Black Friday tablet deals: get ready for early deals

by DTM | Posted on

It’s almost a fact that during the Black Friday deals period is one of the best time to secure deals on our picks of the best tablets.

And right now with sales live in the UK at Currys, Argos, Very, John Lewis, and a Best Buy sale slated for a November 8, with a Walmart one to follow on November 11 in the US, now is a great time to go on the hunt for a cut-price tablet.

You can expect to find deals on Apple’s iPads, notably older models, and a suite of Android tablets; many of which we’ve tested and thoroughly reviewed. We’ll only flag deals here that we’re confident in and would buy ourselves.

So read on for everything you need to know about the Black Friday tablet deals and grab some early deals.

Today’s best tablet deals in the US

Today’s best tablet deals in the UK

Black Friday tablet deals: FAQs

Collage of Apple iPad Pro, iPad Air, Galaxy Tab S9 and Fire Tablet 10 on a green background

(Image credit: Future)

When will the Black Friday tablet deals start in 2024?

To keep it simple: they have already. Although Black Friday lands on November 29 this year, retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are already building momentum with great deals on some of our favorite tablets. Amazon kicked off the unofficial ‘deals season’ with its recent Prime Day sale, which in turn inspired copycat sales from rival retailers.

Naturally, we expect to see the highest concentration of deals around Black Friday itself, but that won’t preclude retailers from offering a wide variety of tablet deals from now up until the end of November. Expect to see some great savings online and in stores long before the big day itself.

Is Black Friday the best time to buy a tablet?

Typically, Black Friday is one of the best times of year to buy a tablet. Retailers tend to offer their best prices during the sales season towards the end of the year. It’s been a big year for tablet model refreshes too, and there’s sure to be a number of iPad and Android tablet models waiting in clearance.

So whether you’re eyeing up the ultra-premium iPad Pro 13-inch, the class-leading Android OnePlus Tab 2, or the astoundingly huge Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, there’s likely to be a great deal for you this Black Friday. Apple’s iPad lineup is in a strong position this year, which may mean we see moderate discounts, but this could drive harder undercuts from competitors.

What Black Friday tablet deals should I expect?

In the past, we’ve seen serious discounts across a range of tablets on Black Friday. Retailers like Amazon, Target, and Best Buy will almost certainly offer discounts on their supply of tablets, and we may see some offers from tablet makers themselves. Apple is unlikely to offer direct discounts, instead offering vouchers after the fact, while Samsung and others may just slash some cash from the price tag.

Really, though, third party vendors are your best bet. Last year’s Black Friday sales included a range-wide $100 discount on iPads at Amazon, with savings of as much as $200 on several Samsung models. At the lower end of the spectrum, this could push tablets like the base-model iPad, iPad mini, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE towards budget prices, meaning we could see very capable tablets sold for very reasonable prices.

Why trust TechRadar this Black Friday

We’ve covered Black Friday for over decade here at TechRadar and we’ve learnt when all the best sales start and how to uncover all of the top deals. We also monitor sales throughout the year and track the lowest prices of dozens of the most popular products as so we know a bargain when we see it.

The Mobile Computing team at TechRadar is comprised of phone and tablet experts with a deep knowledge of both the internal power of smart devices and the user experience these components create. We take our time testing and reviewing products from all the leading phone and tablet makers, and keep an eye out for all the latest news and updates.

This means we can recommend products with confidence, and where a question lands beyond our expertise we work with the wider TechRadar team to make sure you get the best information and the best deals. Combined, we’ll bring you the best Black Friday deals on all the top-rated and well-reviewed products available to buy right now so you come away with some excellent tech at a great price.

Last year’s best Black Friday tablet deals in the US

Apple iPad 10.9 2022 (64GB): was $449 now $349 at Amazon
Apple’s latest baseline iPad enjoys a range-wide $100 reduction; from the entry-level 64GB WiFi-only model, to the 256GB WiFi and cellular variant. Boasting WiFi-6, 5G, Apple Pencil support and more.

Apple iPad Air 2022 (64GB): was $599 now $499 at Amazon
Apple’s latest iPad Air is a great all-round slate, boasting iPad Pro-level M1 performance, Apple Pencil 2 support and 5G cellular connectivity and right now, a range-wide $100 discount.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022): was $1,099 now $1,024 at Amazon
The latest iPad Pro 12.9-inch is back to within $25 of its lowest price ever right now at Amazon. In our iPad Pro 12.9-inch review, we found the current model doesn’t offer a huge upgrade but it does add more power to an already powerful tablet. Still, as a portable device for creatives, it’s unbeatable right now thanks to the gorgeous screen, speedy M2 chip and a vast range of apps. You can also save a nice chunk on the 512GB and 1TB models.

Google Pixel Tablet w/ Speaker Dock (128GB): was $499 now $398.99 at Amazon
Google has attempted to make its own tablets time and again, with mixed results, but the combination of Pixel Tablet and its magnetically attaching speaker dock make for a great duo for use around-the-house, as well as on-the-go and this latest discount knocks more than $100 off.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE: was $529.99 now $327.62 on Amazon
Samsung loves to make a bargain device for the fans, and the Galaxy Tab S7 FE gives you a huge 12.4-inch display – the same size as the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, for much less. You get S Pen stylus compatibility, great performance, and now all at its lowest price ever.

Last year’s best Black Friday tablet deals in the UK

Apple iPad 10.9 2022: was £499 now £437 at Amazon
Apple’s latest baseline iPad enjoys its biggest reduction yet on the entry-level 64GB WiFi-only model. Reductions on other storage and cellular variants are less impressive. A strong A14 Bionic chip, Apple Pencil support and USB-C convenience make for a great combo for this well-styled everyday iPad.

Apple iPad mini (2021): was £569 now £519.99 at Amazon
Not a mind-blowing saving, but it’s still a handy discount on an already keenly-priced iPad. The refreshed design holds a great Retina display and a powerful A15 Bionic chip, which is still plenty powerful nearly two years later. As Apple has seemingly forgotten about the iPad mini, don’t expect to see discounts that beat this one.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022): was £1,249, now £1,179 at Amazon
Even discounted, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is hardly cheap in the UK. But you are paying for one of the very best tablet experiences around. You can also save £119 on the 512GB model and £100 on the 1TB version. And as we don’t expect the discounts to get much more generous than this, an iPad Pro with this much shaved off its price isn’t to be sniffed at.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra (256GB): was £1,299 now £899 on Amazon
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra was so capable and powerful that Samsung waited almost 18 months before introducing a successor in the Tab S9 series and today, it’s still a formidable slate, great for digital creatives or media lovers looking for a great portable display (and speakers). This huge Cyber Monday discount knocks a whopping 31% off the 256GB model.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE (64GB, 5G cellular): was £649 now £489 on Amazon
Samsung loves to make a bargain device for the fans, and the Galaxy Tab S7 FE gives you a huge 12.4-inch display – the same size as the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, for much less. You get S Pen stylus compatibility, great performance, and now all with a fair chunk of change knocked off.