming with my PlayStation 5, such as College Football 25 and Astro Bot, but I didn't persist with that for too long. Cloud gaming is bad enough in Australia, and this tablet's budget specs don't help things.

Although I attempted to use it for work tasks, I quickly returned to my trusted laptop since the tablet wasn’t up to the multitasking demands I required.

First reviewed February 2025