Best tablet and iPad deals for 2021

Looking for an iPad or a tablet from one of Apple's rivals? Our experts are tracking what's on offer to bring you this month's best deals.

We've hunted down deals on mid-range models as well as high-end, big-screen tablets that can replace a laptop.

Like all tech products, tablets are constantly being updated and refreshed with new versions. That means there are plenty of deals to be found on last-generation models, as well as the occasional discount on the very latest models. We'll update this page monthly with the best deals we've found. 

We also run through some top tips on how to find the latest deals on iPads, Android tablets and Microsoft Surface tablets.

Spotted what you think is a great deal on a new tablet? Check our full tablet reviews to compare and make sure the tablet itself is as good as the discount. 

Tablet deals for Black Friday 2021

Black Friday is a great time to look for deals on a tablet. Apple doesn't really go in for discounts much, but tablets from brands, such as Lenovo and Samsung will get price drops.

Amazon has weeks of deals leading up to Black Friday, too, so expect to see some of its Fire tablets reduced even more than their already low starting prices.

We don't know what the deals will be yet, but as soon as we do we'll update this story with the best ones we find.

The best tablet and iPad deals in October 2021

Here are the top deals we've found as of 1 October 2021.

1.  Apple iPad Air 2020 (4th Gen) – £545

• £35 off original price 
• 10.9-inch screen 
• 64GB storage

We like: Lovely design

We didn’t like: Battery life could be better

Apple’s mid-range tablet sits between the standard iPad/iPad Mini and the iPad Pro in terms of specification and price. 

This £35 reduction on the standard price is a good discount for an Apple product and it can currently be had for £545 from AO.com.

Read our Apple iPad Air 2020 (4th Gen) review to see if it's the tablet for you.

2.  Apple iPad Mini (2019) – £305 

• Cheapest price we’ve seen on the iPad Mini
• This is the fourth-generation version of this product
• A compact portable tablet 

We like: fast, great software

We didn’t like: expensive (for a compact tablet), only supports older Apple pencil

This tablet has a 7.9-inch screen and an Apple A12 processor and the cheapest version comes with 64GB of storage. Think carefully whether this is enough for you as it can’t be upgraded later.

The gold version of the iPad Mini 64GB model can currently be had for £305 at OnBuy – the cheapest price we seen it at yet and around £90 cheaper than the typical price

Read the full iPad Mini 2019 review to see how it fared in our tests.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite – £265

• One of the lowest prices we’ve seen for the 64GB version
• Comes with a stylus  
• An LTE option is available for £349

We like: fast, robust build

We didn’t like: we've seen punchier displays

Prices have fallen sharply this month on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and the 64GB version can be had for £265 currently. The operating system is smooth and it feels slick whether you use your finger or the stylus. 

The LTE version is more expensive, but if you're happy with wi-fi then £265 is a very good price when you buy from Amazon or OnBuy.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite review to see how it did in our tests.

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e – £319

• 10.5-inch screen
• Facial recognition camera and a fingerprint scanner
• 64GB of built-in storage

We like: compact design, long battery life

We didn’t like: no headphone jack

This Android tablet has a facial recognition camera and a fingerprint scanner, so you can easily unlock your tablet and authorise payments without having to type in a Pin or password.  

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is currently available for £319 from Argos.

Read our full Galaxy Tab S5e review to see how it did in our tough lab tests.

How to find a good deal on a tablet

We've picked out a selection of good offers on decent tablets, but if these aren't quite right for you there are ample opportunities to find yourself a great tablet deal.

Finding an iPad deal

Apple’s own website provides you with a good baseline of how much an iPad costs, because Apple never discounts new models on its own website. Knowing the full, true price makes it easier to work out how good discounts on other sites really are.

When you're shopping around for deals, be mindful that there are multiple generations of iPads on sale at the same time. Make sure you know which generation you're buying; our guide on which iPad to buy shows you which models are the latest generation. 

There’s nothing wrong with buying an older-generation iPad (in fact, it’s a great way to save money), but just make sure you’re comparing like-for-like products instead of a newer, more expensive model with an older, cheaper version.

Another way to keep costs down is to consider a refurbished iPad. While Apple's website never has deals on new tablets, there is a section on the Apple website for refurbished iPads that come with a one-year warranty. What’s available varies day by day, but you should be able to save at least 20% on a refurbished model over a new one. 

If you’re a student, you may also qualify for Apple’s student discount programme, which will net you discounts on iPads, among other products. 

See all of our Apple iPad reviews

Finding a Microsoft Surface tablet deal

It’s sensible to start your search for a Surface tablet on the Microsoft Store website. 

This the place to find the true RRP of the model and specification you’re after, and you might even find a discount while you’re there. It might be a simple discount on a specification, or it could be a discounted or free accessory when you buy a full-price tablet.

If you don’t find a discount on the Microsoft website, it’s highly likely you’ll find one from a different retailer. Make sure you check all the specifications and colour options, as discounts may only be on one or two of these at any time. 

See all of our Microsoft Surface tablet reviews

Finding an Amazon Fire tablet deal

Amazon Fires are hardly expensive to start with, but deals on these tablets come along fairly regularly. You will often find the best prices on Amazon.co.uk's Fire site, but you can sometimes find decent discounts from the likes of Currys and Argos. 

If there's nothing available on the day you search, you probably won't have to wait for long for a discount to materialise. So if you don’t need to buy right now, it could pay to wait until a deal comes up.

See all of our Amazon Fire tablet reviews.