21 September 2022
Tablets, like most laptops, are no stranger to the occasional deal or steep discount. Here, we’ve rounded up the best tablet deals we could find, from Apple’s 2021 iPad Air and Amazon’s Fire HD 8 Plus to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.
The Surface Pro 8
Best Buy is currently discounting a bundle containing the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro keyboard to $999.99.
Image by Becca Farsace / TechnologyZone

Tablets exist in a space between phones and laptops that is becoming increasingly muddled. As phones become more powerful and gain larger displays, laptops continue to get lighter. Tablet manufacturers haven’t been resting on their laurels, though. Many of the more recent tablets we’ve seen are looking to bridge the gap in terms of performance and, in select cases, handle some tasks more efficiently than both phones and laptops.

The tablet spectrum is varied, too. Inexpensive models like the Amazon Fire HD 10 make for excellent media streaming devices, while those in Microsoft’s versatile Surface lineup can easily serve as ad-hoc laptops when paired with an optional folio-style keyboard. Then there’s the ubiquitous iPad, a slate that has become the go-to tablet for anyone searching for something in the Apple ecosystem (and for many outside of it).

Below, we’ve rounded up deals for a number of Android, iPadOS, and Windows tablets. We’ve also broken down the deals by manufacturer to make things easier, and we will continue to update this post regularly as new discounts and sales become available.

Amazon tablet deals

Both the standard and Plus sized models of Amazon’s latest Fire HD 8 tablet are discounted to their lowest price ever at Best Buy right now. The standard HD 8 tablet was originally priced at $89.99, but is on sale for $44.99, while the HD 8 Plus is down to $64.99 (normally $109.99). These prices are for the 32GB configurations, however, Best Buy is offering similar discounts on the 64GB models as well. It’s also worth noting that you can expand the storage capacity of either configuration via a microSD card.

The standard version of the 10th-gen Fire HD 8 features an 8-inch IPS LCD display with 1280 x 800 resolution. The tablet’s relatively low-end processor and 2GB of RAM make it difficult to recommend this tablet for anything work-related, but it’ll fit the bill if you’re looking to do little more than stream video and consume Amazon content.

The Amazon HD 8 Plus mirrors the standard model in most aspects, but there are a couple of key differences. First off, it includes 3GB of RAM, allowing it to handle simultaneous apps slightly easier, and it features wireless charging, allowing it to act as an Echo Show in some instances if you mount it on a charging dock. The HD 8 Plus is pretty sluggish by modern standards even with its additional RAM, it but remains an excellent choice for a dirt-cheap tablet with parental controls and multi-user support. Read our review of the Fire HD 8 Plus.

Apple tablet deals

2020 iPad Air

The launch of the new iPad Air earlier this year has led numerous retailers to significantly discount its last-gen predecessor, the 2020 Air. The older model may lack Apple’s blazing-fast M1 chip, but its A14 Bionic processor is still capable of delivering plenty of power and should be fast enough for the vast majority of apps. The tablet is also compatible with various iPad Air accessories — which allow you to transform it into an ad-hoc laptop using add-ons like Apple’s Magic Keyboard — and it offers a terrific, 10.9-onch Retina display with 2360 x 1640 resolution. It supports a wide color gamut as well, not to mention a USB-C port for charging.

Originally $749, the 256GB, Wi-Fi-equipped iPad Air is currently available at Walmart and Best Buy for $599.99. The 64GB variant is also on sale for $449.99 ($150 off) at Best Buy. Read our review.

2021 iPad Mini

Apple’s latest, 64GB iPad Mini with Wi-Fi usually sells for $499.99 but is currently on sale at Target for $399.99 — the miniature tablet’s best price yet. This model brings a number of welcome changes to the hardware, including a larger display that lacks the home button and USB-C port instead of Apple’s Lightning connector.

The tablet’s 8.3-inch display features a resolution of 2266 x 1488 and support for Apple’s True Tone technology, which allows you to fine-tune the display based on the lighting in your environment. The Mini also features back- and front-facing 12MP cameras and can capture 4K video at 60 frames per second. All this is powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic CPU, which makes the latest Mini is the one to beat until the inevitable arrival of an M1 or M2 model.

Keep in mind, however, that this version of the iPad Mini lacks a 3.5mm audio jack and won’t work with Apple’s Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard Folio, even if it is compatible with the second-gen Apple Pencil. It does, however, work with a number of third-party Bluetooth keyboards if you need a larger typing surface. Read our review.

