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Brand-new tablets can cost a pretty penny, but Amazon's October Prime Day event is just hours away, and we're already seeing big discounts on some of our favorite, top-recommended tablets from popular brands like Apple, Samsung and Amazon.
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Don't miss our live, round-the-clock coverage of the Best Prime Day Deals curated by CNET Deals experts.
Unsure about which tablet deals to choose? CNET's shopping experts have spent countless hours going through them all to find the best tablet deals at Amazon, along with Best Buy's anti-Prime deals and Walmart's Holiday Deals event.
Whether you're looking for a tablet for work or school, you can find a great option today. If you've had your eyes on a tablet, treat yourself to one at a discounted price. Then pick up an iPad, Fire tablet or another device to cross some names off your holiday shopping list -- you might as well start early. We're updating these deals regularly, so keep checking back as we get closer to the main event.
Our favorite best October 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. Other configurations are discounted by the same amount.
Though it's a previous-gen model, the ninth-generation iPad is a solid tablet -- especially when you can nab one for just $200. If you're wanting a simple tablet for email and browsing, or for a kid or holiday gift, you can't go far wrong with Apple's budget option.
Apple's current entry-level iPad tenth-gen is our best overall tablet of 2024, and right now you can get one at $50 off, dropping it to its best-ever price of $299.
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. This option is one of the best tablets you can buy, and that's especially true at this price.
The last-gen Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is discounted by a whopping 58% right now, making it one of the cheapest tablets out there, hitting a new all-time low price. It has an 8-inch HD display, making it a great model for streaming or browsing the web, and notably, this is the version with 64GB of internal storage.
This model may sport an older M2 chip, as opposed to the newer M4 options, but that comes with significant savings. It also comes equipped with 1TB of storage and a 12.9-inch display. It's unlocked but can be connected via Wi-Fi and cellular. Additionally, your purchase comes with 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.
Don't necessarily need a full-size tablet? The iPad Mini is a great option. 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 early October 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): $1,399 (save $100). For creatives, this powerhouse with a massive screen has some modest savings right now.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, 11-inch (64GB): $170 (save $50). This budget model is great for Android users.
- Microsoft Surface Pro, 13-inch (512GB): $1,300 (save $200). With a 13-inch OLED screen and a Snapdragon X Elite processor, this model offers incredible productivity specs.
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids, 8-inch (32GB): $75 (save $75). This tablet for kids aged 3 to 7 comes with a case and a year of Amazon Kids Plus.
- Apple 10.2-inch iPad (9th gen): $200 (save $130). If you're trying to get an iPad without having to spend a lot, the last-generation base iPad is a steal with this deal.
- Lenovo Tab P11 Tablet 11-inch (64GB): $129 (save $71). This Android tablet offers a great 2K 11-inch LCD display, perfect for watching your favorite shows no matter where you are.
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 that may be worth it. And 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.
Do you need a membership for Prime Day tablet deals?
There are quite a few Prime Day tablet deals available across Amazon, but you will need a Prime membership to access a lot 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.
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.