Black Friday tablet deals 2023: what we expect to see
With Black Friday looming, here’s all you need to know when it comes to snapping up worthwhile Black Friday tablet deals this year.
Although we’re still a ways away from this year’s crop of the best Black Friday tablet deals, as Idowu Koyenikan once said, “opportunity does not waste time with those who are unprepared”. So, we’ve created this guide to highlight where you can expect the best deals this year, answer any burning questions about nabbing the best Black Friday tablet deals in 2023 and what last year’s deals provided, for a little added context.
As deals go, electronics saw some of the biggest reductions last year, with an average of 25% off across purchases made in the US around Black Friday. Meanwhile, Cyber Monday was the time frame when most buyers decided it was time to fork out cash for a new iPad or Fire tablet. Speaking of which, some of the biggest reductions we picked up on last year included almost $250 off the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro, great trade-in deals and money off Samsung’s then-latest Galaxy Tab S8 family and almost half off Amazon’s Fire tablets.
Black Friday 2023 officially kicks off on November 24, however, deals can emerge as early as late October, so check out our Black Friday deals hub for an overview of what discounts are already waiting to be found as we approach the sales period proper.
If you’re not sure which are the hottest tablets right now, why not first stop by our best tablets buying guide, or if you’re looking for deals on something a little more specific in the tablets space, we have a dedicated Black Friday iPad deals roundup worth checking out, too.
Today’s best tablet sales
While we’re not yet in deals season, many big-name retailers offer various discounts all year round. Here are some places worth checking out right now, if you can’t wait for this year’s Black Friday tablet deals.
US tablet sales
Amazon: savings on Samsung’s Galaxy A and S series Tabs, right nowBest Buy: discounts on tablets of all shapes and sizesTarget: all the biggest slates are in stockWalmart: discounts on tablets not sold elsewhere
UK tablet sales
Amazon: reductions on Samsung, Lenovo and even iPad alreadyArgos: special offers on already-cheap tabletsJohn Lewis: trade-in deals and some reductionsCurrys: money off a big range of tabletsMicrosoft: across-the-range reductions on Surface Pro tablets
Black Friday tablet deals: FAQs
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
When will the best Black Friday tablet deals start in 2023?
As mentioned earlier, while Black Friday isn’t scheduled to take place until November 24 this year, there will almost certainly be a few retailers and brands who kick things off early.
Once upon a time, we’d have told you to keep your bank account on lock until the main event but in recent years we’ve started to see deals crop up earlier and earlier; sometimes as early as the end of October!
There’s also a second Amazon Prime Day to consider, which takes place on October 10 – 11 this year and is great for giving an indication of where Black Friday deals are likely to lie.
While the timing on when to pull the trigger on a new discounted tablet is ultimately your choice, we’d suggest grabbing your desired device(s) on Black Friday itself and holding out for accessories on discounts on Cyber Monday, which in the past has played host to the best reductions on such things (think Apple Pencils, cases and the like).
Where will the best Black Friday tablet deals be?
This will be the place to find the best Black Friday tablet deals, once they launch, but if you simply cannot wait, below you’ll find a shortlist of retailers we suggest checking out across the US and UK.
US:
Amazon: already up to 16% off select iPads
Apple: the latest deals on the iPad Mini to the iPad Pro
Walmart: free headphones with iPads and money off Samsung tablets
Target: Money off big-brand tablets and Fire tablets
UK:
Amazon: iPads are almost perpetually on discount
John Lewis: save on accessories with select Samsung Galaxy Tabs
Argos: 10% of Samsung tablets with code ‘SAMSUNGWEEK10’
Currys: savings on select iPads and Samsung tablets
EE: reduced monthly price on tablets on-contract, plus no upfront cost
Vodafone: save £96 on an iPad Mini contract at just £21 a month
What Black Friday tablet deals do we expect to see in 2023?
The biggest deals will almost certainly fall on Amazon’s own Fire tablets – including their Kids and Pro tablet lines and bundles. Discounts of almost 50% aren’t uncommon, making it the best time all year to buy one of Amazon’s already-affordable slates.
If you’re hoping for iPad reductions, the latest models only see minor price drops (think $100/£100 off), while the last year, 2021 iPad Pro models could be had with discounts as much as $230 off.
Samsung supplements modest discounts with trade-in offers to create some worthwhile deals, while Microsoft’s Surface offering can be found with several hundred off pretty consistently.
Last year’s best Black Friday tablet deals
Most of our ‘what to expect’ advice comes from former deals that we’ve featured in previous years’ Black Friday tablet deals roundups, so below you’ll find specific examples of offers we’ve deemed worth your time and, more importantly, money.