2021 iPad

Apple’s iPad remains a solid, popular tablet that’s suitable for just about anyone. Normally $479, the 256GB model with Wi-Fi is on sale right now at Walmart and Amazon for just $399, one of its best prices to date. The smaller, 64GB model is also available at both retailers for $299 (Amazon, Walmart) instead of $329, a modest $30 discount.

Apple’s latest, entry-level iPad features a 10.2-inch, True Tone Retina display, one with a resolution of 2160 x 1620. It’s worth noting, however, that with the release of the most recent iPad Pro and Air models, the base model has become something of an odd duck with an outdated design. At this point, the standard model is the only Apple tablet that still uses a Lightning connection, as opposed to USB-C, and is only compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil. Perhaps more importantly though, it’s also one of the only tablets in Apple’s current lineup that doesn’t use an M1 series CPU, opting instead for an A13 processor that will be fast enough for most users.

12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021)

In many ways, the iPad Pro is the scaled-up version of the most recent iPad Air. The 12.9-inch Pro features Apple’s M1 chip, the same all-aluminum form factor, and the option for 5G connectivity. The 12-inch iPad Pro includes a larger Mini LED display, though, along with a superior camera array, support for Face ID, and a variable refresh rate.

The 12.9-inch, 256GB iPad Pro is currently discounted to $1,099.99 at Walmart in the Wi-Fi-only configuration, down from its typical price of $1,199.99. You can also get the 128GB model with Wi-Fi on Amazon for around $999 instead of its usual price of $1,099.99. Both of these discounts are appealing but bear in mind that both of these models have maintained this price for several months, so we wouldn’t recommend paying more than $1,000 for the 128GB version or $1,100 for the 256GB version if you’re planning to pick one up. Read our review.

Microsoft tablet deals

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

If you don’t mind a limited port selection and are in need of a tablet that offers plenty of performance in a lightweight chassis, Microsoft’s high-powered Surface Pro 8 might fit the bill. The attractive, modern slate feature a 13-inch touchscreen, along with 2880 x 1920 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate — a rarity outside of the gaming sphere. It’s also a great teleconferencing device thanks to its far-field studio microphones and 5MP front-facing camera. Best of all, it serves as a competent stand-in laptop when using the integrated kickstand and the optional keyboard cover.

Right now, the Surface Pro 8 is on sale at Microsoft for $799.99, saving you a cool $300 on the regular $1,099.99 price. This particular model comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. If you need extra room, you can always expand the storage of this tablet down the line with microSD cards. The same configuration is also on sale as part of a bundle at Best Buy, one that includes a keyboard cover for a grand total of $999.99 as opposed to the standard combined price of $1,249.99. Read our review.

Samsung tablet deals

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8 Plus, and S8 Ultra

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 series just launched earlier this year, but you can already find notable deals on the standard Tab S8 in the 128GB, Wi-Fi configuration, which is currently on sale at Samsung and Best Buy for $629.99 ($70 off). The S8 Plus is also receiving a similar discount at Samsung and Best Buy, which reduces the price of the 128GB model from $899.99 to $829.99. As for the S8 Ultra, you can pick it up in 256GB configuration at Best Buy for just $1,079.99, down from its usual price of $1,199.99.

While there are some clear upgrades across the S8 line, there are a number of similarities as well. They all use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, feature quad-speaker arrays, run on Android 12, and come packaged with a Samsung S Pen stylus. Each model also supports Wi-Fi 6E and comes equipped with a minimum of 8GB of RAM, but the S8 Ultra is available in 12GB and 16GB configurations as well. The S8 and S8 Plus essentially serve as direct replacements for their Tab S7 predecessors, while the S8 Ultra is a more feature-packed model with support for 5G connectivity and a 14.6-inch OLED display that touts a 120Hz refresh rate and 2960 x 1848 resolution.

In our Galaxy Tab S8 and S8 Plus review, we noted how much we enjoyed both displays and the performance provided by the upgraded CPU. Both models are also slim and lightweight, lending them exceptional portability. However, while both play well with other devices in the Samsung ecosystem, many Android apps still struggle due to poor optimization.

The S8 Ultra, on the other hand, impressed us with its mammoth OLED display and snappy performance. Despite its attempts to bring iPad-level productivity to an Android tablet, however, neither the OS nor the optional keyboard case is really up to the task.

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