October’s best Prime Day tablet deals: Surf, stream and save on a new tablet from Apple, Amazon and more
Amazon’s October Prime Day officially starts on October 8, but you don’t have to wait to start saving on many popular tablets. Whether you’re looking for a discount on a new iPad for yourself or something for the kids, there are plenty of great options available. If you’ve been waiting to make purchases, now might be the time to get them at a discounted price or get a head start on your holiday shopping list. These deals include our favorite tablet options with discounts on iPads, Samsung Galaxy Tabs, Fire tablets and more.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals copy is free, easy, and saves you money.
Don’t miss our live, 24-hour coverage of the best Prime Day Deals, curated by CNET Deals experts.
Not sure which tablet deals to grab? CNET’s team of shopping experts spent countless hours sifting through them all to find the best tablet deals at Amazon, along with Best Buy Anti-Prime deals and Walmart Holiday deals. We also update these offers regularly, so check back often as we get closer to the main event. Want to save even more on Prime Day? You can earn a $150 Amazon gift card immediately after Prime Visa card approval.
October’s best Prime Day tablet deals
This cheap tablet has a 10.1-inch screen, 32 GB of expandable storage and 3 GB 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, especially at this price.
The new 2024 Fire HD 8 has just been released and is launching at a $45 discount to coincide with Prime Day. It’s a rare opportunity to save big on such a new product, but this deal only runs through October 9. Other configurations receive a discount of the same amount.
The latest generation Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is currently marked down by a whopping 58%, making it one of the cheapest tablets available, with a new all-time low price. It has an 8-inch HD screen, making it a great model for streaming or surfing the web, especially the version with 64 GB of internal memory.
This model may have an older M2 chip, as opposed to the newer M4 options, but that adds up to significant savings. It’s also equipped with 1TB of storage, a 12.9-inch screen, and it’s unlocked but can be connected via Wi-Fi and cellular. Plus, with your purchase you get 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. Want to trade in an older tablet? Qualifying trade-ins can receive a trade-in credit of up to $425.
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, yet still offers great features. And it’s compatible with the Pencil 2. At almost 25% off, this price is the best offer we’ve seen on this model at Amazon.
More early October Prime Day tablet deals are now available
- Apple iPad (10th generation), 10.9-inch (64 GB): $320 (save $29). While this is $20 more than the lowest price we’ve seen, it’s still a decent saving on our pick for the best tablet of 2024.
- Lenovo Tab M11, 11-inch (64 GB): $130 (Save $50). This model can handle multitasking, schoolwork and all basic functions.
- Amazon Fire Max 11, 11-inch (128 GB): $160 (Save $120). This Fire tablet offers a larger screen and 14 hours of battery life.
- iPad Pro (M4), 13-inch (512 GB): $1,399 (save $100). For creatives, this huge-screen powerhouse currently has some modest savings.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, 11-inch (64GB): $180 (save $40). This budget model is great for Android users.
- Microsoft Surface Pro, 13-inch (512 GB): $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 (32 GB): $75 (Save $75). This tablet for ages 3-7 comes with a case and a year’s supply of Amazon Kids Plus.
- iPad Pro (M4), 11-inch (512 GB): $1,099 (save $100). Apple’s smaller professional tablet is also available for purchase and has more than enough power combined with a best-in-class screen.
- Apple 10.2-inch iPad (9th generation): $230 (Save $100). If you’re trying to get an iPad without spending a lot, the base last-generation iPad is a bargain with this deal.
Is October Prime Day a Good Time to Buy a Tablet?
It depends. Your needs and preferences will influence which tablet you should buy, and some tablet options won’t be as competitively priced as others during Prime Day in October. If you’re considering a Fire tablet or other cheaper tablet options, now is a great time to make significant savings. Other brands, like the popular Apple iPad or certain well-established Samsung models, may not hit the lowest dollar prices that you might see as a breakthrough this holiday season, but we expect some savings nonetheless that could be worth it. And if you have an older tablet that you can trade in, you may be able to save even more through trade-in programs at stores like Best Buy and Amazon on eligible models.
Extend Amazon Prime Day savings with these shopping tips
View all photosDo you need a membership for Prime Day tablet deals?
There are quite a few Prime Day tablet deals available on Amazon, but you’ll 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 scroll through and look for the “Prime Exclusive Deal” button on the page. If you don’t see that button, a Prime membership is not required for that discount.
Do other retailers offer high-quality tablet deals?
Yes. In response to Prime Day, many of Amazon’s competitors are cutting prices across the board, including tablets. Best Buy is having an anti-prime day sale where we’ve already spotted some top tech at a discount. Retail giants like Walmart also offer low prices. You can also spot offers directly on PKSamsung and Dell.
How do Prime Day deals and anti-Prime sales at other retailers compare to Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals?
Amazon’s Prime Day in October and the competitive sales at other major retailers have many similarities to Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Anecdotally, Black Friday tends to have better deals on big-ticket items like TVs, home appliances and laptops, while Prime Day tends to focus on more everyday essentials and items under $50. That said , Amazon’s own devices are certainly at great prices during Prime events, and there are plenty of excellent deals on Fire tablets right now.
Overall, shopping at both events will save you a ton of money over the retail price of many items. For good bargains on everyday essentials and other items, shop during Prime Day. If you’re looking for that ‘once a year’ bargain, Black Friday is probably your best bet, but stock is usually limited. If you want to beat the Christmas rush, there are plenty of price cuts on items that make great gifts for loved ones. For more help 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.
Check this out: How to hack Amazon Prime Day: shopping advice and deals
How does CNET select the best Prime Day deals?
Our team of expert shoppers and deal hunters have been helping buyers understand which big sales and deals are legitimately good and which are more routine for years. That includes Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events. We’ve gotten really good at weeding out scams and superficial deals on all kinds of tech, so you only see the best deals on things like tablets.
At CNET we look for real discounts, quality ratings and remaining sales time when choosing a deal to show you.
- Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history of that product to ensure that no manufacturer is inflating prices to make the discount appear more substantial than it is.
- Quality ratings are important for any product, but especially for deeply discounted items. A device is a big investment, and if you don’t get enough miles out of it, the discount wasn’t worth it.
- The remaining sales time is a large part of our control process. If a deal is likely to be short-lived or limited to remaining stock, we will let you know in advance. So you won’t be disappointed if you come back later and find the deal has been discontinued.