Last year’s best deals (US)
Apple iPad 10.2 2021 (Wi-Fi, 64GB, Space Gray): was $329.99 now $269.99 at Best Buy
Apple’s basic iPad from 2021 isn’t the newest model anymore, but it is still available and it’s the latest version in that size. This being Apple’s budget range the iPad 10.2 (2021) started out fairly affordable, but it gets even more so with this Black Friday deal from Best Buy, which knocks $60 off the price of a 64GB Wi-Fi model in Space Gray. We praised this tablet’s display and selfie camera in our review, so it’s great for media and video calls. We were also fans of the price, even before this discount.
Apple iPad mini (2021): was $499 now $399 at Amazon
The iPad mini (2021) is back down to its lowest ever price right now at Amazon. This is a 20% saving, and for that money you’re getting a powerful A15 Bionic chip, 64GB of storage, and an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, making this iPad mini a great choice if you’re looking for a smaller tablet with premium features.View Deal
iPad Mini (2021) – renewed: was $499.99 now $379.95 on Amazon
Don’t be fooled by the addition of ‘renewed’ on Amazon’s updated listing for 2021’s excellent iPad Mini; this is the same tablet that the retail giant was selling in the days ahead of Black Friday for $100 off, now dropping even lower to a total saving of $120.04. Described as ‘the best small tablet money can buy’ in our iPad Mini (2021) review, this pint-sized slate is powerful, feature rich and now, more affordable than ever.
iPad Mini (2022) + Logitech Crayon stylus: was $499.99 now $399.99 at Target
One of the first noteworthy iPad discounts this November continues through into Black Friday (and hopefully beyond). Described as ‘the best small tablet money can buy’ in our iPad Mini (2021) review, this pint-sized slate is powerful, feature rich and comes complete with a $100 reduction and a Logitech Crayon stylus (worth $70); ideal for note-taking and sketching.View Deal
iPad Pro 11 (2021): was $799.99 now $643.83 at Amazon
With the newly-launched M2-powered 2022 models of the iPad Pro now on the scene, the price of the previous generation has finally started to fall, with this early Black Friday reduction on the 11-inch 128GB shaving almost 20% ($156.16) off the asking price. We shouldn’t have to tell you that the Pro line sits at the top of the tablet pile and discounts are few and far between.
iPad Pro 11 (2021) – renewed: was $799.99 now $698.09 at Amazon
Amazon appears to have shelved its deals on box-fresh 2021 iPad Pros, replacing them instead with reductions on ‘renewed’ devices. Although the best savings on the iPad Pro 11 (2021) from the retailer look to have been and gone (reaching a peak $200 off on the day before Black Friday), you can still get over $100 right now. We’re new just left wondering whether even bigger drops lie in store on Cyber Monday.
iPad Pro 12.9 (2021): From $799.99 at Best Buy
Best Buy’s early Black Friday reductions on the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) remain at the top of the pile now we’re actually here, with reductions on every storage configuration offering up to $400 off ‘the best tablet money can buy’ – based on our iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) review.
•128GB: $1,099.99 $799.99 ($300 off)
•256GB: $1,199.99 $899.99 ($300 off)
•512GB: $1,399.99 $999.99 ($400 off)
•1TB: $1,799.99 $1,399.99 ($400 off)
•2TB: $2,199.99 $1,799.99 ($400 off)
iPad Pro 12.9 (2021): was $1,099 now $899.99 at Amazon
Although this isn’t the most significant deal we’ve ever seen on the Pro, it’s still a welcome 18% reduction on the base 128GB build of 2021’s 12.9-inch model, which sees almost $200 taken from the asking price. Not bad for a tablet we described as ‘the best tablet money can buy’ in our iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) review.
iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) – renewed: was $1,099 now $869.97 at Amazon
In place of deals on brand new models, Amazon has switched to pushing its ‘renewed’ iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) models; with a revised $230 discount off the original asking price, that’s only $70 worse than the peak of its reduction on November 24. Not bad for a tablet we described as ‘the best tablet money can buy’ in our iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) review.
