Smartphone get most of the news coverage, but tablets are the mobile workhorses of choice for tons of us. Smartphones are fine for streaming and gaming applications, but their small screens are a drawback. Laptops including Chromebooks are slimmer and lighter than ever, tablets are much less cumbersome to carry all day or to hold when while you’re lounging on the couch streaming.
Tablet technology also continues to benefit from hardware improvements. The iPad lineup, the class-leading example, is as good as ever and relatively affordable for Apple products. If iPadOS isn’t really your thing, however, you have several alternatives to choose from. Samsung continues to refine the Galaxy Tab line. Amazon’s high-value Fire tablets are a strong choice for tablet buyers, especially Prime members and ebook addicts. Pixel Slate 2-in-1 tablets bring near laptop performance to the tablet form factor.
No matter which type of tablet you prefer — or if you don’t have a favorite yet and need some help making that decision — we’re here to lend a hand. We’ve rounded up the best tablet deals available online right now. You can also read our quick and handy buying guide below to find the perfect device for your needs and budget.
Best tablet deals available today
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0″ 32 GB Wifi Android 9.0 Pie Tablet Black (2019) — $139
- Fire HD 8 Tablet (8″ HD Display, 16 GB) – Black — Two for $110, $50 off
- All-New Fire HD 10 Tablet (10.1″ 1080p full HD display, 32 GB) – Black — Two for $200, $100 off
- Samsung – Galaxy Tab A (2019) – 10.1″ – 32GB – Black — $200, was $230
- Apple iPad 10.2-inch Wi-Fi Only (7th Generation) — $250, was $330
- Google Pixel Slate 12.3-Inch 2-in-1 Tablet—$459, was $799
- Apple iPad Air (Wi-Fi + Cellular) — $599, was $779
Apple iPad
“iPad” has become almost a generic term for “tablet,” a testament to the massive enduring popularity of these Apple devices. That’s no surprise, given that Apple is the company that pretty much put tablets on the map when it rolled out its first iPad almost a decade ago (2020 will mark the 10th anniversary of the original model). Part of this popularity is also due to their value: With the exception of the iPad Pro, iPads are not as pricey as things like iPhones and MacBooks when compared to the competition.
In fact, the standard iPad (now in its seventh generation) is remarkably affordable and remains our most recommended tablet for most people. The sixth-gen iPad has been going for $250 pretty much all year, and the new 2019 refresh even dropped that low during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, don’t overlook the awesome new iPad Air, which gives the more expensive iPad Pro a serious run for its money, as well as the iPad Mini which is a great super-portable tablet if you don’t mind sacrificing screen real estate.
The iPad Pro, of course, is the most high-end model in Apple’s tablet stable. It’s expensive, but there’s no denying that it’s Apple’s best tablet, so you’ll have to decide for yourself if the extra juice is worth the squeeze. Be sure to read through our iPad buying guide for a more in-depth breakdown of what models are available to you before combing through the above tablet deals.
Samsung Galaxy Tab
There are a number of Android tablet brands on the market today, but as with Android smartphones, Samsung is the biggest name on the playing field. Its Galaxy Tab devices represent the best Android tablets that money can buy in 2019, and like the iPad line, these devices cover a wide range of price points and features.
The Galaxy Tab S-series bears a similar moniker to the Galaxy S phones and occupies much the same space in Samsung’s product line as the company’s flagship tablets. The current-gen Galaxy Tab S6 is great, but it’s also the most expensive Tab model (typically priced somewhere in-between the iPad Pro and iPad Air). Nonetheless, if you’re looking for an Android tablet to pair with a keyboard, the Tab S6 is perfect.
If you’re looking for a more value-priced option, though, then the Galaxy Tab S5e is a great alternative and another one of our favorites. Samsung makes some even cheaper ones as well, such as the Galaxy Tab A — but if you’re looking for a truly budget-minded tablet, then you might want to consider opting for one of Amazon’s Fire devices instead.
Amazon Fire
Amazon’s Fire tablets (formerly part of the Kindle line, although they no longer bear that moniker) have come a long way in recent years. We weren’t die-hard fans of them originally, but for the price, they are are hard to beat today. That’s especially true for Prime members who want to take advantage of everything that their Prime subscription offers, such as Prime Video, Prime Music, Audible audiobooks, free e-books and magazines, and the myriad of other stuff Amazon gives its premium customers.
And of course, since they’re tablets, the Fire devices also put a myriad of apps, games, and other software at your fingertips. Did we mention they’re cheap? The seven-inch Fire 7 starts at just $50, the eight-inch Fire HD 8 (with high-definition display) at $80, and the new Fire HD 10 at $150 — and no, those aren’t just sale prices. Even if the currently available tablet deals don’t feature any discounts on Fire devices at the moment, these are still great buys at their normal prices, but be sure to check back often as Amazon marks these down from time to time and we’ll be updating these deals regularly throughout the holiday shopping season.
Looking for more great stuff? Find tech discounts and much more on our curated deals page.
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