Scope out the best tablet deals from Apple, Amazon, and Samsung ahead of Prime Big Deal Days:
The best early October Prime Day tablet deals at a glance:
Amazon has released an opening wave of official early offers ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, its members-only “October Prime Day” sale (set for Oct. 8 and 9), and it includes a small selection of tablet discounts.
The biggest markdowns so far are going to Amazon’s own Fire tablets (not at all shocking), two of which have fallen to all-time lows. They’re even cheaper now than they were during the retailer’s flagship Prime Day sale in July.
We’ve also spotted deals on two Samsung Galaxy Tabs: At the time of writing, Amazon was undercutting the actual Samsung website’s pricing on both of them. That said, we’ve seen them get even cheaper before, so consider waiting to add them to your cart until Prime Big Deal Days actually starts (unless you desperately need a new tablet stat).
iPad deals are, of course, the elephant in the room. While Amazon hasn’t technically included any Apple tablets in its formal pre-Prime Big Deal Days programming yet, four models are separately on sale there at record-low prices this week, so we think they’re worth mentioning. (Branding aside, a bargain’s a bargain.) Read on to learn more about them and all the other tablets deals up for grabs ahead of Prime Day 2.0.
Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.
Best Apple iPad deal
Why we like it
Apple’s ninth-generation iPad has a lightweight design that includes a bright 10.2-inch Retina display, an A13 Bionic chip, Touch ID, and a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage support. If you’re someone who doesn’t need the oomph of a current-gen tablet, and you don’t mind carrying around a spare lightning charging cable, it’s a decent value — now more than ever.
The 64GB base configuration is currently on sale on Amazon for $199, which is 40% off and its lowest price ever. (Best Buy was matching it when we last checked.) Apple devices rarely see discounts that high, so it’s tough to imagine this guy getting any cheaper come Prime Big Deal Days.
More Apple iPads on sale
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Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (A14 Bionic, WiFi, 64GB) — $299
$349(save $50) 🔥 -
Apple iPad mini, 8.3-inch (A15 Bionic, WiFi, 64GB) — $379.99
$499(save $119.01) 🔥 -
Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) — $549
$599(save $50) -
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) — $729
$799(save $70) -
Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $919
$999(save $80) -
Apple iPad Pro, 13-Inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,199
$1,299(save $100) 🔥
Best Amazon Fire tablet deal
Why we like it
This 8-inch Fire tablet from 2022 features a clear HD display, a battery life of up to 13 hours, and a built-in Alexa assistant that responds to voice commands. It’s certainly not the most powerful tablet out there, but it’s a good option for shoppers who prioritize portability (and affordability).
Mashable Deals
Amazon has the 64GB model on sale for just $59.99 in the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days. (The 32GB base model is only available used.) That’s a whopping 54% off its usual sticker price of $129.99 and its biggest discount since launch; it now costs the same as the 16GB Amazon Fire 7, which has a dinkier non-HD display and a 10-hour battery life.
More Fire tablets on sale
Best Samsung Galaxy Tab deal
Why we like it
Samsung’s 10.9-inch Android mid-ranger has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and supposedly lasts up to 18 hours per charge. It also comes with an S Pen stylus, so you can use it for doodling and note-taking (without needing to spend more money on extra accessories).
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is stuck at full price on Samsung’s website, but Amazon currently has the 128GB base variant on sale for $349.99, or $100 off. (Note that Best Buy is matching that offer.) Keep in mind that it fell to around $330 earlier this month, so you may want to off on buying it until Prime Big Deal Days begins in case it returns to that pricing.