iPad Pro 12.9 (2022): was $1,099 now $999 at B&H
Although Black Friday deals on the 2021 iPad Pro range are more common, we weren’t expecting reductions on Apple’s latest iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) due to how fresh to market it is and yet B&H has come through with $100 off on both the 128GB and 256GB WiFi-only builds of Apple biggest and most powerful tablet. A great discount for those already considering Apple’s M2 iPad Pros.View Deal
iPad Pro 12.9 (2022): was $1,199 now $1,099 at B&H
B&H is one of the first retailers offering up discounts on Apple’s newest iPad Pro 12.9 (2022), with $100 off on both the 128GB and 256GB WiFi-only builds of the bigger Pro. If you were already in the market for the larger 12.9-inch M2-powered Pro, although slight, this deal is a no-brainer.View Deal
iPad Pro 12.9 (2022), 5G cellular: was $1,399 now $1,249 at B&H
The biggest Black Friday discount we’ve seen on the latest M2-powered iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) comes courtesy of B&H, who has shaved $150 off the asking price. If this model is still too rich for your blood, the company has also taken $100 off both the 128GB and 256GB WiFi-only builds of Apple’s most capable tablet to date.View Deal
iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) + Magic Keyboard bundle: was $1,448 now $1,298 at B&H
It’s been less than a month since Apple’s most powerful iPad Pro series went on sale and yet B&H already has a host of rare discounts on offer for both sizes of the M2-powered slate. While this isn’t the biggest reduction on the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) B&H has this Black Friday, it does see $150 off a the near-essential bundle that includes the compatible Magic Keyboard too.View Deal
Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB): was $99.99 now $54.99 at Best Buy
The Amazon Fire HD 8 is good value even full price, so with this discount it’s extra impressive. Overall it’s not one of our favorite slates – the screen is basic and a bit low resolution, but that plastic body can take a pounding. If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber especially, and you need a good back seat device that your kids can beat up without guilt, spring for this great tablet deal, which is the lowest price we’ve seen for the Fire HD 8.
Amazon Fire 7 (16GB): was $59.99 now $39.99 at Best Buy
This Black Friday tablet deal at Best Buy brings the Amazon Fire 7 to the lowest price we’ve ever seen. It’s almost impressive that you can even get a tablet for this little money – though this is about as basic as tablets get. Still, it’s a capable compact choice, and there’s even a microSD card slot to download and save shows for later. For this price, it’s cheaper than fixing whatever your kids just broke.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB): was $149.99 now $74.99 at Best Buy
This is a huge price cut on Amazon’s largest tablet, with this price drop making for the cheapest we’ve seen this 10-inch tablet on sale. It’s a basic slate, but if you like shows on Amazon Prime Video or other streaming services, this is a perfectly fine tablet, especially at this price. View Deal
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020): was $89.99 now $44.99 + four-months Amazon Music at Best Buy
BestBuy is offering some of the biggest discounts on Amazon’s Fire tablets right now; with this 50% reduction on the 10th-gen Fire HD 8 being particularly notable, as it also includes four months of Amazon Music access for free (worth $36).View Deal
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (2020): was $139.99 now $69.99 at Best Buy
BestBuy’s deals arrived early in November but continue to be some of the best around now that we’ve reach Black Friday itself. This tenth-gen Fire HD 8 Kids tablet comes complete with bumper case, two-year Amazon warranty and a year’s access to Amazon Kids (worth $79), benefitting from a 50% discount.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet (2021): was $149.99 now $74.99 at Amazon
Amazon’s Black Friday deals include the powerful Fire HD 10 tablet on sale for $74.99 – the lowest price we’ve ever seen. The 10-inch tablet packs an octa-core processor and 50% more RAM than the previous generation. The 2021 tablet also works with Amazon Alexa and provides an impressive 12 hours of battery life.View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus: $300 off, plus up to $500 off with a trade-in
There are some great Black Friday deals from Samsung this year, as the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is available with not only a generous upfront saving, but a huge enhanced trade-in rebate. While usually pricey, the combination of these promotions is enough to actually get this premium tablet for just $199. With a gorgeous 12.4-inch sAMOLED display, 4K camera, and flawless S Pen functionality, the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is well worth a look if you’re on the hunt for a higher-end slate.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus: was $699 now $649 at Walmart
Samsung’s still-superb Galaxy Tab S7 Plus can be enjoyed with a $50 reduction, in this November Walmart deal. In our Tab S7 review, we called it Samsung’s ‘finest tablet yet’ and along with a superb display and great battery life, the included S Pen makes it a worthwhile productivity companion too.View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE + keyboard cover: was $839.98 now $529.98 at Amazon
If you’re looking for a capable, portable productivity machine, this 256GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE and keyboard cover bundle just received a third-off ($310) on Amazon this Black Friday. We described the Tab S7 FE excelling as ‘at almost everything’ in our review and as any iPad or Surface owner can attest, adding a keyboard expands functionality massively.View Deal
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus (with Type Cover): was $929.99 now $599.99 at Best Buy
A terrific low price for an older but still capable Surface Pro tablet-laptop hybrid. The fact that the $130 Type Cover keyboard is included in the price, too, makes this an even sweeter bargain. With a 12.3-inch display and weighing less than 1kg, this is a fantastic portable device. It also has enough power in it to support all your computing needs: whether that’s basic home use, work, media streaming, and more.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus: was $1,029.98 now $649.99 at Target
