You’ve got your phone, and you’ve got your laptop. In between, the tablet exists as an easy-to-carry option with a large enough screen for a more comfortable experience than you can get with most smartphones. The tablet market is vast, with a ton of options to choose from, but some models stand out from the crowd.
The iPad from Apple often dominates the competition in the tablet market, and that means that a lot of folks will be on the lookout for an iPad deal. That being said, there are reasons why you might choose an Android tablet or a Windows tablet instead. Whether you’re all in on Apple gear or you want a tablet that offers a similar experience to your non-Apple phone, we’ve found some tablet deals that will help you get your hands on one of these nifty devices for less.
We keep track of tablet deals all year round and gather them up below so that you can always find the best prices available — keep checking back for updates.
Best tablet deals
The entry-level 10.2-inch iPad from 2021 should be your starting point for tablet shopping. This model lacks USB-C and still has the old-school home button, but it’s compatible with the Apple Pencil stylus (sold separately). The baseline iPad remains a great option for kids, families and anyone else who wants a best-in-class touchscreen and Apple’s full App Store and services support. And right now, it’s back to its lowest price ever: just $250 at Amazon (you’ll see the full discounted price at checkout). Read our 9th-gen iPad review.
You can save $99 on Apple’s latest iPad Air at Amazon right now. It costs $599 from the Apple Store and features Apple’s M1 chip, found in the company’s iPad Pros, along with 5G and a wider-angle, front-facing camera with the Center Stage autofocusing video feature. CNET’s iPad expert Scott Stein still recommends the less expensive 10.2-inch iPad for most people, but sees this iPad Air as a solid step up. We’ve not see it for less than its current $500 price. Read our iPad Air 2022 review.
At its discounted price, this relatively budget Android tablet is a good pick as an affordable entertainment tablet for kids. It features a small (kid-friendly) 8.7-inch display with a 1,340×800-pixel resolution protected by a sturdy, metal (kid-resistant) enclosure. Note that the keyboard case is not included.
More tablet deals
The discounts below are less compelling than the ones above, but remain on this list so we can highlight when the sale prices dip periodically.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S lineup has long been among our favorite slates, regularly earning spots on our lists of the best Android tablets and the best tablets overall. Right now, you can save big on one of the latest models. The Galaxy Tab S8 in pink gold is on sale for $545 at Amazon — that’s $155 less than its usual price. With an easy-to-use Android OS and Microsoft 365 integration, the 11-inch Galaxy Tab S8 is designed for both work and play. This model features a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 8GB of RAM and 128GB of local storage. And with an SD card slot, it’s easy to expand the storage. Added to its value is the included S Pen stylus, which costs $60 on its own.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus tablet might be in the middle of the Tab S8 lineup, but it’s one of our favorite Android tablets — especially at its current discounted price. The 12.4-inch AMOLED display is bright with excellent color. It’s a great size for entertainment and gaming, while big enough for light productivity tasks and still small enough for travel. Updates to Samsung’s DeX software even makes the Tab S8 a possible laptop substitute, letting you connect to a mouse and even an external display. A keyboard cover isn’t included but one of Samsung’s fantastic S Pens is, so you can use the big screen for note-taking and content creation right out of the box. Read our Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus review.
If you want the latest Microsoft tablet, the Surface Pro 9 is it. It offers 12th-gen Intel Core processors, 5G support and some new colors. To get this $300 discount, however, you’ll need to be OK connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi; this model doesn’t feature 5G cellular. What it does offer is a modern 12th-gen Core i7 CPU, an ample 16GB of RAM and a relatively roomy 256GB SSD. The 13-inch display offers a crisp 2,880×1,920-pixel resolution. One last note: You’ll need to purchase the requisite keyboard cover separately, unless you have one from an older Surface Pro 8 or Pro X — those are compatible with the new Surface Pro 9. You can also get a $100 discount if you prefer the graphite black model.
Read our Microsoft Surface Pro 9 review.
The Surface Pro 8 was supplanted by the Surface Pro 9 at the top of Microsoft’s tablet lineup last fall, but the new model offers only a modest upgrade — newer Intel CPUs, a slightly faster type of RAM, 5G support, and some new color options. When you can find a Surface Pro 8 at a sizable discount, it makes a compelling cost-saving alternative to the Surface Pro 9. This Surface Pro 8 features a high-resolution 13-inch display powered by an 11th-gen Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. And this model includes the snap-on keyboard cover with your purchase. It’s a hefty $220 off at Target.
Read our Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a midlevel Android tablet that occupies the space between a basic iPad and an iPad Pro. The baseline Galaxy Tab S7 FE (short for Fan Edition) with 64GB of storage is discounted by $100 right now at Amazon. The tablet features a roomy 12.4-inch display and includes Samsung’s S Pen stylus for drawing and jotting down notes.