Today is the first day of Amazon’s massive October Prime Day sale and the deals are in full swing. You’ll find massive savings on all kinds of tech like TVs and headphones, as well as some top-notch bargains on tablets from major brands like Apple, Samsung and Amazon.
To help you make the most of these bargains before they’re gone, we’ve collected some of the best tablet deals out there right now. Note that some Amazon discounts are exclusive to Prime members, but you can find plenty of other offers at competing retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. We’ll continue to update this page throughout the sale, so be sure to check back often for the latest batch of offers.
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Best Prime Day tablet deals
The new 2024 Fire HD 8 was just released, and it’s launching at a $45 discount to coincide with Prime Day. It’s a rare chance to save big on such a new product, but this deal will only last through Oct. 9. This price is for the 32GB version with lockscreen ads but other configurations, with more memory, different colors and/or no ads on the lockscreen, are also discounted.
Though it’s a previous-gen model, the ninth-generation iPad is a solid tablet — especially when you can nab one for just $199. If you want a simple tablet for email and browsing, or for a kid or holiday gift, you can’t go wrong with Apple’s least-expensive iPad.
This low-cost tablet sports a 10.1-inch display, 32GB of expandable storage and 3GB of RAM. It’s powered by an octa-core CPU and can last up to 12 hours on a single charge. The medium-sized Fire is one of the best tablets you can buy, and that’s especially true at this price.
This 2022 model may sport an older M2 chip, as opposed to the zippier M4 model that came out this year, but it also costs less for all the bells and whistles. The 12.9 inch version on sale here comes equipped with 1TB of storage (up from the base of 256MB) and the option to connect to cellular networks — a 13-inch M4 iPad Pro with those options costs $2100. Your purchase also includes three months of Apple TV, Apple Music and iCloud Plus for new or returning subscribers and three months of Apple Fitness Plus free for new subscribers. Trading in an older tablet? Eligible trade-ins can get up to $425 in trade-in credit.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the major brands, the OnePlus Pad is a great option. It’s our favorite midrange Android tablet of 2024, featuring an 11.6-inch display, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also boasts a sleek and lightweight design at just 552 grams and 6.54mm thick.
Don’t necessarily need a full-size tablet? The iPad Mini is could be your jam. It’s lightweight and more portable than Apple’s other iPads while still offering great features. And it’s compatible with the Pencil 2. At almost 25% off, this price is the best offer we’ve seen at Amazon on this model.
More Prime Day tablet deals available now
- Amazon Fire Max 11, 11-inch (128GB): $160 (save $120). This Fire tablet offers a bigger screen and 14 hours of battery life.
- iPad Pro (M4), 13-inch (512GB): $1,349 (save $150 with instant coupon). For creatives, this 2024 powerhouse with a massive screen has some modest savings right now.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, 11-inch (64GB): $152 (save $68). This budget model is great for Android users.
- Microsoft Surface Pro, 13-inch (512GB): $1,200 (save $300). With a 13-inch OLED screen and a Snapdragon X Elite processor, this high-end model offers incredible productivity specs and is among CNET’s best-rated tablets.
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids, 8-inch (32GB): $75 (save $75). This tablet for childred aged 3 to 7 comes with a “kid–proof” case and a year of Amazon Kids Plus content.
- Lenovo Tab P11 Tablet 11-inch (64GB): $129 (save $71). This older, budget Android tablet should be fine for basic tasks like watching your favorite shows and movies.
Is October Prime Day a good time to buy a tablet?
It depends. Your needs and preferences will affect which tablet you should buy, and some tablet options won’t be as competitively priced as others during October Prime Day. If you’re considering a Fire tablet or other Amazon devices, now is a great time to score some significant savings. Other brands like the popular Apple iPad or certain renowned Samsung models may not hit the bottom-dollar prices you might see as a doorbuster during holiday sales, but we expect some savings nonetheless. If you have an older tablet you can trade in, you might be able to save even more through trade-in programs at retailers like Best Buy and Amazon on eligible models.
Extend Amazon Prime Day Savings With These Shopping Tips
Do you need a membership for Prime Day tablet deals?
Plenty of Prime Day tablet deals are available across Amazon, but you will need a Prime membership to access many of the best discounts. Not every deal requires a Prime membership, the best way to know for sure is to browse and look for the “Prime Exclusive Deal” button on the page. If you do not see that button, a Prime membership is not required for that discount.
Are other retailers offering high quality tablet deals?
Yes. In response to Prime Day, many of Amazon’s competitors are lowering prices across the board, which includes tablets. Best Buy is having an anti-prime day sale where we’ve spotted some top tech discounted already. Retail giants like Walmart are offering low prices, too. In addition, you may also spot deals directly at HP, Samsung and Dell.
How do Prime Day deals and anti-Prime sales at other retailers compare with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals?
Amazon’s October Prime Day and competitive sales at other major retailers have many similarities with Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Anecdotally, Black Friday tends to have better deals on large ticket items such as TVs, home appliances and laptops, whereas Prime Day tends to focus on more everyday essentials and items under $50. That said, Amazon’s own devices are definitely at great prices during Prime events, and there are plenty of excellent deals on Fire tablets currently.
Overall, shopping at both events will save you a ton of money over the retail price of a lot of items. For good bargains on everyday essentials and other items, buy during Prime Day. If you are looking for that “once-a-year” bargain, Black Friday is probably your best bet, but supplies tend to be limited. If you want to beat the holiday rush, there are plenty of price cuts on items that make great gifts for loved ones. For more help with choosing the right time to invest in a new tablet, check out our guide on whether or not to buy a cheap tablet during Prime Day events.
Watch this: How to Hack Amazon Prime Day: Shopping and Deals Advice
How does CNET select the best Prime Day offers?
Our team of expert shoppers and deal hunters has spent years helping buyers understand which major sales and deals are legitimately good and which are more routine. That includes Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events. We’ve gotten very good at weeding out scams and superficial deals on all sorts of tech, so you see only the best offers on items like tablets.
At CNET we look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing a deal to show you.
- Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history for that product to make sure no manufacturers are inflating prices to make the discount seem more substantial than it is.
- Quality reviews are important for any product, but especially for deeply discounted items. An appliance is a big investment, and if you don’t get enough mileage out of it, the discount wasn’t worthwhile.
- Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a deal is likely to be short-lived or limited to remaining stock, we’ll let you know upfront — so you’re not disappointed if you check back later and find it’s gone.
