Here are the best tablet deals right now

Tablets reside in an increasingly confused zone between phones and laptops. Laptops are becoming lighter as phones get more powerful and have larger displays. Tablet manufacturers, on the other hand, haven’t been sitting on their laurels, and many of the more recent tablets we’ve seen are attempting to bridge the performance gap and, in some circumstances, execute specific tasks more efficiently than both phones and laptops.

The tablet market is very diverse. Models as inexpensive as the Amazon Fire HD 10 make fantastic media streaming devices, while those in Microsoft’s adaptable Surface family may easily function as ad hoc computers when connected with an optional, folio-style keyboard. Then there’s the iPad, a tablet that has become the go-to device for everyone looking for something in the Apple ecosystem (and for many outside of it).

We’ve picked up discounts on a variety of Android, iPadOS, and Windows tablets below. To make things easier, we’ve split down the bargains by manufacturer, and we’ll keep updating this list as fresh discounts and promotions become available.

Apple tablet deals

2020 iPad Air

Because of the recent launch of a new iPad Air, Apple has dramatically discounted its last-generation predecessor, the 2020 iPad Air. Although the older model lacks Apple’s lightning-fast M1 chip, its A14 Bionic CPU is still capable of supplying lots of power and should be sufficient for the great majority of apps. The tablet is also compatible with a variety of iPad Air accessories, allowing you to turn it into an ad-hoc laptop using add-ons such as Apple’s Magic Keyboard. The 10.9-inch tablet has a fantastic Retina display with 2360 x 1640 resolution and a wide color gamut, as well as a USB-C charging connector. The 64GB, Wi-Fi-equipped iPad Air, which is normally $599, is currently on sale for $499.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, matching its lowest price to date.

2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro

In many aspects, the iPad Pro is a larger version of the most recent iPad Air. The 12.9-inch Pro comes with Apple’s M1 CPU, the same all-aluminum design, and the option for 5G connectivity. The 12-inch iPad Pro, on the other hand, has a larger Mini LED display, a better camera array, Face ID support, and a variable refresh rate.

The 128GB Wi-Fi model regularly costs $1099.99, but it is now available for about $999 at Amazon and Best Buy. However, if you’re fortunate enough to live near a Micro Center, you can save an additional $100 with in-store pickup, bringing the price down to $899.99. The current discount is enticing, but keep in mind that this model has remained at this price for several months, so we wouldn’t advocate paying more than $1,000 if you want to buy one.

Lenovo tablet deals

Lenovo Tab P11

The 11-inch Lenovo Tab P11 is regularly priced at $259.99, but Best Buy is presently discounting it to $199.99, matching its lowest price to date. This model ships with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage; however, thanks to its microSD card slot, you may upgrade it after purchase. The low-cost Android tablet also boasts a 2000 x 1000 display resolution and an 8MP front-facing camera for video chatting, as well as a 13MP back camera for capturing images. While the P11 may be used with a keyboard dock, the tablet’s Snapdragon 662 processor and limited RAM preclude it from doing any heavy lifting, making it better appropriate for light surfing and media watching.

Microsoft tablet deals

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

If you don’t mind a limited port choices and are looking for a tablet with a lot of power in a small package, Microsoft’s high-powered Surface Pro 8 might be a good option. The sleek, futuristic slate has a 13-inch touchscreen, 2880 x 1920 resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate — a rarity outside of the gaming world. Because of its far-field studio microphones and 5MP front-facing camera, it’s also an excellent teleconferencing device. Best of all, with the integrated kickstand and optional keyboard cover, it can function as a good stand-in laptop.

The Surface Pro 8 is currently on sale at Best Buy for $999.98 with Microsoft’s Surface Pro Keyboard, a savings of $240 off the package’s regular retail price. This model includes an 11th Generation Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD.

Samsung tablet deals

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Although the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series has just recently been released, you can already get a Best Buy gift card worth up to $100 when you purchase any model in the Tab S8 lineup at Best Buy. To be more exact, the basic S8 ($699.99) comes with a $50 gift card, the S8 Plus ($899.99) comes with a $75 gift card, and the S8 Ultra ($1,099.99) comes with a $100 gift card, all of which are redeemable for future purchases.

While there are some noticeable differences between the S8 models, there are also some similarities. They are all powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, have quad-speaker arrays, run Android 12, and come with a Samsung S Pen stylus. Each model also supports Wi-Fi 6E and has a minimum of 8GB of RAM, while the S8 Ultra is also available in 12GB and 16GB versions. The S8 and S8 Plus are largely direct replacements for their Tab S7 predecessors, but the S8 Ultra is a more feature-rich variant with 5G connection and a 14.6-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a resolution of 2960 x 1848.

While we have yet to review Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 lineup, we loved the Tab S7 series in general (see below). Having said that, we’ll have our full thoughts on the site soon.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 Plus

Even with the recent arrival of the Tab S8 series, the 11 and 12-inch editions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 continue to hold their own. Both are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, run Android 12, have quad-speaker systems, and come with Samsung’s S Pen. The screens are the most noticeable change between the two versions, with the S7 using an 11-inch LCD panel and the S7 Plus using a 12.4-inch OLED panel.

Although we’ve seen the regular 128GB S7 with Wi-Fi sale for as little as $450, it’s now only available on clearance at Best Buy for $584.99, which is around $65 less than its original retail price. Meanwhile, the S7 Plus is on sale at Best Buy, where you can get the 128GB Wi-Fi-equipped variant for $725 instead of $849.99. We’ve seen steeper reductions on both models in the past, but given the recent arrival of the S8 line, we don’t expect shops — including Samsung — to carry either model for much longer.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 and A7 Lite

If you’re looking for a basic entertainment gadget for yourself or your children, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 and A7 Lite are two options. The basic Galaxy Tab A7 has a 10.4-inch display, 32GB of storage, and a meager 3GB of RAM, not to mention an out-of-date CPU. While the A7’s total specs may leave some power users yearning for something with a little more juice, the low-cost tablet nonetheless delivers great-sounding speakers, excellent build quality, and a remarkable display.

The A7 Lite, on the other hand, is a less powerful and smaller variant of the normal A7. The 8.7-inch display has a resolution of 1340 x 800, and the base version, like the larger device, comes with 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. While less powerful, it’s also unusual to find a tablet with these characteristics at this price point.

The 32GB Wi-Fi-equipped A7 is presently available at Best Buy for $195.99 instead of $229.99, while the more affordable A7 Lite is currently available at Amazon for $129 instead of its usual $159.99.