Although a little long in the tooth, the Surface Pro 7 Plus still packs plenty of punch, made all the more appealing by this Target Black Friday offer, which sees a third cut from the asking price. The move to the Plus brings improved performance and battery life over the standard model, along with the Surface’s line characteristically top-notch industrial design.View Deal
Last year’s best deals (UK)
In the UK, iPad deals proved harder to come by last year, but discounts on Samsung and Amazon Fire tablets were still in good supply.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: was £999 now £799 at Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is Samsung’s ultimate tablet, packing an enormous 14.6-inch screen and plenty of power. Of course, with big power comes a big price, but Samsung itself has knocked £200 off the 128GB WiFi version for Black Friday (until November 30), making it significantly more affordable. The slate comes with an S Pen stylus too, so that’s one less accessory to buy as well.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (Wi-Fi, 32GB): was £219 now £159 at Samsung – The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is one of the more affordable tablets in Samsung’s range, and now you can get it at a £60 discount. That brings the 32GB Wi-Fi model down to a tiny £159, but the same reduction is available on a 64GB model (bringing it down to £189) and on 4G versions. With a 10.5-inch screen the Tab A8 might be cheap but it isn’t small, and with quad-speakers too it’s a solid choice as a media device.View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 10.5: was £249 now £189 at Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is one of the more affordable tablets in Samsung’s range, and now you can get it with a £60 discount. That brings the 64GB WiFi model down to a tiny £189. With a 10.5-inch screen, the Tab A8 might be cheap but it isn’t small, and with quad-speakers too it’s a solid choice for media lovers.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus (with Type Cover): was £1,353.99 now £700 at Microsoft
This is a superb price for an older-but-still-capable Surface Pro tablet-laptop hybrid. The fact that the saving applies to both the device and the Type Cover keyboard sweetens the deal, too. With a 12.3-inch display and weighing less than 1kg, this is a fantastic portable device. It also has enough power in it to support all your computing needs: whether that’s basic home use, work, media streaming and more.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra (512GB): was £1,399, now £1,199 at Amazon
Samsung’s best tablets are on sale at Amazon, including this amazing deal on the best of them all, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. This is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen on the 512GB version of Samsung’s 14.6-inch Android tablet, and it comes with an S Pen stylus thrown in as standard. It may be more than most folks need, but if you want a tablet that can do everything, this is the one to buy.
View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus: £150 off
Samsung’s best tablets are on sale at Amazon, including this amazing deal on the mid-range Galaxy Tab S8 Plus, which knocks £150 off the price of various models. At 12.4-inches, this tablet competes directly with the iPad Pro and offers a great value, with an included S Pen. This Amazon price is the lowest we’ve seen, and is likely to be one of the best Black Friday tablet deals full stop.
Galaxy Tab S8 Plus 256GB (Wi-Fi): was £899 now £749
Galaxy Tab S8 Plus 256GB (5G): was £1,049 now £899
Galaxy Tab S8 Plus 128GB (5G): was £999 now £849View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8: £120 off
Right now you can get a £120 discount on cellular version of the standard Galaxy Tab S8 on Amazon. This isn’t the top of its family, but it’s still a high-end and highly capable tablet. This is also the lowest price we’ve seen on the device.
Galaxy Tab S8 128GB (5G): was £799 now £679
Galaxy Tab S8 256GB (5G): was £849 now £729View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE: was £559 now £459 at Amazon
The Galaxy Tab S7 Fan Edition (FE) gives you a big screen tablet experience and premium features like pen support, and this Amazon deal offers the lowest price we’ve seen. Better yet, unlike Apple’s iPads, you get a stylus included as standard with this.View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: was £219 now £159 at Amazon
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is an affordable tablet that doesn’t look or feel cheap, thanks to a metal shell and a sleek, modern design. It’s a solid buy even full price, but all the better with this discount. Plus, the tablet is ready to be locked down if you want to hand it over to your kids, which given how affordable it is, you might. The LTE version is also reduced.View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (Wi-Fi): was £149 now £118 at Amazon
Even some of Samsung’s cheapest tablets get a price cut during Amazon’s Black Friday tablet deals, including this, the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite. This is a basic slate, as you might expect, but its 8.7-inch screen is solid for enjoying media and web browsing on, and it’s a bit of a bargain with this discount. Amazon is also offering a discount on the LTE connected model. View Deal
Nokia T10 (Wi-Fi, 32GB): was £129.99 now £99.99 at Amazon
The Nokia T10 isn’t a flashy tablet, but at under £100 as it is in this deal it doesn’t need to be. With an 8-inch screen, an attractive design, and a tiny price, this is an ideal tablet to throw in a bag and not worry about too much. Take it camping! Give it to your kids! Or just enjoy content on this affordable slate.
Lenovo Tab P11: £279 £229 at John Lewis Save £50 – Lenovo’s Tab P11 line offers a surprisingly good multimedia experience, punctuated by a superb 2K display, plus additional accessories can expand its feature set into a true productivity machine too. Until tablet deals in the UK pick up, this is one of few notable discounts from John Lewis.View Deal